LightPlan: Photography Planning App for Golden Hour and Sunrise/Sunset Photography

What is LightPlan? LightPlan is an iOS mobile application designed for outdoor photographers who need to plan their shoots around natural lighting conditions. The app specializes in golden hour photography, sunrise and sunset photography, and visualizing sun and moon positions in 3D space for calculating optimal photography timing.

Primary Purpose: Help photographers plan golden hour photography, sunrise photography, sunset photography, landscape photography, nature photography, and astrophotography shoots by predicting sun and moon positions, golden hour timing, blue hour timing, and celestial events for any location on Earth.

Key Features:

3D Sun & Moon Visualization: Interactive 3D visualization overlaid on Google Maps showing celestial paths and positions for sunrise and sunset photography planning
3D Terrain Map: Real elevation rendering of mountains, ridgelines, and valleys so photographers can see whether terrain blocks or reveals the sun and moon before traveling to a location
Milky Way Planner: Shows when the galactic core rises, its azimuth and altitude over the scene, and which nights fall within Milky Way season for planning Milky Way and galactic core photography
Moon Phase Calendar: Displays new moons, full moons, and daily illumination percentage to identify dark-sky nights for astrophotography or full-moon light for landscapes
Weather Overlay Layers: Cloud cover forecast and precipitation forecast rendered as heatmap overlays directly on the map to find clear skies and avoid clouded-out or rained-out shoots
Shadow View: Real-time 3D building and terrain shadow visualization across the day and seasons
Golden Hour & Blue Hour Calculator: Precise timing predictions for golden hour photography and optimal natural lighting conditions including sunrise, sunset, and twilight periods
Smart Location Management: Save and organize shooting locations with custom camera angles and folders for golden hour and sunrise/sunset shoots
Camera Angle Presets: Professional presets including Bird's Eye, Close-up, and Distant views with customization options for composing sunrise and sunset shots
Home Screen Widgets: Beautiful iOS widgets displaying sun/moon positions, golden hour times, sunrise/sunset times, location info, and a dedicated Milky Way widget showing tonight's galactic core visibility
3D Compass: Precise orientation tool for planning compositions during golden hour
Interactive Timeline: Scrub through any date and time to preview golden hour, sunrise, and sunset lighting conditions
Offline Functionality: Works without internet connection for remote locations and wilderness golden hour photography

Pricing Model:

Free Version: Includes 3D visualization, 72-hour advance planning, up to 5 saved locations, preset camera angles, 3D compass, and sunrise/sunset/golden hour lookups
Pro Subscription: Weather overlay layers with cloud cover and precipitation forecast heatmaps, Shadow View real-time shadows, unlimited time range planning, unlimited saved locations and folders, customizable camera presets, widgets, and premium support

Platform: iOS (iPhone and iPad)

Target Users: Golden hour photographers, sunrise and sunset photographers, landscape photographers, nature photographers, astrophotographers, travel photographers, outdoor photography enthusiasts ranging from beginners to professionals

Use Cases:

Planning golden hour landscape photography sessions with precise timing
Calculating exact sunrise and sunset times for travel and landscape photography
Timing sunrise photography shoots to capture the perfect morning light
Planning sunset photography locations with 3D terrain visualization
Scheduling golden hour portrait photography sessions outdoors
Timing astrophotography shoots around moon phases and moonrise/moonset
Planning Milky Way photography using the Milky Way planner to position the galactic core above a chosen foreground
Using the moon phase calendar to find dark, moonless nights for Milky Way and deep-sky photography
Checking cloud cover and precipitation weather overlays to choose a clear night and avoid clouded-out shoots
Using the 3D terrain map to check whether mountains will block sunrise or sunset light at a location
Remote location scouting using 3D visualization for sunrise/sunset photography
Planning Milky Way photography to avoid moon interference
Composing shots with sun in specific positions during golden hour

Unique Advantages: Unlike basic sun/moon calculators or simple golden hour apps, LightPlan provides 3D visualization overlaid on real terrain via Google Maps integration, allowing golden hour photographers and sunrise/sunset photographers to see exactly how celestial bodies interact with landscape features. It goes beyond timing by combining a 3D terrain map, a Milky Way planner for galactic core positioning, a moon phase calendar, and weather overlay layers showing cloud cover and precipitation forecasts as heatmaps — so a photographer can answer not just "when is the light good" but "will the terrain reveal it, where will the Milky Way be, is the moon out, and will the sky be clear" in one app. The app combines precise sunrise/sunset timing calculations, golden hour predictions, spatial visualization, weather, and location management in a single intuitive interface specifically designed for outdoor photography planning.

