Sucky Shoot Last Evening

[Lautermilch]

Nikon D7000 with twin Yongnuo YN560 Speed lights at 128

I have a park that I am using for outdoor shoots or trying to use. Model arrived late for shoot and the quality of the images bothers me.
Her top was very reflective and many of the shoots were blow out like I was aiming at a light.
Two of the images are the first in my photo stream. -https://www.flickr.com/photos/lautermilch/
So any basic suggestions looking at the images and EXIF info for better low light shooting?

 

[Needa]

better low light shooting?

Better low light camera if in the budget. D800, 810 can be had pretty cheap if you have FF lens and 850 even better but not so cheap. This will allow you to bring up the dark areas better in PP. If you want keep detail in the shiny you may need to meter off it (but not turn it gray) or check your histogram. Note here the histogram is based on the JPG so if you are shooting raw you may have some leeway here. Center weighted meter might work well here with a single subject but again watch the highlights.The first image (from the JPG) looks like it could use an exposure bump maybe half a stop. It appears to have good balance of the lights and dark's with top and skirt retaining detail. The second looks to be over saturated to me, if that is the look you want on the model try de-saturating the greens (ferns, grass) this will make her stand out.

 

[BF Hammer]

I'm mostly echoing Needa. I used to use the D7000. Newer bodies will have more dynamic range and a newer full-frame sensor will allow you to use higher ISO than you would think is possible. Even a D750 could do better.

Not only was your model's top an exposure problem, but her fair skin also factors. Spot meter for the highlights, let the rest be underexposed. Then you can try to recover the darks in post if you shoot Raw. Shooting JPEG only, you limit what you can recover. You won't recover over-exposed, but under-exposed can come back with added noise in shadow. This is why a full-frame would pay rewards with better ISO noise performance.

It's extra work, but using another light or 2 for lighting the environment instead of subject could help also, if dialed down manually .

 

[hark]

Some types of material are very silky-looking and will reflect light more than others. That said, I took a screenshot of the 2nd image (with her arms raised) into Camera RAW to look at the histogram. The top isn't clipping – meaning the white's aren't blown out. But the blacks are clipping. So the darkness of her skirt is so dark, the wrinkles for how the skirt drapes aren't visible.

So based on the image as it is right now, the top isn't overly bright.