How to PLAN a Milky Way Photo | Step by Step with PhotoPills

Learn how to PLAN A MILKY WAY PHOTO in this step by step tutorial using the PhotoPills app. Have you been confused by PhotoPills or are you just getting started in night sky photography? Then this photography tutorial is for you. I explain how to find the Milky Way and demonstrate how to plan a Milky Way photo using the PhotoPills app. This is Part 1 of my 3-part series on how to photograph the Milky Way. Stay tuned for the next videos as we head into the Milky Way photography season.
DON'T MISS:
Part 2: How to PREPARE for Night Photography | Gear - Accessories - Tips & Tricks: • How to PREPARE for Nig...
Part 3: How to PHOTOGRAPH the Milky Way | Settings - Timelapse - Tips: • How to PHOTOGRAPH the ...
LINKS:
PhotoPills App: www.photopills.com
*UPDATE* - I referenced this site in the video, Dark Site Finder: darksitefinder.com/, but here is a more up-to-date reference www.lightpollutionmap. Thanks, @MichaelMcKeag!
▶ Love what you're learning here and want to support this channel? You can buy me a coffee! :)
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Thanks for your support!
CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: outdoorphotographyschool.com/
Online gallery: www.brendapetrella.com/
Instagram: / brendapetrella
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▶ Check out my gear on Kit: kit.co/brendapetrella
#milkyway #nightphotography #outdoorphotographyschool
BORING BUT IMPORTANT:
All video and still images are by Brenda Petrella.
Royalty-free music from: www.epidemicsound.com

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Hey folks - I just created a new step-by-step video on using PhotoPills to Plan a Milky Way image that is updated for 2020: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3y1f3SGfreEqrc if you want to check it out. It just focuses on PhotoPills, whereas Part 1 of this Milky Way series goes into more detail about all aspects of Milky Way planning.

[@spamtelevision]

Sorry, but u wrong. The earth is not rotating!

[@joefrat]

Yup, you were right. There are a lot of videos about Milky Way Photography. You are also correct that you actually explain this so I actually understand. To top it all off you actually explained PhotoPills better than they do in their 60 minute video. Thank you.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much for the high compliments, Joe! Glad you found the info to be helpful. Took me forever to figure out PhotoPills, but I'm so glad I finally did! Very robust.

[@christophercolumbus5547]

At first I found PhotoPills confusing. I am a relative newbie to photography. But taking the time to read the articles, download and read the ebooks, watch the tutorials and try practical shots, paid dividends. So worth the investment in $$$ time and energy. Plus I have never had such prompt, detailed, passionate support from any app of any kind as I have from the guys at PhotoPills. Eg Same day detailed reply to help me actually plan a super moon shot due in just 48 hours! Best value app I’ve ever come across. Thanks for adding some more clarity though. Great video. For the record the guys at PhotoPills freely acknowledge their expertise is more in the technical development - less in the instruction - and are reshooting a lot of their videos in response. Can’t ask for much more than that IMO. 🙂

[@burtgummer8514]

But they don’t have the charm and charisma of Brenda👍🏻

[@DavidBrown-wf6pz]

As a Rutlander now living in CO I'm envisioning a trip to include the Milky Way using some old barns etc in the composition. Good to get your confirmation that VT is still dark enough for such a shot. Great video.

[@RScottNH]

Watched this last night. You explained Photopils perfectly Brenda. Better than anyone else that I have seen. Going to do some Milky Way shooting Mother's Day week. Probably watch this another 10 times. Thank you. Scott.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Awesome! That made my day! Good luck with your Milky Way shots - I'll keep my fingers crossed for some clear weather ;).

[@Savage1776_]

When I first started Photoshop I remember trying to do Composites and I had these tutorials and I had just learned photography I was still learning my exposure triangle. I mean I was as green as the grass on a hot summer day. But it took me I think like 2 weeks which is comical because I used to be an electrical engineer, but it took me 2 weeks to grasp the concept of a layer and a layer mask. And finally somebody did a tutorial with two sheets of paper and explained that the top sheet of paper is like the layer and if you were to draw through it that's the mask. It was something so simple they gave me that haha moment. I know his teachers we can kind of overdo it when we explain things and sometimes it's just good to simplify things. But, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to make all these videos. I used to have a KZbin channel myself and I know that it's very time consuming not only to shoot the videos but to do the editing process and you always run into a hundred problems whether the phone rings somebody knocks at the door your computer freezes up and crashes and you lose all your work. It could be a hundred things and these things do happen. But thank you thank you thank you for taking the time out of your life and your day. Time is the most precious thing in the world and you give it up to help us out. I don't want to say thank you for that

[@rafewahmmedjiju9030]

My gosh. You hiked 4 miles in total just to show us how to plan these things... Hats off to you. You are such a passionate person. Thank you so much for all these

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Much appreciated, Rafew! :)

[@VesaGuardian]

Now I get it! Thank you!

