We feature a new guest photographer every month, with their top 3 photo picks and professional tips for filming in Lapland. Our photographer for July 2018 is Petri Teppo.
I’ve been snowboarding and mountain biking since I was a little kid. Somewhere along the way, I took the camera with me and started to document things. I still do the same, even when I’m not working. Every time I hop on my Defender, I take the camera with me. I really get kicks out of a great shot.
I wish I could draw, but I can’t. So I think photographing is my way of interpreting the world and expressing my eye for visuality. Even though I’ve been photographing professionally for over 12 years, I keep studying and attending courses to become better.
I think my signature style comes from attention to detail in light and composition. I shoot both in studio and outdoors, where the weather conditions and light are not always optimal. Problem solving is an important skill of a photographer and is definitely one of my assets.
Here are my top 3 pics with tips:
1. Be creative
Sometimes you just don’t have snow, even in Rovaniemi. This photo was taken in July and it was about +26°C. It was made in a studio with fake snow and blower. JP from Arctic Lifestyle sure put in a lot of effort to gather all these props and made it look easy, although I’m sure he was sweating quite a bit. I like these types of shots where you’re not just counting on your luck but instead use your creativity to make a great shot.
![Snow storm | Petri Teppo photographer of the month, Lapland food](https://www.lapland.fi/uploads/2018/08/c6ed7518-lapland-food-petri-teppo-photography-snow-1024x767.jpg)
2. Don’t forget the grassroots perspective
Sometimes it’s good to look through the lens on the grassroots level. You might be surprised what you find, and even familiar things look different from a different angle. This shot of a roseroot was taken on a crisp autumn morning. I practically laid on the ground among the herbs.
![Lapland wild food | Petri Teppo photographer of the month](https://www.lapland.fi/uploads/2018/08/593ee719-lapland-food-petri-teppo-photography-wild-food-1024x767.jpg)
3. Capture the senses
This shot of an artisan pizza combines two of my favorite things: food and photography. I wanted to keep it simple and make the photo appeal not only to the eye but also the other senses. Like you’d like to have a slice yourself. I myself never get tired of shooting and eating pizza and burgers.
![Lapland food, pizza | Petri Teppo photographer of the month](https://www.lapland.fi/uploads/2018/08/e3894e9f-lapland-food-petri-teppo-pizza-1024x1365.jpg)