diff --git a/revid/config.go b/revid/config.go
index 209e692c..6f5a0c8a 100644
--- a/revid/config.go
+++ b/revid/config.go
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ const (
 	defaultRtpAddr            = "localhost:6970"
 	defaultBurstPeriod        = 10 // Seconds
 	defaultRotation           = 0  // Degrees
+	defaultBrightness         = 50
+	defaultExposure           = "auto"
+	defaultAutoWhiteBalance   = "auto"
 )
 
 // Validate checks for any errors in the config fields and defaults settings
@@ -292,20 +295,32 @@ func (c *Config) Validate(r *Revid) error {
 		c.RtpAddress = defaultRtpAddr
 	}
 
-	if c.Brightness < 0 || c.Brightness > 100 {
-		return errors.New("bad brightness setting in config")
+	switch {
+	case c.Brightness == 0:
+		c.Logger.Log(logger.Info, pkg+"brightness undefined, defaulting", "brightness", defaultBrightness)
+		c.Brightness = defaultBrightness
+	case c.Brightness < 0 || c.Brightness > 100:
+		return errors.New(pkg + "bad brightness defined in config")
 	}
 
 	if c.Saturation < -100 || c.Saturation > 100 {
-		return errors.New("bad saturation setting in config")
+		return errors.New(pkg + "bad saturation setting in config")
 	}
 
-	if !stringInSlice(c.Exposure, ExposureModes[:]) {
-		return errors.New("bad exposure setting in config")
+	switch {
+	case c.Exposure == "":
+		c.Logger.Log(logger.Info, pkg+"exposure undefined, defaulting", "exposure", defaultExposure)
+		c.Exposure = defaultExposure
+	case !stringInSlice(c.Exposure, ExposureModes[:]):
+		return errors.New(pkg + "bad exposure setting in config")
 	}
 
-	if !stringInSlice(c.AutoWhiteBalance, AutoWhiteBalanceModes[:]) {
-		return errors.New("bad awb setting in config")
+	switch {
+	case c.AutoWhiteBalance == "":
+		c.Logger.Log(logger.Info, pkg+"auto white balance undefined, defaulting", "autoWhiteBalance", defaultAutoWhiteBalance)
+		c.AutoWhiteBalance = defaultAutoWhiteBalance
+	case !stringInSlice(c.AutoWhiteBalance, AutoWhiteBalanceModes[:]):
+		return errors.New(pkg + "bad auto white balance setting in config")
 	}
 
 	return nil