Travel photography in Lapland


Lapland in winter looks like a fairytale, but shooting it is anything but easy. The light is low, the cold is brutal, and everything seems to move either too fast or not at all.


You’ve only got a short window of daylight each day, and most of the “bucket-list” things people come to Lapland for happen in near darkness. If there’s anywhere you’ll feel the limits of your kit, it’s here. A fast lens is worth its weight in gold... the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 is a bit of a monster for this kind of trip. Expensive, yes, but renting one can genuinely save a lot of shots.


I shoot almost everything in manual, leave ISO on auto for fast-moving excursions, and trust that I can recover the noise later in Lightroom using tools like Denoise. I also keep my white balance on auto because the light changes constantly in Lapland, and I prefer correcting it in the edit anyway.


Here are the seven best things to photograph around Levi in Kittilä, and exactly what to expect from each.

 

 

1. Northern Lights


If you come to Lapland in winter, this is the main event. Seeing the sky rip open in green and purple never gets old. The challenge is that everything happens in near pitch-black conditions, and you have to work quickly because auroras change shape and brightness constantly.


I always use a tripod here – without one, your photos will just be a blurry mess. A wide lens is essential because you want to show the scale of the sky, and shooting at f/2.8 or faster helps grab as much light as possible. I normally start with a shutter speed somewhere around 1-10 seconds and set the ISO to about 1200. Auto white balance works fine because you’ll be tweaking colour in the edit anyway. You don't want a shutter speed that's too long, you will lose the intricate details of the lights.


Foreground is everything. Snowy trees, cabins, silhouettes – anything that gives the sky context. Even after all these years, aurora photography still feels like magic.

 

The Northern Lights illuminate a snowy winter landscape with birch trees in the foreground against a dark blue night sky.
Northern lights dance over illuminated cabin in snowy winter landscape with bare trees silhouetted against dark sky.
Stunning green aurora borealis dances across dark night sky above silhouetted forest and snowy landscape in winter.
Vibrant green Northern Lights dance across the dark night sky above illuminated buildings in a snowy landscape.

 

2. Husky Excursion


Husky rides are loud, fast, chaotic and absolutely brilliant to do and photograph. The moment the dogs start running, the whole scene becomes unpredictable, which is exactly what makes it fun.


Because everything is moving, I stick to manual mode with ISO on auto so I can hold a fast shutter without worrying about noise. Something fast enough to freeze the action – usually 1/500 sec or quicker – keeps the dogs sharp. I tend to work around f/2.8 - f/4, so I’ve got enough depth of field to keep the whole sledge in focus without losing that nice separation from the background.


The light during these excursions is usually low and cold, so auto WB makes life easier. I spend more time shooting from a low angle, filling the frame with the dogs, the sledge and the snowy track curving into the distance. It’s a great way to make viewers feel like they’re right there behind the team.

 

A group of white and tan Husky dogs with their tongues out, looking happy and playful in close-up shots in Lapland.
A dog sled excursion races across a snowy landscape at sunset with snow-covered trees silhouetted against an orange sky in Lapland.
A team of sledge dogs pulls across a snowy winter landscape in Lapland during a colourful sunset.
A snowy winter landscape with dog sleds racing across a frozen lake during a vibrant orange sunset in Lapland, Finland.

 

3. Snowmobile Excursion


Snowmobiles are all about speed and energy. They kick up snow everywhere, the light is always harsh or low, and you’re either on the back of one or trying to shoot them as they fly past you. In other words, great fun and a proper challenge.


I always shoot these in manual with ISO on auto, because there’s no way I’m fiddling about with sensitivity when someone’s blasting past me at 40mph. A fast shutter, usually around 1/500–1/1000 sec, keeps things sharp. If I want a bit of motion blur, I’ll try a panning shot at around 1/60–1/100 sec and track the rider with the camera.


The snow spray catches the light beautifully when the sun is low, and that’s when snowmobile photos really come alive. Keep a cloth in your pocket, though – snow on the lens is inevitable.

 

Illuminated snowmobiles travel through a snowy forest path at dusk, creating a magical winter scene in Lapland, Finland.
A snowy winter landscape at sunset with snowmobile tracks winding through a snow-covered forest path in Finland. Excursion photography.
Snowmobiles traverse a snowy landscape at sunset with a snow-covered forest in the background during winter in Lapland. Travel photography.
Snowmobiles with glowing headlights traverse through a snowy forest landscape at dusk creating a magical winter scene in Lapland, Finland.

