Use Spot Metering for Perfect Exposure on the First Try

Ever wondered why your shots are over or under-exposed even though you have set the proper settings for the light meter readings? Pye from SLR Lounge has the answer:

Over and under exposure tends to be the result of the meter taking readings from the wrong things. If you set your camera to spot metering, you can tell your camera to take readings from whatever you want.

How Does Spot Metering Work?

Spot metering uses 3 to 5 percent of the center of the metering sensor (which is often more accurate and more sensitive) to give you a reading from the object that you point it at. So if you want perfect skin exposure, set your metering mode to spot metering with your camera in manual mode. Then, aim your center point on the skin right under the model’s eye and take a reading. Adjust your settings based on the skin tone, focus, and shoot. The skin will be always perfectly exposed.

how to meter for skin tone

Spot metering also helpful when you combine flash with ambient light. Say you want to expose properly for the sky and fill in the rest with flash. Set your camera to spot metering, meter for the sky, set the exposure, and the sky will be properly exposed; the rest is up to the flash to fill in with light.

“Just remember…when you’re using the spot meter, do not use assisted or automated modes, because it’s going to create all sorts of funky exposures depending on wherever that spot meter is.”

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