Photographing model with very fair skin

[i2iSTUDIOS]

I have a model shoot late this afternoon around 7:00pm outdoors, the model has very very fair skin, almost pure white. I have seen some photos from other photographers and her face is blown out in quite a few, how do I make sure not to blow out her face and skin?
I'll be shooting with a 70-200 2.8 VR if that makes any difference.

The lighting should be good as the sun goes down so I have that going for me hopefully giving her a golden tone. I am bringing my flash and light stand so I can remotely light up other areas if need be but I doubt that i'll need it. (and reflector of course)

[SuzyView]

She might need a polarizing filter. :) :) ;)

[TheSteveMadden]

I would use spot metering on the skin, set at +1 1/3, reduce the in-camera contrast to get an accurate histogram and then watch out for blinking areas on the review.

As the sun sets, the color temp will get much warmer so you might want a warming gel on the flash if you use it to keep from getting that flashed look. Reflectors would probably be a more pleasing solution and would aid in getting accurate meter readings.

As the light changes... keep monitoring your exposure.

Good luck. I've seen some of your other excellent work so i'm sure you'll do great :)

[InskiP]

I would use spot metering on the skin, set at +1 1/3, reduce the in-camera contrast to get an accurate histogram and then watch out for blinking areas on the review. :)

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here...someone else trying to learn...;)

Is this (spot) basically the same as partial metering? My 20D doesn't have a spot metering mode. When you say set at +1 1/3 you're referring to the exposure compensation, correct? That wouldn't over expose and blow out the skin? Also, how do you adjust the contrast in-camera?

Thanks

[TheSteveMadden]

Partial is pretty much the same as spot, but covers a larger area in the middle so you have to be closer or zoom into the subject more to fill the metering circle.

Yes, + 1 1/3 referrs to exposure compensation. Most Canon digicams have about 5 stops of exposure capability, 2 1/2 either side of 0 EC (a centered meter). I like to have lighter caucasian skin average exposure at about 1 stop under clipping, or 1 1/3 stop above middle grey. When adjusting exposure in PP, I aim for about 200+- red channel RGB values in the non-shadow skin areas.

The JPG contrast is adjusted using the parameters. Even when shooting RAW, the histogram and clipping warnings are based on the small embedded JPG in the CR2 file. The embedded JPG is created using the parameters, so if you are using Parameter 1, with +1 contrast then the additional contrast will show up as premature clipping. By lowering the camera parameter contrast, you get a truer sense of the RAW headroom.

I'd really like to upgrade to the 30D, which has separate RGB histograms. The Red channel is usually the first to clip when doing portraits.

DISCLAIMER: Different techniques work for different people. These are my techniques and are certainly not the definitive "right way", especially since I shoot with a SILVER XT which should tell you something about my knowledge and skills ;)

[BigBlueDodge]

Steve, care to explain how you use spot metering, when the XT doesn't have it? It only has Partial, Evaluative, and Center Wieght Average if I recall correctly.

[elTwitcho]

I wouldn't bump the exposure compensation by 1 and 1/3 stops personally. I'd leave it at 1 stop so there is plenty of room for highlights on the face not to be blown. Shoot in RAW and you'll have no problems. If there's any decent amoun of tonal range on the face, setting a midpoint of the face's tones at almost full exposure is going to cause problems with the brightest areas, like the forehead and cheeks usually.

Definately whatever you do, shoot RAW

[TheSteveMadden]

Steve, care to explain how you use spot metering, when the XT doesn't have it? It only has Partial, Evaluative, and Center Wieght Average if I recall correctly.

You're correct, but the OP was asking for advise and the two Nikon units in his sig both have spot metering.

As to your question, I do 'spot' metering by filling the 9% partial metering area of the XT with the "spot" I want to meter. ;)

[DocFrankenstein]

How do you want her face to look exactly?

I'd meter ambient light... and would have no chance of blowing her face.

[Thornfield]

How did you get on with the shoot?