finland Photography tour
Discover the vast arctic wilderness of Finnish Lapland
Immerse yourself in the magic of Arctic Finland on this 7 day / 6 night photography tour & workshop of Finnish Lapland!
START / END POINT
Tromsø (TOS)
LODGING
Saivaara Cottages
SKILL LEVEL
Beginner to Advanced
DURATION
6 Nights
GROUP SIZE
Maximum of 6
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate
7 Days, 6 Nights
Lapland Finland Photography Tour
Join award-winning photographer Tiina Törmänen and myself for an exclusive 7 days, 6 nights Finnish Lapland Photography Tour in February 2025, where you’ll embark on an immersive journey through the captivating landscapes of Finnish Lapland.
You will experience the mesmerising arctic desert, characterised by white, treeless dunes stretching endlessly to the horizon. The small village of Kilpisjärvi will appear as a distant speck in this vast, snowy wilderness, providing a surreal feeling of solitude. The arctic desert’s stark beauty is a photographer’s dream, offering unique challenges and rewards.
Throughout this Finland Photography Tour & Workshop, under the guidance of award-winning photographer Tiina Törmänen and myself, you’ll stay in comfortable accommodations and embark on photographic shoots during the magical hours of sunrise and sunset, capturing unforgettable images that will be cherished forever. Enjoy a perfect balance of guided photography sessions and free time for editing and relaxation, making this workshop a truly immersive and enriching experience
Inclusions
Included
Local English speaking guides
7 Days of Photographic Guidance
6 Nights of Accommodation (Twin-Shared Rooms)
Sunrise & Sunset Photography Sessions
Northern Lights Chasing
Airport Transfers from/to Tromsø airport
Transportation during the tour
Snowmobile Transport (Sleigh)
Winter Overalls
Winter Boots
Snowshoes
Entrance Fees
Post Processing Sessions
Not Included
Flight Tickets
Visa Fees (if applicable)
Meals / Snacks
Travel & Equipment Insurance
Schedule
From my experience of running over 30 photography tours, having a fixed daily itinerary is limiting your chances of going home with the best possible images.
We will work with the weather as much as possible and visit locations based on the best forecasted weather conditions. This ensures that we’re putting you in the right place at the right time.
Each morning will be on location 1 hour or so before sunrise, and each sunset we’ll be there until 1 hour after sunset.
The below will give you a rough idea of what the plan is.
Day 1 – Arrival Day
Pick-up from Tromsø around midday.
Transfer to Kilpisjärvi, check-in, welcome info and dinner. The northern lights watch begins after dinner.
Day 2 to 6 – The Adventure
The itinerary will always remain flexible, exploring the stunning landscapes of Lapland, Finland. Most locations are just a 1-hour drive or a 30-minute snowmobile sleigh ride away, ensuring easy access to breathtaking scenery. Daily plans are crafted the evening before, allowing us to optimise our photography sessions according to the unique conditions of each day.
In February, the days are much longer than in January. With the sun rising at approximately 8:30 am and setting at roughly 5:00 pm. After a day of photography, there’s time to unwind with an early dinner before heading back out around 19:00 to capture the mesmerising night sky. The Northern lights typically make their appearance around 9:00 pm, although during solar storms, auroral displays may begin as early as 5:00 pm and continue throughout the night.
The surroundings of Kilpisjärvi boast a network of wanderer huts, offering shelter during chilly nights. Waiting for the northern lights becomes even more delightful while savouring a hot drink in the warmth of a remote log cabin nestled in the snowy wilderness.
Day 7 – Departure Day
Breakfast, check-out from Kilpisjärvi & transfer to Tromsø.
Goodbyes are never easy. I’ll be saying “see you later” with the hope that you’ll join me on another adventure soon. On this day, we’ll take you to the airport for your flights home.
Drop-offs back to the airport will be around midday. (This will be confirmed in good time depending on flights)
Accommodation
Saivaara Cottages
As part of my Lapland Photography Tour, I’m excited to offer you a stay at Saivaara Cottages, featuring two beautiful accommodations: Villa Ahma and Villa Riekko. Located on Harjuntie in Kilpisjärvi, these cottages are perched on a scenic ridge, offering stunning views across the village to Saana Fell, making them the perfect retreats after your photography adventures.
Comfortable and Well-Equipped: Both Villa Ahma and Villa Riekko provide a cozy living room complete with a fireplace, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. Each villa features a fully equipped kitchen with modern conveniences such as a fridge/freezer, dishwasher, coffee machine, and microwave, catering to all your culinary needs. The cottages offer two bedrooms and additional sofa beds for flexible sleeping arrangements. Built in 2023, they come with all the modern comforts, including free Wi-Fi, TVs, and washing machines and dryers in the sauna/shower rooms.
Beautiful Views and Outdoor Space: Enjoy the breathtaking scenery from each villa’s terrace, which includes a sitting area and a barbeque, perfect for unwinding and taking in the natural beauty of Saana Fell. Saivaara Cottages combine convenience with the tranquility of Lapland’s landscape.
Trip Highlights
Don’t just take my word for it…
THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Just got back from the Iceland tour. This was undoubtedly one of the best trips I have embarked on. Tyler definitely knows his stuff and brought us to each location at the best time of the day. We just needed to sit back, relax, and let him do his thing. It also meant that I was free of the hassle of looking at the substorm activity and weather when chasing the northern lights, having chased them on my own for a number of years only without much luck. I can imagine this is no easy job as the plan and itinerary of each day needed to change every hour depending on the weather and how crowded the locations were. Tyler is also the most encouraging when shooting on location, giving just the right amount of guidance and lots of freedom. I met the best companions on this tour, and I never would have thought I would bring home such precious memories. I have recommended Tyler to several of my friends, and I personally am looking forward to my next tour already.
