Jaakko Perälä—Norway Elopement Photographer

Hjem
Norge
Tromsø
Jaakko Perälä—Norway Elopement Photographer

Nordic Elopement Photographer | Experience over photos, always.

21/05/2026

I finally made my own Lightroom presets! 🥳🔥🏔️

And I wanted the name to tell that these presets are made specifically for the Nordic light.

Introducing Nordic Light Presets™

I’ve spent a decade crafting my style. Along the way I bought a lot of presets, and most of the time I knew pretty quickly I’d wasted my money.   Most preset packs are either way too complicated, or they’re made for California light. So somewhere between 2015 and 2019 I decided to make my own. Not for sale. For me.  I’ve updated the look over the years, but I’ve always wanted them to keep that soft & cinematic look, beautiful skin tones, and versatility — so I can use them throughout the year and in any light.

These were built here – in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Tromsø and Lapland – in the light I actually shoot in: overcast fjords, snowy forests, midnight sun, blue hour after sunset.

Now, for the first time, I’m sharing them. I built these as an elopement & wedding photographer, but I use them on everything. Whether you take them as-is or put your own spin on them, I’m confident they’ll be a good starting point.

If you’re interested how your photos would look using my presets, just DM me a raw photo and I’ll edit it with you. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s totally okay!
 🔗 Link in bio.  

14/04/2026

A few words about these photos & videos:

1) The first photo is one that one of my good buddies, and talented photographer took when we took an evening trip to a locally famous viewpoint.

2) Here I’m photographing and obviously taking a video of Rachel & Andrew’s elopement in Lyngen Alps, Norway. Such an underrated gem!

3) This video is from Trylani and Jerone’s elopement in Vestland, Norway. They were coming from all the way from Australia to elope in Norway and got sunshine for the whole week, which felt hilarious for me.

4) The video where I’m trying to run uphill is from Sunndal, also one of those places you don’t pump into tourists in a way you do in other places in Norway.

5) Oh, the gravel rides. Such a fun way to see the world. Hopefully, I can continue that for many years.

6) Here I’m taking a video of Gigi and Bernic’s ceremony in France. Fun fact, they thought they were eloping in Switzerland, but I found a perfect place in France, so we crossed the border and had the most fun evening in the mountains.

7) I rarely do selfies and even more rarely mirror photos (you can probably see that when you see my face, haha), but occasionally you have to try when you see the view behind you!

8) I’ve been driving a lot in the past 10 years. Most of it is really relaxing and fun, but sometimes, especially during winter, the roads in Norway aren’t always easy. But that’s kind of the point, though!

9) A talented colleague, took this photo when we were at Ida’s cousin’s wedding last autumn. These moments are rare, so it was so fun that Marko took this photo. Thanks again, buddy! And thanks to and for inviting us!

10) This was a long dream of mine, to spend a month in a mountain cabin in Norway with family – and that’s what we were able to do. Our 5-year-old did +500m (+1600ft) elevation in one afternoon, so I guess the sportiest person in the family -competition is over.  

14/04/2026

Ten years of doing this has taught me one thing: the best days are never the ones that went as planned. 
Rachel and Andrew taught me that better than anyone – that’s them on the first slide. 
As we climbed toward the alpine lake, the fog rolled in so quickly it felt like we’d stepped into a dream. One moment, the mountains towered above us – next, we were swallowed by white, unable to see more than a few steps ahead. 
I’d been glued to every weather app all day. When the forecast finally gave us a window, we went for it – a 700-meter (2300ft) climb. 
Rachel and Andrew didn’t flinch. When we found ourselves lost in the clouds, they were just smiling, hand in hand. Rachel shrugged: ”Well, we wanted to elope in the mountains, and it’s nature – you never know what you’re getting.” 
So we kept going higher, trusting that somewhere up there, the light was waiting for us. When the mist finally broke, and we stood in front of that glacier, it felt like we’d stepped into another world. 
I love the photos, but what means even more is the story behind them – the kind of day where you hike through clouds, trust the unknown, and end up reading your vows with a glacier as your witness. 
If you’re thinking about eloping, renewing your vows, or proposing somewhere unforgettable...I’d love to hear about it.  

13/04/2026

The most memorable elopement day I’ve ever photographed had almost nothing on the itinerary. 
I’ve watched couples arrive at their ceremony already exhausted — not because anything went wrong, but because the day was too full of everything. 
I’ve also watched a couple spend most of their day at a cabin by the fjord, and visit just one place, just for their ceremony. 
The second couple didn’t just get better photos. They had a better day. The photos followed from that. 
Here’s what I’ve learned after 10 years and 300+ couples — swipe for the things most couples eloping never hear. 
Which tip feels most you?

27/03/2026

A few glimpses of this wonderful winter proposal in Tromsø.

I’ve been doing more proposals recently and as someone who has proposed my now wife — Ida (hello wifey! 👋🏻) — they can be so meaningful, adventurous and dare I say, life changing.

