Underexposure happens when an image doesn’t receive enough light, resulting in footage that’s too dark. Shadows lose detail, and images can look muddy or noisy if brightened in post production.
Proper exposure ensures clarity and detail. While slight underexposure can sometimes be recovered during editing, extreme underexposure often leads to noise, crushed blacks, and unrecoverable detail loss; especially in low-end sensors.
Avoid it in most standard shooting scenarios. However, slight underexposure may be used intentionally for a moody or dramatic look. Check exposure using waveform monitors, zebras, or in-camera histograms.
Monitor with tools – Use histograms or false color to catch underexposed areas early.
Expose to the right (ETTR) – Slightly overexpose (without clipping highlights) to preserve shadow detail.
Add controlled lighting – Supplement natural light with fills or reflectors instead of relying solely on post-correction.