So, you’re dreaming of saying “I do” amidst Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes? You’ve made an incredible choice! As your dedicated videographer, I’m just as excited as you are to capture your love story and turn it into a cinematic masterpiece against such an epic backdrop.
But with such unique scenery comes a slightly different approach to planning your shoot schedule. This guide is designed to help you envision your perfect day, optimize your timeline for the best video footage, and ensure we capture every magical, wind-swept moment – whether you’re eloping by a waterfall or celebrating with loved ones under the Northern Lights.
1. Embracing the Light: The Best Time of Day for Your Shoot
The quality of light is paramount for cinematic video. Iceland’s shifting light offers dramatic possibilities that we will leverage for stunning film.
- The Golden Hour (My Absolute Favorite!): This is the holy grail for videographers. It’s the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset when the sun is low, casting a soft, warm, diffused light that is incredibly cinematic. This light adds depth, mood, and that signature romantic glow to your film. In Iceland, this light can feel extended, especially during the summer.
- Tip: If you’re having an intimate elopement or a first look, schedule it around golden hour. The visuals for your film will be extraordinary.
- Pro Tip for Summer: In June and July, daylight lasts nearly 24 hours. The “golden hour” stretch in the late evening, often between 9 PM and midnight, offers an ethereal, soft glow. Embrace this! We can start later and shoot into the magical twilight for unique footage.
- Overcast Days: Embrace the Mood! Iceland is famous for its moody, cloudy skies. This is a gift for videography! Overcast weather provides a giant, natural softbox, diffusing light beautifully and reducing harsh shadows. This is ideal for crisp, consistent visuals across different locations.
- Tip: While less dramatic than golden hour, overcast light provides excellent, flattering consistency, perfect for capturing vows and intimate moments without harsh light transitions.
- Midday Sun (Proceed with Caution): The sun around noon is high and bright, which can create blown-out highlights and harsh shadows that are challenging to film.
- Tip: If your ceremony or main events fall during midday, we will certainly capture them, but I strongly suggest reserving your dedicated couple’s portrait session for the softer light earlier or later in the day to achieve the most beautiful cinematic look.
2. How Many Hours Do You Really Need? Crafting Your Cinematic Timeline
To create a cohesive, storytelling film, we need time to capture not just the main events, but also the context, emotion, and setting.
- Intimate Elopements (4-6 hours): This is a good baseline to capture the full story arc: getting ready, the journey to the ceremony, the vows, and a relaxed couple’s session at one or two dramatic locations.
- Adventure Elopements (6-10 hours): This is often the ideal range for Iceland. This allows for ample travel time between diverse, iconic locations (like a black sand beach, a waterfall, and a glacier view). This duration is key for capturing the full adventure and variety needed to create a rich, epic film.
- My Recommendation: For a proper Iceland adventure film, 8-10 hours gives us the flexibility to chase the best light, account for weather, and get diverse cinematic B-roll footage.
- Full Wedding Day Coverage (10-14+ hours): If you’re including guests, a reception, and traditional elements, comprehensive coverage is needed. This allows me to capture all the story elements: getting ready, first look, ceremony, reaction shots, reception details, speeches, and all the dancing moments.
Crucial Iceland-Specific Considerations for Video:
- Travel Time is Key: We need to factor in significant buffer time between locations. Winding, often unpaved roads and the time needed to park and walk to viewpoints must be considered. Rushing compromises the footage.
- Audio is Essential: For your video, clear audio of your vows, readings, and speeches is paramount. We will work together to ensure mics are discreetly placed and tested well in advance.
- Capturing the Scene (B-Roll): To make your film feel cinematic, I need time to capture shots of the environment, the details, and the journey itself. This requires a relaxed pace at each location.
3. Location and Flow: Making the Most of Each Stop
In videography, we are capturing movement, sound, and a sequence of events. The focus is on the flow of your day.
- Focus, Don’t Rush: Choose 3-4 truly epic spots for an adventure shoot and spend quality time at each. This allows me to capture diverse angles, drone footage (where permitted), and different types of movement—walking, running, standing, embracing—all of which build a richer film.
- Time Allocation:
- Dramatic Landmark (e.g., Skogafoss, Reynisfjara): Allow 60-90 minutes per major landmark. This accounts for walking, setting up shots, potential drone operation (safely and legally), and capturing different sequences.
- Smaller, Unique Spots (e.g., a hidden canyon, a mossy field): We can spend 30-50 minutes at these gems, focusing on intimate close-ups and quiet, romantic sequences.
- Tip: I will always use my knowledge of the area to guide us to the best spots and ensure we maximize the light available at that time.
4. Directing Moments: Having Fun & Embracing Authentic Motion
Video is about life and movement. I won’t just ask you to pose; I will prompt you to interact.
- Move! The best cinematic moments are captured when you are in motion. Walk, run, skip, spin, whisper secrets, hold hands, and steal a spontaneous kiss.
- Tip: I’ll give you clear direction and prompts: “Walk ahead of me and turn back to look at each other,” or “Start running towards the camera and laugh as you do it.” The goal is to forget the camera is there and simply enjoy the moment together.
- Embrace the Elements: Wind, mist, and even dramatic weather create incredible visual texture for film. A little wind in your hair or the mist off a waterfall adds drama and authenticity.
- A Relaxed Schedule is Fun: When you feel relaxed and unhurried, your joy is genuine. We will ensure the schedule is padded with time to relax, change, warm up in the car, and just be yourselves. The more comfortable you are, the better your story will be.
My Top Planning Tips for a Cinematic Iceland (or Destination) Film:
- Prioritize Audio: If you write personal vows, commit them to memory and practice them clearly. The emotion and clarity of your words are a centerpiece of your film.
- Be Prepared for Layers: A stylish cape, a beautiful shawl, or a chic jacket not only keeps you warm but adds fantastic movement and texture to the video footage. The flow of fabric makes for captivating visuals!
- Trust the Director (Me!): You’ve chosen me for my vision. Relax, be in the moment, and trust my direction on where to stand, how to move, and when to pause. I’m always thinking about the final cut.
- Consider a “First Look” for a Strong Opening: A private first look before the ceremony creates intimate, emotional moments that are perfect for the beginning of your film, setting a powerful emotional tone.
- Be Flexible: In Iceland, we must be ready to pivot due to weather. Embrace the adventure and trust that we will find creative, beautiful solutions, even if the elements change our plan.
- Schedule in “Buffer Time”: Always add 10-20 minutes of buffer time to travel and setup. Rushing ruins the mood and leaves less time for quality shots.
- Prioritize the Story: If speeches are crucial, let’s ensure we get full coverage. If the ceremony in front of that one waterfall is everything, we’ll build the day around that light. Let me know your top visual and emotional priorities.
Your wedding day in Iceland is going to be an extraordinary journey, and I’m honored to be the one to turn it into a timeless film. By planning thoughtfully and embracing the magic of this incredible destination, we’ll create a cinematic memory that you’ll cherish forever.
Ready to start planning your epic journey? Let’s connect!
