Tell us a little bit about your photography - where are you based and what type of photography do you currently enjoy?
I’m a photographer based in Reykjavík, Iceland. My work is largely conceptual and often created for musicians. I’m drawn to building visual worlds for sound, shaping imagery that can hold atmosphere, rhythm, and emotional subtext rather than illustrate something literally. Much of this process lives between the conscious and the unconscious; images often arrive in that quiet moment just before sleep, where logic softens and intuition takes the lead. Visually, I’m interested in the familiar and the everyday as gateways into something slightly surreal - a parallel space that feels both truthful and gently fantastical. Alongside this, I also photograph elopements in Icelandic nature, approaching them with the same sensitivity to mood, presence, and the quiet exchange between people and their environment.
In only a couple of words, how would you describe your style of photography?
Dreamlike realism
Tell us about one of your most memorable photoshoots or perhaps a favourite photo you have taken?
One of my most memorable shoots was an album cover with a composer, where we put a bed in the water in -17°C. We honestly didn’t totally think through how we’d keep it in place, and it started drifting, so we ended up just giving him a rope and pulling him from shore. The image itself looks quiet and surreal, but the process was cold, improvised, and ridiculous, which somehow made it even better.
As a photographer, nurturing your creativity while trying to balance self-employment and life can be a little tricky sometimes. Where do you find the inspiration to continue creating and maintaining consistency?
For me, inspiration usually comes when I stop trying to be productive. A lot of my ideas arrive in slower moments, like just before falling asleep or when I allow myself to listen to music and do nothing. I’ve learned that taking time off isn’t a break from the work, it’s often where my work actually begins. When there’s space, images surface on their own, and staying consistent becomes less about forcing output and more about staying open and attentive. Balancing self-employment and life is still super messy and imperfect, but letting myself slow down has made both my personal work and commissioned projects feel more honest and sustainable.
Having grown as a photographer, is there any piece of advice that you could give to yourself when you first started down this path, or wish you had known sooner?
I would tell myself to trust my intuition. Not to let other people’s opinions, doubts, or projections convince me that I wasn’t worthy or ready. I’d remind myself that being sensitive, noticing small shifts, and feeling things strongly isn’t a weakness in this field, it’s actually one of the greatest tools a photographer can have. Seeing and feeling more than most people is what eventually became my strength.
Is there anything special you have been working on - mentoring, workshops, courses etc.? We'd love to let other photographers know!
https://www.yaelbc.com/mentoring
What gear are you currently using and what would you typically carry in your Kamrette camera bag?
Canon R, Canon 100mm, Sigma 24-70mm, Canon 50mm, DJI Mini 3 Pro, Mamiya 645
Let's finish it off with a fan favourite - if you could only have one lens, which one would you choose?
Canon 50mm 1.4
