The Underexposure nightmare

I’ve been a professional photographer for about 10 years, I have a body of work I’m very proud of - published books, snazzy website, lots of praise from clients.

I only say this because in the last 6 months some sort of evil entity has overtaken me. For some reason, no matter how much I adjust highlights, whites, exposure, every single photo I take feels underexposed.

I have driven myself insane the last 6 months worrying that my skin tones and mids just aren’t bright enough for some reason and that my editing technique has been completely lost. It’s like I have legitimately gone blind, and every photo I’ve taken before this time period looks bright and vibrant and perfect, but suddenly now after every shoot I’m battling with single photos for hours and hours because in my mind it doesn’t feel bright enough.

I think I need a vacation. Has this trance happened to anyone else?

The only, only thing I can think of is that I typically underexpose by about -2/3 stop and bring it up in editing, just seems to be my style. But ever since I’ve been worrying about underexposure, I’m trying my damndest to expose perfectly at +0 which I think ironically kills my dynamic range.