Iceland in Motion: Photographer Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove on Capturing a Living Landscape
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove is an award-winning Belgian Icelandic landscape and wildlife photographer, based in Reykjavík, Iceland.
This interview is the latest in a new series in which I’m shining a spotlight on some of my talented photographer clients. The purpose is to give them a platform to share their stories, experiences, and creative insights in their own words.
Jeroen generously shares insights into his photography journey, creative philosophy, and experiences photographing Iceland’s raw, ever-changing landscapes.
His answers reveal both his technical mastery and deep respect for nature — it’s an inspiring read, and I hope you enjoy it! If you do, please share.
Zoe
Interview with award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove
Jeroen, can you tell us about your first paid photography shoot/commission?
“One of the first things I did, before I even started a career in landscape and wildlife photography, I did paid gigs photographing events in my local community. The pay wasn’t great, but it allowed me to build a name for myself.”
And your most recent shoot/commission?
“Things have wildly changed since then and I have most recently done freelance work as a photojournalist for several large news media agencies.”
What was your first camera?
“I started out using the Canon AV-1, an old analog Canon camera, which my dad used to own. That is how I really got interested in photography.”
What camera or gear can you not live without now?
“I have to say my drone. While I am an avid camera shooter, and I love my Canon EOS R5 Mark II, I am focusing on drone photography more and more because I feel there is still a lot to do there that has not been done by someone else before.”
If your work has been exhibited or published, can you tell us about when and how this first happened?
“I’ve organised my own exhibitions twice before with the last one being only 2 years ago. During that exhibition, I exhibited about 52 pieces in a very large space.
I quite like doing exhibitions. In a digital age, it’s the perfect way to connect with your audience face-to-face. You curate some of your more interesting pieces, find a nice venue and then get to see how people react to your work.
It’s something I feel we are sorely lacking in these digital times.”
What is your most recent publication/exhibition or feature?
“Most recently, I was featured on the amazing F-Stop Collaborate & Listen podcast where I got to speak about my work, but also my views on hot topics such as running photo workshops, why AI isn’t doing it for me in photography and more. It was a great experience and a perfect way to let others know about the person behind the images.”
Can you share details of your first big challenge in your photography business?
“I think the first big challenge was the very beginning. While I quickly formed a solid long-term plan to start earning enough money to sustain myself, my actual income didn’t arrive until almost a full year later.
Because I immediately began selling photography workshops in cooperation with other photographers, I had to plan ahead a lot without actually earning money.
I managed to overcome that financial gap and challenge by finding ways to earn passive income by selling books and e-books.”
© Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove / JVN Photo
What was the most recent challenge you overcame?
“My biggest challenge has been to get people to see beyond some of the more “popular” subjects I cover: volcanoes and drone photography.
As a hybrid photographer, combining both wildlife and landscape photography, I do so much more and it has been a struggle to get people to see that.
Because of the major efforts I have been doing on my SEO, that focus has been shifting a lot, which is helping other people see beyond the things I am most known for.“
Please tell us about a photo you’re most proud of (and why):
“There’s one photo in particular which I captured about midway through the first eruption I photographed, back in 2021. We are about midway into the first eruption, and all activity had condensed into one big crater.
One evening, I had originally planned to go to the eruption area. However, because the activity had unexpectedly died down, I ended up staying at home watching Netflix. After cozying up on my sofa, I received a message from a friend who noticed that the crater had unexpectedly become active again. It didn’t just become active, but it did so with a twist. The crater had started spewing lava in greater volumes than it had before but also did that continuously.“
“Instead of watching Netflix, I decided to switch my attention to one of the eruption webcams and watched what had unfolded in amazement. Slowly, but surely, the gears in my head started grinding. “Should I go?” “Will I make it in time before it stops?” “How quickly can I get onto the mountain?” “How far would I need to get up the mountain to launch my drone?”
I had been in this endless debate with myself many times before and each time I ended up reminding myself that you never know until you go. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. After coming to that realisation again, I put on my hiking boots, grabbed my photography gear and began driving to the eruption area. After about 40 minutes I left my car at the nearest parking lot. The crater was still erupting but I wasn’t going to take any chances. I started running with my gear towards the trail going up to the mountain ridge, which I guessed would give me the best view of the ongoing action.
