Camera Settings Cheat Sheet

The only settings that actually matter — from 150,000+ houses

Your Go-To Settings (90% of Shots) Start Here

Mode

Manual or Aperture Priority

ISO

100–400

400–800 if handheld

Aperture

f/7.1 – f/9

White Bal.

Flash / 5000–5500K

Shoot RAW to fix later

Lens

14–24mm wide angle

Flash

Bounce off ceiling, 1/4 power

Or use HDR bracketing instead

Tripod

Always

Format

RAW

Quick Adjustments by Situation Exceptions

Situation	What Changes	Key Note
Exterior	f/8–f/11, no flash	Shoot golden hour or overcast for even light
Twilight	1–30s shutter, tungsten WB	Tripod required; bracket 5–9 shots for full dynamic range
Bathroom	Bounce flash gently	Watch for mirror reflections — angle the camera slightly
Detail Shots	f/2.8–f/5.6, 35–85mm lens	Use natural light; shallow depth of field isolates the subject
HDR Bracket	3–5 shots, 2 EV apart	Only shutter speed changes between frames; keep aperture fixed

Pro Tips

1 Always use a tripod. Consistency, sharpness, and level horizons every time.

2 Shoot RAW. Fix white balance, recover exposure, and correct lens distortion in post.

3 Turn on all lights. Creates a warm, inviting feel. Replace any burned-out bulbs.

4 Shoot from doorways & corners. Camera at counter height (48–54") makes rooms feel bigger.

5 Open all blinds & curtains. Maximize natural light and balance with interior brightness.

6 Declutter before shooting. Remove personal items, trash cans, pet bowls, and cords.