Creating HDR in Lightroom: Exposure Bracketing and Upright Explained Simply

By Marko Bogdanovic Last updated on November 15, 2026 Shown in: Adobe Lightroom Classic CC 2015

An HDR image sounds like it requires elaborate post-processing, but Lightroom does most of the work. In Marko's tutorial, you'll see how to merge three differently exposed shots from Stuttgart into one image that retains detail in both the highlights and the shadows. He also shows you the Upright function, which straightens crooked lines at the push of a button. The following guide takes you step by step through the process and points out the limits of the method.

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Key Takeaways

• For an HDR, you need an exposure series consisting of one underexposed, one normally exposed, and one overexposed shot.
• The merge is done via Photo, Photo Merge, HDR. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl+H (Mac: Command+H).
• Lightroom already performs the basic correction itself. Small readjustments are usually enough.
• The Upright function straightens lines automatically, but it doesn't work for every subject. In that case, a different mode or a crop sometimes helps.
• A natural-looking HDR results when you use the sliders in moderation. Extreme values quickly look artificial.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Load and select the exposure series

Load all three shots into Lightroom. These include an overexposed version that shows the shadows well, a normally exposed version, and an underexposed version that saves the highlights. Then select all three images in the grid so that they are selected together. Make sure that all three photos are really selected before you continue.

Step 2: Start the HDR merge

With the images selected, go to Photo in the top menu bar, then to Photo Merge, and choose HDR. It's faster with the shortcut Ctrl+H, or Command+H on a Mac. So you don't necessarily have to go through the menu if you remember the shortcut.

Step 3: Wait for the loading phase and look at the automatic adjustments

After a short loading phase, Lightroom combines the three shots into a single HDR image. Click on the result to open it. You'll immediately notice that the program has already made its own adjustments. The highlights have been lowered significantly, the shadows raised, and the whites slightly increased. For a start, this basic correction is often already very good, so you don't have to begin from scratch.

Step 4: Work with the before-and-after comparison

To assess the effect, you should compare the result with the original image. To do this, switch back and forth between the HDR and one of the individual shots. You'll quickly see how much the contrast and the detail in light and dark areas have changed. The difference in this example is clear, and all without any manual effort.

Step 5: Carefully readjust the shadows

If you'd like to fine-tune a bit more, you can carefully drag the shadows slider upward. In the example, a slight movement was enough for the darker areas to show a bit more detail. Be careful not to go too far, as this quickly results in a flat-looking image.

Step 6: Straighten crooked lines with Upright mode

For alignment, Marko uses the Upright function in the Geometry section. Activate the mode and select the Auto option. Lightroom then analyzes the image and aligns lines automatically. In the example shown, this worked excellently, and the building looked straight afterward. By the way, you can also start the function via the Level or Vertical option if your subject requires a different correction.

Step 7: Check the result with and without Upright

Turn Upright mode off and on again to see the difference directly. This way you can tell whether the correction benefits your image. However, the automatic function distorts the image a little, which you have to consciously accept. With architectural photos with straight edges, this distortion usually hardly matters.

Step 8: Recognizing the Limits of the Automatic Function

Not every subject can be straightened perfectly with the automatic function. If the result isn't convincing, try the other Upright variants, such as vertical alignment. In some shots, not all parts of the image can be straightened at the same time. This is due to the perspective and the distortion of the lens. Here you often have to make a compromise and choose the solution that works best for the overall image.

Step 9: Using Cropping as a Way Out

If none of the Upright variants is convincing, cropping helps. Marko does this regularly with such images. Drag the crop frame so that the disruptive area is removed and the lines in the remaining section look straight. Keep in mind that you lose image area when cropping.

Step 10: Undoing the Crop and Making the Decision

Don't forget to remove a crop you set in between if it is no longer needed. In the video, Marko had forgotten the crop at the bottom left and had to reset it afterwards. After that, return to the variant you like best. In this case, that was once again the Auto setting, because the slight distortion was not a problem.

Step 11: Weighing the Natural Look Against the Artificial HDR Effect

Finally, it's worth taking a look at the overall impression. An HDR from Lightroom usually looks more natural than an image where you edit the sliders for highlights, shadows and clarity individually and heavily. The manual approach quickly produces the typical artificial HDR look. In other programs you can push the values even further, which can certainly be appealing. Whether you like an extreme style is a matter of taste. For most shots, the natural look is the better choice.

Summary – Creating HDR in Lightroom: Merging Three Exposures in a Few Clicks

An HDR in Lightroom is created in three steps: You select the exposure series, start the merge via Photo to HDR, and fine-tune the result if needed. The automatic basic correction already delivers a good result. The Upright function straightens lines at the push of a button, but reaches its limits with difficult perspectives. In these cases, a crop or a different Upright variant helps. If you work in moderation, your image stays natural and balanced.

Trainer About Marko Bogdanovic Marko Bogdanovic is in his mid-thirties and works as a freelance commercial & wedding photographer/filmmaker in the Black Forest. His skills include an enormous amount of technical know-how when it comes to cameras. All courses by Marko Bogdanovic →