my first portrait shoot

[snapdragon]

This photo has been edited to the best that i can do ,this was a fun shoot & they are happy with the photo but i would like some constructive input on how i could have made it a better portrait . the rest of this album is in B&W & tells a fun story of a photo shoot , they want those photos in snap shot size B&W ,but this one in an 8X10 , what do you think ? is my editing good enough for an 8X10 or should it only be a 5X7 ?

[Robin Sarac]

It's a nice sharp photo and you've captured a lovely couple. But the curtain in the background sort of cuts right across Leonard and you've got two very different backdrops to the couple. If they're happy and you're happy, that's all that really matters!

[camyam73]

It would be very easy to simplify the BG, which would take the focus off the busy BG and take it back onto the couple. IT's a nice shot of them, you just need some BG work is all!

[peeperita]

the resolution of the image is what will tell you how big you can go.....i generally like to be around 300 pixels per inch for printing.....

peeper

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by peeperita

the resolution of the image is what will tell you how big you can go.....i generally like to be around 300 pixels per inch for printing.....

peeper

Thanks peeper ,I only shoot at the finest setting on my camera & can print most to 20 X 36 , but with my photo editing abiltys ,or lack there of I was wondering if an 8X10 might show up my messy cloneing . .,or is it just that i know where the clone tool was used & am homeing in on it .

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by camyam73

It would be very easy to simplify the BG, which would take the focus off the busy BG and take it back onto the couple. IT's a nice shot of them, you just need some BG work is all!

Thanks , would you share some suggests ? I have played with the BG & I have found it to be the hard part , LOL ,but it was hard to get the 2 of them in the 1 photo that brought out the best in both of them , LOL this photo did that ,but i messed up the BG & I would love to know how to make that better ,in this photo .for my next portraits I will pay more att to the BG ahead of time , lessson learned the hard way .

[snapdragon]

Originally Posted by Robin Sarac

It's a nice sharp photo and you've captured a lovely couple. But the curtain in the background sort of cuts right across Leonard and you've got two very different backdrops to the couple. If they're happy and you're happy, that's all that really matters!

Thanks Robin , they are happy , I want a better BG in this photo but lack the photo editing skills to make that happen . I thank you for you kind reply ,I do like the photo ,all but the BG

[EOS_JD]

Originally Posted by snapdragon

Thanks , would you share some suggests ? I have played with the BG & I have found it to be the hard part , LOL ,but it was hard to get the 2 of them in the 1 photo that brought out the best in both of them , LOL this photo did that ,but i messed up the BG & I would love to know how to make that better ,in this photo .for my next portraits I will pay more att to the BG ahead of time , lessson learned the hard way .

It would have been better if the image had been shot against a plain background. Can you reshoot? Watch out for things growing out of heads etc. Keep backgrounds simple. regards this one, live with it as editing is more likely to make it worse.

The arm in the foreground is offputting to me too. Be careful of disjointed arms and hands.