iPhone · iOS 17+

ShootBrief

AI-Powered Location Scouting

A customizable shooting brief for any location in the world — weather, tides, golden hour, drone rules, gear, safety, and shot ideas — tailored to your exact shoot date.

Download on the App Store

$2.99 · one-time purchase · yours forever

How it works

From location to ready to shoot

01

Enter any location

Type a location name — a national park, a city bridge, a coastal cliff. Or tap My Location to use your GPS coordinates.

02

Pick your shoot date

Choose today, a future date, or any date on the calendar. ShootBrief tailors every section — weather, light, tides — to that specific day.

03

Watch the brief stream in

Your enabled section structure appears immediately, then each section fills in as data streams. No waiting for the full report to see what is coming.

04

Save and share

Bookmark any brief to your Saved library for offline reference in the field. Share complete briefs via email with a formatted subject line.

Brief Sections

Keep the sections you need.

🌤️

Weather

Temperature, precipitation probability, cloud cover, wind speed and direction, visibility, and UV index — live from Open-Meteo.

🌊

Tide Report

High and low tide times and heights for coastal locations using NOAA predictions where available, with clear estimates when official data is unavailable.

☀️

Solar & Lunar Data

Sunrise, sunset, golden hour windows, blue hour windows, day length, moon phase, illumination percentage, and Milky Way visibility.

🚗

Road Conditions

Seasonal accessibility, closures, 4WD requirements, road surface quality, and seasonal hazards for your shoot date.

🅿️

Parking

Nearest designated parking spots with distances, fees, hours of access, permit requirements, and tappable address links after the brief finishes.

🚨

Emergency & Rescue

Nearest hospital, ranger station, and emergency contacts with estimated distances, drive times, and quick map links when addresses are available.

🚁

Drone Restrictions

FAA airspace class, altitude limits, nearest airport contact, TFRs, and any local permit requirements.

📸

Best Times to Shoot

A complete day timeline — pre-dawn through astrophotography — with specific recommendations for each window.

🎯

Best Angles

Specific shooting positions, directions to face, recommended focal lengths, and composition tips for this location.

⚙️

Gear Recommendations

Camera body, lenses, filters, tripod, weather protection, and power recommendations tailored to the terrain and season.

🦺

Safety Checklist

Season-appropriate clothing, terrain hazards, wildlife warnings, emergency gear, and navigation requirements.

📋

Photographer's Notes

Insider tips, hidden angles, and seasonal highlights specific to this location — the kind of knowledge that takes years to accumulate.

Data Sources

Real data. Not guesswork.

Live

Open-Meteo Weather API

Live forecast or historical weather for your exact shoot date — temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, wind, visibility, UV index, and precise sunrise/sunset times. Free, open-source, and no account required.

Calculated

Astronomical Moon Phase

Moon phase, illumination percentage, and Milky Way visibility are calculated mathematically from the synodic cycle — always accurate, no API required.

Official

NOAA CO-OPS Tide Predictions

For supported U.S. coastal locations, ShootBrief looks up nearby NOAA tide stations and uses CO-OPS prediction data for tide timing and heights.

Places

Apple MapKit

Nearby parking, access points, hospitals, emergency services, and related local context come from Apple MapKit searches around the scouted location.

Maps

Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze

When a generated brief includes a recognized street address, ShootBrief can open that address in your preferred maps app. Map links are enabled after generation completes so the brief stream is not interrupted.

AI

Anthropic Claude AI

Claude turns the verified data and local context into practical shooting guidance, including composition ideas, gear choices, safety notes, and location-specific photographer's notes.

Designed for the Field

Built for professionals

Faster brief structure

Your chosen sections appear right away, then fill with live streaming details as the brief is generated.

☑️

Customize sections

Drag sections into your preferred order and turn off anything you do not need for a particular shooting style.

📅

Plan any date

Today, tomorrow, next weekend, or three months out. ShootBrief tailors every section to your chosen date.

🔖

Saved library

Bookmark briefs for offline reference in the field. Search and re-open saved briefs at any time.

🌑

Dark by design

Pure dark interface built for outdoor use — easy to read in bright sunlight or on a dark location shoot.

🚫

No ads. No subscription.

One-time purchase. No recurring fees, no upsells, no account required.

📤

Share any brief

Share complete briefs via email, Messages, or any app — formatted with a clear subject line and full report body.

Common Questions

Everything About Location Scouting

How does ShootBrief generate location information?

ShootBrief combines source data with AI analysis. Weather comes from Open-Meteo, tides use NOAA CO-OPS where available, solar/lunar data is calculated mathematically, and nearby place context comes from Apple MapKit. Claude AI synthesizes that data into practical, location-specific recommendations.

What's the difference between live data and AI-generated data?

Source-backed data includes weather from Open-Meteo, tide predictions from NOAA where available, solar/lunar calculations, and nearby place results from Apple MapKit. AI-generated guidance turns that context into planning notes, gear recommendations, safety considerations, and shot ideas. Always verify critical information like FAA drone restrictions or road closures with official sources.

Can I generate briefs for any location worldwide?

Yes. ShootBrief works for any location you can search or select on the map — from iconic landmarks to remote wilderness areas, anywhere in the world. Weather data coverage is global via Open-Meteo. The AI adapts its recommendations to local conditions, terrain, regulations, and seasonal characteristics specific to your chosen location.

Can ShootBrief open addresses in my maps app?

Yes. In Settings, choose Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze as your preferred maps app. After a brief finishes generating, recognized street addresses can be opened directly for navigation or inspection.

How accurate is the drone airspace information?

ShootBrief provides general guidance on FAA airspace classifications, altitude limits, and nearby airports based on the location. However, airspace rules change frequently, and temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) can appear with short notice. Always verify current drone regulations using official FAA sources like B4UFLY or the FAA UAS Facility Maps before flying. ShootBrief's drone section is for planning purposes, not regulatory compliance.

Can I save briefs for offline use in the field?

Yes. After generating a brief, tap the bookmark icon to save it to your Saved library. Saved briefs are stored locally on your device and accessible offline — perfect for reference in remote locations with no cell service. You can search saved briefs by location name and re-open them instantly.

What kind of gear recommendations does ShootBrief provide?

The Gear Recommendations section suggests camera bodies, lenses, filters, tripods, weather protection, and power solutions tailored to your location's terrain, season, and forecasted conditions. For example, a winter mountain shoot might recommend cold-weather batteries and lens warmers; a coastal sunrise might suggest graduated ND filters and tide-proof gear. Recommendations are practical and context-aware, not generic equipment lists.

How far in advance can I plan a shoot?

ShootBrief's date picker lets you plan any day of the year — today, tomorrow, next weekend, or months ahead. Weather forecasts are most accurate within 7-10 days, but the app provides forecast data for any future date. Solar/lunar calculations are always precise regardless of date. Use long-range briefs for planning golden hour times and moon phases, then regenerate closer to the shoot date for accurate weather.

Does ShootBrief require a subscription or internet connection?

No subscription — ShootBrief is $2.99 as a one-time purchase with all features included. Generating new briefs requires internet to fetch weather data and run AI generation, but saved briefs are accessible offline. No account required, no recurring fees, no upsells.

Pricing

Simple, honest pricing

$2.99

One-time purchase · No subscription · Yours forever

Download on the App Store