Plan Your Perfect Photography Session

From adding your first location to heading out at the perfect moment — five steps to better shoots.

Five steps to better shoots

ShutterTime replaces five weather apps and a spreadsheet. Set up once, then just check when to go.

Step 1: Add a location

Drop a pin on the map or search for any spot on Earth. ShutterTime automatically detects the timezone, nearest tide station, and weather grid.

  • Search by name or tap the map to place a pin
  • Add profiles to define what conditions you shoot in
  • Set it to private, shared, or public

Step 2: Set up profiles

Profiles tell ShutterTime what you shoot. Each profile defines the weather, light, and environmental conditions you care about — and ShutterTime scores every location against them.

  • Choose from styles like landscape, astro, seascape, or waterfall
  • Each profile tracks conditions like cloud cover, wind, tides, and moon phase
  • Browse community profiles or create your own from scratch

Step 3: Check your scores

ShutterTime crunches weather forecasts, astronomical data, and tide predictions into a single 0-100 score for every time window. Higher scores mean better conditions for the style you shoot.

  • Scores refresh automatically as new forecast data arrives
  • See a breakdown by condition — cloud cover, wind, golden hour quality
  • Browse the upcoming timeline to find the best windows this week

Step 4: Create a plan

Found a high-scoring window? Create a plan. ShutterTime calculates when to leave based on your distance, shows exact sunset/sunrise times, and sends you a reminder so you never miss it.

  • One-tap planning from the dashboard or location page
  • See drive time, leave time, and the exact photo window
  • Get push notifications before your session starts

Step 5: Head out and shoot

Check your location on the way — weather, tides, sun position, and scores in one place. After your session, confirm conditions to help ShutterTime learn what works at each spot.

  • Weather, tides, sun, and moon data in one view
  • Add notes and confirm plan conditions to improve scoring next time
  • Auto-Watch alerts you when conditions hit your threshold

Works on desktop and mobile

Full experience on web, iOS, and Android. Your locations, profiles, and plans sync across all your devices.

Explore by photography style

Each style of photography has unique conditions. Learn how ShutterTime tracks what matters for yours.