Layer Mask and the Background

I did a shoot with a while muslin backdrop. The light falls off and I'd like to blow it out more without changing the subject.

I thought about a second layer and layer mask to paint in where I want the lighter background but I really need to learn a little more about it. I'd like to know if someone can tell me a simple way to lighten the background and keeping skin tones and the like the same.

This is from the camera with level adjusts and some sharpening. It needs to be brighter I think but I'm more interested in lightening the background.

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Adjustment layer with a mask is the 'Q&D' approach. Might work, won't be stellar.

Have a look at Dr Brown's "Advanced Background Extraction" (CS2 section).

However, reshooting would be a lot better (and easier) option.

Also, the subject is underexposed IMO, and will look even darker on a white BG.

You can also try the extract tool to extract the model, and then blow out the background, or change the foreground as well. The gradient tool is useful to separate the foreground and background. Also, with thr model extracted, you can lighten her up to compensate for the blown background. Here's a 3 minute fix (note the pink foreground was just for experimental purposes.) I can send you the photoshop file if interested.

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I fixed it for the most part with the raw image. I think I'm just burning myself out editing as many images as I do in such a short time.

Call my clumbsy, but with moving lights around and handling the camera I tend to change a setting or hit the scroll wheel when I shouldn't.

And one of my models said they didn't think she looked very good. Maybe it's just me!

Thanks