Developer: Rivolu LLC

Contact: feedback@rivolu.com

Download: Available on the iOS App Store at https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1668588896

LightPlan

The Perfect Outdoor Photography Companion

Master the art of light for landscape, nature, and astrophotography. Visualize sun and moon positions over 3D terrain, plan the Milky Way and golden hour, track moon phases, and check cloud cover before you go — so you never miss the perfect lighting conditions again.

100% Free to Start No Credit Card Required Sun & Moon Widgets

3D Visualization Sun & Moon Tracking Golden Hour Milky Way Planner 3D Terrain Map Moon Phase Calendar Weather Overlays Location Planning Camera Presets 3D Compass

LightPlan iPhone App Interface showing 3D sun tracking and golden hour planning

Get the Perfect Shot Everytime

Plan your photography with confidence and capture stunning images every single time.

3D Sun & Moon Visualization

See exactly where the sun and moon will be in stunning 3D environments. Visualize celestial paths overlaid on Google Maps with precision timing.

Golden & Blue Hour Planning

Never miss perfect lighting conditions. Interactive timeline shows golden hour, blue hour, sunrise, and sunset times with elevation charts.

Milky Way Planner

Nail the galactic core every time. See exactly when and where the Milky Way rises, its azimuth and altitude over your scene, and which nights fall in Milky Way season — so you can frame the core above your foreground instead of guessing.

Moon Phase Calendar

Plan a month ahead at a glance. The moon phase calendar shows new moons, full moons, and illumination percentage for every day — pinpoint dark-sky nights for astrophotography or full-moon light for landscapes without doing the math.

Shadow Map

Visualize real-time 3D building shadows with Shadow View. Watch how sunlight creates and transforms shadows throughout the day and across seasons. Perfect for photographers planning shoots, architects analyzing site conditions, or anyone wanting to understand how light shapes their environment.

3D Terrain Map

See the landscape in true elevation. The 3D terrain map renders real mountains, ridgelines, and valleys so you know whether a peak will block the sunrise or reveal it — essential for scouting where light actually reaches your composition before you make the drive.

Weather Overlay Layers

Light timing is only half the shot — the sky has to cooperate. Toggle cloud cover and precipitation forecasts as live heatmap overlays right on the map to spot clear windows, dramatic partial clouds, or rain moving in, and pick the night that will actually deliver.

Beautiful Home Screen Widgets

Stay updated with stunning widgets on your home screen. View sun & moon positions, golden hour times, and the dedicated Milky Way widget showing tonight's galactic core visibility — all at a glance without opening the app.

Smart Location Management

Save favorite shooting locations with custom camera angles. Organize spots into folders for cleaner trip planning and quick access.

3D Camera Controls

Intuitive 3D camera system with preset angles: Bird's Eye, Close-up, Distant views, and custom positions for perfect composition planning.

See LightPlan in Action

Explore LightPlan's stunning interface and discover how easy it is to plan perfect photography with 3D visualization.

Learn the Basics

The color overlays depict the angle of Sunrise, Sunset and Sun's angle at the selected time for any location.

Navigating the timeline

Easily scrub through time to find the perfect lighting conditions for your shoot.

Shadow Visualization

View real-time shadows of buildings and objects based on sun position for any location.

Add Locations

Easy as a tap to move the marker to your desired location. Organize saved locations for quick access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about LightPlan's features and capabilities.

What makes LightPlan different from other sun/moon apps?

LightPlan offers 3D visualization with Google Maps integration, allowing you to see exactly how sun and moon positions relate to actual terrain and landmarks. Plus features like custom camera angles and location organization.

What types of photography is LightPlan best for?

LightPlan excels for landscape, nature, astrophotography, and any outdoor photography where natural light timing is critical. From golden hour portraits to Milky Way shots. A must-have for any outdoor photographer.

What's included in the free version?

