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PhotoWeather

Quick Start Guide

Welcome to PhotoWeather! This guide will help you set up your first photography location and weather rule in about 5 minutes.

PhotoWeather monitors weather conditions at your favorite photography spots and alerts you when conditions match your creative vision - whether that’s perfect golden hour light, dramatic storm conditions, or crystal-clear astrophotography skies.

What You’ll Accomplish

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Time Required: About 5 minutes

What You’ll Complete:

  • ✅ Create your PhotoWeather account
  • ✅ Add your first photography location
  • ✅ Set up your first weather rule
  • ✅ Configure email notifications
  • ✅ Set up calendar integration

Step 1: Create Your Account

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  1. Register at the PhotoWeather application
  2. Provide your details: Name, email, password, and timezone
  3. Auto-login happens after successful registration
  4. Access your dashboard - you’ll see the onboarding flow

Step 2: Complete the Onboarding Flow

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PhotoWeather’s guided onboarding appears automatically on your first visit.

Add Your Location

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  1. Click “Get Started” on the welcome overlay
  2. Add your location: Use the location search or enter coordinates manually
    • Search finds locations worldwide with city/country information
    • Name your location descriptively (“Sunset Point” vs “Location 1”)

Choose Your First Rule Template

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Select from 20+ proven templates, including popular options like:

  • Golden Hour Atmosphere
  • Dense Fog
  • Still Water Reflections
  • Perfect Portrait Light
  • Fiery Red Sky Spectacle
  • Dramatic Cloud Formations
  • Deep Sky Astrophotography
  • Blue Hour Cityscapes

Each template uses sophisticated weather analysis based on real-world photography requirements.

Automatic Activation

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Your selected rule is automatically enabled for your location and begins monitoring immediately.

Step 3: Configure Notifications

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Email Alert Setup

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  1. Navigate to Settings from the dashboard
  2. Choose notification frequency: Immediate, every 4 hours, daily, or weekly
  3. Set quiet hours to avoid notifications during sleep (respects your timezone)
  4. Test your settings to ensure emails are working

Step 4: Set Up Calendar Integration

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Calendar Feed Creation

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  1. Go to the Calendar page in your dashboard
  2. Click “Create Calendar Token”
  3. Name your calendar and optionally select specific locations
  4. Copy the calendar feed URL

Add to Your Calendar App

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  • iPhone/Mac: Settings → Calendar → Add Account → Other → Add Subscribed Calendar
  • Google Calendar: Other calendars → Add by URL
  • Outlook: Add Calendar → Subscribe from Web

How PhotoWeather Works

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Automated Monitoring

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Once set up, PhotoWeather automatically:

  • Monitors weather forecasts up to 7 days ahead at your locations
  • Evaluates conditions against your rules every hour
  • Detects opportunities when conditions match for sufficient duration
  • Sends notifications via email based on your preferences
  • Updates your calendar with new opportunities

Understanding Your Dashboard

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Dashboard Overview

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  • Upcoming Opportunities: Filter by Today, Next 48h, or All
  • Locations Section: View current weather and rule assignments
  • Rules Section: See which rules are active and their usage

Creating Additional Rules

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Building Custom Rules

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Ready to go beyond templates?

  1. Visit the Rules page to create more specific rules
  2. Use the visual rule builder for complex conditions
  3. Combine weather parameters: Cloud cover, wind speed, visibility, temperature
  4. Add astronomical timing: Golden hour, blue hour, specific sun angles
  5. Set time windows: Absolute times or relative to sunrise/sunset

Next Steps

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Continue Learning (5-10 minutes each)

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  1. Learn Core Concepts - Understand how rules and locations work together
  2. Create Your First Custom Rule - Move beyond templates with custom conditions
  3. Explore Calendar Integration - Detailed calendar setup for all platforms
  4. Understand Notifications - Optimize your alert settings and timing

Advanced Features (when you’re ready)

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Common Questions

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Troubleshooting

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Why no alerts yet? Rules typically trigger within 1-7 days. Weather conditions need to match your criteria. Check that your rules aren’t too restrictive.

Too many alerts? Adjust your rule conditions to be more specific or modify quiet hours in Settings.

Calendar not updating? Check your calendar app’s refresh settings and ensure the URL is correct. Most calendar apps sync within minutes.