Hiking engagement photoshoot during the Icelandic winter time | Reykjanes Peninsula

Carlos & Paty

BETTINA VASS PHOTOGRAPHY | ICELAND ELOPEMENT

Planning to visit Iceland in the winter?

The landscape is beautiful during winter and Iceland has so much to offer during the snowy season. It really is an experience of lifetime. Many people are tentative about visiting Iceland in winter, but that may very well be because they have a fear of the unknown. Not like Carlos and Paty. They spent a few days driving around the country in their cool blue van and visited a lot of amazing places. Just as they did, with the proper planning and research, you can also truly enjoy winter in Iceland. If Iceland is anything, it is extreme, and winter is when Iceland is probably at it is MOST extreme. If you’re not prepared for it then you might not be able to enjoy your trip as much as you might have.

The landscape is extraordinary, from the ice fields as far as the eye can see, through glaciers appearing more blue with the fresh snow on top, to partially frozen waterfalls, blue ice caves and ice bergs. Fewer tourists make the Icelandic landscape look even more pristine. (No wonder that some scenes of the latest Interstellar movie were filmed here. Or Game of Thrones. Or James Bond. Or Lara Croft. Captain America. Batman begins, Interstellar, Tree of Life, Avengers: Endgame…)

Carlos and Paty were all set up for the conditions and that allowed us to have the best time ever during our photoshoot. They got proposed during their Iceland winter adventure and we met a few hours before their flight back to Mexico. (I wish I could have squeezed myself into their luggage.)

The Reykjanes Peninsula is a perfect location for couples who has a limited time for a fun photoshoot but they still would like to visit a scenic place. The peninsula offers so much and more. It is really an exciting place. This was one of my favourite engagement sessions.

Carlos and Paty did not care about the cold, the sudden sleet and wind. They honestly loved the whole experience and it was so heart warming to be part of their happiness. And look at their outfit! I am in love with their choice of colours! They pop out from the snowy white background!

You may wonder how cold is it in Iceland in winter. It’s actually warmer than you would expect – average temperatures in Reykjavik are around 0°C (31°F) in January. However, don’t let that fool you – the wind makes it feel much colder than the temperatures would make you think. On top of that, the weather is known to change quickly and often. Usually, you will get more rain than snow and cold northerly winds which can be very strong. It will be cold, very cold.
Icelanders will tell you that there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. My best advice on what to wear in Iceland in winter is this: dress in LAYERS, ideally wool, and always wear a windproof and waterproof outer layer. Dressing in layers gives you a lot of flexibility for any weather conditions.