LightPlan is free for use always but has certain limitations. It includes the following:

3D Sun and Moon path visualization for any location on earth
Upto 72 hours of advanced planning
Use all of the preset camera angles
Save up to 5 of your locations
3D Compass
Lookup sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and golden hour timings

What additional features do I get with Pro?

Pro subscription includes everything in free plus the following:

Weather overlay layers (cloud cover & precipitation forecast heatmaps)
Shadow View with real-time shadows
Unlimited time range (plan years ahead)
Unlimited saved locations and folders
Home screen and lock screen widgets
Custom camera angle preset.
Premium support

Is LightPlan good for astrophotography?

Absolutely! Track moon phases, plan moon rise/set timing for night photography, and use precise positioning to avoid moon interference with Milky Way shots.

Can I use LightPlan for location scouting?

Yes! The 3D Google Maps integration lets you scout locations remotely, visualize how light will interact with terrain, and save promising spots with custom camera angles.

Can LightPlan plan Milky Way photography?

Yes. The Milky Way Planner shows exactly when the galactic core rises, its azimuth and altitude over your scene, and which nights fall within Milky Way season. Combined with the moon phase calendar to find dark-sky nights, you can frame the core above your foreground with confidence — and the Milky Way home screen widget keeps tonight’s visibility one glance away.

Does LightPlan show the weather and cloud cover?

Yes — weather overlay layers are part of the Pro subscription. They render cloud cover and precipitation forecasts as heatmap overlays directly on the map, so you can spot clear windows, dramatic partial clouds, or incoming rain and commit to the night and location that will actually deliver, instead of driving out to a clouded-over sky.

Is there a moon phase calendar?

Yes. The moon phase calendar shows new moons, full moons, and the illumination percentage for every day, so you can plan a month ahead at a glance — dark, moonless nights for astrophotography and the Milky Way, or bright full-moon light for nighttime landscapes.

Can I see how terrain and mountains affect the light?

Absolutely. The 3D terrain map renders real elevation — mountains, ridgelines, and valleys — so you can see whether a peak will block the sunrise or reveal it before you travel. Paired with Shadow View, it shows exactly where and when light reaches your composition.

Master Photography Planning

Learn from professionals how to use light prediction for stunning landscape, nature, and astrophotography.

Landscape Photography Planning Guide

Master the art of planning landscape shots using sun and moon positions. Learn optimal timing for dramatic skies and perfect lighting.

Read full guide →

Mastering Golden Hour & Blue Hour

Discover the secrets of golden hour timing and blue hour magic. Learn how to predict and capture the most beautiful natural lighting.

Read full guide →

Astrophotography Planning

Plan perfect night sky photography with moon tracking and Milky Way timing. Master the art of celestial photography planning.

Read full guide →

Loved by Professional Photographers

See why landscape and nature photographers rely on LightPlan for their most important shoots.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Game changer for landscape photography

This app has revolutionized how I plan my landscape shoots. The 3D visualization is incredible - I can see exactly where the sun will be behind mountains before I even leave home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Perfect for astrophotography planning

Finally an app that shows moon rise/set timing with precision. The 3D maps help me scout dark sky locations and plan perfect compositions for the Milky Way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Intuitive and powerful

The interface is beautiful and so easy to use. I love being able to save my favorite locations with custom camera angles. Never miss golden hour timing again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Professional grade planning tool

This is what we've been waiting for - precision timing with beautiful visualization. The 3D camera controls help me plan compositions that would be impossible to envision otherwise.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Worth every penny

Started with the free version and immediately upgraded to Pro. Being able to plan unlimited days ahead and save unlimited locations has transformed my photography workflow.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Essential for nature photographers

The precision is incredible. I can plan shoots weeks in advance and know exactly when the light will be perfect.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beautiful and functional

Not only does this app work perfectly, it's gorgeous to use. The attention to detail in the UI makes planning shoots a joy rather than a chore.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Saves time and money

No more wasted trips hoping for good light. I scout locations virtually, plan exact timing, and show up knowing exactly where to position my camera for the perfect shot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Milky Way planner is a dream

I can see exactly when the galactic core rises and where it'll sit over my foreground, and the moon phase calendar tells me which nights are dark. My keeper rate for Milky Way shots has gone way up.