LightCast Suite · All Tools
LightCast

Best Weather for Photography:
It Depends on the Shot

A good sunset sky is terrible for astrophotography. Overcast kills golden hour but is perfect for portraits. LightCast scores conditions for each type of shoot separately.

Get the iOS App Try GoldCast free on web →

iOS app · $2.99/mo · 7-day free trial

Five tools. One app.

Score Conditions for Whatever You're Shooting

Most weather apps give you temperature and cloud percentage. Neither tells you if tonight's sky will produce a dramatic sunset or whether it's dark enough for astrophotography. LightCast builds scores around what photographers actually need to know.

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GoldCast — Sunset & Sunrise
Best weather: 30–70% mid cloud, clear western horizon, clean air. GoldCast scores the quality of golden hour light for any location. Free on web.
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StarCast — Night Sky
Best weather: new moon, all cloud layers clear, Bortle 4 or darker, good atmospheric transparency. StarCast checks all four. Free on web.
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DroneCast — Drone Flight
Best weather: wind under 10 mph with no gusts above 15, no precipitation, visibility above 3 miles, above freezing. DroneCast checks gusts separately. Free on web.
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FogCast — Fog Probability
Best conditions: calm clear overnight, humidity above 90%, dew point within 4°F of air temp. FogCast scores formation probability with estimated timing. iOS app only.
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CloudCast — Cloud by Shooting Target
Scores the same sky differently depending on what you're shooting: golden hour, landscape, portrait, or astrophotography. iOS app only.
LightCast app dashboard showing all tool scores
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Push notifications for every tool
Set a threshold for each tool. Get notified when conditions hit your target for any saved location — golden hour, clear night, flyable conditions, fog, or cloud cover. All five tools, one app.
Common Questions
What is the best weather for photography?
It depends on the shoot. Golden hour: broken mid cloud, clear horizon. Astrophotography: new moon, no cloud, dark skies. Portraits and waterfalls: full overcast. Fog: calm, clear, humid overnight. LightCast scores each type separately — all tools in one iOS app.
Is overcast good for photography?
For portraits, waterfalls, and forest shoots, yes. Overcast acts as a giant natural softbox. For golden hour and landscape, it eliminates sky drama. For astrophotography, it's an absolute no. CloudCast scores the same sky differently by shooting target.
What time of day is best for outdoor photography?
Golden hour — 60 minutes before sunset, 60 minutes after sunrise — for most landscape and outdoor work. Blue hour for cityscapes. Midday direct sun is the hardest to work with. GoldCast shows today's exact golden hour window and scores light quality for any location.
What weather app is best for photographers?
LightCast Suite — five tools built specifically for photographers and drone pilots: GoldCast, StarCast, DroneCast, FogCast, and CloudCast. Free tools on web at lightcastsuite.com, all five plus push notifications in the iOS app.
LightCast
Every condition. One app.

GoldCast · StarCast · DroneCast · FogCast · CloudCast
Push notifications · Saved locations · 7-day forecast

Download LightCast for iOS
or
Try GoldCast free on web →

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