Processing a snapshot-style picture

[semperaggie]

I took a picture of some friends at a wedding recently. This is pretty much out of the camera (might have been cropped):



I was trying to liven it up a bit and came up with:



I can't decide if I like it or if it is over the top.

What do you like to do in similar cases?

[Daniel Bates]

I like the effect that you're going for, but it is a bit over the top for me. You see how their flesh tones were blown out during processing, then reduced to grey from the vignette? That just doesn't look natural.

Maybe try layering the skin tones from the unprocessed image onto the processed one - or the colours from the second onto the first.

[swanny338]

The vignette is cutting into your subject which in my opinion detracts from the photo. The purpose of a vignette is to bring your attention to the subject, not to cover the subject. Also looks like you bumped the contrast up to far.

[bondarnes]

The first image is much better than the second one.