diff --git a/picamera2/picamera2.py b/picamera2/picamera2.py
index 836142c6..a0fb76a6 100644
--- a/picamera2/picamera2.py
+++ b/picamera2/picamera2.py
@@ -1202,7 +1202,7 @@ def dispatch_functions(self, functions, wait, signal_function=None, immediate=Fa
                 self._run_process_requests()
         return job.get_result() if wait else job
 
-    def capture_file_(self, file_output, name: str, format=None, exif_data={}) -> dict:
+    def capture_file_(self, file_output, name: str, format=None, exif_data=None) -> dict:
         if not self.completed_requests:
             return (False, None)
         request = self.completed_requests.pop(0)
@@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@ def capture_file(
             format=None,
             wait=None,
             signal_function=None,
-            exif_data={}) -> dict:
+            exif_data=None) -> dict:
         """Capture an image to a file in the current camera mode.
 
         Return the metadata for the frame captured.
@@ -1246,7 +1246,7 @@ def switch_mode(self, camera_config, wait=None, signal_function=None):
         return self.dispatch_functions(functions, wait, signal_function, immediate=True)
 
     def switch_mode_and_capture_file(self, camera_config, file_output, name="main", format=None,
-                                     wait=None, signal_function=None, exif_data={}):
+                                     wait=None, signal_function=None, exif_data=None):
         """Switch the camera into a new (capture) mode, capture an image to file.
 
         Then return back to the initial camera mode.
@@ -1265,7 +1265,7 @@ def capture_and_switch_back_(self, file_output, preview_config, format, exif_dat
 
         functions = [partial(self.switch_mode_, camera_config),
                      partial(capture_and_switch_back_, self, file_output, preview_config, format,
-                             exif_data=exif_data})]
+                             exif_data=exif_data)]
         return self.dispatch_functions(functions, wait, signal_function, immediate=True)
 
     def switch_mode_and_capture_request(self, camera_config, wait=None, signal_function=None):
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ def set_overlay(self, overlay) -> None:
     def start_and_capture_files(self, name: str = "image{:03d}.jpg",
                                 initial_delay=1, preview_mode="preview",
                                 capture_mode="still", num_files=1, delay=1,
-                                show_preview=True, exif_data={}):
+                                show_preview=True, exif_data=None):
         """This function makes capturing multiple images more convenient.
 
         Should only be used in command line line applications (not from a Qt application, for example).
diff --git a/picamera2/request.py b/picamera2/request.py
index 945a1b94..83a5be92 100644
--- a/picamera2/request.py
+++ b/picamera2/request.py
@@ -162,13 +162,14 @@ def make_image(self, name, width=None, height=None):
         """Make a PIL image from the named stream's buffer."""
         return self.picam2.helpers.make_image(self.make_buffer(name), self.config[name], width, height)
 
-    def save(self, name, file_output, format=None, exif_data={}):
+    def save(self, name, file_output, format=None, exif_data=None):
         """Save a JPEG or PNG image of the named stream's buffer.
 
         exif_data - dictionary containing user defined exif data (based on `piexif`). This will
             overwrite existing exif information generated by picamera2.
         """
-        return self.picam2.helpers.save(self.make_image(name), self.get_metadata(), file_output, format)
+        return self.picam2.helpers.save(self.make_image(name), self.get_metadata(), file_output,
+                                        format, exif_data)
 
     def save_dng(self, filename, name="raw"):
         """Save a DNG RAW image of the raw stream's buffer."""
@@ -244,12 +245,14 @@ def make_image(self, buffer, config, width=None, height=None):
             pil_img = pil_img.resize((width, height))
         return pil_img
 
-    def save(self, img, metadata, file_output, format=None, exif_data={}):
+    def save(self, img, metadata, file_output, format=None, exif_data=None):
         """Save a JPEG or PNG image of the named stream's buffer.
 
         exif_data - dictionary containing user defined exif data (based on `piexif`). This will
             overwrite existing exif information generated by picamera2.
         """
+        if exif_data is None:
+            exif_data = {}
         # This is probably a hideously expensive way to do a capture.
         start_time = time.monotonic()
         exif = b''