When it comes to HDR photography in real estate, what you do behind the camera has a direct impact on the results your editor can deliver. While bracketing and RAW settings matter (see Part 1), your lens setup and focusing technique play an equally crucial role in ensuring sharpness, alignment, and overall image quality.
1. Be Careful with Lens Hoods on Wide-Angle Lenses
Be Careful with Lens Hoods on Wide‑Angle Lenses
Lens hoods help block lens flare, but when used on ultra-wide lenses, they can cause heavy vignetting—those distracting dark corners. This is especially problematic in HDR where multiple exposures are blended. Inconsistent edges across brackets make blending more difficult and final images look less natural. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid hoods for interior wide shots.
This photo shows how using a lens hood with a wide-angle lens can create strong vignetting—dark shadows creeping in from the corners.
This example shows how using a lens hood with a wide-angle lens can create strong vignetting—dark shadows creeping in from the corners. In HDR photography, these inconsistencies can complicate the blending process and reduce image quality. For wide or interior shots, it’s often best to remove the hood unless absolutely needed.
2. Use Supported, Native Lenses
Use Supported, Native Lenses
Stick with lenses made by your camera’s manufacturer. Some third-party lenses or those with adapters may not embed proper metadata. As a result, automatic lens correction tools in Camera Raw or Lightroom may not function correctly, requiring more manual adjustments and risking distortion and chromatic aberration.
Also, avoid using crop (APS-C) lenses on full-frame bodies, as this often causes heavy vignetting—especially at the wide end—affecting all bracketed exposures. Always double-check that your lens and body are fully compatible for optimal results.
3. Watch the Horizon with Ultra-Wide Lenses
Watch the Horizon with Ultra-Wide Lenses
Lenses with focal lengths as wide as 8mm (fisheye) can easily distort the skyline, especially if the camera isn’t leveled or if the horizon isn’t centered properly. These distortions are challenging to correct in post. Always align your shot thoughtfully and use grid overlays or a leveling tool if available.
4. Use Manual Focus or Lock Focus Before Bracketing
Use Manual Focus or Lock Focus Before Bracketing
Auto-focus can shift slightly between bracketed exposures—especially in low light or reflective interiors—causing ghosting and misalignment during HDR blending. Set your focus manually, or use auto-focus once and lock it before shooting your bracket. Always check the focus area carefully to ensure everything is tack sharp across all exposures.
Bathroom with soft focus and ghosting
In the image above, notice how the window grid lines appear doubled or soft—a classic result of inconsistent focus across brackets. Even more, parts of the scene (like the mirror and faucet) lack sharpness, which could have been avoided by locking the focus manually before shooting.
If your camera doesn’t have a dedicated focus lock, simply switch to manual focus after setting your desired focus point. Always double-check your focus area before starting your bracket sequence to ensure it stays consistent.
Why It Matters
Clean, consistent image input leads to faster turnaround, higher-quality edits, and more reliable results. Just like a successful photoshoot depends on preparation—well-maintained gear, charged batteries, and a clean lens—the quality of your bracketed HDR shots relies heavily on your lens and focus choices.
Your editor can work magic, but the real magic starts in-camera. Set yourself up for success with every frame.
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