Reques for help on metering

Hello folks. Appreciate some pointers on how to meter and setup this pic so I get it right the next time. She's got a zombie-eye on her left side that's creepy. Is this a fill-flash situation, or could I have just chosen a better position with respect to the angle of the sun? If you have any examples, feel free to post in reply so I can see. Thanks,

Canon T1i with 50mm 1.8 Mk II.
ISO 100
Av 2.8 (priority mode)
Tv 1/640
Middle afternoon in a state park

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I would suggest using a smaller aperture. The end of the nose is in focus but the eyes are slightly oof. I often use -1/3 EC when shooting AV in the middle of the day. I also shoot RAW so that I can avoid blown out areas. If you had moved to your right the dog would have followed you with its gaze and placed more light on the face. If you really want to see the eyes, get close and maybe get out the strobes.

Thanks very much Poloman. Appreciate it.

I like the half sunlight, but I shoot RAW & can pull detail out of the shady side.
"Horsies" - A CMHA Equestrian Event

The first thing I do in a situation like that is to take a shot, any shot, just in case everything turns to crud.
Then I look at the background & foreground to see where I'd really like the shot to be. For instance, the weed across the nose & the tree in the background are distractions. And why cut off the feet only to leave so much empty area at the top?
Good looking dog. Get everything ready & make a noise so it perks it's ears up & get "the shot".

Many thanks PhotosGuy. I'll repost in a week or two after I figure this out. Thanks for the link, too. The advice on pulling up the shadows helped me out with a shot I took this morning.