Issues with colors

I feel like none of my pictures pop especially in color. I feel like there is a fog. I don't know if I need to sharpen the image more or what I'm doing wrong either in camera or in my post processing but I am generally not happy about how my pictures are looking and I want to get better but I'm just not sure what is lacking.

The first place to start is by shooting in better light. In the top shot you have overexposed spots which limits what you can do in post to help the image overall. Then look at the usual suspects, are you shooting raw?

The first photo, light is harsh, but once you get that figured out, what an outstanding photo that will be!

The first one is blown out but should be able to be recovered by lowering exposure and hightlights if shooting raw. Here is a quick try with the jpg.

I do shoot in raw. I think I did that to the exposure. Here is the unedited version. In the second one could I have turned down the fill for a better shot?

The other thing I would do is some WB. The pictures are a little too cool.

#1 - Have to agree, the light is terrible for decent photos. IMO there are only two approaches to shooting people in mottled light - find some place else, or accept that the image will most likely be only a decent photo for a scrap book.

#2 - it would appear the flash was on camera as there is a side shadow being created. If the flash has to stay on camera shooting in landscape reduces the side shadow and will push any shadow down behind the subject. Keeping your subject away for surfaces that will show the shadow will also work.

Photography is primarily about controlling the light. That's tough to do in both these situations.

The only other thing I see is the white balance in #1 appears much too cool on that beautiful little girl.

Nature Nut wrote in post #15160478
The other thing I would do is some WB. The pictures are a little too cool.

I type too slow.

Titus213 wrote in post #15160493
I type too slow.

Lol.my mind doesn't always follow my fingers

I agree about the light - the parents wanted that first shot though so I just wanted to make it look decent for them.

On the second one it was sunset and was getting pretty dark. I was at a casual function and I didn't bring my off camera cord. I have a lot to learn about the use of the strobe. I don't always understand how to best utilize it.

Thanks so much for the input.

is this any better?

leahmt47 wrote in post #15164520
is this any better?

Not for me personally. The improvements you made to the shadow areas just draw more attention to the sun spots.

Okay... but the parents asked for this one. Is there anything that can be done or just trash it? There were plenty of other ones where I had her in complete shade without the sun spots but the parents didn't choose any of those.

leahmt47 wrote in post #15164698
Okay... but the parents asked for this one. Is there anything that can be done or just trash it? There were plenty of other ones where I had her in complete shade without the sun spots but the parents didn't choose any of those.

Just adjust it until you are happy with it. I prefer the first version you posted, although its flawed the contrast between the sun spots and the rest of the image is less pronounced. Perhaps you do a subtle levels or curves adjustment to see if you can bring it a bit closer to what you want without accentuating the spots.

I think that last edit you did is much better. If you aren't liking the colour how about converting it to B&W?