Been doing it all wrong - what should I do?

[Gary A.]

If you get it right in the camera, there is less need for post production.

See this is what I am referring to by "philosophy". Implicit in the suggestion is that all photographs can be near perfect in the camera. I would respectfully refute that.
Whereas I could post a lot of pics that I have taken that SOOC was good enough for me I also can post a gazillion photographs that I have taken with a specific processing technique in mind while I was taking the photograph. No matter how well I capture an image "in camera" my creative juices get flowing when I have access to an unlimited number of processes that could affect the final outcome.

One fine example is posted below. This was a pic taken with the single purpose of creating a baseline for the end result. I added several bits of several pics together to get the dolls face I was looking for:
View attachment 136273

As Morpheus would say "Free your mind"

Then you did get it right in camera in preparation for the final image. I often underexpose or overexpose knowing my intent for the final image and in order to minimalize processing.

 

[Gary A.]

Most neophytes overuse the tools provided. The first time I was in a studio I setup every light I could find. I probably gave my subject a sunburn. Sliders are a two-edged sword. There are a ton of options for available in digital photography and it is very easy to "overcorrect" here causing one to "overcorrect" there ... and soon you have an overcorrected mess. I suggest you take some classes ... find a mentor ... start building a solid photographic foundation and formal structure.

You are just starting out, but "previsualizating" the final image before you bring your camera up to your eye ... then process to that previsualized mental image ... would be useful.

For me, moving sliders with no mental image to slide towards ... is often an exercise in futility. It is great for experimentation and discovery but not so great for productivity.

 

[Gary A.]

You've only wasted 3 months? I don't even want to think of the years that I spent fiddling with lr and capture one. Editing is the bane of my existence.

What I can suggest is to have a reference image open (one from you or someone else that you have long deemed perfect), next to your image you're editing, so you can quickly compare everything. It makes it much easier to see color, contrast, wb, etc. I wish I would have learned that tip 10 years ago.

This is a good suggestion.

 

[SquarePeg]

Your comment about the monitor... If you recently changed monitors, or recently calibrated your existing monitor, that could go a long way toward explaining why you're unhappy with your old work that you're viewing on your new monitor, especially if you were using a laptop and now you're using a standalone monitor. When I got my new monitor and calibrated it I went back and re-edited a lot of my old photos because they were too dark or too contrasty or too saturated.