---
title: "NovaHDR vs Editing Property Photos Yourself"
url: https://www.novahdr.com/compare/novahdr-vs-editing-it-yourself/
last_updated: 2026-10-12
---

# NovaHDR vs doing every correction yourself

Many real estate photographers merge brackets in Lightroom Classic or Photomatix and then work through exposure and color room by room themselves. That gives full control, but the evening after a shoot often goes to matching one room to the next. NovaHDR takes on that last exposure and color pass: you merge and export as usual, upload up to 50 photos, and get the set back with balanced exposure and consistent color 24 to 72 hours after you send it. Keep editing yourself when you want control of every slider. Choose NovaHDR when you want time back.

[Edit a Property](https://app.novahdr.com/sign-up)

## At a glance

| | NovaHDR | Editing it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the pass | NovaHDR finishes it; you review | You, image by image |
| The merge | You merge before upload | You merge in your software |
| Cost | $29 one-time for one property | Software, e.g. Lightroom from US$11.99 a month |
| Time | 24 to 72 hours after you send the property | However long each set takes you |
| Control | Final review stays with you | Every slider is yours |

## How NovaHDR and Editing it yourself differ

- **Full control stays with you**: Editing yourself in Lightroom Classic or Photomatix means every choice is yours, from Auto Tone and deghosting to presets such as Photomatix's "Natural" and "Interior" options. NovaHDR finishes the pass and you review the result.
- **Time back between shoot and handoff**: NovaHDR exists to hand off the repetitive exposure and color pass so you are not doing every correction yourself. You send the property and move on to the next shoot.
- **You still merge**: NovaHDR does not merge brackets. If you shoot brackets, the merge in Lightroom Classic ("Photo > Photo Merge > HDR") or Photomatix stays part of your workflow.
- **Matching rooms across the set**: Matching color across a whole property by hand is the slow part. NovaHDR finishes the set together so rooms read as one property.

## NovaHDR vs Editing it yourself, side by side

| Topic | NovaHDR | Editing it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A finished property photo set with balanced exposure and consistent color from room to room | Whatever you make of each image |
| The look | Natural: bright enough to read the space, restrained enough to keep its character | Your own style, set by hand |
| What you send | Up to 50 JPEG, PNG or WebP photos per property; RAW, TIFF and bracket sets are not accepted | Brackets or RAW in your own software |
| What is edited | Exposure and color only: no virtual staging, sky replacement, object removal or added features | Anything your software does, by your hand |
| Turnaround | 24 to 72 hours after you send the property | Your own evenings and weekends |
| Final review | You keep the final review before the set goes to your client | You are the editor and the reviewer |
| Where it runs | Web app; sign up with Google or email | Desktop software such as Lightroom Classic or Photomatix |
| Price | $29 one-time for one property, or plans from $79 a month | Software costs, e.g. Photomatix Pro $99 one-time |

As of 2026-10-12.

## Pricing

NovaHDR plans come from its pricing. Editing it yourself costs your software and the hours each set takes.

- One Property: $29 one-time for one property
- Solo: $79 per month, 5 property credits
- Pro: $199 per month, 15 property credits
- Studio: $399 per month, 40 property credits

Prices as of 2026-10.

## About each option

- **NovaHDR**: NovaHDR is property photo editing for real estate photographers. You name the property, upload up to 50 JPEG, PNG or WebP photos, choose One Property or a plan, and send the property for editing. The finished set comes back in 24 to 72 hours with balanced exposure and consistent color from room to room, a natural look rather than a redesigned room, and you keep the final review before it goes to your client. RAW, TIFF and bracket sets are not accepted: merge and export brackets first.
- **Editing it yourself**: Editing it yourself usually means merging brackets in Lightroom Classic, Photomatix or similar software, then correcting exposure and color image by image until the rooms match. Lightroom Classic is part of Adobe plans from US$11.99 a month and Photomatix Pro is $99 one-time as of October 2026. The cost that matters most is the time each property takes.

## Which one fits your work

**Choose NovaHDR when:**
- Matching rooms by hand eats your evenings
- You want to shoot more properties each week
- You are happy to review rather than edit every image
- You want a natural, consistent set without presets to tune

**Choose Editing it yourself when:**
- You enjoy editing and want every slider
- You have a style built on your own presets
- Your volume is low enough to edit everything yourself
- You need edits beyond exposure and color

## How to test it on your next property

1. Merge and export your next property as usual.
2. Before editing, upload the set to NovaHDR and send it.
3. Edit a few of the same images yourself and note the time.
4. Compare the finished set with your own edits.
5. Decide which properties to hand off from now on.

## Questions about NovaHDR and Editing it yourself

### Do I still need Lightroom or Photomatix?

For merging brackets, yes. NovaHDR does not merge brackets or accept RAW, so your merge and export stay in your software.

### Will NovaHDR match my style?

NovaHDR aims for a natural look: bright enough to understand the space, restrained enough to keep its character. You keep the final review.

### What does it cost compared with my time?

NovaHDR is $29 one-time for one property, or $79 per month, 5 property credits on Solo. Weigh that against the hours a set takes you.

### Can I keep editing some properties myself?

Yes. Buy one property when you need it; One Property credits do not expire.

## Sources

Checked 2026-10-12.

- [Adobe Lightroom Classic hdr photo merge (Wayback capture 20260821231957; live page returns 403)](https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/desktop/process-and-develop-photos/hdr-photo-merge.html (Wayback capture 20260821231957; live page returns 403))
- [Adobe Lightroom Classic photoshop lightroom classic](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom-classic.html)
- [Photomatix Pro homepage](https://www.hdrsoft.com/)
- [Photomatix Pro photomatix pro](https://www.hdrsoft.com/download/photomatix-pro.html)
- [Photomatix Pro photomatix real estate presets samples](https://www.hdrsoft.com/download/photomatix-pro.html ; https://www.hdrsoft.com/learn/photomatix-real-estate-presets-samples.html)
- [Photomatix Pro order.php](https://www.hdrsoft.com/order.php)
- [Photomatix Pro www.hdrsoft.com](https://www.hdrsoft.com/order.php ; https://www.hdrsoft.com/)
- [Photomatix Pro www.hdrsoft.com](https://www.hdrsoft.com/real-estate/ ; https://www.hdrsoft.com/)

## Related comparisons

- [Photomatix Pro vs Adobe Lightroom Classic](https://www.novahdr.com/compare/photomatix-vs-lightroom-classic/)
- [NovaHDR vs Adobe Lightroom Classic](https://www.novahdr.com/compare/novahdr-vs-lightroom-classic/)
- [NovaHDR vs Photomatix Pro](https://www.novahdr.com/compare/novahdr-vs-photomatix/)
- [NovaHDR vs an editing service](https://www.novahdr.com/compare/novahdr-vs-outsourced-photo-editing/)
- [Real estate photo editor for photographers](https://www.novahdr.com/real-estate-photo-editor-for-photographers/)
- [Bracketed real estate photography](https://www.novahdr.com/bracketed-real-estate-photography/)
- [All comparisons](https://www.novahdr.com/compare/)

## Finish the property. Move on to the next.

Upload the merged set to NovaHDR and get your evening back.

[Edit a Property](https://app.novahdr.com/sign-up)