Help me fix my photo please

[DangerouslyMoody]

Hey guys! I am trying to fix a few photos I took last weekend. The lighting was absolutly horrible and my flash did not always fire...that being said...there was some outside light so it wasn't pitch black...some of my photos turned out darker, some were kinda yellowish looking and some were fuzzy...i have photoshop elements but i am not really good with it yet...what functions do you suggest i work on to fix them...hue? lighting? color cast?? i have tried some 'quick fixes" in photosmart (HP) but some turn out looking kinda grainy :( Thanks in advance for any help

[12stones]

Autumn, it would be easier to try and help if you could post a pic or two for us to see what you're talking about.

[DangerouslyMoody]

Ok but don't laugh :) ...How do I get them on here? Do they need to be a certain size

[mom2aidan]

900x900 is the max
go to "new reply" and go down to "manage attachments" and upload them from your computer

[DangerouslyMoody]

Thanks! I just figured that out haha...I am going to try this...

[DangerouslyMoody]

Lets see if this worked...

[LoungeLizard]

I hope you shot these in RAW - or have Lightroom or CS3. Here's my thoughts:

1) White balance set for daylight - shot under tungsten lighting (and a bit under exposed)
2) Hard to tell from such small size, but looks like a white balance thing too and uneven exposure.
3) Under exposed. Flash on them, tungsten elsewhere. That's OK - just need to get WB set for them and let the rest go "yellowish". Adjust exposure also.
4) Flash baby, flash. Direct flash. You may be able to warm it up some, mellow the directness out some but the background will still be dark - which may be OK.
5) Underexposed - and slight WB problem. Not to mention the direct reflection on the door from your flash.

Hope that helps some.

[DangerouslyMoody]

Thanks...how can I fix these in Elements??

[ndsimm]

If you shot in RAW you can do what Jesus already suggested, if these are jpeg only, then I'm not sure how much elements will help beyond brightness/contrast

[DangerouslyMoody]

I did not shoot in RAW :( I am just trying to see what I need to do in elements to make them a little better...like what tools should I be trying out...I am not super familiar with it but that way I can play around in the general direction and read up on it some too...thanks

[12stones]

I'm not familiar with Elements, so I couldn't say what it has and what you can do.

That being said, most of what's wrong in these pictures, next time, needs to be fixed before you press the button to take the picture. You'll also want to keep an eye one your framing and composition.

I'm not a PP guru, but I took a shot with one. I played with adjusting the histogram a little, a little contrast, changed the color temp slightly to try and overcome with WB issue. Because I was dealing with a low-res image, it looks quite pixelated. It's not great, but not having it in RAW really cripples ya from the get-go.

I'd like to see some of your good images too.

[Angelo]

Autumn, I am not familiar with Elements or else I'd help you. There's a lot you can do with the proper software, like correct the white balance problem. I lightened this one for you.

[Angelo]

Autumn, here's a quick white balance correction on the cake.

[LoungeLizard]

I have no clue on how to fix it with elements as I don't use that software (never have).

I've suggested ways to improve them - how your software does that (if it can) is for you to figure out. Sorry.

Also, for something as important as a wedding - and without mastery of the art and gear - RAW can save you.

[luis_relampago]

Here is one that I fix by adjusting the curves by setting the darkest, medium and lightest points on the images and ruining a shadow and highlight filter, also adding a vignette. If you shot Large jpgs you can try to color correct them by setting those points under the graphic on the curve window and also play with the opacity of the adjustment layer.