How can I reduce red, blotchy skin tones in indoor video with a Canon SL1?
Asked 6/13/2015
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I’m recording vlog-style indoor video with a Canon SL1 and my skin looks blotchy, pale, and overly red on camera. Current setup: 1/60s, f/4.5, ISO 800, and two 45W 6500K daylight CFLs shot through umbrellas. What should I adjust first to get more flattering skin tones—lighting, white balance, exposure, makeup, or post-processing?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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My thoughts about smoothing out skin tones:
Careful not to underexpose. You could probably expose a little bit hotter, putting the skin tones into the top third of the histogram where the S-curve starts to flatten more, being more flattering.
Another thing, that image seems over-saturated, which isn't helping.
Here's a quick fiddle I had just to see how changing exposure and saturation might help:
Experiment with lighting placement. Try having the umbrellas closer to the subject and maybe try more to the side, too. Have one side lighter than the other to create some contrast, as counter-intuitive as that sounds it might distract from the local contrast in the skin tones.
As you have already mentioned, make-up. Give it serious consideration.
Originally by user3422. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3422
11y ago
0
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Start with lighting and exposure. Your image likely looks a bit underexposed and too saturated, which can exaggerate uneven skin tones. Try giving skin a little more exposure and, if possible, use more light so you can lower ISO from 800.
Also experiment with light placement: move the umbrellas closer and/or more to the side instead of flat front lighting. Slightly uneven lighting can actually make skin look smoother than fully flat light.
White balance matters too. Set it carefully rather than guessing—shoot a gray card and use it to dial in accurate white balance in post if you can. If you’re shooting stills or frames for grading, RAW gives more flexibility.
Your 6500K daylight CFLs may not be the most flattering for skin. Some shooters prefer warmer tungsten-balanced light because it can make skin tones look more even, provided the lights have good color quality.
In post, reduce saturation slightly and make small color corrections (for example, taming reds). Makeup is also a very practical fix for blotchiness on camera.
So, prioritize: 1) better exposure, 2) improved light placement/intensity, 3) accurate white balance, 4) modest post color correction, 5) makeup if needed.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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