Springtime Vacation Around the Island of Iceland

This post is long overdue but better late than never! It’s thrilling to share this Springtime vacation around the island of Iceland. This trip was taken two years ago and thinking back to our adventure, it feels like just yesterday. We spent 10 incredible days driving over 1,200 miles around the island.

Never before in my life has visiting an unknown land felt so otherworldly. From the steaming natural thermal spas to the beaches filled with car-sized pieces of ice, Iceland is like no other. It’s mind-blowing to experience just how many unique features the island has to offer. We must have seen at least 50 waterfalls and hundreds of Icelandic ponies in the first day alone of our drive

The first few days were spent in the South where we visited Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, and the Skógafoss waterfall. Let me just say right now that I could happily have my last days on Earth at Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe the breathtaking sights at the two locations. Conveniently located just right across the road from one another, these two locations literally took my breath away. Glacier Lagoon is not just stunning to see but it’s so eerily quiet and peaceful, it would be a spectacular place to meditate, camp, or even have an elopement. As the glacier ice breaks apart and eventually melts, it makes its way across the lagoon and eventually onto Diamond Beach. There, among the black sand stands huge chunks of ice that’s as clear as glass.

The next morning, we continued our journey along the south until we arrived at our next destination- Black Sand Beach. This location is truly a sight to behold. While strolling along the beach you’ll hear the sound of pounding surf and admire the giant caves and geometric basalt columns that line the sand. Many people have been pulled out to sea by the force of the rip currents. Everyone was made well aware of the signs they passed to not suffer from the same fate and be careful.

During the loop around the island, we stayed in a different home every night. This was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the locals and learn about Iceland. One of the homes was located on an active farm which hosted sheep, horses, and the friendliest husky.

90% of the meals that were eaten were cooked and prepared ourselves. Before leaving Reykjavik we made a stop at the local grocery store and stocked up on produce, fresh fish, and local spices. I made the silly mistake of asking the staff if the sold coolers in the store. With befuddled looks on their faces, they replied, “This is Ice-land. No coolers needed.” So from that moment on, all of the food was packed in grocery bags and topped with snow. One night, in particular, there was no access to a fridge so the food was left outside to chill.

The East and North points of the island were still very much suffering from winter. Besides for epic amounts of snow, there wasn’t too much to stay around to see. The last leg of the trip, however, was definitely a favorite. If you’ve never seen a geothermal vent before, it’s quite a sight to behold. Just outside of the small town of Myvatn is a location called Hverir. Here, one is welcomed with the smell of rotten eggs thanks to the endless amount of sulfur being pumped out. The geothermal vents are incredibly loud and quite scary, to be honest. Steam is constantly shooting hundreds of feet outwards from the vents protruding out of the Earth.

The last stop, and what I would consider being the highlight of the trip was our visit to the Blue Lagoon. This geothermal spa had been on our bucket list for quite some time and it sure did live up to its reputation. The lagoon opens at 8am every morning and we were sure to be the first ones in the water. Without anyone else around us, we captured some truly incredible images! Most people only visit for a couple of hours but we made an entire day out of the experience. It was truly a memory we will never forget and we hope to return again soon!

If you’re considering making a trip out to this incredible country, do it. You won’t regret it.

Lab | Photovision Prints

Springtime Vacation Around the Island of Iceland

Desert Bridal Editorial | Fashion-Forward Wedding Inspiration

The California desert has a way of reducing everything to its most essential elements: light, texture, movement, and an almost endless horizon. For this desert bridal editorial, I joined a group of Los Angeles wedding creatives to explore how fashion and thoughtful design could exist within that beautifully stark landscape.

Miles of sand dunes, softly colored mountains, and open sky created a setting that needed very little intervention. Instead of competing with the surroundings, we allowed the desert to influence every creative decision. The result felt romantic and distinctly editorial, with an emphasis on bridal fashion that could translate effortlessly into a modern wedding.

Bridal Fashion Inspired by the Landscape

Four Floravere gowns became the foundation for the editorial. Each silhouette interacted differently with the landscape, particularly as the wind introduced movement into the fabric. Against the muted sand and distant mountains, the gowns felt striking without becoming overly styled.

Vintage and gold accessories added warmth while pulling from the natural tones of the desert. Meanwhile, richer autumnal shades appeared through the bouquet and jewelry. The contrast brought dimension to an otherwise restrained palette.

Inessa Nichols designed the florals with an equally organic approach. A sculptural gold crown made from lunaria introduced an unexpected element to the bridal look. In addition, wild grasses, nigella pods, and ranunculus gave the bouquet movement and texture. Nothing felt too perfect or overly arranged.

That balance is something I continue to love in editorial wedding photography. Fashion can feel considered without becoming rigid. Likewise, a beautiful environment can influence an image without overpowering the person within it.

From Desert Light to Candlelight

As afternoon moved toward evening, the landscape began to change. Warm light disappeared behind purple and green mountains while softer tones settled across the dunes.

We used those final moments of daylight to create a minimalist tablescape inspired by the same palette. Candlelight, antique jewelry boxes, textured florals, and carefully chosen details added intimacy without distracting from the surroundings.

By twilight, the desert felt completely different.

Rather than ending when the sun disappeared, we followed our model across the sand by candlelight. The remaining color in the sky created a softer and more unexpected conclusion to the story.

An Editorial Approach to Wedding Photography

Although this was a bridal editorial, the creative process continues to influence how I photograph weddings today. Fashion, environment, movement, and light don’t need to exist separately. The most compelling photographs often happen when all four work together naturally.

For fashion-forward couples, that philosophy can transform wedding portraits into something more personal. A remarkable gown deserves to be photographed with an understanding of its silhouette and movement. At the same time, the photograph should still feel alive.

This California desert bridal editorial became an exploration of exactly that idea. Beautiful fashion met an extraordinary landscape, yet neither needed to compete for attention.

The desert simply gave everything room to breathe.