[@JCImagesBehindtheShot]

Yes! I have been waiting for a video like this. Love your style Brenda!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Perfect! Glad you found it and it was helpful! :)

[@pablodiazphotography]

Sweet video Brenda!! Congratulations on reaching a 1000 subs!!! That's awesome. Thank you for the tip on the app for planning the Milky Way shot, I'm digging it 👍

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked the tip!

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

Loved your video. Thank you for making and posting this! Very helpful.

[@clacla1968]

I just purchased Photo Pills and BAM! a whole world opened before my eyes! lol It will be very useful on my trip to the Outer Hebrides, Scotland in August. Thank you Brenda :) Claudia, Italy.

[@aytw661]

That was amazingly helpful, I got so confused when I first got photopills, you made it easier to understand :)

[@machfour8501]

This was so helpful! Can't wait to try this in the mountains. And you just got a new subscriber. 😀

[@SherlockMahomes]

Thank you so much! One of the better videos out there!

[@libbylord1094]

Hi Brenda, Your tutorial was perfect. I did have to pause, and back up and re-view a couple of times, but that's what's great about KZbin. I am getting into the Milky Way game a bit late in the year, but I"ll be ready to roll in spring thanks to you. I've also started following you on Instagram. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in a clear, understandable way!

[@betsybotsford9719]

Thank you for this!!

[@GarethDanks]

Very helpful. This video is brilliantly done. One I keep coming back to. Thanks so much 😊❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jasonseaton6206]

Excellent work Brenda! Thanks for taking the time to do this and help a bunch of us out.

[@Janice947]

I just discovered your KZbin channel and it's terrific! Not only do you explain the procedures very clearly, but the video footage is often lovely and compelling. I've now watched all 3 astrophotography videos and love the inclusion of the trek through the snow, the recapturing of the bull, and the final time-lapse of the night sky. I look forward to more.

[@dominey]

Fantastic series! You explain everything so clearly. Appreciate the time and effort.

[@lisamarie7527]

Thank you soooo much for making Milky Way photography so clear!! Cant wait to try it this year!! Love your channel

[@shopafelic]

Excellent video - watched it a while back and back to it now to refresh my memory just before a photo trip :D

[@karismasvlog3446]

Love the details , such a good video

[@jeppersted5273]

1 minut in and I already love you 😊😁

[@anotherhuman7344]

You put so much work into this! I have checked several videos and this is the best one by far - completely worth it!

[@iamKRAUZER]

omg thank you so much! doing this is one of my dreams and goals! this is beyond helpful! thank youuuu!!

[@rickpeterson7303]

I found your channel and loving it! Keep the awesome content coming!!! 👍👍👍

[@fderv5484]

What a great video. Thanks so much!

[@britainthroughmylens]

This was really useful for a newbie to night sky photography and Photopills like me. Thank you for a very clear and intelligible guide - the best I've found.

[@vesnaveljkovic-kazoti4334]

Best explaination ever!!!

[@ianmcclelland2524]

Love love love your channel.....

[@crs1flo]

Best video i've ever seen on this subject! Bravo! Very weel explained!

[@ekredel]

that’s a great video! can’t wait for the next one!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thank you, Kresimir! I hope to get it out in the next week or so.

[@LisaRSArt]

Thank you so much for this. Subscribed. Love your videos. 👏👏❤️

[@robgerety]

Just found your channel. Turns out we are virtually neighbors. Lovely view of the White River from that hill. Great videos.

[@martingranger40]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video - I learned a lot, and appreciate the insight into using the PhotoPills app; it makes a lot more sense now - well done!

[@cleokatra.]

Thank you ! Watched all 3 parts of your videos and they were supper informative and helpful. I learned so much and feel super confident to go out tonight and take some awesome photos of the Milky Way 🌟

[@giacomofabrini9353]

This was just brilliant - thank you so much Brenda! You got yourself another sub :)

[@LouisaLee63]

Very helpful! Thank you!!

[@johnjackson9601]

Thank you it clarified several things!

[@mitersaw648]

Great video!

