This is gonna sound dumb but I have very little experience with Photoshop... What part do you all use to edit raw files off of a Nikon because Photoshop keeps telling me it's not a valid file type. All help appreciated :-)
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Adobe Bridge will take care of that. right click the file and in the list should be "Open in camera Raw"

What version of PS are you using?
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CS4 complete
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You need to update your version of PS ... meaning that you just need to run the software's "update" feature (not that you need a newer release of the software e.g., CS4). Software producers release updated camera RAW stuff regularly as part of the free maintenance releases.
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open your photoshop then at the top unher the help menu there is a selection that says update. Thats the one. Try updating a few times too.
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Thanks Brothers updating Round 1 911 MB
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Just updated mine too. Camera Raw 5.6 is where you should be
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My wife:

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it's a little big, but here it is:

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(right click, open the image in a new tab or window, and copy the URL that ends in "jpg" ... though it should just be there when you click the photo, click "all sizes," and scroll down below the photo)
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BTW: nice photo, but I'd change a few things.

1. rule of thirds: having the subject perfectly centered doesn't work as well as having them in the right or left third (in this instance)

2. the image looks flat: try popping up the contrast, sharpness, and tweaking the saturation a little.

3. lighting is a little off: note the shadows behind the subject. you'd probably be better off with some additional light placed behind and to the right of you ... but Carlos will probably have a better suggestion than that.
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This is just a quick edit using your JPG; but it addresses some of the criticisms above:

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I went with a square crop, messed with some of the levels and colors, added a warming filter, sharpened things up, etc. It's still not perfect, but hopefully it gives you an idea of the direction in which to go (assuming anyone agrees with me).
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I disagree!!!!!!





(stirring the pot)
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:-)

Well ... there you have it.

:-)
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I need some help from you smart people. How can I take a good picture of my dog? Whenever I snap a photo, I get that stupid "alien eye" effect on his eyes.
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In the flash modes use red eye reduction. It works for green and blue eyes too I think.

Or get down on there level. so the lights over head aren't reflecting of their corneas.
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I put up 3 pics... the third one I played with hue and saturation, etc. The first two are just straight out of the camera with no changes made (aside from size). I typically do follow the rule of thirds (as evidenced by the other 2 shots), I just figured I'd have one of them dead center so they don't all look the same. I also typically do a bunch in PS, but I just wanted to throw some stuff up there. I may go through and do some work to them at some point.

Lighting is where I feel I really need the help... understanding that better would be key, I believe. Thanks for the suggestions, though... this one thread has taught me more than any other source! :-)
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couple others, no post processing

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I was toying with slow shutter speeds and no flash (trying to get the lights from the setup). This was Shell's aunt's little xmas village thing...
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again, no post processing on these:

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Red eye is caused by the light going straight into the eye and reflecting the blood out of the eye back to the lens. Dogs and cats often reflect other colors other than red where humans are always red.

As mentioned here, red eye reduction does work but does not eliminate it. It works by sending a pre flash the to the pupil, causing it to reduce in size, hence reducing the red eye.

Professionals never, ever get red eye. We do it by two ways:
1) Mount your flash on a bracket high above the camera lens. No more red eye as the flash and lens axis are no longer the same. However, many can't do this with point and shoot cameras.
2) Bounce lighting. No more red eye. However, with point and shoots, this too is out.

So......so much for point and shoot cameras and the ability to eliminate red eye all together.
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