Help, help, help! Family photo shoot at 800 ISO.

[rcarey]

I shot this family's portraits at 800 ISO. Now, I always shoot between 100 and 400 ISO but the lighting and movement was such that I had to jump to 800. Please, can you help me save the session? Anyone can edit this and then let me know what you did to help. She's a real picky one too! thanks.
This is straight from the camera, no edits done yet.

[Jim G]

What's there to save? ISO 800 is nothing awful... It's hard to tell with the dodgy work monitors but your white balance looks a little blue here. I'd crop in a little and warm it up.

What's to freak out about re: ISO 800? If you're worried about noise have a look at Noise Ninja or Noiseware...

[rcarey]

are these free? online?

[Canadian Techdiver]

Noise Ninja works well. But I agree with Jim G... there isn't much "grain" to the image. it isn't too bad for 800.

I would be more worried about the white balance and maybe do some levels work to the image it seems a bit "Flat" in the color range for my taste.

here is a quick one. I can't adjust WB at work but I could crop and smoothen a little and play with levels.. I would do a few layers and help with the shadows on the face and try and light up the shadows areas...

[David Ransley]

I would crop it slightly and also adjust the white balance and levels to get the colors right. The grain may be more visible in larger format prints. Difficult to judge from the source provided.

[AndreaBFS]

I didn't run noise removal on this at all because it was so small. I am not sure it even needs it. I stuck with the other edits. I didn't have a lot of skin to work with to judge color, though. I can upload my PSD, but writing out everything I did would be a nightmare. :)

http://www.andrearubash.com/POTN/_MG_0026 copy.jpg

[Canadian Techdiver]

Much Nicer Edit Andrea. I was pretty limited at work.. but I like it better. I cropped them off to the side a bit. But I like your crop better.

[David Ransley]

I didn't run noise removal on this at all because it was so small. I am not sure it even needs it. I stuck with the other edits. I didn't have a lot of skin to work with to judge color, though. I can upload my PSD, but writing out everything I did would be a nightmare. :)



Nice Edit

[Canadian Techdiver]

Free... hmmm

picasa
fastone

are both free.

[rcarey]

That's a beautiful edit AndreaBFS. I wish I could hire you to be my photo editor. :lol: Here is an image of the same shoot with more noise....can I save this one? All I did was curves...I know I need to edit the younger boy's rash around his mouth.

This 3rd image I thought turned out ok...let me know please.

[rcarey]

Here they are

[Canadian Techdiver]

what are you using for editing.

Picasa I believe has a heal brush that would help you edit out the rash area.

[rcarey]

PhotoShop CS2

[AndreaBFS]

That's a beautiful edit AndreaBFS. I wish I could hire you to be my photo editor. :lol: Here is an image of the same shoot with more noise....can I save this one? All I did was curves...I know I need to edit the younger boy's rash around his mouth.

This 3rd image I thought turned out ok...let me know please.

You won't be able to make it perfect, but it just needs a series of small scale selective edits. Again, I'd be happy to upload the PSD for you if you'd like to see what I did. I'm still not happy with the color, but you had a challenge with all that light hair and fair skin! I enjoy the practice, either way. :)

I left your crop alone, but it could be tighter. I think the 3rd image turned out fine. Just needs a little bump in contrast and maybe color to take advantage of the fall foliage. :)

http://www.andrearubash.com/POTN/_MG_0303 copy.jpg