Christmas Pics...How to kick em up a notch?

Hello everyone...I just bought a 430ex for my 20D yesterday, and here is my first attempt with it. I made a homeade background stand out of pvc, and I bounced the flash off the ceiling, with a little window light as well...I think they are okay, but they are just lacking that "oomph"..What ps technique, if any can give them more of a professional look (although yes I know I am not a professional..) Am I limited due to my lack of strobes, and camera body/lens ? I tried to correct the white balance in photoshop using this 90% method: http://www.photoworksh​op.com …ma/Eddie_Tapp/i​ndex2.html

However, I think the corrected version had an adverse reaction on the skin tones..

Anyways, comments and tips needed..

Here's the original:

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

I think if you made a version of the 2 you have here the WB would be correct, the first is too warm, the second too cold. You could layer them and play around with the opacity of the top layer until it looks correct.

Super cute shot. I hope you don't mind, but I played with it for about two minutes in photoshop and got this.

First I changed it to lab colors and brought a & b in levels closer to the center to get the more vibrant colors. Then in color balance I brought the blue back a bit to get a more natural color and finally gave it the slightest s curve in curves.

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swimchic wrote in post #4515662
I think if you made a version of the 2 you have here the WB would be correct, the first is too warm, the second too cold. You could layer them and play around with the opacity of the top layer until it looks correct.

Alright I blended the two:

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

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

I think it looks great. Maybe add a border or something. It might make the picture?

I think the blended version looks good but the skin smoothing erases too much detail.