Local Iceland Elopement Photographer

I design and photograph experience-focused elopements that feel like a life-changing adventure, not a photoshoot

AS SEEN ON

Elegant logo celebrating the Finalist of the Wedding Photo Contest 2025, featuring a sleek monogram and modern typography.
Elegant logo celebrating the Best of the Best Wedding Photo Contest Winner 2025 by Junebug Weddings, featuring a sleek monogram and modern typography.

Elegant badge celebrating featured on the website European Elopement Guide for adventure elopements.

Elegant logo celebrating the Winner of the Wedding Photo Contest 2025 by Way Up North.
Elegant logo celebrating the 2025 Honorable Mention in the Junebug Photo Contest 2025, featuring a sleek monogram and modern typography.
Elegant logo celebrating the Emerging Artist Finalist of the International Wedding Photographer Of the Year Contest 2025, featuring a sleek monogram and modern typography.

Overwhelmed by an idea
of a big traditional wedding?

What If I Told You That You Can Actually..

Experience pure joy and freedom of being yourself on your wedding day

without the unnecessary stress and drama

be fully present with your soulmate

instead of rushing through the day in a blur

Celebrate your love in a way that you are going to remember for the rest of your lives

instead of spending your most special day pleasing the guests you might barely know

Hi, I’m Chris Ray

YOUR LOCAL ICELAND ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE DIRECTOR OF YOUR GREATEST ADVENTURE

I help brave couples ditch the wedding stress for a cinematic reality. I believe your wedding day should feel like the best day of your life, not a staged production to please others. I’m here to be your trusted friend and personal guide into the wild — sometimes literally holding your hand as we hike down a narrow canyon, or finding that one hidden waterfall where you’re free to just be yourselves. We’re going to trade the pressure for exploration, documenting the kind of raw moments that make you feel truly ALIVE.

RECENT CLIENTS

ANNA & NICK

“We eloped in Iceland and couldn’t be happier with our photos. Chris captured everything so beautifully, helped us with the planning, and overall made our day fun and stress free. She went above and beyond and got us a last minute bouquet when the flowers we had ordered did not arrive in time. Super professional, easy to work with, and insanely talented. Highly recommend!

“She went above and beyond.. and overall made our day fun and stress free.”

HOW IT WORKS

Step 1

Connect

Fill out the contact form and share a bit about your story, what you’re dreaming of, and what matters most to you. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can and we will have a relaxed no-pressure consult call to chat through your ideas and help you shape your day into something that feels just right for you.

Romantic couple silhouette at sunset on the beach with lanterns.

Step 2

Your Big Day

When the day arrives, you get to be fully present. I’ll gently guide you when needed, and step back when it’s time to just let things unfold. I will give you directions, cues and prompts to capture candid emotions and real moments.

Step 3

Relive It All

Not long after, you’ll receive a few sneak peeks and a few weeks later a beautiful online gallery full of carefully edited artful images — the kind that bring you right back every time you look and make you remember how it felt.

READY TO GET IN TOUCH?

Let me know your thoughts about your Iceland elopement day and we can start planning right away!

SUBMIT

“Chris created and captured a fairytale elopement for us and our photos are so beautiful and timeless!!”

– Kelsey and Ben

Kind words from my clients

  • Eloping couple in Iceland with iconic mountain in background.

    Both my husband and I are naturally awkward in front of the camera, but Chris made us feel so comfortable and guided us every step of the way.. She brought out our genuine selves, and the whole experience felt effortless and real.
    When we finally saw the photos, I was overwhelmed and I literally cried. As someone who aspires to be a landscape photographer and has been an avid fan of National Geographic, seeing our wedding portraits look like they belonged in those epic spreads was surreal. The images were otherworldly. They are raw, breathtaking, and deeply personal all at once…
    Marifel and Neil
    The Phillipines
  • Intimate Iceland elopement with a couple embracing outdoors against scenic mountains and cloudy sky.

    Chris absolutely blew us away with the incredible experience she gave us. When we forgot a tie, she didn’t hesitate to offer one for the suit, which was so helpful because we didn’t have to stress about buying one last minute. She took us to the most breathtaking waterfall for our elopement ceremony, and every moment felt special thanks to her being so fun and caring.
    Chris truly loves what she does. You can see it in how dedicated she was to capturing the perfect light and the most beautiful shots. She never rushed and made the entire experience so enjoyable.
    When we received our photos, we instantly fell in love! Chris has to be one of the most skilled photographers I’ve ever seen, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone in need of a photographer 
    Andrea and Leif
    Idaho, USA
  • Elopement couple in Iceland's stunning natural scenery, capturing intimate moments amidst mountains and a river. Perfect for destination wedding photography.

