Photography · head to head
Exposure X vs ShootProof
Exposure X
Photography
Perpetual-licence RAW editor and cataloguer built around film-emulation presets, from a very small vendor
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
ShootProof
Photography
Client proofing galleries, print store and studio billing with no commission on sales
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only ShootProof has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Exposure X the vendor has published almost no public updates since 2022, so buyers cannot be confident about the pace or certainty of future development.; ShootProof storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
- They diverge on capability: Exposure X covers Folder-based browsing, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Exposure X and ShootProof actually diverge.
| Attribute | Exposure X | ShootProof |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Per month by photo count |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Web, iOS, Android |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Exposure X
- Folder-based browsing
- Film emulation presets
- Non-destructive layers and masking
- RAW processing
- Plugin support
- Perpetual licensing
Only in ShootProof
- Proofing galleries
- Print store
- Zero sales commission
- Contracts and invoices
- Studio automation
- Client mobile app
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Exposure X
- A photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packsnot ShootProof
- Someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in foldersnot ShootProof
- A buyer who wants a one-time purchase RAW editor on both Windows and Mac without a subscriptionnot ShootProof
- A Lightroom user adding Exposure as an external editor specifically for its film emulation librarynot ShootProof
ShootProof
- A portrait studio whose print revenue exceeds its subscription cost, where a percentage based competitor would be the more expensive optionnot Exposure X
- School and sports volume work where galleries are keyed to individual subjects and priced from a fixed sheetnot Exposure X
- A photographer who wants contracts, invoices and gallery delivery billed to one vendor instead of threenot Exposure X
- Wedding delivery where clients need a downloadable set and the parents need a print ordering routenot Exposure X
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Exposure X
- The vendor has published almost no public updates since 2022, so buyers cannot be confident about the pace or certainty of future development.
- Email contact with the company is reported as unreliable, leaving technical support tickets as the only dependable channel.
- Its RAW processing and masking tools are less capable than Lightroom, Capture One or DxO PhotoLab for demanding professional retouching.
- It has no cloud sync or mobile companion app, unlike Lightroom or Skylum products, so multi-device workflows are not supported.
- Buying into a small, quiet vendor carries real continuity risk; a perpetual licence protects existing files but does not guarantee the software will be updated for future camera models.
ShootProof
- Storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
- Gallery presentation is plainer than Pic-Time and Pixieset, which matters at the high end where the gallery is part of the product the client is paying for.
- There is no bundled website or blog builder, so photographers still pay a separate hosting subscription that competitors include in the same fee.
- Print fulfilment is strongest with North American labs, and photographers outside that region face longer lead times, higher shipping and a shorter list of usable products.
- Support is email and ticket based with no telephone line, which is awkward when a client gallery fails on the evening before a delivery deadline.
Pricing, plan by plan
Exposure X
On request- Exposure X7$129/one-time
- Perpetual licence, no subscription
- Folder-based, non-database workflow
- Upgrade pricing of 89 USD for existing owners
- Exposure X7 Bundle$149/one-time
- Exposure X7 plus Snap Art and Blow Up plugins
- Upgrade pricing of 99 USD for existing owners
ShootProof
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 100 photos stored
- Full store and download delivery
- No commission on sales
- Photo count tiers$undefined/month
- Tiers set by the number of photos stored, not by file size
- No sales commission at any tier
- Contracts, invoices and studio automation included
Which should you pick?
Choose Exposure X if
- You need folder-based browsing.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want film emulation presets.
Choose ShootProof if
- You need proofing galleries.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want print store.
Questions people ask
- Is Exposure X or ShootProof better?
- Neither clearly leads. Exposure X starts at On request and ShootProof at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Exposure X or ShootProof?
- ShootProof has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Exposure X and Free for ShootProof.
- Does Exposure X or ShootProof run on more platforms?
- Exposure X runs on Windows, macOS. ShootProof runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use ShootProof for free?
- Yes. ShootProof has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Exposure X starts at On request.
- What is Exposure X best used for?
- Exposure X is most often used for a photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packs, someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in folders, a buyer who wants a one-time purchase raw editor on both windows and mac without a subscription, a lightroom user adding exposure as an external editor specifically for its film emulation library. Of those, a photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packs and someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in folders are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
- What can Exposure X do that ShootProof cannot?
- Exposure X covers Folder-based browsing, Film emulation presets, Non-destructive layers and masking, RAW processing. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Exposure X: Is Exposure X7 still being sold and supported?
Yes, it is on sale and technical support responds to tickets, but public updates and communication from the company have been sparse since 2022.
ShootProof: Does ShootProof take a cut of print sales?
No. Every plan, including the free one, keeps zero percent of print and download revenue. You pay only the subscription and the lab cost.
Exposure X: Do I need to import my photos into a catalogue?
No, it browses and edits files directly from folders rather than requiring a database import.
ShootProof: Is the free plan usable for real work?
Only for small jobs. One hundred photos covers a single short portrait session, so it works as a trial rather than as a business tier.
Exposure X: Is there a subscription option?
No, it is sold only as a perpetual one-time purchase.
ShootProof: Can I use my own lab?
Yes. You can fulfil orders yourself or through a lab that ShootProof does not integrate with, but you then handle ordering and shipping manually.
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