How do I get rid of shadows?

[wrightphotography]

I recently took pics of a family and I got lots of shadows. I used 2 umbrella strobes and have them placed about 5 feet from the subjects. I'm pretty new at this and still learning. I also have a continuous light softbox I could use if that would help?? Well the damage is already done for this shoot, so any ideas on how to fix the pictures? I have elements 5 and have tried to lighten the shadows, but it just doesn't look right. Any ideas? Please help!

 

[sdesha]

My favorite way to get rid of the darkness or the lightness is add new layer>Edit fill layer>50% grey>set to softlight then take a soft brush set to a low ocpt. and then brush over the light areas with black and dark areas with white in ur photo...

thats the way i learned i have PSE6 but i think its in PSE5 as well...

 

[usayit]

post samples.

 

[sdesha]

post samples.

These arent the best samples but its the only ones i have that are blown out on my MAC. I was goofing off with the camera at an amusement park. If you take your time at it, this can turn out great...i just did a fast sample...

 

[3312easy]

Maybe can use eclosion function in photoshop.

 

[Photog]

If you're shooting RAW, first try raising the exposure a bit and then dropping the blacks in Camera Raw, then in PSE play around with the shadows/highlights control and the dodge tool.