Why bracketing still matters
A camera sensor records about ten to twelve stops of light. A room with sunlit windows can easily span more than that. Expose for the windows and the room goes dark; expose for the room and the windows turn white. Bracketing captures the same composition at several exposures so an editor can keep detail at both ends.
The goal is not a dramatic "HDR look". A good blend looks like a well-lit room with a clear view outside, nothing more.
How many frames, and how far apart
- Three frames at 2 EV apart (-2, 0, +2) cover most rooms with windows.
- Five frames at 1.5 to 2 EV suit very bright views, dark wood interiors or rooms facing the sun.
- Keep the same spacing on every set in a shoot. Editors work fastest when every bracket follows one pattern.
If your darkest frame still shows a white window, add a darker frame. If your brightest frame still has black shadows under furniture, add a brighter one.
Camera settings for clean brackets
- Tripod, always. Every frame must line up exactly, or the blend will ghost.
- Aperture priority or manual, with the aperture fixed around f/7.1 to f/9 so depth of field does not change between frames.
- ISO 100 to 400. Low ISO keeps the shadows clean when they are lifted.
- Shoot RAW. RAW files hold far more highlight and shadow detail than JPGs.
- Two-second timer or remote so pressing the shutter does not shake the camera.
Mistakes that ruin a blend
- Moving objects between frames: ceiling fans, curtains in a breeze or people walking past create ghosts. Switch fans off and close doors.
- Changing the framing mid-bracket: even a small tripod bump misaligns the set.
- Mixed white balance: set one white balance for the whole bracket (auto is fine for RAW, but never change it between frames).
- Too few frames on bright days: a blown window cannot be recovered if no frame holds it.
Sending brackets to an editor
Keep each bracket together and in shooting order, and do not rename the files. Upload the complete sets, not only the middle exposure. If you want a specific look, such as bright and airy or natural contrast, say so once in your order notes, and the same style is applied to every photo in the shoot.
Key takeaways
- Three frames at 2 EV apart handle most rooms; add frames for very bright views.
- Lock aperture, ISO and white balance for the whole bracket.
- Use a tripod and a timer so every frame lines up.
- Upload complete sets in shooting order, as RAW files.
Common questions
How many exposures do I need for real estate HDR?
Three exposures at 2 EV apart handle most rooms. For rooms facing the sun, very bright views or dark wood interiors, shoot five frames at 1.5 to 2 EV. The darkest frame should hold the view through the window, and the brightest should show detail under the furniture.
Can I bracket handheld?
Only in an emergency. Handheld frames never line up perfectly, which causes ghosting and soft edges after the blend. A tripod is the single most important tool for HDR interiors.
Should I merge the brackets myself before sending them?
No. Send the original bracketed RAW files. The editor blends them with masking and window pulls, which gives a more natural result than an automatic merge.
