Planning those perfect celestial shots—whether it’s the Milky Way stretching across the night sky or a meteor shower weaving its magic—takes more than luck. For many photographers, the secret weapon has been PhotoPills, a powerful app designed to help you plan and capture legendary photos. But what’s the story behind this game-changing tool?
Meet Rafael Pons, the visionary co-founder of PhotoPills. Rafael’s unconventional background as an engineer turned photography innovator has played a pivotal role in creating an app that’s as beloved by amateurs as it is by seasoned photographers. We sat down with Rafael to talk about inspiration, challenges, and his vision for the future of PhotoPills.
The Interview
What inspired you to create PhotoPills? Were there any personal experiences that motivated this project?
Rafael: I’m not a photographer myself, but it all began back in 2009 when Germán Marqués, one of the co-founders of PhotoPills, bought a Nikon D90 to take better photos while he was traveling. He came to me and said, “Rafa, this photography thing is not easy.” He had so many questions to answer just to capture the photos he envisioned. “What time does the sun rise and where? Where should I focus? How do I calculate the depth of field? And what camera settings should I use for the perfect exposure?” The questions were endless.
The truth is, we had always wanted to create something from our little island of Menorca, located in the Mediterranean Sea, and share it with the world. So, we embarked on the adventure of helping photographers capture the amazing photos they had in mind. That’s when the idea of creating an all-in-one app, designed to help photographers imagine, plan, and shoot legendary photos, was born.
We didn’t expect any sales; and here we are, 15 years later, living a dream we never imagined possible.
Your background is in engineering, which is unique for someone who has developed such a desired photography tool. In the past, you were involved in road planning and construction. How has this career shift impacted your life and perspective? How did your technical background influence the development of PhotoPills?
Rafael: That’s right. I’m a civil engineer, living a great life as a public servant for the local government in my little town, Ciutadella de Menorca. I had a stable job, working from 7 am to 2 pm, with the afternoons free to nap, hit the beach, or read business books.
I felt like I was too young to have such certainty in my life. That’s when PhotoPills came into the picture. It started as a fun project, but it slowly grew into something more. Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to take the leap and quit my job to fully commit to PhotoPills. It wasn’t an easy decision, and it took me a few years to gather the courage.
We launched the first PhotoPills iOS version on March 21, 2013, and by the end of 2015, my co-founder Germán and I had both quit our day jobs. We were earning half of what we used to, but we were having a blast. Who needs money and comfort when you’re having so much fun?
As both engineers, Germán being a computer science engineer, we quickly understood the needs of photographers and implemented creative solutions into our app. It wasn’t easy, though. Implementing the complex formulas for determining the position of the Sun, Moon, or Milky Way and making them work on any phone was a challenge, to say the least.
But, that’s what engineers do – we challenge the challenge!
PhotoPills has become a comprehensive tool for planning astrophotography, including the Milky Way and meteor showers. Can you explain some of the key features that make the app stand out in this niche, and best use cases with a couple of examples?
Rafael: It’s the PhotoPills mix. Our goal was never just to build an app to help you plan photos of the Sun, Moon, Milky Way, and other events. Our overarching mission has always been to help photographers to get the shots they want. We believe that goes beyond providing tools like the Planner, which helps you map out your photo sessions, or the Augmented Reality views that let you visualize your shots through your phone.
We’ve put in lots of effort to inspire photographers, thanks to the active PhotoPills community sharing their stunning shots via the PhotoPills Awards and our daily showcases on the app and Instagram. We want you to stay creatively fueled and motivated. But it doesn’t stop there. We also want to equip you with the knowledge and skills to nail your shots.
That’s why we’ve curated comprehensive educational content, including all-in-one photography guides and engaging YouTube videos. For example, if a photographer wants to shoot the Milky Way, they can read our Milky Way photography guide. Then, they can use the PhotoPills Planner and the Night Augmented Reality tools to find the ideal shooting spot, pinpoint the right shooting date and time when the Milky Way will align perfectly with the subject, and go out to capture that breathtaking moment.
This same approach applies to other celestial events like the Sun, the Moon, Solar Eclipses, Lunar Eclipses, Meteor Showers, Star Trails, Long Exposures with Lens filters, and much more that we’re continuously adding to the app.
PhotoPills has a strong community component, including meetups and photo sharing. Can you share any memorable stories or feedback from the PhotoPills community? How have user feedback and engagement influenced the app’s evolution?
Rafael: The community is at the heart of everything we do at PhotoPills. They are our top priority. We have a massive list of requested features that we’re tirelessly working on fulfilling – lots and lots! Their feedback and suggestions are invaluable to us.
But you know what also gets us excited? When people share their breathtaking photos with us. We love showcasing them to the world and rewarding the most creative individuals. On October 17th, 2024, we organized a global event to capture the Supermoon—our first World PhotoPills Meetup. It was a blast! The idea was to see how many PhotoPillers we could bring together from all over the world. Despite some cloudy weather in certain areas, more than 1,500 PhotoPillers showed up to photograph the Supermoon, with more than 40 meetups coming together to celebrate this event.
On the travel side, we also love organizing the PhotoPills Camp, where the PhotoPillers, PhotoPills Masters, and our team gather in Menorca, Spain for a fun-filled week.
And let’s not forget our PhotoPills Expeditions. We choose an exciting location, like Namibia, plan the photos, and then embark on a photo-taking adventure with the community.
There’s so much happening in PhotoPills right now, and there’s even more to come.
What challenges did you face during the development of PhotoPills, and how did you overcome them? Can you share any interesting anecdotes from the startup’s journey?
Rafael: We faced plenty of challenges during the development of PhotoPills. The big one we’re facing right now is team building. Going from a duo to a full-fledged team of ten is a big step. Learning how to hire the right people is key, and it takes a lot of time and effort. We’ve been at it for five years, and finally, we can say we’ve reached the point of having the team to take PhotoPills to the next level.
But, going slow can be frustrating and painful. When it feels like it’s taking ages to reach a goal, you really need to have a strong mind to keep going and not give up. That’s where Woody Allen comes in, with his wise words: “80% of success is showing up.” We have our own mantra: “PhotoPillers Never Give Up!”
What’s next for PhotoPills? Are there exciting features or updates we can look forward to?
Rafael: We are always working hard for our amazing community. We are constantly striving to improve the app, making it better and better with each update. We love engaging with our incredible PhotoPillers.
We want to provide you with more cool features, more cool education, and more cool meetups. And let’s not forget about the Expeditions and Camps that we have in store for you. There’s so much more in the pipeline, but I can’t mention them right now. There’s a lot to do, and we’re going to do it together. Stay tuned!
Your Guide to Legendary Photography
Rafael Pons’ story is a testament to turning curiosity and problem-solving into something incredible. Through methodical thinking and a passion for creativity, PhotoPills has transformed how photographers plan and execute legendary shots. Whether you’re visualizing the Milky Way, capturing a solar eclipse, or planning golden hour portraits, the app empowers you to make your photographic dreams a reality.
With its comprehensive educational content, strong community component, and continuous evolution through user feedback, PhotoPills truly sets itself apart in the world of photography apps. And if you haven’t tried PhotoPills yet, what are you waiting for? Download it now and start creating your own legendary photos. As Rafael says, “Never give up!”
