Help with taking pictures

[saurtan]

Hi all,
I am having abit of a problem taking photographs of some friends. They are abit on the dark/tanned side and whenever i take photographs of them, the overall photograph is too dark. Post-processing using Picture Project to brighten just results in them looking burnt (reddish). Can anyone please help me? Thanks very much, and much apologies for any offence caused.

 

[Stoned]

Try to dial up the exposure. It's known in your manual as exposure compensation. Typically about +2/3 stop to +1 stop should be fine for shooting dark-skinned subjects

 

[saurtan]

Ah, ok, thank you Stoned.
Another question: is it ok if i continue to focus on their faces, or should i increase aperture and focus on something more neutral, like a wall instead? Finally, should i focus on the person with the middle complexion (of the lot), or the fairest or..?

Thanks very much for all your help!

 

[Abuddlah]

try using flash?

 

[saurtan]

I'm afraid I'm still abit of a flash idiot :embrass: but will most definitely try it out when i have the time. thanks very much for the tip!

 

[3in1c]

Ah, ok, thank you Stoned.
Another question: is it ok if i continue to focus on their faces, or should i increase aperture and focus on something more neutral, like a wall instead? Finally, should i focus on the person with the middle complexion (of the lot), or the fairest or..?

Thanks very much for all your help!

Perhaps easier to post a picture for critic.

 

[deklan]

basically read ur meter and adjust ur settings accordingly.
not sure abt the reddish issue, might be white balance if i think i got u right. . .

 

[Stoned]

Ah, ok, thank you Stoned.
Another question: is it ok if i continue to focus on their faces, or should i increase aperture and focus on something more neutral, like a wall instead? Finally, should i focus on the person with the middle complexion (of the lot), or the fairest or..?

Thanks very much for all your help!

I always liked Nikon's metering. With the adjustment, Matrix mode should work just fine.