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An Iceland Engagement Session at Reynisfjara and Kvernufoss

Stephanie and Bennie · South Iceland

Stephanie and Bennie sitting on the basalt columns at Reynisfjara black sand beach
Stephanie in her burgundy dress holding Bennie’s hands in front of Kvernufoss

Stephanie and Bennie came to Iceland to celebrate their engagement, and I’ll just say it: these are my favourite engagement photos from fifteen years behind the camera.

It was their first time in Iceland, and the weather there is famously unpredictable, so we had a backup plan for every scenario. In the end we got lucky: three to four hours on the south coast, from the black sand beaches around Vík to Kvernufoss waterfall, with an outfit change in between.

The Black Sand Beach at Vík

We started on the black sand right next to the town of Vík, under the cliffs, with the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar standing in the mist offshore. In matching cream outfits and two bright beanies, the two of them ran, laughed and walked along the water as if they had the beach to themselves, and ended up on a big boulder by the sea below the cliffs.

Stephanie and Bennie walking over the black sand at Vík, below the cliffs with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks behind
Stephanie and Bennie walking hand in hand on the black sand beach at Vík, the cliffs behind them
Stephanie and Bennie smiling at each other in their beanies on the black sand beach at Vík
Stephanie and Bennie running across the black sand beach near Vík
Black and white photo of Stephanie and Bennie running hand in hand across the black sand at Vík
Black and white photo of Stephanie laughing on the black sand beach near Vík
Stephanie and Bennie walking along the black sand beach towards the sea and the cliffs
Stephanie and Bennie embracing on a boulder by the sea below the cliffs at Vík
Stephanie and Bennie walking hand in hand on the black sand beach with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the mist
Black and white photo of Stephanie and Bennie running on the black sand beach with the sea stacks behind
Black and white photo of Stephanie and Bennie walking along the black sand beach towards the sea stacks

The Basalt Columns at Reynisfjara

From Vík it is only about fifteen minutes around the mountain to Reynisfjara, the black sand beach with the basalt columns and my favourite spot of the day. The columns rise straight out of the sand like a giant staircase, so of course they climbed them, and the sun coming over the cliff made the dark stone almost glow.

Stephanie and Bennie walking along Reynisfjara below the basalt cliffs with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks ahead
Stephanie and Bennie climbing the basalt columns at Reynisfjara
Stephanie and Bennie standing together on the basalt columns at Reynisfjara
Stephanie and Bennie small on the black sand at Reynisfjara below the tall cliff and the waves
Stephanie and Bennie holding hands on the black sand below the dark cliff at Reynisfjara
Stephanie and Bennie standing on the rocks below a dark cliff on the black sand beach
Stephanie and Bennie laughing in front of the basalt columns at Reynisfjara

An Outfit Change at Kvernufoss

From Reynisfjara we drove about half an hour west to Skógar. Stephanie changed into a burgundy dress and Bennie into a tweed jacket, and from the Skógar Museum car park it is a walk of fifteen to twenty minutes up the canyon to Kvernufoss.

Kvernufoss is far quieter than its famous neighbour Skógafoss, and that day the sun even put a rainbow in the spray of the falls.

The green canyon and river leading up to Kvernufoss waterfall near Skógar
Black and white photo of Stephanie and Bennie walking hand in hand towards Kvernufoss
Black and white photo of Stephanie and Bennie kissing in front of Kvernufoss
Black and white close-up of Bennie’s hand on Stephanie’s back as they embrace at Kvernufoss
Black and white portrait of Bennie hugging Stephanie from behind at Kvernufoss
Stephanie and Bennie looking at Kvernufoss from the rocks above the canyon
Black and white photo of Stephanie and Bennie embracing in front of Kvernufoss
A rainbow in the spray of Kvernufoss, with Stephanie and Bennie small on the mossy rocks below
Stephanie and Bennie embracing on a mossy ledge below Kvernufoss with a rainbow in the spray

“Lukas guided us to the most breathtaking locations and made us feel completely at ease in front of the camera. He has a remarkable talent for capturing not just images, but real, intimate moments. We will treasure these photos for the rest of our lives.”

Stephanie and Bennie

The route

Three Locations in About Four Hours

All three spots sit on the same stretch of the south coast, so the whole session, driving included, fits into three to four hours. Here is how we planned it.

Map of the south coast of Iceland between Skógar and Vík with the three locations of the sessionMýrdalsjökullEyjafjallajökullSkógar01VíkBeach and cliffs02ReynisfjaraBasalt columns03KvernufossOutfit change10 km

Coastline and glaciers: Natural Earth. Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors.

  1. 01VíkBlack sand beach and cliffs, about 45 minutes
  2. Drive about 15 minutes around the mountain to Reynisfjara
  3. 02ReynisfjaraBasalt columns and the beach, about an hour
  4. Drive about 30 minutes west to Skógar
  5. Outfit change, then a 15 to 20 minute walk up the canyon
  6. 03KvernufossWaterfall and canyon, about 45 minutes

In total3 to 4 hours with driving

Good to know: Reynisfjara is known for dangerous sneaker waves, so photos there happen on the upper beach, well away from the water, and parking costs 1,000 ISK. Kvernufoss is reached on foot from the Skógar Museum car park (750 ISK). More on both spots in my Iceland elopement guide.

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