How to compensate for contrasting subjects

[The Stigenator]

I got a photoshoot this weekend, (i hope it stops raining so we can do outdoor stuff)

Anyway its interracial couple but I have one big fear, how the hell do I get the camera to balance out the white guy with the black girl?

I have had similar situation in the past with my brother and his wife. My sister in law is quite a bit fairer than my brother and enough to throw off the metering to the point where either one shows up dark or too light.

I'll be shooting RAW

Any suggestions?

 

[VorpalBunny]

I'm not an expert on this but I think there might be a way to capture what you're looking for in camera without a lot of post processing.

Exposure compensation probably won't help. However, have you tried to setup your camera for spot metering and use the exposure lock? So zoom in on one person, lock exposure, and then recompose/focus.

 

[ElFenix]

figure out the proper exposure through chimping and then set it manually so it doesn't change just because you subject does.

 

[soydios]

fill (either flash or sunlight) off a big reflector if you can manage that.

 

[angry hampster]

Fill flash is your friend. If you're outside, only shoot in shaded areas where there is no direct sunlight. Try to find a happy medium...remember that blacks can be dropped in post. Highlights can never be brought back.

 

[Cattykit]

Better to go +(white) than -(black).

 

[The Stigenator]

Well I may use flash, but ultimately the metering is going to determine how it exposes.

I guess I could set it on center point, spot meter and hope it does not wash out the white with the flash when I focus on her or darken the black if i focus on him.

Its a total pain in the butt, otherwise I got to meter on something else.

How does one get a Canon 40D to keep the exposure locked frame to frame. I can do - or + 1/3 EV if need be but I am trying to figure out how to do this..

Lemme see if I can find some samples when I get home.

 

[vshah]

what will each of them be wearing? tux and dress?

 

[Lemon law]

I somewhat submit this is not a contrast problem, this is a camera metering problem.

But if the groom and the bride are equally lighted, the correct exposure will do justice to both. The worse possible mistake would be to overexpose the whitest parts of the photo, because the detail is then lost beyond recovery, but under exposing the darkest parts leaves details that can be lightened in post processing programs like photoshop.

And when in doubt, take a variety of pictures at various exposures, and some of them are then bound to hit the correct exposure.