HDR real estate photography guide
HDR means high dynamic range. It keeps detail in both the bright windows and the dark corners of a room, which one normal shot often misses.
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Why rooms are hard to shoot
Your eyes adjust as you look from a dark corner to a sunny window. A camera has to pick one brightness. Expose for the room and the windows turn white. Expose for the windows and the room goes dark.
How bracketing works
1. Use a tripod
Every shot must line up, so the camera can't move between them.
2. Set the camera to bracket
Take 3 to 7 shots of one view, from dark to bright.
3. Keep the same focus and white balance
Set both by hand so the shots match.
4. Join the shots
Blend them in your editor, then correct color and straight lines.
5. Pull back the effect
Stop before walls turn gray or edges start to glow.
HDR and MLS rules
Joining bracketed shots of the real scene is normal processing and usually needs no label. See our MLS photo rules for the details. For a brighter look with flash, read what flambient photography is.
Questions and answers
How many brackets do I need?
Three shots suit many rooms. Rooms with very bright windows may need five or seven.
Can a phone shoot HDR?
Yes. Most phones blend several shots for you when you press the button. You have less control over the result.
Why do some HDR photos look fake?
The effect was pushed too far. Gray walls and glowing edges are the usual signs.
Edit your listing photo, keep the original.
Start with one photo. Your original always stays as you took it.