What metering mode do you use when shooting outdoor portraits?

9 years 8 months ago #391471 by Adrian Footman
I'm just exploring metering modes and was curious on what metering mode would most use for a sun lit outdoor portrait?  Would spot metering be correct?


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9 years 8 months ago #391481 by garyrhook
Much depends upon the light, and where it's coming from. For back-lit portraits you definitely want spot, otherwise the lighting will fool the camera. I would plan on a test shot or two, just to chimp and check.

Me, I only use spot metering for everything.


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9 years 8 months ago #391507 by ubookoo
Always spot metering. You have so much more control.


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9 years 8 months ago #391508 by KCook
Depends in part on the camera, I don't always meter with my Canon the way I do with my Olympus.  Of course the safe bet is to simply take a closeup reading and lock that.  Which is not exactly the same thing as a spot reading.  I try to avoid spot readings if I can.

www.photographytalk.com/forum/beginner-p...s-towards-their-back

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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9 years 8 months ago #391555 by Joves
As Gary stated initially is where is the light coming from? This is the most important aspect of it. If it is from behind then spot metering off the subject will blowout your background unless you use a reflector, or a flash. If the light is from yoru back then most likely your subject will squint from the bright light. But either way metering is done on the subject itself. I use spot, and matrix when the scene does not have too much dynamic range for the camera. Spot if because the DR is too great, so I can properly expose for each lighting aspect for an HDR image. Matrix is just good for averaging an uncomplicated scene. For portraits your subject even though you put the focus point on it will not be what it uses to determine the bast exposure. I never use center weighted, most due to the fact my subjects are rarely in the center. 


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9 years 7 months ago #392547 by Adrian Footman
Thanks guys, advice and links helped. 


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9 years 7 months ago #392579 by Shadowfixer1
I generally use center weighted metering. I get my exposure and then compose the image.
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