ICELAND PHOTOGRAPHER AND PLANNER FOR OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH ADVENTURE ELOPEMENTS
 
MEET STEPH ZAKAS

Your Local
Iceland Elopement Photographer
and Nature Nerd.
 
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Hey, I’m Steph! (she/her)

A local Iceland Elopement expert, Photographer, and Planner living in Reykjavík, iceland
Helping you navigate this big life milestone with ease.

 

I lived a landlocked life in Ohio, USA and didn’t see the ocean until I was a teenager.

So you might be wondering what the heck am I doing living in Iceland?


 

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''STEPHANIE ZAKAS IS A UNICORN!''



''I’m not kidding either – We eloped on November 2nd in Iceland and our experience was everything and more than we hoped for thanks to Stephanie.''
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Vanna & Kevin
 
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I always knew that I wanted to see the world and experience what it had to offer outside of Ohio.

 

I moved to Florida, got a film degree, and worked for Disney (bringing couples straight to Cinderella’s castle for their wedding photos. I know, that’s kindaaaaa coooool). Then found myself on a plane to New York City with a one-way ticket.

I slept on the floor of my Brooklyn studio apartment, dreaming of the IKEA bed I eventually got, and worked as a server in Times Square (#thefrickenworst).

But I would do it all again.

 
best iceland elopement photographer
 

Those years allowed me to establish myself as a professional photographer and entrepreneur.

Even on days when people like Bradley Cooper screamed in my face on set. (That’s 100% true). I was shooting New York Fashion Week, on set of million dollar shoots, documenting weddings, and makin’ it werk. *finger snaps*

But I knew I wasn’t meant to stay in Brooklyn.
On a whim,
I took a trip to Iceland. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I felt this clarity, peace, sense of awe, LOVE and freedom. I knew this was it.

After a long visa process, I moved to Iceland and never looked back. #worthit

Iceland Elopement at a black sand beach in Iceland by Adventure Photographer Steph Zakas of Zakas Photography
 
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Now, I do things differently,
carving my own path in the elopement industry.

I’m quite an unconventional type of person. I see rules and I kind of want to break them if they don't make sense to me. Once a punk kid, always a punk kid I guess haha (puts on a jean vest with terribly sewn-on patches)

After documenting over 250+ weddings, I saw a problem with how the wedding industry held it's status quo, how publications ignored my fellow unconventional subculture of people, and how planning elopements had a HUGE void in them for the couples

So the magic you’ll get with me…

  • I draw on my almost 20 years experience in the industry,

  • my award winning photography skills to make you look good (see: like you & not someone else)

  • my certifications as a coach to help you feel comfortable and bring out your true chemistry.

  • Then, paired with my project & production management experience in NYC

    I bring you a truly exclusive elopement experience.

I love this type of elopement so much, this is how I got married: An Iceland Elopement in the Highland.

 
best iceland elopement photographer
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FEATURED AWARDS & PUBLISHING

 

 
 
SLR lounge best 100 photographers | Iceland elopement photographer

I’m so honored I was chosen by the SLR Lounge as Top 100 Photographers!

Say whaaaat!

 
 
 
 

A few articles I’ve been featured in

 

 

Featured @ Rangefinder Magazine

Nelson & Joanne’s Iceland Elopement in winter and the wild weather we encountered (and how I prepare for my couples!) is Wedding of the Week! Check it out here.

Featured @ Junebug Weddings

Leigh & Molly’s intimate Iceland elopement on Reynisfjara’s black sand beach.
Check it out here.

Featured @ Rock n Roll Bride Print

Flo & Matt’s alternative London Fields, UK micro wedding was one of style, vegan treats, and rock’n roll vibes.
Buy the issue here.

Featured @ Rangefinder Magazine

Alexandria & Luke’s super epic Iceland elopement on top of a private canyon.
Check it out here.

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Iceland Elopements allow me to do what I do best

 

be a nature nerd with the couples as we adventure through Iceland, scotland, norway, the us, and beyond.
(And, Maybe make a LOTR reference or two.).

 
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connect and see the true dynamic of every couple.

 

sit back to observe the real chemistry and take the lead when necessary in order to get images that feel like you..

 
 

and create art that is directly influenced from the love the couple has for one another right there in front of me.

I will probably be helping you with your double-sided sticky tape, pinning that boutonnière, helping you hike the Iceland terrain safely, show you the best coffee stops along the way, and by the end of your elopement day we will feel like old friends.

 
 
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''We wanted our wedding to be completely for ourselves''



''this was a celebration of our love and our future. We love to travel and love everything outdoors. I think it would have been a big compromise to ourselves and the beginning of our marriage to do it any other way.''
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Ashley & Joe
 
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zakas photography | adventure elopement photographer
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Iceland Elopements represent everything I am and what the core of getting married is all about.

Being around so many couples on their wedding days and being the only one they confide in to vent to as it’s all happening, I saw how stressed out the traditional wedding was for them.

I saw how they hardly saw their partner all day, they didn’t get to eat any of the food they spent THOUSANDS of dollars on, but most importantly- I saw that they never felt comfortable all night or enjoyed being in the moment.

So, I pivoted to exclusively documenting elopements & tiny weddings.

Elopements allow me and you to be our unconventional selves, to connect on a level that is life-altering, and when it’s all said and done you will have images that take your (and your loved ones) breath away.

So, that’s why elopements matter to me, how about you?

 
 
 
 

Curious if we will get along?

Here are some random facts about me.

  • I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. Nature nerd, traditional nerd, travel nerd, beer & coffee nerd.

  • I like to laugh, crack dad jokes, eat snacks, and enjoy the moment when in it.

  • I love to watch shows spanning True Crime Docs, to baking shows, to Gilmore Girls, to House of the Dragon. My first favorite movies were Poltergeist and The Little Mermaid.

  • I’ve been in a yelling match with Bradley Cooper, have been Micheal J. Fox’s studio stand-in, and Amanda Palmer’s album art photographer.

  • My introverted ways and being a certified Coach make me really good at noticing body language, couple’s little looks at each other, and energy which translates in my photos.

  • I played Roller Derby since 2005 on teams in Florida, then for Gotham in NYC, then finally the local Iceland team. I’m the current head coach to the Reykjavík team and the Iceland National team.

  • I am an Olympic Weightlifter.

  • My music choices range from Nine Inch Nails to Jose Gonzales to Death Cab for Cutie to Madball.

  • I’m a cat whisperer and animal lover, I’ve been vegetarian basically my entire life.

  • I’ve been told by almost everyone I meet that they have felt like they have known me their whole lives.

Iceland elopement photographer Steph zakas

 
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START PLANNING YOUR ICELAND ELOPEMENT
Book Your Free Consult

 
 
 
 
 
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