trying to liven up my pic... critique please

i have the habit of making my pictures darker then they probably should be.. and not use bright colors .. just my style? i guess .. i dont know i've always liked dark shadowy pictures
but for the sake of learning different styles for when i want something different i'm trying to learn how brighten things up

and critique on the below picture would be appreciated , especially on processing but any aspect would be appreciated , tips on how to improve coloring etc would be good as well i use lightroom mostly but do have PS as well although i'm not that aware of how to use i t

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/wDyF​fX

I played with the image a bit.
I used LR and did the following.
Used the gradient tool from the bottom up and removed some yellow from the grass.
Used the brush and increased the contrast, saturation, and clarity of the umbrellas.

If were to play with it some more I would likely mask the grass and change it to a bit more green.

Others will give better Photoshop advice. All I can suggest is that in the long run look for better light. The midday light is going to keep this shot from reaching its full potential. To bring your highlights down you begin to crunch the middle tones and the shadows are already deep.

Photoshop out the guy with the selfie stick.

mike_311 wrote in post #17658952
Photoshop out the guy with the selfie stick.

It's a golf club.

I would have liked this more if the umbrellas were more up against the sky (shot from closer up)... they blend into the tree line too much for me.

I'd probably get rid of the people all together as they distract from the subject as they're not engaged with it at all in my view.

Interesting tho

and yes, it feels dark to me. I'd tone down the grass and bring out the color in the umbrellas

mike_311 wrote in post #17658952
Photoshop out the guy with the selfie stick.

THIS!

Heres my attempt at chage in sky color( changed white point to more blue)and whitened up the clouds slightly to contrast with the umbrellas........, Also saturated umbrellas with some additional tweeking of the contrast in umbrellas to emphasis shape . Lightened shadows under umbrellas , Cloned out the person on RHS in field