    Chris is not only an AMAZING photographer but she is also such a kind and a caring person! I had a little issue with my lehenga (a heavy indian dress) before the shoot began and Chris drove us somewhere far to get safety pins to quickly fix the issue. I was so stressed out but Chris made everything so much easier and quickly changed the day (which would have been a disaster and impossible without her). She absolutely went above and beyond her role and helped me fix the issue with my dress. She was a designer, a therapist, a friend and a photographer that day for me.
    Ashmeen and Jeeven
    NY, USA

Frequently asked Questions

The “best” time depends on the story you want to live. Iceland’s seasons offer completely different cinematic experiences and activities available:
Summer (June–August): Best for the Highlands (Landmannalaugar or Þórsmörk, for example), the Midnight Sun and scenic hikes. With 24 hours of light, we can explore at 12:00 AM to avoid the crowds and feel completely alone or venture to unique areas of Iceland that are inaccessible during other seasons.
Fall (September–October): Best for moody, golden landscapes and the first sightings of the Northern Lights.
Winter (November–March): Best for Blue Ice Caves, glacier elopements and fairytale-like frozen waterfalls. The light stays low and golden all day, making everything feel like an epic film.
Spring (April–May): Best for roaring waterfalls and quiet trails. It’s the “awakening” season — perfect for couples who want more privacy at the iconic South Coast spots as it’s still low season.
My recommendation? If you want to get photos at some iconic spots and be completely alone, aim for late June. For summer elopements in July-September we can go into the Highlands and go on some epic hikes.

Iceland is essentially one giant film set, but these regions offer the most cinematic and adventurous experiences:
The South Coast: The “Classic” epic. Home to black sand beaches, epic and also hidden waterfalls, and massive glaciers. It’s perfect for a diverse gallery with iconic, powerful backdrops.
The Highlands (Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk etc.): The “Otherworldly” choice. Accessible only in summer via 4×4, this region features mesmerizing crater lakes, colourful volcanic mountains, lava fields and endless hiking opportunities. It’s for couples who want to get completely off the grid and get unique imagery.
The Westfjords: The “Untouched” frontier. Because it’s further away, very few tourists ever make it here. It offers dramatic, steep fjords and the massive Dynjandi waterfall. It’s the place to go if you want to feel like the only two people left on Earth.
Stokksnes & the Eastfjords: The “Wild & Romantic” escape. Home to the famous Vestrahorn mountain and the stunning Stokksnes black sand beach that a lot of people mention it as the highlight of their Iceland trip. Much quieter than the South, Eastfjords region offers inverted clouds over steep fjords, wild reindeer, and the famous puffins of Borgarfjörður Eystri. It’s also a true hiker’s paradise.

Absolutely! Iceland is one of the most inclusive places on Earth to say “I do.” Our laws allow anyone to get officially married here, regardless of your nationality, gender, race, sexual orientation or religion. Iceland welcomes everyone with open arms. It is also one of the only countries in the world where a Norse Pagan (Ásatrú) wedding is a fully legal, government-recognized union. You can exchange oaths with a Goði (Pagan chieftain) on top of a volcanic carter, drink mead from a horn, and receive a real marriage certificate afterwards. How cool is that?

The short answer: No. You do not need to fly anyone out to stand by your side while you exchange vows. You just need two “trustworthy persons” (friends or family back home) to sign your Marriage Notification form before you mail it to Iceland. They are simply testifying that there is no legal reason you shouldn’t get married.

In Iceland, “bad” weather usually means very cinematic. The moody dark clouds, snow or rain, fog and wind all create texture and movement in the photos and give you that raw, cinematic edge. However, I’m not just there to take photos — I’m there to keep you safe, warm and stress-free. Here is my triple-threat backup plan:
The Pivot Master: I meticulously track the forecast. If a storm is hitting the glacier, I know exactly which hidden canyons or mossy valleys will offer us shelter. We don’t cancel; we adapt.
Timing Flexibility: I always recommend keeping a “buffer day” in your travel plans. If the weather is truly unsafe (like a red-alert wind storm), we can often shift our adventure by 24 hours to catch a better window.
The “Stay Alive” Kit: I come prepared. I’ll be the one holding your coats between shots, handing you clear umbrellas and hand-warmers, and making sure you have the gear to stay warm.
My Take: There is no such thing as “ruined” weather — only new opportunities for epic shots. As long as you’re willing to kiss in the rain and embrace the wild, we will create magic.

I recommend 6 to 12 months. Iceland is a bucket-list destination, and the best local vendors and unique accommodations (like glass cottages or boutique lodges) fill up fast, especially for the summer season. Booking early also gives us plenty of time to collect all your legal paperwork without any stress and plan some fun activities.

Only if we go to the same spots everyone goes to at the same time when everyone else does. Part of my “Director” role is knowing the timing. We use the Midnight Sun in summer to visit iconic waterfalls at 11:00 PM when the tour buses are gone and the light is perfect. For the rest of the year, I specialize in “hidden gem” locations — places that look just as epic as the famous spots but offer the total privacy you need.

Yes — in Iceland, the nature is your cathedral. Unlike most countries, our laws allow legal ceremonies to take place anywhere, as long as an authorized celebrant is present. I work with adventurous celebrants (including Humanist officiants and Pagan Chieftains) who are happy to strap on crampons and hike onto the ice with us.

READY TO START PLANNING YOUR ICELAND ELOPEMENT?

Iceland Elopement and Intimate Wedding Photographer

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