Need some input on picture control
 

Editing photos is not my favorite thing to do on Saturday nights...but I am not letting myself leave until I figure this out. I have the problem over and over again about which picture control to use. I don't think most people care given..., but this is giving me a headache.

Basically looking for something that I can use for most occasions without thinking about it. Something that looks pretty natural.

Does anyone have any custom picture controls?

Also which of the below do you prefer? Three Nikon defaults and two custom included. Any input appreciated.

http://www.crazyjmedia.com/images/neutral.jpg

http://www.crazyjmedia.com/images/neutral2.jpg

http://www.crazyjmedia.com/images/standard.jpg

http://www.crazyjmedia.com/images/standard2.jpg

http://www.crazyjmedia.com/images/vivid.jpg

I shoot 'flat' or natural, can't remember what it is called and do what I need to post... I'm not going to let some engineer at Nikon decide how I should shoot. and the issue with this model is she doesn't have a proper base match. her face is a different color than her body

I like the top two. second is my fav.

Ya, thats my bad. Hit her in the face with the bounce flash.

Me too... and fix it (correct it) in post (Photoshop).

The trouble is that Nikon doesn't really have a "flat" setting in my opinion. Standard is overprocessed and neutral doesn't look as flat as it could in my opinion.

I'm shit with a camera but from an audience point of view I think the second pic looks the best, the fourth looks ok, and the fifth looks quite wrong.

that's weird.... you are trying to use preset color/contrast controls and yet you say the neutral isn't flat enough???

http://voodoomediagroup.com/neutral.jpg

little bit of post goes a long way.

I dunno, probably my mind playing tricks on me after staring at a computer screen a few too many hours yesterday. Forgive my ignorance! I don't pretend to be an expert.

Nice Voodoo. Post processing is art that I have yet to master. By the way, has anyone else tried the Lightroom Beta yet?