How can you ensure your live action footage is properly color graded in post-production?

I started my color-grading journey with Premiere Pro and I still use Premiere Pro for certain projects however, my go-to software is DaVinci Resolve. The node-based colour approach lets you fine-tune your Hue, Saturation and Gamma values to taste easily.

Color grading really should be decided in pre-production. It should be a decision and not a correction. Many filmmakers approach is, "we will fix it in post". This is an irresponsible decision and oftentimes leads to films not being completed. One should consider all aspects of a completed film before filming. Color grading can be achieved through software in post, but it can also be decided and achieved in the filming process. Cameras these days have all sorts of options and filters that can be applied to all filmed footage. If you want a certain look and decide to wait until post production to achieve it, most basic editing programs have color correction and filters that are fairly easy to use.

Knowing when to shoot raw and when to shoot log is very important. If you don’t know what to shoot, bring along someone who knows, but be sure to have an understanding of it yourself. Will you be shooting in lowlight situations, outdoors, etc. Plus, having the right colorist is helpful as well.

Color charts are great if you want to keep skin tones consistent with reality. A competent colorist will keep correctly exposed footage within the same chromatic values, so its not the end of the world if you forget to shoot it (something common these days). Younger generations of film makers rarely use them simply because the "look" is achieved trough color grading rather than doing it the old school way, with lighting. Both approaches are ok, no right or wrong, its just depends on your genre, style and desired finishing.

There are many out there that have studied color theory and the art of Finishing/Mastering for film. Given this, it would bode incredibly well to start with reaching out to Companies such as FotoKem, Company 3, Harbor, and Sims International as well as technicians and Finishing Producers who work at said companies to get a better understanding of the level of intricacy you're looking for and ways of streamlining your project with their pipelines.

To piggyback back on what Jeremy said, reach out. People are willing to share their knowledge, especially those in the technical fields. It’s not you against the world. Knowledgeable people are out their and they’re willing to help and mentor.