Great photo shame about the background

[lazyflamingo]

I have got Photoshop CS2 and would really appreciate some advice as to how to make the background look better. I have tried blur, motion just in the background but it looks really false .I am obviously not following the right steps. The couple are off overseas tomorrow and I'd like to give them this as a print . If there is something not too complicated that I can do to make this look terrific I'd love to give it a go. this is the bridal couple's only dance shot. I don't seem to be able to make the photo small enough in iphoto to send.

[Janet Petty]

I'm sorry to tell you but I can't see the picture. Did you post one?

[dataflow]

select the forground invert the selection then feather it by a few pixels (depending on res of image) then delete.
you should now have transparent edges that blend into BG

[lazyflamingo]

Here is the photo now sorry about that I have sent the original without any work on eyes etc. I think I am getting too old for this stuff.

[lazyflamingo]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have had a try and this is the result I think it is a bit better. At least the background doesn't look so pronounced.

[Moniquette]

I would say try to darken the background more, or add a dark vignette to add some drama to the image.

[dataflow]

i had the wrong idea of what you wanted.
i thought you meant the BG was separate from the couple and you wanted to blend them into the BG

[Chain]

The problem with blurring the background, is that parts of the couple gets included in the blur and "bleed" into the background (see the attempt by the lazy flamingo). You can fix this by duplicating the image, then using the clone stamp tool, or perhaps just content aware fill, to remove them (at least around the edges), then blur it. Use a mask to reveal the couple underneath (or place the couple on top and use a mask to reveal the background underneath).
Don't select and delete; use a mask.

Tip: If you convert to a smart object before masking/blurring, you can easily go back and tweak the blur settings if you are not happy with it. Note: If you want to use Lens Blur (like I did) you cannot use a Smart Object (why Adobe? Whyyyyy?).

I didn't do much else on this Photo besides general curves, and adding a bit of glow. Don't blur it too much as it might look unnatural. As others suggest, you can add lots of other effects; vignetting, maybe some romatic glow around the edges, etc.

[Repairman]

Remove the bright window frame and the hanging flex whatever you do.

[Chain]

Originally Posted by Repairman

Remove the bright window frame and the hanging flex whatever you do.

Yep, definately needs to clean up the background some.

[0lBaldy]

How Bout a simple crop?

[Cupcake]

Here is another idea.

[fenix]

and another