Processing shots taken in strong sunlight

[Peter123]

I was invited to a party recently and took along my Nikon FF camera with zoom lens.
The party turned out to be in a garden in full sun.
I didn't have an nd filter with me so the images show very bright sun and pronounced shadows.
I've done the usual LR tricks with highlights and shadows, vibrance, WB etc but the images still don't look to be processed that well.

Any tips or tricks you can advise?

 

[Eucris]

I was invited to a party recently and took along my Nikon FF camera with zoom lens.
The party turned out to be in a garden in full sun.
I didn't have an nd filter with me so the images show very bright sun and pronounced shadows.
I've done the usual LR tricks with highlights and shadows, vibrance, WB etc but the images still don't look to be processed that well.

Any tips or tricks you can advise?

Not without seeing a picture.

 

[Peter123]

The ones I have contain a small child. I'll need to ask the parents.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I've done the usual LR tricks with highlights and shadows, vibrance, WB etc

Highlights -100 shadows +100, then set b&w points? Apply a second shadow reduction mask using a brush or linear gradient on selected parts or to the whole frame. Back off saturation a little.

I'm away from home right now, so can't show examples.

 

[Annet]

I've done the usual LR tricks with highlights and shadows, vibrance, WB etc but the images still don't look to be processed that well.

This is what always happens to me and I think I just got used to it, because there is only so much I can do. Sometimes turning pictures black and white or throwing on grainy photo filter in Photoworks or Snapseed helps, but that probably won't be a solution for a party pictures, though you might try doing that anyway.

Ancient Mariner is right, though, reducing overall saturation and working with black and white points should help a bit.

 

[Pound Coin]

I’m not sure an nd filter would have helped?

 

[ancient_mariner]

I’m not sure an nd filter would have helped?

Not at all. It can't change contrast unless it's also a diffuser, and even then it won't help much.

 

[woof woof]

Any tips or tricks you can advise?

If possible shoot from another position or perspective and think about exposing for your main subject and then process for best effect. If you don't shoot raw already think about doing so as this might give you greater latitude and more options when processing your pictures.