My photos look so dull

[RLPhoto]

Just imagine the possibilities if we had the RAW file.

[NotABunny]

I prefer to take a challenge rather than mock.

As I was saying, a BW helps you to get rid of a bad color balance.

(Half an hour in LR.)

[jVillaPhoto]

Well, here's my attempt. Need the practice so any constructive crits welcome!

[DrDeano]

Difficult because of the diffuse lighting, improper exposure and what appears to be mixed color temps.

Anywho, here's my attempt to fix the jpg. Done in LR 4.1.

-DrDeano

[westr70]

My swing at it.  levels, curves, contrast, adjusted color, fixed tones and skin, a bit of dodging and burning.  All and all about 2-3 min of work.

Seriously nice work.  Do a tutorial. 

[cpsico]

Hi,

well im regularly browsing around several websites checking out portraits cuz thats what i like to shoot too. Usually i come across pictures where i just think they look so good because the photo just looks so "fully lighted".
Feeling a bit retarded at the moment but i will still try to explain what i mean.

For example this photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8600629@N06/4448073209#

Its not about the composition or anything but the lighting in this just looks so good to me. It looks so bright and the shadows are so soft. Like so awesome contrast and colors.

Other examples (randomly picked from pixe-peeper.com with 50mm 1.4 and 1.2):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24285656@N07/7224316282#

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41174696@N00/3606301684#

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97349383@N00/4021765535#

And in contrast when i take a portrait it just looks so...boring and dull and not brilliant.

Some of MY samples (SORRY FOR ADS ON THAT SITE ):

http://s7.directupload.net/file/d/2932/v8c7htox_jpg.htm

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2932/e6d27om2_jpg.htm

and last one where i overexposured a little trying to get "that look" from the samples at the beginning.

http://s14.directupload.net/file/d/2932/kbxf5b2c_jpg.htm

Is it just my lens thats so crappy? 50mm 1.8II L(ens hood attached)? OR my 1100D camera? It just doesnt look so shiny awesome like i want. Like so "mellow" contrast only. Or is it just the post processing? Feel free to give my photos a try.

Thanks already

What color space are you using, srgb or adobe?

[Ryan708]

Is it just my lens thats so crappy? 50mm 1.8II L(ens hood attached)? OR my 1100D camera? It just doesnt look so shiny awesome like i want. Like so "mellow" contrast only. Or is it just the post processing? Feel free to give my photos a try.

Thanks already

My 50 f/1.8ii gives the same feel. It is an excellent lens as far as sharpness goes and the 1.8 is nice. But it has no saturation or contrast. I shot a wedding last weekend and the 50mm's images all needed retouching, to make them look punchy, where some of the shots from my 17-70 sigma almost seemed too punchy and saturated. every lens has it's strong points. My canon 28mm f/2.8 is very vivid and sharp! but not very versatile. I like lightroom but if you shoot Jpeg try making a custom picture style, thats a normal landscape style, but add +2 saturation. That livens up the 50mm a lot!

[verysimplejason]

Even Picasa can give photos some life though I use it only for previewing.  I've just tried doing it with several of jpegs here.  1 min photo editing.  I can't download the raw files because I'm at the office right now.