Reply to thread

Not sure the same portrait  principles apply ......the illumination area for portraits is much smaller(face generally) and you are looking for

average  ambient and/or reflected light to set any local illumination and/or fill light.

For cars would be guided by your exposure compensation,  shutter speed and in camera histogram with exposure set based

on any particular Car Highlights to avoid blowing them out and raise the shadows in post processing if needed.

You dont indicate if the shoot is inside or outside night or daytime. Based on outside daytime  the above would apply,  for inside

with mixed lighting, a  meter may well be required to evaluate average and/or directional lighting before setting camera and/or

strobe/flash variables.