A mini-course for film photographers who want to meter with confidence and get consistent indoor exposures—without wasting another roll.
You load a fresh roll. You try to meter carefully. You shoot in that dreamy window light. But when the scans come back? They’re underexposed. Flat. Lifeless. Not what you imagined.
Maybe you blame yourself.
Maybe you blame your lab.
Maybe you start to wonder if shooting film indoors just isn’t for you.
You’re not alone.
Most photographers were never actually taught how to use a handheld meter—especially indoors where the light changes fast and exposure needs to be exact.
1.
You rely on YouTube or free advice…
But everyone’s doing it differently. No one explains why their method works—and your results still feel hit or miss.
2.
You’re not sure where to point it, when to meter, or what the reading actually means. And so… you guess.
3.
The scans come back dark, flat, or muddy—and you start to wonder if shooting film indoors just isn’t worth it.
When I lived in Georgia, I took an 8-week black and white darkroom class at the Spruill Arts Center—taught by Ann Clancy, a photographer trained by Ansel Adams
(Yes. That Ansel Adams.)
We didn’t even take photos in the class. Instead, she taught us something no tutorial ever had:
One that holds detail and gives you options when printing. Not overexposed. Not blown out. Just intentional.
Years later, when I started shooting film indoors and hearing all the conflicting advice online, I realized something:
I had learned to meter differently—starting with the final image I wanted, not just the light in the room. That insight became the foundation of my method.
When you learn how to meter with intention—not just by the numbers—you unlock a whole new level of confidence.
No more wasting film.
No more second-guessing your settings.
No more praying your lab can save it.
This is how film photography becomes joyful again—especially indoors.
Understanding exposure is the first step toward mastering it. In this module, you'll learn the difference between metering and exposing, how indoor light behaves differently than outdoor light, and why incident metering is your secret weapon for film success.
1.
A crystal-clear understanding of exposure vs. metering (and why it matters for film)
2.
The difference between handheld and in-camera meters—and when to trust which
3.
Exactly how indoor light behaves and why it requires more precision
4.
A breakdown of bulb-in vs. bulb-out and how to choose (and stay consistent)
1.
The confidence to use your meter on any shoot—no more second-guessing
2.
Step-by-step setup instructions you can reference any time
3.
The truth about reflective vs. incident metering
4.
A deeper understanding of metering vs. exposing—plus what it means for your film
This is where your confidence starts to build. You’ll learn how to set up and actually use your handheld meter, what ambient mode really means, and how to make incident vs. reflective metering second nature.
Different film stocks react to light differently—and this module helps you get it right. Learn how to meter for both color and black & white film indoors, and how to adjust your readings based on the look you want.
1.
A breakdown of how color film behaves indoors (and where to meter)
2.
How to get rich tones and detail in black and white film
3.
What to communicate to your lab based on how you meter
4.
What to communicate to your lab based on how you meter
1.
The full IMAGE Metering Method
2.
How to apply it in side-lit, backlit, front-lit, and low-light homes
3.
Demos so you can see it in action
4.
A repeatable system you can use every time you load a roll
Here’s where it all comes together. You’ll learn my signature 5-step method for consistently metering indoors with intention, no matter what lighting you’re working with.
We’ll wrap up by tackling the most common exposure mistakes photographers make indoors—and how to fix them before they cost you film.
1.
What to do when your scans come back different than expected
2.
Common metering mistakes
3.
When to shift your subject or your settings to save a shot
4.
Pro tips to troubleshoot on the fly and build confidence with every roll
You’ll feel calm and clear when you pick up your meter—because you finally have a method that works.
You’ll start seeing the results you imagined when you fell in love with film: beautiful detail and dreamy light.
You’ll build real consistency in your work—whether you’re shooting your own kids, client sessions, or other projects.
GuessING your settings and pray your lab saves it
WastING film on rolls that turn out too dark, too flat, or just… off
FeelING like you're the only one who hasn’t “figured it out yet”
01
This printable one-pager walks you through the IMAGE Metering Method at a glance—plus gives you quick settings for common lighting situations. It’s the perfect pre-session confidence booster to keep in your bag. No more flipping through your notes mid-roll or second-guessing your setup.
02
Ever wish you had a cheat code for indoor metering? This is it. The Matrix gives you go-to metering placements and sample settings for popular film stocks and styles—like “light & airy Portra 400” or “moody Tri-X 400.” It’s like having Kim whispering, “point your meter here” every time you shoot.
03
Get direct access to Kim in a live 1-hour Zoom session where you can bring your biggest metering questions, film frustrations, or “is this normal?” scenarios. It’s your chance to talk through your lighting setup, get clarity, and hear from others learning the same system—so you don’t feel like you’re figuring it out alone. Real answers. Real talk. No gatekeeping.
Meter for the image you want, not just the light in front of you
Jane Awesome SUMMARY OF THEIR RESULT
Early bird enrollment is open for just one week—and spots are limited.
If you want lifetime access to Metering Made Easy for only $47, now’s your chance. The price goes up after Friday, May 2nd… and only 30 seatsare available at this price.
This isn’t some fake scarcity—this is your moment to finally ditch the guesswork and start metering with total confidence…before summer shooting season begins!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Autem dolore, alias, numquam enim ab voluptate id quam harum ducimus cupiditate si-milique quisquam et deserunt, recusandae.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Autem dolore, alias, numquam enim ab voluptate id quam harum ducimus cupiditate si-
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla risus libero, ves-tibulum non nulla at, feugiat tristique ante. Suspendisse imperdiet, metus id dapibus molestie, velit tellus dapibus eros, vestibulum euismod justo lorem non magna. Sed aliquet leo eget nisl blandit, in efficitur dolor mollis. Sed egestas leo
Jane Awesome
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla risus libero, ves-tibulum non nulla at, feugiat tristique ante. Suspendisse imperdiet, metus id dapibus molestie, velit tellus dapibus eros, vestibulum euismod justo lorem non magna. Sed aliquet leo eget nisl blandit, in efficitur dolor mollis. Sed egestas leo
Jane Awesome
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Autem dolore, alias, numquam enim ab voluptate id. What are they suffering from? Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adip-
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Autem dolore, alias, numquam enim ab voluptate id. What are they suffering from? Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adip-
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Autem dolore, alias, numquam enim ab voluptate id. What are they suffering from? Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adip-
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla risus libero, vestibulum non nulla at, feugiat tristique ante. Suspendisse imperdiet, metus id dapibus molestie, velit tellus dapibus eros, vestibulum euismod justo lorem non magna. Sed aliquet leo eget nisl blandit, in efficitur dolor mollis. Sed egestas leo nulla, eget ultricies ex finibus ac. Nullam et dui congue, congue urna in,
- JANE AWESOME Acme, Co.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. idunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volt wisi enim ad minim veniam, orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipisc-ing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet
dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. idunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volt wisi enim ad minim veniam, orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipisc-ing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet
dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut
Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consec-tetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod
Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consec-tetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod
kimhildebrand.com - All Rights Reserved - Terms & Conditions