Metering mode selection

[gturner]

Not sure if this should be in the lighting section - mods can move it if it should be, but I think it will get better answers here.

I was shooting at a wedding (for fun as a guest taking candids) and for the first time in my life I hit a blank on metering modes.

The area was a rural setting basically a barn with 2 sides wide open. There was really nice light for portraits and I have some good shots, but I was having to always switch metering modes because
1. Evaluative with a dark background, dark suit and well lit face would blow the face out
2. Spot meter on a white dress would badly underexpose the dark suit or black dress next to the bride.

Without any control in setting up the shots, are there any tips on how you guys would handle it?

(I was using my 50D and 70-200 L f2.8 IS, shooting RAW)

[zona5101]

99% of the time I leave it in evaluative (matrix for Nikon) and then dial in any correction. Unless it it a static shot where I have time & a specfic reason to change the metering mode, it's faster easier to estimate the correction in my head. Many cameras also offer an exposure bracketing feature that you could try...but honestly I haven't bracketed shots since slide film days as there is generally enough latitude in digital captures.

[teaking]

+ 1 from me

Try to use exposure compensation with your metering choice to fine tune things

[kencaleno]

For the in the barn shots, you could have spot metered for the bride's face,then opened up 1 - 2 stops. If you bracket your shots-this would have taken care of those shots.

For portraits, indoor or outdoor,centre weighted is the time-honoured method.

For general photography, matrix/evaluative will suffice. Ken