 

4. Ice Village


The Ice Village is a totally different vibe – quiet, controlled, atmospheric and full of soft, sculpted light. Everything here is about detail, texture and mood. The lighting is low, so this is another one where a tripod makes your life much easier.


I tend to shoot around f/4–f/5.6, allowing the room’s shape to remain clear while keeping shutter speeds low enough to capture clean, noise-free images. With the tripod doing the heavy lifting, I can keep ISO low for cleaner files. Auto WB is handy here because ice reflects both warm and cool light sources and can confuse your camera.


Symmetry works beautifully in ice structures. Leading lines, archways, carved patterns – it all photographs effortlessly well. The key is slowing down and composing properly.

 

Glowing purple ice hotel interior with curved archways and illuminated walls creating a magical atmosphere. Ice Village excursion Lapland.
Illuminated ice cave interior glows with ethereal blue light and features a triangular opening in the distance. Ice Village Lapland.
A series of glowing blue ice hotel structures illuminated at night creates a magical winter atmosphere. Ice Village excursion photography.
Illuminated blue ice cave with carved walls and tunnels glowing ethereally in Lapland, Finland. Ice Village excursion photography.

 

5. Levi Ski Resort (Kittilä)


Because Levi is the biggest and most popular ski resort in Finland, it has loads of opportunities to shoot everything from landscapes to lifestyle and commercial-style imagery. As a travel photographer, this is where you can show variety.


Bright, snowy slopes require a bit of care to avoid exposure issues, as cameras tend to blow out the highlights. I usually shoot around f/8 for landscapes or anything with depth. Auto WB handles the mix of blue shadows and warm village lights surprisingly well.


The resort looks amazing at blue hour – warm lights, cool sky, and plenty of atmosphere. This is a great time for village shots, cabins, and wide scenes of the slopes.

 

Illuminated ski resort lodge glows warmly against deep blue winter night with fresh snow and lit evergreen trees. Levi, Lapland.
A row of rustic log cabins decorated with warm glowing Christmas lights against a snowy winter landscape in Levi, Lapland. Travel photos.
Snow covered village buildings illuminated at night with warm glowing lights creating a cozy winter atmosphere. Levi, Lapland.

 

6. General Snowy Scenery


Some of the best shots I took weren’t tied to any excursion at all – just quiet moments in the middle of the snow-covered forest or wide-open frozen lakes.


I often drop onto a tripod here, shoot around f/8–f/11, and keep ISO as low as possible. Snowy landscapes look best when you retain detail in the whites, so checking exposure is key. Auto WB does well in Lapland because the light shifts between warm and blue tones constantly.


I look for leading lines created by tracks in the snow, isolated trees, or layers of hills disappearing into the distance. Even on overcast days, Lapland’s landscapes can look incredibly moody and atmospheric.

 

Snow-covered winter landscape with evergreen trees silhouetted against a vibrant purple and pink sunset sky in Lapland, Finland.
A snow-covered winter landscape with a colourful, pink and orange sunset sky illuminating snow-laden trees and branches. Lapland, Finland.
A panoramic winter landscape at sunset shows snow-covered barns and bare trees silhouetted against a purple sky in Lapland.
A snowy winter landscape at sunset, with a dramatic orange and pink sky illuminating snow-covered trees and the ground. Shot in Lapland.

 

7. Santa Village


The place is busy, colourful and full of warm lights against cold backgrounds. I normally shoot around f/2.8 to capture Santa with a beautiful bokeh behind him. Shutter speeds don’t need to be crazy fast - he doesn't move that fast. Obviously, saving his speed and energy for the one day he needs it.

 

A collage of festive holiday images showing a traditional Christmas figure in red and white against a dark background.

 

Wrap-Up


Lapland is one of the toughest winter locations I’ve ever photographed – but also one of the most rewarding. The low light, the cold, the unpredictability… it forces you to work smarter, shoot faster and think ahead.


Whether you’re using a smartphone, a mid-range mirrorless or a full pro setup with fast glass, the trick is adapting to the conditions and not panicking when the light drops. And honestly, if you can only invest in or rent one thing for Lapland, make it a f/2.8 lens or faster. It’s a game-changer.

 

 

Need pro photos for your excursion or activity?


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Strong visuals boost bookings. Simple as that.


Take a look at the rest of my portfolio here to see the kind of work I produce for brands and operators.

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