Beginner's guide to Milky Way Photography

Where to Be, When to Be There, and What to Know Before You Go

Photographing the Milky Way isn’t just about pointing your camera toward the night sky and hoping for the best. It’s about understanding when the Milky Way is visible, finding dark skies, watching the moon phase, and planning before you ever arrive at your location.

In this free beginner’s guide, we share how we approach planning a night of Milky Way photography — the same preparation we use when planning our workshops. You’ll learn how timing, location, darkness, and weather work together to give you the best opportunity for a successful night under the stars.

This guide is designed for photographers who are just getting started and want a better understanding of what to consider before heading into the field. It is not a complete step-by-step guide or a camera settings course. Instead, it will help you build a strong foundation and begin planning your Milky Way photography with more confidence.

What you’ll learn:

When and where the Milky Way is visible

Why the moon phase matters

How the Bortle Scale helps you find darker skies

What weather conditions to watch for

Which planning apps we use before heading into the field

Download the guide and start planning your next night under the stars with more confidence and clarity.