I loved the high level of intensity from early mornings to late nights waiting on the aurora. Most importantly, your advance location work meant I could give ample time and full attention to the play of light on the vistas before me~without the distractions of logistics planning or renting a car. I appreciated your flexibility and sense of timing to drive us to ideal locations at the best moment for the light. An added plus was being in the international company of three other dedicated photographers who were jolly good companions!
Just back from a fabulous workshop in Lofoten with Tyler. First off - Lofoten is a landscape photographer’s paradise with a multitude of stunning locations all within easy reach. This means more time photographing and less time driving between photo stops. Bear in mind that the weather is volatile. and can be absolutely wild. This means potentially days lost (as we found out) but can also give some incredible shooting conditions as the storms clear. Tyler is a superb photographer (check out his images if you haven't done so) and he knows the locations intimately. He is knowledgable and willing to provide as much guidance as you need or to leave you alone to do your own thing if that's what you prefer. He is also very skilled in using Lightroom/Photoshop and gave us a tutorial one evening which was incredibly useful. The upshot is that you are bound to come back with lots of memorable and stunning images. Oh, and Tyler has a great instinct for finding the Aurora which meant we were chasing it whenever the skies were clear. This resulted in a truly epic night at Vik beach where we captured the lights in all their glory. The cherry on the top of a truly memorable trip!
My trip to Senja with Chasing Light Tours was fantastic, the locations were great and the guiding first class. A real shout out goes to the choice of accommodation - comfortable and convenient with photo locations right on our doorstep! Adding to this a year later, having done a second trip with Tyler to the Lofoten Islands. A fantastic week which was well organised at every stage. He has a detailed knowledge of the classic locations to photograph, as well as small out of the way places that give you something different!
What you’ll learn
Learning with me on this photography tour is a personalised and flexible experience. I encourage you to ask as many questions as you like; this is your opportunity to get the most out of our time together. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine advanced techniques, I’ll guide you through skills like bracketing for dynamic range, long exposures to capture movement, and refining your compositions, all explained in a way that suits your level. I’ll review your work in the field, provide constructive feedback, and share tips to improve your skills, from perfecting focus to using filters effectively. Most importantly, I want to inspire you to embrace your creativity and develop your own unique style, so you leave with not just great photos but work that truly feels like your own.
Here are a few of the key skills I can cover:
Camera Settings: Start with the basics—RAW, Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. Learn how and when to use various modes on your camera to achieve the shot you want.
Composition: Discover the importance of composition in landscape photography. I’ll share what I look for when composing a compelling photograph.
Long Exposures: Learn how to create dramatic and interesting photographs using long exposure techniques.
Histogram: Master the art of reading histograms to expose correctly and capture maximum data without clipping.
Low Light: Explore techniques for photographing the night sky, including the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) if luck is on our side.
Bracketing Multiple Exposures: Learn how to capture multiple exposures for high dynamic range (HDR) scenes, ensuring no details are lost in highlights or shadows.
Editing: In the event of bad weather, I’ll demonstrate how I edit my photographs using Adobe Lightroom Classic with final touches in Photoshop.
Good to Know
Packing List – A full packing list will be emailed after booking.
Accommodation: During your Finland Photography Tour, you’ll stay at Saivaara Cottages, a cosy retreat nestled in the heart of Finnish Lapland. Surrounded by the pristine Arctic landscape, these cottages offer a warm and inviting escape after a day of capturing stunning images. Accommodation is based on twin rooms, shared with another guest of the same sex, ensuring comfort and a welcoming atmosphere. With excellent amenities, a tranquil setting, and a traditional sauna to unwind in, Saivaara Cottages provide the perfect home base for your photography adventure.
Flights – The meeting point for the tour will be midday at Tromsø (TOS) airport. The end point will be roughly 12pm back in Tromsø. We will all be in constant contact with each other leading up to the arrival day via our WhatsApp group.
Meeting Point: We’ll meet at Tromsø (TOS) around midday. After I’ve picked everyone up, we’ll me heading straight towards our accommodation with a stop at the supermarket to pick up some supplies for the days ahead.
Ending Point: Drop offs at the airport will be outside the terminal at Tromsø (TOS) at midday.
Hiking – Most of the locations are 100% accessible by minibus or snowmobile sleigh ride, however, you may be expected to walk 1-2 km with snowshoes in 20-40cm snow depths. This can be surprisingly tiring, and moving around with winter gear can be exhausting and a little sweaty. If you are in any doubt, please consult your doctor. You may also talk to one of our staff to check if the trip will be the right physical level for you.
Self Catering – All my tours are based on self catering. We will visit the supermarket on the day we arrive and gather what’s needed for a few days so that we can bring packed lunches with us each day. We will revisit the supermarket a couple of times throughout the trip too. There will be opportunities throughout the trip to visit cafes and the odd restaurant if we have time. But primarily, we will be eating as we go.
UK Mobile Network – If coming from the UK, your data roaming will work and come out of your data back home.
Finnish Lapland Photography Tours Dates & Prices
Prices quoted are per person. Secure your spot with only a 15% deposit for my incredible Finnish Lapland photography workshop and bring home breathtaking images that capture the essence of your unforgettable adventure. The remainder of the balance is due 8 weeks before the start date of the tour.