When I made it halfway along the trail, I felt I had reached sufficient height as I could see the crater in the distance. I estimated I was about one kilometre away from the crater which made me feel it was a good time to start using my drone. My main concern was that the eruption would halt before I could get a decent shot. My drone could get much quicker & closer to the crater than I could ever progress along the trail to get a camera shot. Additionally, using the drone would give me the most flexibility and a wide variety of perspectives.
The second I made it to the crater with my drone, the erupting crater shifted gears and started erupting much more vigorously than before. It totally caught me by surprise and I even had to back off with my drone. The volume of lava was so great that the lava overflowed on all sides of the crater. Shortly after, the crater shut down, not to erupt again until several days later. How lucky I had been to witness that in person!
Afterwards, I noticed a cloud inversion which had begun rolling into the valley. I decided to fly out once more before the fog would veil everything. I wanted to take a few photographs of the crater as it was coated in a beautiful orange colour due to the overflowing of the lava. That is the image I am most proud of. It. came very unexpected but I also had to really work for it to get it.”
Who/What is your favourite subject to photograph or type of shoot?
“It’s probably no secret that the answer to this question is photographing volcanic eruptions. I think the thing I enjoy the most about photographing them is that no shoot is ever the same.
Most landscape photographers are used to photographing static subjects. If you visit a mountain or a waterfall to photograph it, it will still look pretty much the same a year from now. There’s almost no urgency to it. However, when you photograph eruptions, every photograph you take of them is a moment that will never repeat itself.
The landscape is actively changing in front of your eyes, the lava flows change, and the lava output in the eruption changes. While the subject is always the same, the state in which you see it is always different. That certainly keeps things interesting but also challenging to me. Whenever an eruption is ongoing, I focus only on shooting, while editing is something I do afterwards, when the eruption has dwindled.“
What is a lesson you’ve learned in your photography business that has changed how you work?
“The biggest lesson I have learned since I started running my own photography business is that it doesn’t matter how good a photographer you are. The most important skill you need is marketing.
And, of course, the quality of your photography does play a role, but it is nowhere as important as knowing how to market yourself, your work and your business. No one will become a customer based on your beautiful work alone.”
What advice would you give to your younger self when you first started photography?
“Put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to market yourself and market your work proactively. I used to think that attention to my work would come if it was good enough, but ultimately, all that mattered was putting myself out there and daring to market myself.“
Quickfire Questions:
Studio or outdoors?
As a landscape, wildlife and drone photographer: 100% outdoors!
Digital or film?
Digital. While I appreciate old school film photography I don’t want to limit myself to it.
Morning shoots or evening shoots?
Both!
Editing yourself or delegating?
Editing myself, 100%!
What’s next for you, Jeroen?
“I am currently working on a second book. I have a lot of different ideas I am sort of working on simultaneously. However, I hope/aim to have something more concrete in the coming year.”
View Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove’s Photography Website
Note from Zoe: Thank you, Jeroen, for this fantastic interview and for sharing so generously! Wishing you all the very best in your exciting career and with your second book!
Jeroen’s 5-Star Google Review
“Zoe’s support has proven valuable to my photography business”
“I am very happy with Zoe’s hands-on and proactive approach. Because I have a technical background, I have been very SEO-focused for a number of years already. However, I still decided to work with Zoe to improve my SEO presence because she offers the greatest luxury for any business: freeing up my valuable time.
Thanks to Zoe I can focus on running my business while she takes care of the PR and networking side of my business on my behalf.
With her being experienced in the photography community, she has secured multiple media opportunities and interviews, which have proven valuable to my photography business.“
UPDATE (June 2026): “Now, one year into using Zoe’s services, I am still very happy with her proactive approach. During this year of working with her, I have seen the growth in my business’s online (& offline!) presence. She has secured multiple media features, lecturing opportunities and podcasts/interviews that have been instrumental to my business’s growth.“
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove (November 2025)
