Help with bringing out subjects?

I just did my first wedding. It was at the beach. I thought it was going to be a better idea to shoot toward the setting sun. I have a few photos, in a row, that need help. Any help would be appreciated. I use Element 6.

They all look underexposed a little, Adjust the exposure, or levels adjustment to stretch the histogram and fill in any empty tonal values, both highlights and darks. Then adjust the mid-tones to get the contrast right. A little sharpening will also help, IMHO.
Have you considered upgrading the Elements 9. With Elements 9 you can now use Adobe Camera Raw which would make a lot of your adjustments to these things easier.

I was hoping someone would take a shot at it. I'd like to see what potential they have. I have processed on similar pictures from the group and wasn't impressed with my own work.

This is one I did.

i gave it a try

Thanks. That is a little better than what I came up with. I know it is hard making chicken salad out of chicken poop.

Actually I did take a shot at it on the first two. However, what I can do and what you can do are not going to be the same since you are using Photoshop Elements 6 and I am using CS5. That wouldn't be fair to you, or even help you out in any way. You need to be able to do the pp with the software you have.

If you were to upgrade to Elements 9 you would be able to use (ACR)Adobe Camera Raw. This will allow you to load and edit your Raw files. Most, if not all, of what these pictures need can be achieved in camera Raw without even loading them into Photoshop. Then I could also show you the adjustments I would have applied using that.
Something you might want to consider. Better yet if you're getting more serious about your photography you might even consider investing in Lightroom 3.

I have about 20 or more pictures that I know the couple would love to have that are in similar shape. I don't want to send them like they are or like I have processed them.

Do people process other people's images as a service? I have the raw images as well as the full res jpgs.

There are many different interpretations of the same shot which can be created. In this one, I upped the overall brightness level while dropping the shadow levels, I altered the color balance to warm the scene, I reduced color saturation because the skin was considerably oversaturated compared to real skintone.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Adjusted the exposure, fill light and clarity in ACR. Then with a little selective masking increased the brightness and sharpness of the couple as well as decrease the red saturation so his face wouldn't be so red. Although I think his face is just naturally red when compared to hers. I Also straightened the horizon and cropped it a little more leaving her as the center of attention. On the background I played around with the DOF using a Gradient Mask.
Like previously mentioned there can be numerous interpretations of how a shot like this could or should look. Perhaps the background could stand to be a little warmer. In fact the more I look at the more I think I should have adjusted the background color to give it a warmer feel.

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This was my very quick edit. Didn't work on exposure / color, but sharpened / brightened the couple, added vignette.

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One more

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Crop that puppy. Use the rule of thirds and make it special.

You guys are making them look better than I have been able to. I liked your last one best tkerr. I like yours tom and wilt.

I don't know about gradient masks. Knowbody taught me how to do any of this person to person. I've tried to learn what I can from people on the forum and from just trying stuff.

I did the wedding because my daughter's friend has seen a good bit of my efforts and thought I was pretty good. I didn't try to sell myself as a real photographer. I'm far from it. It was very interesting putting myself in a photographer's shoes.

Stone-Rogers wrote in post #12575472
Crop that puppy. Use the rule of thirds and make it special.

If cropping was all they needed, I could come out looking like a hero.

Just messing around in Lightroom (I'm a PP noob and using an uncalibrated cheap display)

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