An automatic shutter intended for recording holograms with laser light is described. The shutter allows holographic recording material to be exposed until a preset exposure value is reached; it then automatically cuts off the laser beam. The automatic control on the exposure time is provided by a photoconductor cell placed near the recording material. Properly used, this shutter can eliminate the need to measure the light level illuminating the material. It also permits the laser power to vary over at least two orders of magnitude during the exposure without affecting the high diffraction efficiency of the recorded hologram.