Matching multiple backgrounds

[Helenc]

Hello

I have 11 photos of my son - all taken in different lighting (before I started a course in photography!) a couple have a different background (carpet) completely. I would like to know what is the best way of making all the backgrounds the same? Should I replace them entirely with a block of colour or do something with the existing background. I have tried using the magic wand tool but not getting very far. Here are a couple of examples.....

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Helen, did you shoot them in raw format?

[Helenc]

Most of them, but a couple of the earlier ones are only Jpeg

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, great, because the first step has to be getting the white balance right for all of them.

Even for the jpegs, you can still do this.

Once you've balanced them, post them again and we'll discuss the background tweaking.

[Helenc]

It doesn't come up with camera raw preferences for me in the edit menu in bridge? This is what I get...

When I go to Camera Raw defaults nothing happens!?

 

[Damien Symonds]

Oh, sorry, on a Mac it's in the actual "Adobe Bridge CC" menu.

[Helenc]

Thanks! Is this WB better?

[Damien Symonds]

I'm so sorry, I can't discuss white balance here.  That's a matter for the Raw Class.

[Helenc]

Ok thanks. I'm on the wait list, have been since the week it started I think.

Can you still advise on the backgrounds?

 

[Damien Symonds]

Yes, of course.

What would like like to achieve, exactly?  Do you have links to other photos you admire, that you'd like to mimic?

[Helenc]

I want to create something similar to this....http://kristenhoneycutt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/maxbdaypost001.jpg 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, great, so you do want to use the carpet that's there?

[Helenc]

If I can make them all the same yes.....

[Damien Symonds]

I've played around with a few methods, and I think your best option is a Hue/Saturation layer with the "Colorize" box checked.

When you do the first photo, you could find a value on the Hue slider that you liked.  You'd also adjust the Saturation and Lightness to how you liked it.  You'd mask very carefully around the subject.  This will be very handy.

Then, you'd keep that photo open, while one at a time opening the others beside it on your screen.  For each one, you'd use the same Hue value, but carefully vary the Saturation and Lightness sliders to get the best possible match.

[Helenc]

Thank you so much, finally managed to get time to have a play and finally getting somewhere! I look forward to the RAW class!! :-)