Essential tools for better light, smarter scouting, and safer shoots.
Publication date:
June 15, 2025
As an outdoor photographer based in the Austrian Alps, I know that a successful photoshoot in the mountains starts long before I press the shutter. The alpine environment is breathtaking—but also unpredictable, vast, and often remote. To make sure I’m always in the right place at the right time, I rely on a small set of powerful apps that help me plan every detail of a shoot, from light direction to trail difficulty.
Whether I’m working for a Dutch outdoor brand, a tourism board in Tyrol, or scouting for an editorial in a mountain magazine, these five apps are essential tools in my workflow.
TPE is my go-to app for understanding light and shadows in the landscape. What sets it apart is its 3D terrain mode, which allows me to see exactly how light falls across mountain ridges at any given time and date. This is incredibly valuable when planning sunrise or sunset shots in complex terrain.
Whether I’m framing a peak with golden hour light or avoiding harsh mid-day sun, TPE helps me visualize the scene before I even set foot on location.
Why I love it: Realistic mountain light simulation, accurate sunrise/sunset angles, and a great desktop/mobile combo.
When I need precision, I open Sun Surveyor. It gives me detailed sun path tracking, including golden hour windows, shadow lengths, and even live augmented reality views. This is especially useful when I'm scouting a new area for a photoshoot in the mountains and need to know exactly where the sun will rise behind a particular ridge or valley.
Why I love it: Augmented Reality (AR) sun path view, perfect for precise light planning on location.
Google Earth is an underrated gem. Before heading out, I use it to virtually explore the terrain. I can scout compositions, check elevation changes, find viewpoints, and even simulate flight paths for my drone (DJI Mavic 3 Pro). It helps me anticipate what the location will look like in real life—and sometimes even reveals hidden gems I wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Why I love it: 3D terrain exploration, pin-based planning, and a global perspective.
This app is my go-to for route planning in alpine terrain. Developed with input from mountain clubs, it includes official trails, difficulty ratings, elevation profiles, and real-time weather updates. When I’m planning a multi-hour hike to reach a remote shoot location, this app gives me the info I need to stay safe and on schedule.
Why I love it: Accurate alpine trail maps, GPS tracking, offline capabilities, and safety-focused planning.
Komoot is a fantastic app for exploring trails and routes shared by the outdoor community. What sets it apart is the user-generated content, including photos taken along hiking and biking paths. I often use it to preview what others have captured in a specific area which gives me inspiration and a better sense of conditions on the ground.
Why I love it: Trail previews, local insights, and visual scouting through community photos.
A great photoshoot in the mountains isn’t just about gear, it’s about knowledge, timing, and preparation. These apps help me deliver professional results for every project, whether I’m capturing promotional images for a tourism campaign, creating visual stories for outdoor magazines, or working with commercial clients in the outdoor industry.
Want to collaborate on your next alpine shoot? Let’s connect and create something stunning together.
