The Exposure Guide – How many exposures do you really need for real estate photography?

Working efficiently is everything in our line of work – for you as a real estate photographer and for us as editors. Do you know what makes the biggest difference in our shared workflow? Fewer, but better, exposures.

In this post, we’ll guide you through how to shoot smarter, save time, and still get better results.

Roslagsgatan 45 shot by YtaCreative for SofieS, MOHV

Fewer exposures = smoother workflow – for both you and us!

We sometimes receive folders with over 150 RAW files – but at least 30% of them end up unused. They take time for you to manage and for us to sift through. Here’s our suggestion for an optimal flow:

Rooms with windows:

1. Base exposure – natural light, lights off. This is our main frame.

2. Flash exposure – adds contrast and improves color accuracy.

3. Dark exposure – for better window detail.

If needed:

• Bright exposure – only in rare cases, e.g. rooms far in the background.

• Lights on – if the agent wants them included.

Bonus tip: If you're skilled with flash, two exposures are often enough: base + flash. Shooting with bracketing? Go for 3 brackets with 3 stops.

Rooms without windows, exteriors, bathrooms, detail shots:

1. Base exposure

If needed:

• Flash exposure – for cleaner color in tricky lighting.

• Dark exposure – if you want to capture a nice sky.

Åsvägen shot by YtaCreative for Skandia

Flash – a smart trick for cleaner colors

We love flash images! They work wonders for contrast and color, especially when nature adds unexpected color casts:

🌳 Green trees → yellow-green ceilings

☀️ Blue skies → blue floor tint

❄️ Snow → cold blue across the room

🍂 Autumn leaves → orange tones on walls

A flash shot helps balance the light and gives us cleaner reference colors to work with.That means fewer color issues – and a better final result. Do you want to learn more about shooting real estate with flash, read more here.

We’re truly grateful for the flash exposure in homes with strong colors like these! It helps bring out the true colors and cancels out most unwanted color casts. Roslagsgatan 45 shot by YtaCreative for SofieS, MOHV

The right order saves time

Shoot your exposures in a consistent order – for example:

Base → Dark → Flash

That way, we instantly understand what each shot is for.

• Creating collages? Name matching shots like A1 + A2, B1 + B2.

• Shooting details? Turn off bracketing – three exposures of a flower vase are unnecessary.

• Want to switch quickly? Set a custom button or dial to easily switch between bracketing and single shot.

  
  

Collages A1 + A2. Åsvägen shot by YtaCreative for Skandia

Why fewer exposures benefit you:

• Faster shoots

• Fewer files to review

• Less to transfer and sort

• Saves memory card & hard drive space

• Quicker backup

• Time for more photo sessions

• Faster turnaround on edited photos

• More structure – less stress

And most importantly: better control of your work – for both you and us. Smart teamwork = better results, faster.

Roslagsgatan 45 shot by YtaCreative for SofieS, MOHV

Want to talk strategy?

Every property is different – but with just a few adjustments, we can build a smoother workflow together.Need help with settings, flash use, or how to approach different rooms?Just reach out – we’re happy to help!

Thanks for making the job easier – for both yourself and us. By working smart together, we create more time to focus on what really matters: Great photos.

Stay tuned!

Want the next tip in your inbox? Keep an eye out for upcoming posts on:

• How many angles do you really need?

• How we work with flash

• Efficient workflows – our best tricks