http://www.steelerdirtfreak.com/DSC_0699.JPG

I have an order for an 8 x 10 (10 x 8) of this photo; trouble is, I can't figure out how to convert the size to 10x8 without losing one of the guys in the photo - and the lady wants both of them in it.

Obviously I'm still a rookie with this sort of thing; can anyone advise me as to the best way to handle this?

Thanks for any help at all.

Change the canvas size to something with a 5x4 aspect ratio but larger than the original leaving the original centered. Then resize to 10x8. This will leave your photo with a white border around it.
A better looking result might be to cut a mat to fit the original proportions.

A couple of options - first would be what Chunk said. Increase the canvas size in Photoshop and you'll wind up with an image about 6.7" x 10 on an 8x10 piece of paper - IOW about 3/4" border at the top and bottom. This border can be white, black or anything else.

Another option is to print 8x12 which is standard proportions for 35mm (or most DSLR's). 8x12 is getting more and more common but you'll still probably have to have a mat cut for it.

Many people ask for 8x10's out of habit - 8x12 is really what she wants for this shot if she saw a 4x6 print because it would be the same proportions. 5x7 is closer than 8x10 to 4x6, but still will have a little of this problem. In the future, you may want to crop a little looser in the camera when that's a possibility. You can't always know when you'll need an 8x10 crop but you'll have the option.

Thank you both for the advice, I certainly appreciate it!

This was my first night of using the D70, I can see how I'm going to have to pay much more attention to how I compose and crop each shot.

Thanks for the tip about the 8 x 12; I'll probably start using that, just have to find a local place that will print them - where I'm using now only goes to 8 x 10 (perhaps I'll use mpix.com more often). Guess that's the downside to living in the middle of nowhere!

Here is how I ended up handling this photo; I'd like to have worked with it a bit more, but I needed to get it in the mail and I'm flying out for Houston in a little bit, so....

I think it works ok like this.