Iceland is the destination I'd push hardest if you want pre-wedding photographs nobody else has. Glacier lagoons, black sand, waterfalls you can hear before you see them, and in winter an ice cave the colour of a swimming pool. It's about three hours from London, and it looks like nowhere else on earth.
It's also the shoot that needs the most planning. The light is short in winter and endless in summer, the weather changes by the hour, and the best locations are hours apart. That's the part I take off your hands.
This page covers the places worth building a trip around, what each season gives you, how I plan it, what it costs, and two Iceland shoots from this site.
Iceland pre-wedding shoots at a glance
- From £2,995, quoted in full once I know your dates and route
- Getting there About three hours from London to Keflavík
- How long Allow at least three days, so the weather has room to change
- Ice caves Winter only, roughly November to March, with a licensed guide
- Long light May to August, with almost no darkness around midsummer
- Your gallery Within one week of getting home
- Pair it with A London pre-wedding shoot on the same trip
A winter pre-wedding shoot on Iceland's south coast: the ice cave, Jökulsárlón and Skógafoss.
Where to shoot in Iceland
Most couples build their trip along the south coast, because it puts the most variety within driving distance. Pick three or four of these, not all of them. Iceland punishes an itinerary with no slack in it.
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach
Icebergs breaking off the glacier and drifting through the lagoon towards the sea, and across the road the pieces that wash up on black sand. It's the one I'd build a trip around. Around five hours' drive from Reykjavík, so it usually means staying nearby.
The ice caves of Vatnajökull
Blue ice overhead and underfoot. They only exist in winter, roughly November to March, and you can only go in with a licensed guide. They're busy, too. On one shoot we had about thirty seconds with the back of the cave to ourselves before the next group arrived, so I plan the frame before we walk in.
Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss
Two big waterfalls a short drive apart on the south coast. Skógafoss is the one with the wide black-gravel approach, which is why a long dress works so well there. Both get crowded by mid-morning, so early is better.
Reynisfjara black sand beach
Basalt columns, sea stacks and black sand near Vík. It's dramatic and it's also dangerous: the waves come much further up the beach than you'd expect. We stay well back from the water, whatever the shot.
Reykjavík and the Blue Lagoon
Useful at either end of the trip. Hallgrímskirkja and the Sun Voyager sculpture on the seafront give you something architectural, and the Blue Lagoon is close to the airport. Check the lagoon's current rules on photography before planning a shoot there.
Which season
Winter, November to March. Four or five hours of usable daylight, low sun all day, snow, and the only time the ice caves are open. The northern lights are possible on clear dark nights, but never guaranteed. It's cold, windy and slower to drive, so the days need planning tightly.
Summer, May to August. The opposite problem. Around midsummer it barely gets dark, so there's time for everything, and roads are easier. Green landscapes, more people at the famous spots, no ice caves and no northern lights.
Spring and autumn. A balance of the two. Sensible daylight, fewer crowds than summer, and from around September the chance of the northern lights returns.
Christie and Greg in Reykjavík, at the Blue Lagoon and at Jökulsárlón.
Two Iceland shoots
A winter trip along the south coast
We flew from Gatwick, met the couple at the airport and set off east in the dark, on a road where we didn't see another car for forty-five minutes. The next morning a monster truck on studded tyres took us out to the ice cave, then back to Jökulsárlón to shoot on the ice at the edge of the lagoon while the light lasted.
The last location that day was a beach at sunset. It looks warm in the photographs. It was below zero with a wind that made it feel far colder, and they were both very brave about it. The next day was black sand, Skógafoss and a church on a hill.
Christie and Greg
Five days of travelling, eating, photographing and laughing, from Reykjavík to the glacier lagoon and the basalt columns at Reynisfjara, finishing at the Blue Lagoon. Christie designed all her own dresses, and Greg wore suits made for him by Reign Suit Co. They liked the photographs enough to book another pre-wedding shoot afterwards, in Antelope Canyon. See more from Christie and Greg's shoot.
How I plan it
You choose roughly where and when. I build the rest: the route, which location falls at which time of day, where to stay so we're close to the good light, and a spare half-day for when the weather turns, because it will.
On the day, each location gets its own short, directed set of portraits, then it's back to the warm car. In between, I keep photographing the two of you on the trip itself, which is often where the best pictures come from.
What to wear. One statement dress or two. Deep colours stand out against ice, black sand and snow, which is why red and blue keep turning up in these photographs. Thermal layers underneath, proper boots for walking to the spot and a coat to throw on between frames. Change in the car, not on the beach.
Worth knowing before you book
- Allow weather days. Three days minimum for a south-coast trip. Storms close roads and ice cave tours get cancelled at short notice.
- Book the ice cave early. Guided tours in winter fill up, and they're the one thing you can't arrange on the day.
- Driving in winter is slow. Short days, ice and wind mean the map's driving times are optimistic.
- Get travel insurance that covers cancellations and delays.
- Check rules at private sites such as the Blue Lagoon before you plan a shoot there.
What it costs
Iceland pre-wedding shoots start from £2,995. Every trip is different, with the number of days, the route and the season all changing it, so I'll quote yours in full once I know your dates. Your edited gallery arrives within a week of getting home.
Plenty of couples add a London leg to the trip. My London pre-wedding shoots start from £850, and I'm happy to quote the two together.
Iceland pre-wedding questions
How much does a pre-wedding photoshoot in Iceland cost?
Iceland pre-wedding shoots with me start from £2,995. The final price depends on the number of days, the route and the season, so I quote each trip in full once I know your dates.
When is the best time for a pre-wedding shoot in Iceland?
Winter, roughly November to March, if you want ice caves, snow and a chance of the northern lights, with only four or five hours of daylight. May to August for long light and easier travel. Spring and autumn sit in between.
Where are the best places for pre-wedding photos in Iceland?
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, the Vatnajökull ice caves in winter, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Reykjavík at either end of the trip.
How many days do we need?
At least three for a south-coast trip. The distances are long and the weather changes quickly, so a spare half-day is what makes the difference between getting the shot and missing it.
Can we photograph the northern lights?
It's possible between roughly September and March on clear, dark nights, but it can never be guaranteed. I plan the shoot around the daylight locations and treat the aurora as a bonus.
What should we wear for an Iceland pre-wedding shoot?
One or two statement outfits in deep colours, which stand out against ice and black sand, with thermal layers underneath, walking boots and a warm coat to wear between frames.
Can we combine Iceland with a shoot in London?
Yes. London pre-wedding shoots start from £850, and I'll quote the two together as one trip.
If you're thinking about Iceland, send me roughly when and I'll tell you what that season looks like and whether I'm free. Get in touch here.
— Barrie
