How to get proper skin tones when using flash?

Hey Guys,

I have an issue with testing some of my new flash equipment. I am using a single shoot through umbrella, 32" in diameter with a 580ex II triggered remotely. I am using a Sekonic L-308s light meter to get my exposure settings roughly correct. I am using a grey card to get the WB values when editing in LR and PS. however, after all the things I do for this, I cannot seem to get proper skin tones on certain people. The skin tones always come out flat, washed out (but not overexposed).

Now I see people with all of the pics that are using one light and have just perfect pictures and I am still trying to figure out how they get that. I have read everything I can at strobist.com, here, kelbytraining.com and I am following the ways that people are doing this to a T, but I still get flat, dead looking skin on some people.

Can this be a result of indoor lighting, not enough ambient lighting, incandescent ambient lighting? Any hints or links to help point me in the right direction would be fantastic...

ps...all my shots are in RAW from the start, with proper exposure (shown on the histogram and matched with the lightmeter), I have tried multiple angles of light.

The best way for us to help you is to see a sample of what you're describing.

TMR Design wrote in post #12346053
The best way for us to help you is to see a sample of what you're describing.

Working on it, asking the GF's permissions to post candid's

It would help to see what you're referring to. When I hear washed out though, it could well be the way you're lighting? I'll keep my opinion / conjecture to a minimum until I know a bit more.

SOOC

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Oh wow, I think I may have stumbled onto my own proplems. I have never exported one of my flash pictures out of LR or PS yet. They look completely different in a web browser.

My monitor is calibrated with a Spyder3Pro.

Looks like you're working on a problem that really isn't there.

You're not really modeling the face so there isn't any dimension or contrast. Also, you stated that the meter gets you close. If used properly (and calibrated to your camera) it will give you the correct exposure.

The second image with the PP doesn't look better.

Correct exposure and some contrast will get you a much better image.

TMR Design wrote in post #12346128
Looks like you're working on a problem that really isn't there.

You're not really modeling the face so there isn't any dimension or contrast. Also, you stated that the meter gets you close. If used properly (and calibrated to your camera) it will give you the correct exposure.

The second image with the PP doesn't look better.

Correct exposure and some contrast will get you a much better image.

I know I was just testing real quick However here is a picture of the problem.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Same picture, one inside lightroom with zero changes, same picture exported and uploaded to post here.

Are you sure you calibrated your monitor correctly?

I have a Spyder3 Pro - it's really easy to mess it up, especially when calibrating in low light as the software recommends to recalibrate to a completely wrong colour temp, and the prompt is worded such that you should click to accept the wrong temp, resulting in a way off monitor balance...

Try changing monitor colour profiles - does that change significantly what you are experiencing?

talbot_sunbeam wrote in post #12346172
Are you sure you calibrated your monitor correctly?

I have a Spyder3 Pro - it's really easy to mess it up, especially when calibrating in low light as the software recommends to recalibrate to a completely wrong colour temp, and the prompt is worded such that you should click to accept the wrong temp, resulting in a way off monitor balance...

Try changing monitor colour profiles - does that change significantly what you are experiencing?

The problem persists even when turning the calibration of the Spyder3Pro off.

Are you sure you're not applying any presets or adjustments, either on import or export?

When you say straight out of camera, where is it being imported and how are you viewing?

Are you shooting in raw or jpg?

TMR Design wrote in post #12346189
Are you sure you're not applying any presets or adjustments, either on import or export?

When you say straight out of camera, where is it being imported and how are you viewing?

Are you shooting in raw or jpg?

Hey TMR,

Yep just checked again. No presets in place ( i even removed meta data to test) when importing. Also on export, the only things that are set are the size of the pic, the color space (sRGB by default) and low Screen sharpening.

All of these photos were shot in RAW. When I say SOOC, its imported into lightroom, nothing touched, then exported as a jpg

What color space are you shooting in / is your camera set to? If you're shooting in a different colorspace in-camera than what is being exported from lightroom (we've established export is sRGB) that could explain it.

It does appear to be a color space/color management issue but I can't put my finger on it.

I'm sure you've already looked at prefs and settings but just for the heck of it, go over the workflow from camera to LR export and look for anything that's not right or may have changed.