Auto exposure processing for spherical images improves image quality by reducing visible exposure level variation along a stitch line within a spherical image. An average global luminance value is determined based on luminance values determined for first and second images, which are based on auto exposure configurations of first and second image sensors used to obtain those first and second images. Delta luminance values are determined for the first and second images using the average global luminance value. The first and second images are then updated using the delta luminance values, and the updated first and second images are used to produce a spherical image.