[@johnglavey808]

This video should be part of teacher training curriculum . As a retired teacher and an amateur landscape photographer i was begining to feel stupid and finding it difficult to grasp this astrophotography . Everything about this tutorial top notch. Thank you and well done.

[@wawanbalik]

Thanks a lot Brenda, very informative video!

[@perambulatingmike]

Excellent tutorial, Brenda...thank you!

[@Heli4213]

Best video ever. You answered so many questions

[@Frank-ez5wy]

I agree with the follower that said you explained how to use PhotoPills better than their own video guides!I tried and just did not stick. Love your enthusiasm. Thank you very much.

[@donnymarrion3576]

Very helpful thanks so much!!

[@ZilveriCosas]

Okay, this is the best explanation of the app, and to top it off, you actually went on field! That is amazing dedication. Subbed and liked the video!

[@JennFredrickson]

This is absolutely incredible. Thank you!

[@Roshambo3]

Amazing tutorial. Loved how thoroughly yet intuitively you broke down the Photo Pills app and your process for planning. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[@Bitoypalaboy]

Thank you soo much for this video! learning a lot from you! please keep up the great work.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Glad to hear it, Joni! Thanks!

[@theoutdoorfanatics]

I have watch almost all milky way photography videos but didn't understand anything , now this makes me understood everything. Very informative and thankyou so much.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

That's awesome to hear! Thanks for letting me know. I hope you get some great shots!

[@johnlangston4108]

I’ve only just now discovered Photo Pills and your channel. Thank you so much for the in depth instructions! Your videos are amazing!

[@arniet1]

Just brilliant! Thanks from Northern England

[@TheOnlyGuess]

One of the nicest things is that you combine 2 passions: hiking and photography. Good job

[@thanasisefta9185]

Thank you so much...amazing explanations and video!!!

[@joeflower7398]

Very easy to absorb,thanks.

[@jimhamilton8775]

Great video Brenda. Looking forward to the rest.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks, Jim!

[@jiffy1313]

Thank you so much for this, I can't tell you how much this helped me!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Yay! That totally makes my day!

[@allen4505]

Thanks very much, now I understand Photo Pills much more !!

[@TheRiggsiom]

I was on the fence about Photopills but this excellent summary has convinced me. Great vid. New Sub here. Greetings from the UK!

[@dantediego]

thank you so much for this video! im going out this weekend to photograph the milky way! wish me luck

[@502randy5]

Thank you Brenda! ❤I have watched PhotoPills on KZbin and have had a heck of a time understanding that guy speaking, you made it so simple.

[@BackroadExploits]

Well this certainly makes it a lot easier to plan a shoot of the milky way. Thank you. I've wanted to do this for some time...

[@elias_hi]

Thanks for the great tutorial, photopills finally makes sense!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Yay! I'm so glad to hear that! :)

[@jeffwegge2737]

I watched all 3 videos---Thanks Brenda for all of your advice and time. It gave a Milky Way rookie like me a shot at success my first time out which will be soon.

[@modeverything9949]

Great video on this app. I’ve had it for months and was so confused by it I just stopped trying. Looked up how to use it and seen your great vid. Going to check out all three parts. Thanks again

[@naomirobinson3579]

I absolutely loved this series! By far the most comprehensive (you've thought of everything!) and easiest to understand tutorial. Best Photopills tutorial I've seen as well. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with us - you're a great teacher, Brenda!! Now to watch all your other videos! x

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Awesome - thanks so much for all of the kind words, Naomi! Positive feedback is always nice to hear.

[@hallgrimurragnarsson3032]

Thank you very much, needed a crash course on site in Yosemite for shoot tonight

[@wilfswanderings]

Great info. Thanks..

[@dennissteinerd1548]

I've had PhotoPills on my phone for 6 months and it always gave me the heebie jeebies, closing the app in disgust. This is by far the best tutorial out there and I will watch it again and again until I get it right. Well Done Brenda!!!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Thanks so much, Dennis! I'm doing a series on how to learn PhotoPills (the basics, sun, moon, etc.) if you want to learn more: bit.ly/PhotoPillsFridaySeason1

[@SouBuuS]

THANK YOU for explaining this into laymens term! Made perfect sense, I watched a few other videos and I was like..... ok you still didn't make it very clear! Awesome awesome thank you again!

[@YAMNIKIN]

Big Thank you Brenda!!! Learned a lot. Have been using Photopills for some basic stuff but after going through this tutorial I will be using this app for planning my Milky Way shots. Keep up the good work. Stay safe and take care :)

[@tracibodette6365]

Super explanations! Love that you are from Vermont. Thank you for being so detailed in your steps.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Happy to help!

