Feedback Requested! B & G Sittin' on the dock

[SuzanneCarey]

Hey guys! We took this impromptu picture of my bride and groom after their ceremony and it ended up being their favorite. They want it in an 11x14 size. I think I could make the picture look better. I did not have time to think about moving the chair in the background or some other bits of clutter. They have seen this version and like it, but I wonder if it could not look better. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!

Suzanne

[Big John]

I would definately take some time in photoshop to blur out the background to get rid of the boat and clone out the piece of the wedding gown that peeks out behind the man's britches. I might also crop a little tighter or clone out the pier in the lower-left corner.

I really like the relaxed nature of the pose and great smile on the bride!

[PhotosGuy]

I would definately take some time in photoshop to blur out the background to get rid of the boat As long as it's not their boat! ;-)
Nice shot. Maybe just crop in a bit?

[AjP]

agree, play with photoshop, the shot is great and you can make great pics out it, may be make background b&w or blury and add some sharpness and color to couple, great shot and good luck with post processing!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bruce Hamilton]

I would recommend running it by the B&G first... If that's their favorite and want it in an 11x14 size, your efforts in photoshop may go to waste.

[Big John]

That's a good point Bruce.... the B and G could very well want the boat included in the photo! I know that I sometimes make assumptions about a photo based purely on composition, and forget that the people in the photograph themselves often surround themselves with things of sentimental value or significance.

Who knows, maybe they met or had their first date on that boat.

[SuzanneCarey]

Hi Bruce and Big John. Those are good points. This is a dock in the backyard of the groom. So I would imagine some of the surroundings would be important to them. The bride also practically grew up over there as well, they have been friends since grade school years. So, I will run any ideas past them. I think at least cropping in a bit will help, at least to get that edge in the bottom left out. Thanks guys!

[tim]

I guessed you learned the hard way to pay attention to backgrounds eh? :p Get in close and use a wide aperture, that would blur the background nicely. I'd probably increase contrast and saturation a bit, and maybe tweak the levels, it looks a little dark to my eye.

You could try extracting the couple and the thing they're sitting on, and completely replace the background, maybe with a forrest scene. It'd take a bit of work, but shouldn't be too difficult if you have ok photoshop skills.