Deborah Chan
Wedding photography is a challenging task, and choosing the right metering mode is crucial for capturing stunning, memorable photographs. Metering modes are built-in systems inside a camera that measure the amount of light in a scene, helping photographers adjust their exposure to avoid over or underexposed images. While some photographers prefer shooting in manual mode, which offers complete control over settings, others rely on their camera's metering modes to get the job done. The most common metering mode is Matrix metering, also known as evaluative metering, which considers almost the entire frame by dividing it into zones. Center-weighted metering is another popular choice, especially for portraits, as it gives greater consideration to the subject in the center of the frame. Spot metering is ideal for accurately exposing a specific area, and photographers often use it when shooting portraits of the bride and groom. Ultimately, the best metering mode depends on various factors, including lighting conditions, the subject, and the photographer's preferences.
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What You'll Learn
Matrix metering mode
Matrix metering is ideal for shooting group photos at weddings, as a large part of the frame will be filled in. The camera's focusing point is also taken into account when using this mode, which can be an advantage in some situations.
Matrix metering is also useful for wide-angle shots, such as of a stadium, as it provides a better coverage of the scene and takes into account the different tones of light and dark. This results in a more accurate description of the scene.
Nikon's Matrix metering has been described as "pretty good for several decades". It is also known as \"eval/matrix mode\" and can produce unexpected results when composing images in portrait orientation.
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Spot metering mode
Spot metering is a mode that allows photographers to take light readings from a very small area at the centre of the image. This is in contrast to centre-weighted metering, which takes light readings from the entire scene, but gives more weight to the centre.
Spot metering is useful for wedding photographers who want to ensure they get consistent shots in a variety of lighting conditions. One photographer notes that they use spot metering in manual mode for 80% of the time they are shooting. They are always satisfied with the results, but note that it can be a slow process to meter each shot, and so they sometimes miss great moments.
Another photographer notes that they use spot metering mostly for low-light weddings. They also point out that with spot metering, the spot is fixed at the centre of the viewfinder, not the focus point. So, you have to continually put the centre on the spot you want to meter, depress the shutter button halfway to lock it, then recompose the shot.
Spot metering is also useful for shooting portraits, where there is more time to take a shot, but at a wedding, there may not be time to recompose shots. In these situations, centre-weighted metering may be a better option.
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Evaluative metering mode
Evaluative metering is especially effective for low-contrast subjects, such as when shooting with front lighting or in low-contrast landscapes. It ensures the camera automatically adjusts to the right exposure setting, even when the ambient lighting shows greater contrast. This mode is also beneficial when shooting with backlighting, as it can help to correctly expose the subject's face, although the background may be heavily overexposed.
Compared to other metering modes, Evaluative metering is generally a more reliable option for wedding photography as it covers a larger area of the frame. Spot metering, for example, only covers a small area of the centre of the frame, usually less than 2%. While this can be useful for picking out a small subject, it does not take into account the ambient brightness of the surrounding environment, which can result in an underexposed or overexposed image.
However, it is worth noting that no metering mode is perfect every time. Depending on the lighting conditions and the subject, other modes such as Centre-weighted metering or Spot metering may be more suitable. Ultimately, the best metering mode for wedding photography will depend on the specific scene and the desired effect.
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Centre-weighted metering mode
One of the benefits of centre-weighted metering is its ability to handle backlit situations effectively. When using this mode, the camera considers the lighting in the centre of the frame, which is often where the main subject is located, and adjusts the exposure accordingly. This can result in more balanced exposures, especially in challenging lighting scenarios.
While centre-weighted metering is a versatile option, it is essential to understand its limitations. This mode assumes that the subject will be placed in the centre of the frame, which may not always align with modern composition rules that encourage off-centre placements, such as the Rule of Thirds. As a result, photographers might need to employ a two-step process when shooting portraits to ensure the subject is not in the centre of the frame in the final image.
Centre-weighted metering is a reliable choice for wedding photography, but it may not be suitable for all situations. Photographers often need to adapt their metering mode based on the lighting conditions, the subject matter, and their desired composition. However, centre-weighted metering serves as a solid starting point, providing consistent results and reducing the need for frequent mode changes.
In conclusion, centre-weighted metering mode is a valuable tool for wedding photographers due to its ability to handle diverse lighting conditions and its focus on the centre of the frame. While it may not be the best choice for every scenario, it offers a good balance and can help capture the special moments of a wedding day with consistent and pleasing exposures.
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Highlight-weighted metering mode
Highlight-weighted metering is a metering mode offered in select Nikon DSLR cameras. It is used to meter the highlights in an image to ensure they are properly exposed and not blown out or overexposed. This is achieved by setting highlights to middle grey, which can make the rest of the image appear dark.
This metering mode is particularly useful when your subject is in motion and when faced with uneven lighting and a darker background. For example, it is the go-to choice when photographing a spot-lit bride in her wedding dress, a singer on stage, or a dancer. It is also useful when the subject is lit by spotlights or coloured lighting, as it takes the colour of the light source into account to prevent overexposure.
To select highlight-weighted metering on a Nikon camera, press the metering button on the far left dial on the camera body and, while holding it down, rotate the main command dial until the highlight-weighted metering icon is displayed.
Highlight-weighted metering can also be used for silhouettes, but it is important to note that it may not be suitable when there is a bright light in the frame, as the camera may treat the light as a highlight, leaving the main subject underexposed. In such cases, matrix metering may be a better choice to optimise exposure for the main subject.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no one-size-fits-all metering mode for wedding photography. The best metering mode depends on the lighting conditions and the subject. Matrix metering is the default metering mode on most cameras and is a good starting point. It divides the frame into zones and measures the light and dark tones in them, making it ideal for group photos. Center-weighted metering is similar to matrix metering but gives more weight to the subject in the centre of the frame. Spot metering measures the light in a specific area and is useful when the camera's metering system is fooled by bright skies or dark shadows. Evaluative metering considers everything within the composition frame.
When shooting outdoors, it is recommended to use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/250th of a second to avoid motion blur. A shutter speed of 1/500 to 1/1000 is even better unless it's a low-light situation and your ISO is high. In that case, you can use a wider aperture like f/1.8 or f/2.8 to create a shallow depth of field and blur the background. You might also need to use spot metering to accurately expose your subject by measuring the light in a specific area.
When your subject is backlit, you will typically need to overexpose by 1/3 to 1 full stop to properly expose them. If your subject is in the shade and the background is in full sun, you will also need to overexpose according to your in-camera meter.
When photographing close-ups of wedding dresses or other predominantly white subjects, you will want to overexpose by about 1 full stop. This is because your camera wants the white to appear as 18% gray, so it will recommend underexposing the image.
When shooting indoors, you may encounter mixed lighting conditions with both bright highlights and dark shadows. In these situations, metering can help you adjust your exposure to avoid overexposed images. Center-weighted metering can be useful for portraits where the subject takes up most of the frame.
