How to Meter Indoor Photography

In-Camera Light Meters

• 1

  Turn the camera on and call up the menu display on the LCD screen. Today̵7;s digital cameras have three basic in-camera metering modes, described below. Select a type of meter that best suites the scene. For shooting indoors, determining the ideal metering method is essential for a well-composed image. The photographer chooses the metering mode and the camera automatically sets the aperture and the shutter speed.

• 2

  Select the spot meter. This meter can pinpoint a very small area of a scene. Use it if you are shooting a dark object on a light background, or vice versa, to tell the camera the exact object to meter for the correct exposure.

• 3

  Select the center-weighted meter. This option averages the light coming from a larger, dominant object in the scene that is not in sharp contrast to the surroundings. For example, to correctly expose a child sitting on a beige-colored carpet, select this mode to properly expose the skin tone of the child.

• 4

  Select a matrix meter. This mode takes in the entire scene, selects differing light values from several points in the scene and averages them together. It is best used for shooting a scene with many dominant objects such as groups of people in a room.

• 5

  Point the camera at the object. After selecting a metering method to match the situation, point the camera at the object and compose the scene. The camera selects the aperture and shutter speed based on how it reads the scene.

• 6

  Press the shutter and record the image. If using digital, call the image up on the LCD screen by following the instructions in the camera manual. Usually, a small green or white triangle button is pushed on the back of the camera. If the metering is not satisfactory, try a different metering method and look at the results.

Incident Light Meters

• 7

  Place the handheld meter in front of the object to be photographed. Press a button in the center of the meter and read the suggested settings displayed on the LCD screen.

• 8

  Set the aperture. Put the camera in manual mode and set the aperture according to the value displayed on the meter.

• 9

  Set the shutter speed. Still in manual mode, set the recommended shutter speed setting from the meter reading.

• 10

  Preview the photo. Check the display and retake the photo if not satisfied.

Use a Flash

• 11

  Place the light meter close to the subject and point the meter toward the camera lens. Click the measuring button to tell the meter to wait for the flash to go off to measure the light output.

• 12

  Trigger the flash. Look at the reading and set the camera to manual and dial in the shutter speed and aperture recommended.

• 13

  Review the image. If the light is too bright, dial the flash setting on the back of the unit back one stop and try again.