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Quick Start Guide

Everything you need to get ShootCal running on Mac and iOS — from connecting your calendar to the shortcuts that make booking a session take seconds.

1. Initial setup

• Connect: Open Settings (the gear icon) and sign in with your Google account.
• Choose calendar: Select the specific Google Calendar you want to use for your bookings.
• Set location: Enter your city so the app can accurately calculate your local sunset times — and tides, if you're near the beach.
• Customize: Add your session types (Family, Senior, Wedding, etc.) and set your preferred default durations.

2. Scheduling & editing

• Book a session: Click any date on the calendar, then click New Event (or press ⌘N).
• Fill details: Enter the client name and pick a session type. The start and end times automatically snap to the correct golden-hour window.
• Track deposits: Toggle Deposit Received to instantly color-code the session as paid or unpaid.
• Edit: Click any event chip to view its details, then click Edit, or right-click the event for quick actions.
• Reschedule: Drag and drop events across the calendar grid to move them to a new date.

3. Navigation & shortcuts

• Search: Press ⌘F to search your entire calendar by client name, session type, or location.
• Locations: Type a location name into the session form to trigger Apple Maps address auto-fill.

Keyboard shortcuts (Mac)

• ⌘N: New event
• ⌘T: Jump to today
• ⌘R: Force refresh Google Calendar
• ⌘F: Search events
• ⌘?: Open the built-in Help menu

Mobile gestures (iPhone & iPad)

• Swipe to navigate between months.
• Tap any event chip for an instant read-only preview before editing.
• Long-press an event for more options.

System requirements

• macOS 26.0 or later
• iOS 26.0 or later
• A Google account with Calendar access
• An internet connection for background syncing