A radiation exposure recording device and radiography method are disclosed, where the radiation exposure recording device includes a radiation exposure recording medium, a housing that at least partly surrounds the radiation exposure recording medium, and a first detector that detects a radiation exposure. An output signal produced in response to the detecting of the radiation exposure can be provided, and the detection of and output of a signal in response to the radiation exposure is entirely automatic and independent of any manual processing of the radiation exposure recording device. Further, the radiography method includes providing a first radiation exposure recording medium, providing a first radiation exposure detector, and sensing an exposure of radiation at the first radiation exposure detector. Also disclosed is a circuit that can be retrofitted to existing radiography cassettes for detecting when the cassettes are exposed to radiation.