Just kicked my bank account in the nuts...

[fokker]

Yo Fokker, where are they originally from (ethnicity)? On 9 & 10 I personally would use flash and mix it with the purple ambiance. And I think your processing is still on the underexposed side. That is what I have been doing it too but I get many comments about being slightly underexposed. Most people like it on the bright side . NJ, hopefully I can have my mk2 soon.

They are both Indian but been in Melbourne for quite a while. I actually did use a little bit of flash on the purply ones you mention, had the omni-bounce on and a white ceiling and walls (mostly) so it was quite a nice little atmosphere for lighting. I tend to like letting the natural light do as much of the lighting as possible in situations like this and just using the flash for a little bit of fill. I did try a couple that were lit more by the flash than the ambient and they didn't really have any mood to them like these ones do. I guess maybe it looks a bit funny being so purple, but that's what it was like in the room so it's how they'll want to (presumably) remember it.

Re. the underexposing - I get what you mean, I think it's just how I like photos most of the time. I reckon there is no such thing as a perfect exposure, but more like a band of exposure values inside which most people would agree that a photo looks well exposed. And within that band there is some wiggle room either side to suit your personal tastes. At least that's my take on it...