A ladar system and related method are disclosed where a ladar transmitter transmits ladar pulses toward a plurality of range points, and a ladar receiver receives ladar returns from the range points, wherein the ladar receiver comprises a photo receiver. A sensor can be used to sense background light levels, and a control circuit can (1) measures the sensed background light levels and (2) provide frequency domain shuttering with respect to the photo receiver based on the measured background light levels.