Why I DON'T use a LIGHT METER for the Correct Exposure

I'm not always into going with the correct exposure that your DSLR Camera or Light meter says is the correct exposure. I use the correct exposure as a base but I will always adjust to taste. Some images I find look better over exposed and others look best when the image is under exposed a little.

I find that even if the image is correctly exposed according to the histogram, light meter, or camera; I'm always reaching for the exposure slider in Lightroom to adjust it to my liking. Don't get me wrong, I like correctly exposed images like everyone else. There are many times I move the slider and wind up leaving it in the original place of being correctly exposed. Just be aware that I am willing to change the exposure no matter what my indicators tell me.

What do you do to satisfy your exposure? Do you follow the indicators or do you adjust to taste as well. I welcome all thoughts in the comments below as this could lead to a good discussion.

As always, thanks for watching. EMIP OUT!!!

Follow Me Everywhere :-)

[AntsaV]

Thats very true what you say "my light meter is my eyes" everyone should know that. Thats what i think too!

[xmoore]

Good video tho. I think its important for our craft that everyone has a different style. Diversity is always a good thing in this field.

[JoeJacksonJr]

Think of a light meter as quick way to get your exposure close to where you want it and not wasting your clients time. But soon as you get it close, adjust to taste and move on. Keep an eye on the histogram to make sure no data is lost and your good to go. That said, I never use one in my home studio. I shoot the same settings all the time so why need one. I can take a look in Lr via tether and my display is calibrated so WYSIWYG. I also dont bother with modeling lamps unless I need more light in the room for getting proper focus. But I see them both as training wheels on your first bike, eventually you have to grow up and start riding with the big kids. Sadly though I see many so called pro photogs that have been using them for over 20 years and cant do their job without them.. Sad it really is.. Cheers, Joe

[Phillydog]

Another good tidbit. Thanks.I agree. I don't even own a light meter. 

[xmoore]

Im against the fence on this one. I think it also depends on the light your given at the apparent time. No two lighting situations are the same.

[DwightSmalls]

Doesn't the meter just give you a mathematical calculation? It doesn't say what you MUST shoot but only gives a baseline.  So I believe can save lots of time and get an accurate exposure once setting the baseline. Am I missing something?

[AndrewWhitus]

Yeah, I use my eyes as 'meter' and adjust accordingly, too...but once in a while I forget I'm wearing sunglasses...doh!

[bonamin]

basicly I do agree with you, but sometimes expecialy on Flash photography, I need some time to adjust the Flash Power to the desireble level, and I think a light meter would help. Another problem I face, is that pictures are hard to see on very bright enviroments, and an image looks different sometimes on some LCDs. 

I don't have a Lightmeter yet, but I'm trying to figure out if I need one. :D

[scootp]

Can you upload your post production process?

[MontyVideo]

I'm confused! If I were a professional photographer I'd want to get my exposures consistently correct (to show clients I know what I'm doing). Using the LCD to judge image brightness is a pants way of guessing the right exposure because the ambient brightness will cause your irises to open or close and that will lead to you judging the LCD brightness differently! Try it: take a photo(s) outdoors and get the exposure "right" by your method, then go indoors and look at the same image again - I can guarantee it will "look" brighter! QED.

[TheCohibaguy]

Light meters are for film cameras. With digital cameras you can take test shots for free and view them instantly on a screen along with a histogram so why the hell would anyone blow a few hundred bucks on a light meter and waste time walking back and forth to your model / subject to take readings!?

[chriscorbin]

oh dear. your meter will expose for MIDTONE. YOU tell your camera the tone value of what you're metering from. It's up to you to estimate the value & tell your camera what it's looking at. Your meter NEVER gets it wrong...YOU DO!!

[bahstonirish]

Light meters aren’t really accurate with digital. As Tony Northrup discussed in his video on ISO with digital cameras, it isn’t standard on digital as it is for film. ISO 100 for one digital camera may be 200 for another. You are probably going to get better results just adjusting it yourself. I really only use my light meter for film.