Bad Exposure, Bad WB, Bad Lighting, or all of the above?

[RebelScum]

I'm not exactly sure what happened in this picture (actually, all the pictures from this set). I can't determine if it's underexposed, poor white balance, bad lighting, or all three. I'd love some helpful input about what the problem is and the best remedy. Do I just need to invest in a flash unit? This was natural light with a large window directly behind me but it was a very cloudy day. I hesitated to stop down to 1.8 just because I'm a little afraid of missing the focus (which I know, is another issue altogether).
Exif:
50mm
1/125 seconds
f/2.2
ISO 200

[NicoleScraps]

I can't see the photo. It's just a red X.

[RebelScum]

Does that help? I tried to reattach it.

[MrJones]

it's actually all of the above, plus your focus is a bit off.
I think one of the smartest investments a photographer (even an amateur) can make is a flash unit.
it changes everything and it was one of the smartest decisions I've made.
what camera are you using btw?
anyway, I've edited it a bit in photoshop, nothing serious - hope you don't mind.
just levels, saturation and a bit of sharpening.
here is the end result:

[TBrown00]

It is all 3. Investing in a flash would definitely help the lighting and the exposure problems. The picture is blue because of the outside light. Your camera white balanced for inside, and then the outside light hitting your subject appears blue.
Also, your focus appears to have fallen on the suitcases instead of your subject. Put your camera in single focus mode (AF-S on Nikon - not sure what you have) and choose the point over the eyes.

[adrean8j]

I am far from a pro but the above PP looks "off" to me...her skin has a blue hue to it that isn't flattering IMHO....as far as the OP's photo I think that the problem isn't the lack of a flash. A bump to your ISO as well as a bit faster shutter(remember that this will effect your exposure as well) should net you a clearer and better exposed image. So bottom line is that the photo is underexposed (you can see it in ACR when you bump the exposure setting). Just my amateurish .02
I like the scene setup though! Just a bit of cropping and you could have a great mantle portrait!

[dave.turley]

Hi,
I added a reflector in the upper corner, sharpened a little, made the background a little softer and just (forgive me)...took a bit of the rednees out of this little beauty's nose.
Regards
Dave

[RebelScum]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. I shot with a Rebel Xti and my nifty fifty. Thanks for your kind words regarding the setup and my beautiful daughter.
I am not sure which WB was set on. Would it be a better bet to switch it to auto? I thought it seemed like the background had a red cast, but her skin looks sort of jaundiced to me (it's not!). Regarding her red nose, it seems like nearly every picture I take of her she ends up with an orange nose! Do you think that is also a matter of the WB setting or exposure, or something else? Also, for focus I used the focus and recompose method. Do you think I would have better results changing my focus point and not recompose? Do you think if I changed my aperture it would have helped in the focus?
Thank you all again for your helpful replies. DPS is a wonderful resource for us to use!

[TBrown00]

Originally Posted by RebelScum

Thank you all for your helpful replies. I shot with a Rebel Xti and my nifty fifty. Thanks for your kind words regarding the setup and my beautiful daughter.
I am not sure which WB was set on. Would it be a better bet to switch it to auto? I thought it seemed like the background had a red cast, but her skin looks sort of jaundiced to me (it's not!). Regarding her red nose, it seems like nearly every picture I take of her she ends up with an orange nose! Do you think that is also a matter of the WB setting or exposure, or something else? Also, for focus I used the focus and recompose method. Do you think I would have better results changing my focus point and not recompose? Do you think if I changed my aperture it would have helped in the focus?
Thank you all again for your helpful replies. DPS is a wonderful resource for us to use!

Your camera can only white balance to one light source. If it balances to inside lighting, then outside light will appear blue. If it balances to outdoor lighting, indoor light will appear orange.
I would not focus and recompose, especially at such a small aperture. When you move the camera, you are changing the focus plane. Focusing and recomposing with small apertures has a high chance of resulting in an out of focus subject. Using a larger aperture would create a larger depth of field and put more in focus, but I can't say for sure if it would have helped in this situation.