Help with crop and exposer???

I could use some comments on whether or not I should crop the image. My wife wants to use this for our Xmas cards. She likes the trees in the background; but I like it cropped to just below the tall palms.
I also wanted to enlarge it for a frame. I had a 12x18 size printed and I was unhappy with it. It came out too dark.
Is it common for prints this size to be dark? I had it done at our local Costco, so I know I can't expect too much as far as monitoring the photo process. Also, what is the standard type of print for portraits? Matte finish or glossy???
I have Aperture 3, so I'm limited, as far as being able to Dodge (lighten) us, and Burn (darken) the background. I've tried, but it comes out unnatural IMOP!
Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Mike

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Can I do some editing as well as give some advice?

I would very much enjoy seeing someone else's editing...

You dont have anything saying its not ok to edit images, and its getting late and Im tired, so I will go ahead and throw out an edit. If you dont like it let me know and I will remove it post-haste.


A few things to consider. Your image is under exposed. That is why it looked too dark when you had it printed. There was no exif data, so I couldnt see your settings or the type of camera you were using, but keep in mind an image like this may not be the best candidate for a large print. Theres nothing wrong with taking this nice picture and making a 5x7 print on a nice matted frame, and reshooting for a larger picture.

That being said, if I were you I would tell me to shove off, I like my picture and go ahead with it anyway. Lol. If you like the edit send me the original file and I can do much more with it and show you how I did it. The image that was uploaded is low res and I dont have very much wiggle room.

Oh and for the love of gob (yes I said gob intentionally) dont get your photos printed at COSTCO. Buy mayonnaise there, but take the photos to a better lab.

BTW, Sams, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens do not equal better labs.

Thanks "mikel1291979"
I very much appreciate your advice. . . .and humor. And your right, it's late. So I will work on this photo tomorrow. Thanks, again.

Well, I think I'll be disagreeable tonight. Your image as posted needs the black point pulled back which I would say is over exposed. If you turn on Image Edit OK in your profile you will get some more examples.

And as far as Costco goes, again, I disagree. While they are definitely not a White House Custom Color or Bay Photo, our local Costco does and excellent job if you follow their instruction for using the correct printer profile. If you uploaded the pictures and had them mailed to you I would agree, they don't do a great job.

The major cause of dark prints is a monitor that is too bright. Calibrate your monitor, re-edit your photo and have it re-printed.

On an agreeable note - I wouldn't send my enemies to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or Walgreens to have their pictures printed.

Thanks, "Titus," for the advice. It didn't occur to me to go on line and try to get Costco's printer profile. I'll do that today.

The edit above is much better.

The original poster should take a crack at it... increase exposure, punch some solid black levels, and crank the saturation, you'll have quite a nice family portrait. I probably wouldn't change the crop

By adjusting the black point and warming the image a bit I've come up with this -

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i would crop onto the left third. that would give a nice background with the bridge behind it. the trees don't work for me, but don't tell your wife i said that.

Honestly.I would get a redo.better light, better exposure and compsition...the WB is also hinky.I see green? I bet there is a park there, and getting away from that overexposed sky would help enormously.

Titus213 wrote in post #11123750
Well, I think I'll be disagreeable tonight. Your image as posted needs the black point pulled back which I would say is over exposed. If you turn on Image Edit OK in your profile you will get some more examples.

And as far as Costco goes, again, I disagree. While they are definitely not a White House Custom Color or Bay Photo, our local Costco does and excellent job if you follow their instruction for using the correct printer profile. If you uploaded the pictures and had them mailed to you I would agree, they don't do a great job.

The major cause of dark prints is a monitor that is too bright. Calibrate your monitor, re-edit your photo and have it re-printed.

On an agreeable note - I wouldn't send my enemies to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or Walgreens to have their pictures printed.

I will be agreeable and say this post sums up all the issues perfectly. Well said.

I'll add that while I know that is the bottom of moms shoe there, I'd clone it out, since no other feet are in the picture anyways, and the black blob distracts me.

May try to bracket shoot, and have one where the sky is exposed better and fob it in.