Adjust exposure and contrast

Fix exposure and contrast on the client’s commercial before lunch. Lower highlights on the wide shot, raise midtones on the close-ups, and keep the specular highlights from clipping. Deliver a 4K ProRes file with the corrected exposure baked in.

Before I deliver the corrected commercial, make the exposure fixes reviewer-friendly: show a frames-wide comparison of the wide and close-up with exposure waveforms overlaid, call out any clipped highlights, and recommend one contrast curve that preserves detail while keeping the punchy look the director wants.

I just pulled the timeline and the close-ups look flat compared with the wide shots after I adjusted the masters. The director expects punchy contrast but also natural skin. I don’t know whether to add global contrast or work per-clip curves. What’s the best immediate move that balances material across cuts and keeps skin tones intact?

I keep getting late-stage notes about exposure and contrast differences that force me to redo grades. It eats time and makes delivery deadlines tight. What workflow change or habit should I implement to catch these exposure mismatches earlier and reduce rework?