Hello all. My name is Shawn and I'm a fashion photographer. I've switched from film to digital via the Nikon D70. I love digital, but I am having trouble exposing people wearing white. I shoot all out doors. Any ideas?
Try stopping down 1/3 - 2/3 stop. Expose for the highlights and then expose again for the lows and set your aperture to the middle with a 1/3 negative exposure compensation.
Also check to see whether you are using spot metering or matrix. Spot will meter for only one part of the picture, and let the rest expose the same as the spot. Matrix will integrate the parts.
i KNOW this is way-old, but the fashion photog? Needs to learn to use a grey card for 'substitute metering'. OR? Buy an external INCIDENT light meter. Something like a SEKONIC would be fine. You hold meter near what you intend to photograph and take that reading. OR you can use it as a reflected meter, just like the one in your camera.
Cameras VARY in the ability to record any given image. My new camera has much better dynamic range.....from brightest to darkest recordable....than any of my 2 prior digital cameras. Generally? The Nikon Matrix Metering should easily handle white in bright.
That or cats pics by the front window!