Your partner will never forget the way you asked them to marry you. It’s such a place of vulnerability and honesty, and that’s why I love keeping it minimal and beautiful — but most of all, honest.

You don’t need a bunch of external things. Your words and the way you say them are more than enough.

Keywords: Norway proposal, norway engagement, tromsø engagement

02/02/2026

Am I dreaming?! 🤩 This elopement story in the Lyngen Alps, Norway, has won something really special!

There are moments in this career when everything just hits you at once. The early morning location scouting in freezing rain, the countless hours of marketing, the hours of editing when your family is already asleep — and you wonder if anyone even sees what you’re trying to do.

And then something like this happens.

It’s hard for me to believe I’ve won the Best Wedding Story by twice in a row! There were 750 photo series submitted to the competition, and the jury consisted of 12 internationally known photographers, who I highly recommend checking out on the last slide.

I want to thank the organizers and for choosing judges (this year .penoy ) who not only are incredibly talented photographers themselves but also understand art beyond trends and cliches and how difficult it is to create meaningful imagery.   The fact that these images are from actual wedding days — not from photoshoots taken in perfect conditions or with models — makes me want to attend and celebrate the winners again next year.

And lastly, I want to thank and for trusting me with your elopement! 🙏🏻

27/01/2026

Hi Mom... I’ve been nominated as the Best Wedding Photographer in Europe by

I don’t know why, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I was thinking about my mom when I received this message a few days ago.

Maybe because she had a creative side as I do, and I’m sure she would’ve understood the beauty I get to witness and create with these amazing couples.

But the reality is, I can’t share this with her because she is at a late stage of Alzheimer’s and can’t really remember anything, recognize people or things anymore. It makes me sad, but it’s also a reminder that life is fragile.

It’s not when you turn 30 or get children or get promoted. It’s not when you lose weight or get more muscle. It’s now.

I know that my career as a photographer won’t last forever. When I look at these photos from last year, I’m thinking, I’m so glad I decided to follow my heart, help people celebrate their love in such meaningful ways, and guide these people to these locations that are so so unique and special.

Besides every amazing couple I got to meet this year, I also want to thank Way Up North. It’s so meaningful to be nominated, but when I look at the bigger picture, it’s amazing what kind of community you have, and I’m looking forward to joining in the future!

If you have the time, please let me know which image (1-10) is your favorite, it would make my day.

20/01/2026

ENG 👇🏼

Olipa uskomaton fiilis saada maili, että oon finalistina Vuoden Hääkuva -kilpailussa!! 🤍

Viime vuosi oli itselle aikamoista vuoristorataa (josta lisää alla englanniksi), ja siksi tämä tuntuu erityisen hyvältä. Tämä kuva on otettu viime syyskuussa Senjalla, Norjassa, missä sain viettää kolme päivää tämän upean parin kanssa ja nautiskella Norjan luonnosta.

Voittaja valitaan yleisöäänillä seuraavien kolmen viikon aikana (äänestys päättyy 12.2.2026). Kaikki finalistit ja äänestys löytyvät Häät.fi-sivuilta – laitan linkin bioon.

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Super cool to be a finalist in the Wedding Photograph of the Year competition!

Last year was definitely one of the wildest I’ve experienced: from spending time in the hospital to the biggest elevation gain I’ve ever done during an elopement.

I haven’t really shared this here, but I got Strep A at the beginning of the year, and likely because of that, I also had AFib. It only lasted a few days, but I still ended up in the hospital several times. In the end, nothing serious was found, and the symptoms disappeared after a few months.

After this roller-coaster year, where I traveled for almost 100 days in 2025, it felt really good to get the email saying this photo had been selected as a finalist.

I created this photo last September on Senja Island, Norway. Biggest thanks to this lovely couple, who I got to spend three amazing days with and who trusted me enough to go along with my crazy ideas.

The winner is decided by public voting over the next three weeks. You can check out the other finalists and vote on the Häät.fi website – I’ll add a link in bio.

08/01/2026

I have so many things I want to share but let's start with this because I realized I only showed a few images earlier.

What you don't see in these photos is that I wasn’t completely sure this proposal was going to happen, even though I was already in the area scouting. 🗺

The reason was that M and Q's initial flight was cancelled. We needed to make some changes, but luckily we had enough time to totally surprise her which was, obviously, the most important thing. 🛩

Proposing in Norway, especially during the wintertime, isn't the easiest thing but, in the end, the most meaningful & memorable things in life rarely are easy. 🤷‍♂️

Especially with elopements and proposals, my job is also to ensure everything goes smoothly, even if roads are closed or flights are delayed. 🛣

I tend to think about the worst-case scenario a lot, because when I started doing this, I got lucky a few times and understood that it's always best to have a few backup options.

Would you propose in Norway? What's your favorite image here?

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Tromsø

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http://jaakkoperala.com/

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