[@rjrezagholi8925]

you explained photopills perfectly .

[@real1861a]

Love your videos. You are so articulate and engaging.

[@madelynbrown5230]

Great tutorial. Very clear directions. Thanks

[@tammysypniewski1891]

AHA! I found you. September 28 and I’m gonna be all over that. Super excited, the best part is going to be scouting my location. Thanks so much, that explanation of PhotoPills was truly amazing. Thanks again and go Bernie!

[@whall1971]

Wish I had watched this sooner. lol. Great video.

[@awesomeconcreteinc.7758]

Wow! By far one of the best videos for planning a Milky Way shooting. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge and also make sense of the photo pills app. Now I kind of know how to use it... I’ll watch your video again i guess! Thank you again 🙂👏🏽

[@hardwickpete]

Hi, thanks for these really great videos. Really informative and very helpful. Keep the great vids coming. Stay safe 😊

[@brianharradine8130]

Awesome video for Photocells planning thanks

[@antonioquiroz4]

OPS - You are so wonderful to share your info. I'm INSPIRED!! We're planning a Fall Milky Way photo shoot and we're prepping using alot of your wonderful advise and camping attire. Please keep on KEEPING ON!! Love it. Love. It. ALL.

[@kurtdixon4700]

Thanks!! Very informative! Excited about going out for my first planned shot!

[@johnwheeler5271]

Thankyou for all your help toward planning my trip to photographing the Milky Way.

[@angeles3940]

This explanation of the PhotoPills and Milky Way are awesome!! Thank you !

[@vikramyerneni]

Truly amazing content

[@scotty4418]

found your channel by accident the other day but now subscribed and notification on for future releases. I find Photopills to be like the swiss army knife for apps as it is very versatile and use it to help plan what I am going to do. Look forward to more releases Brenda and now off to watch the remaining vlogs you've produced

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great - thanks, Scotty! I still have more to learn with PhotoPills. Like you said, it can pretty much do anything! A very helpful tool once you figure out what all the menus and buttons do.

[@terrylong8465]

Very informative indeed. Good job.

[@devdi7938]

Thank you so much for in depth analysis of astrophotography and photo pills app 👏👏👍👍

[@southwellprimaryschoolport2149]

Many thanks for explaining this Brenda, I'm now ready to do some Milky Way photography of the south coast of England.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! I hope they turn out well!

[@ChipChapinSJ]

This is just a great video. Not only taught me how to use PhotoPills for exactly what I wanted (new moon, shooting tonight), but I love the hike. Thanks for the maple syrup tips :-)

[@framed-tales]

Best advice on milky way shootout. Concise and helpful. Awesome! thanks a lot.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Great! Thank you Abu! So glad you found it to be helpful.

[@EarlLJ1]

Outstanding !!!! .... You are great !! .... You are an outstanding communicator !!!!

[@PaulMcKillop]

Great video, Brenda. Clear and straightforward and really encouraging. As you said, the PhotoPills app looks complicated. It's definitely less daunting now. Thanks.

[@ThePosiview]

One of the best Photopills videos I've seen and will help me out for an imminent MW shoot. Thanks.

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

andy sheader So great! That’s the best sort of outcome. Thanks for the compliment.

[@searchresults1246]

One in a series of some of the most helpful and informative videos. Such a clear walk-through and demonstration of an otherwise intimidating app from a beginner’s perspective. Thank you! Your efforts are a gift to us.

[@candaedomkowski6569]

Wonderful video Brenda! You're definitely a great teacher- there would be so many people who'd do a workshop with you. For many people who haven't done it, shooting the milky way can be intimidating or elusive (and freaky to do it out there alone in the dark, lol). Thank you so much for making this video, and I'm looking forward to part 2 and 3 :)

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

Aww, thanks Candae! That means a lot. My hope with this series is to make Milky Way photography accessible to anyone. I know when I was first learning it, I needed the basics to get over that first hump of fuzzy images ;).

[@Wendy-cf5tv]

This was so helpful! Great tutorial! I may need to watch it a second time! Love your videos. Many thanks!

[@Wendy-cf5tv]

Can I tag a location I will be going to?

[@vargavideo]

Capturing the MW is on my 2018 Bucket List. Helpful and articulate explanation - thanks!

[@outdoorphotographyschool7366]

You're welcome! Good luck and have fun getting the shot!