To achieve a classic portrait, you usually look for large areas of open, even shade, so your subject's face is exposed evenly without harsh shadows. However, sometimes those conditions are not available (or undesirable), so you have to make the best of what you've got. In those instances, it's best to understand metering well enough to expose your photo properly to achieve the desired effect.
Metering Modes (information found here)
Evaluative/Matrix Mode:
Basically, in this mode the camera breaks your shot down into a grid, measures the brightness and darkness information, and finds the middle ground. Many newer cameras take the focal points into extra account as well. This would be completely acceptable in an evenly exposed photograph, where your lights and darks are consistent throughout the image.
Center-Weighted Mode:
In center-weighted mode, the camera considers 75% of the frame, all in the very center, giving no importance to the corners of the shot. This would be ideal in outdoor portraiture. With this mode, you would have to recompose the shot if you'd like to have it off-centered and still have the subject be correctly exposed.
Partial & Spot Mode:
This mode measures the light only from a very small area of the photo, usually less than 5% of the total area. In many newer DSLRs, you can program where you would like the spot to measure (usually it follows where you focus). It is the most effective in high contrast and backlit situations, where the light behind the subject is much brighter than the exposure of your subject. It is also the best mode for silhouettes and lunar photography.
I choose to keep my camera on center-weighted all the time, mostly because of my work with portraits. Consider what it is you photograph the most, and then take the time to consider which metering mode would make your work easier on both your camera and you! Make your camera work for you!
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