Family photo editing help!

[abbyar]

A friend of mine took these photos over the weekend - as you can see, my darling daughter did not wish to be photographed by the end of the session. The resolution on these is obviously poor, but I'd like to insert the photo (with her preferably smiling) as a small digital image, so the low res shouldn't be an issue. I've played with some editing, but I can't get it to look natural - can one of the more experienced out there please help?
Thanks!

 

[Designer]

IMHO, just live with it. That's right; do NOTHING in PS to paste in a "happy face". Treasure this photo as one in which your daughter is expressing her true feelings.

 

[abbyar]

(Sigh) Yes, I was afraid that would be the response I received. Just wanted one nice photo with the 6 of us.

 

[JamesRPhoto]

you're really looking at a ton of work here to make it look right, in one photo she's facing the camera and in the next she's looking away, this means heavy distortion of the first one if not a complete reconstruction of the second, also the lighting is inconsistent between the two. You paid for these?

 

[abbyar]

LOl - No, a friend of mine is starting up a business and asked for some practice, especially as I have been complaining that no one will take a family of 6 in our area for a reasonable price. Even our vacation photos are missing either dh or I.
To add: I love photography but am colorblind and in general not very artistic, so I leave my photo sessions to a point & shoot and am generally happy. I would very much like a family photo though!

 

[JamesRPhoto]

Photoshop has a colour blind colour filter under view>proof setup for cs4 and above, maybe that could help you out a bit in the future.

 

[CCericola]

I think she looks adorable. Getting everyone to plaster a fake smile on their faces is BORING

 

[Dominantly]

I am almost embarrassed to post this, as it's not really up to my standards, but I worked on it and you didn't seem too picky.
you should save it if you want it as it might not be up too long. lol

 

[Edsport]

 

[Granddad]

I LIKE the original. I think your daughter's expression (tired and had enough) makes the photo and separates it from the Olan Mills Portrait Factory style. Your friend did a good job.

 

[Khaelbee]

I am almost embarrassed to post this, as it's not really up to my standards, but I worked on it and you didn't seem too picky.
you should save it if you want it as it might not be up too long. lol

halfway decent, but pay attention to where the daughter's finger is pointing... that's where my eye went. i don't think the focal point of this picture is supposed to be the baby's crotch.

edit: i guess that's where it was already, but if you're gonna fix it you might try to fix that finger too.

 

[Kolander]

I spent hours working with Photoshop each day, and I wouldn't retouch the shadow of one hair on that pretty angry face

 

[PixelRabbit]

Years from now do you want to look at this and say " Good photoshop job. " or " Haha! Remember that day Miss Grumpy Pants?"

 

[DiskoJoe]

LOl - No, a friend of mine is starting up a business and asked for some practice, especially as I have been complaining that no one will take a family of 6 in our area for a reasonable price. Even our vacation photos are missing either dh or I.
To add: I love photography but am colorblind and in general not very artistic, so I leave my photo sessions to a point & shoot and am generally happy. I would very much like a family photo though!

Tell your friend that when you work with children you need to be quicker before they lose interest and also that the parent being interactive with the children is key to achieving a successful family portrait. They should have studied your faces and known exactly how they would pose you before you ever walked in that room. Then it would have been just slight lighting adjustments and done in less then 15 minutes.