I am no expert, here is what I do/did though.
Actually, if you are a novice, I would suggest keeping the ISO as low as possible (don't know how young/active the kids are, but make sure that the shutter speed is enough to stop blurring). The lower the ISO, the less noise that the camera will introduce.
I would also suggest RAW shooting. Try and get as much as possilbe right in camera, (I like to go to the jpg tab and hit the increase contrast button in digital photo proffessional). Then just do a convert and save.
I suggest RAW, as if you don't quite get the exposure perfect (could end up with dark photos if you are trying to keep the ISO low), then you can recover slightly more in RAW than from a JPG.
Then I would recommend sending in to DSCL or another pro LAB, but, choose the option which is not Pro Pre Colour Corrected. The labs will then cast an eye over the images sent in, and will adjust them for you.
Only simple things, such as contrast and brightness, but it can help to recover a photo.
I asked DSCL for the correct profile to use on their Acrylics just last week, use the Lustre one (comes up as Frontier CP 2 I think).
(hmm, you are using photoshop, this has a camera raw import option, which can do a lot of tweaking that DPP can, and has an auto function which is reasonable). Just do Open on a RAW file.
Resolution, what size are you going to print. Aim for 300 Pixels per Inch.
IF you are going to edit much, then make sure that the resolution is the same, or larger than the final size you are going to print, prior to editing.
So, if you are going to do 12"x12", and your image is less than 3600x3600, then crop first. If however, your image is 5000x5000, you can crop (should crop) after your edits.
Select the crop tool, put in the size, 12 in 12 in for height and width, and 300 in the ppi box. Crop as per usual.
For DSCL, I believe that they prefer JPG. (attach the profile of course).
However, do not set the output profile, until you are going to save. So under edit, colour profile (convert), your profile should read sRGB, Adobe, pro photo or one of normal ones. These have 'more' scope for colours than a printer profile.
After a bit of editing, you go to View, Proof Setup, and then select the device which you are going to print on, This time Frontier CP 2. (for the lustre)
This gives you an idea as to what the image will be modified to when it is printed.
Save your PSD file in sRGB or whatever.
Then, just before you send it to DSCL, choose edit, convert to colour profile, and select the Frontier CP2.
(assuming you are already in 8 bit mode, or otherwise go to image, mode->8 bit, otherwise you cannot save as JPG).
Next, go to file, save, jpg, and there should be the option (already ticked?) about attaching the correct profile.
I do not save the PSD at this stage, I either use the history feature to undo, or revert to my pre-converted image.
When you upload to DSCL, I notice that the webpage preview does not match the colours correctly, I asked and this is know about. The preview is more for an idea of what you are ordering.
The people at DSCL are friendly, and responded reasonably quickly to emails. Also, given that acrylics are not cheap, I am sure (well, I did), that if you ask them to email you if the image is dire when they get it, that they won't mind doing that.
Hope it goes well
