Maximising Your Photo Opportunities During Finland Northern Lights Holidays

Taking a trip to the Finnish winter wonderland is undoubtedly one of the best places to snap an image of the Aurora Borealis in all its glory, far away from light pollution, and on a day with little cloud cover to obscure your view of the iridescent lights dancing across the dark skies.

Outside of the summer midnight sun season, Finnish Lapland is simply the perfect location for photographers of every calibre to create once-in-a-lifetime shots and capture one of the most beautiful and magical scenes on earth, offset by the crisp, white snow Finland is known for.

Let’s talk about travelling to see the Northern Lights during the winter months, tips on getting the chance of that ideal snap, and how to plan ahead to ensure you have a simply wonderful time while getting an up-close glimpse of the Auroral activity.

Picking the Ideal Location for Aurora Viewing

Our first piece of advice is to think about location – if you’re keen on seeing the Northern Lights in their full splendour, it’s essential you get as far away from light pollution as possible.

You could spend two or three days of a short break on your Aurora hunt, and picking accommodation like a wilderness hotel or a specifically designed Aurora bubble incorporated into one of the heated glass igloos is ideal.

Another option is to select a Finland Northern Lights package that includes Auroura hunting with experienced guides, who will suggest the right days to venture out and recommend the optimal time when the skies are dark. Your guide will ensure you have the perfect conditions to capture this famous natural phenomenon.

Northern Finland is blanketed by snow throughout the winter, often from as early as September and the best places to embrace that ambience are in the countryside, in locations within the Arctic Circle that are removed from the major cities.

Finnish Lapland offers from the Baltic Travel Company include excursions to ensure you don’t miss out on a Northern Lights adventure and have the benefit of enjoying the exciting winter activities on your travels. We’d recommend a guided snowmobile tour to see the Northern Lights out in the wilderness before returning to your log cabin or hotel to warm up by the fire.

Finding the Perfect Conditions for Aurora Displays

While the Aurora Borealis is one of the most photographed sites in the world, it isn’t visible year-round. It’s best to visit Lapland during the winter months and to head as far north as possible, where the lights are significantly brighter and easier to see.

It’s also worth noting that you need clear skies for the best view, and even during December, there is the potential that some evenings will be cloudy, concealing the lights.

The accommodation included in our Lapland Northern Lights holidays typically offers an inclusive service where staff will provide accurate, up-to-date weather forecasts every day and issue Aurora alerts so visitors know when they have the best photo opportunities.

This service ensures you don’t need to stay up late every evening and can relax during your Auroura search safe in the knowledge that the local experts will let you know when the forecast is clear. The ideal time to see the lights is two hours on either side of midnight, and although you can see the lights throughout the night, the dancing lights tend to strengthen throughout the evening.

Another great option is to install an Aurora app or simply keep an eye on the night sky. If you can see the stars twinkling, there is a fantastic chance you’ll be seeing the Northern Lights very soon!

Organising Your Photography Kit to Capture the Northern Lights in Finland

A lot may depend on your photography style, but most photographers like to be prepared and to ensure they spend plenty of time composing that perfect capture. Thinking about composition and using a dramatic foreground to offset the lights works well.

You might, for example, compose your image with the still waters of Lake Inari in the foreground, choose to depict a row of log cabins to add structure or use the soaring forest treeline to add interest.

The north of Finland is well within the Arctic Circle, so if you’re really lucky and patient, you might even be able to capture some of the incredible Arctic animals during your trip. Just as it’s easier to see the Northern Lights as far away from light pollution as possible, the frozen lakes and quiet snowscapes are excellent places to spot rare species.

A wide-angle lens is advisable if you’re hoping to capture awe-inspiring landscapes, and bringing a stable tripod is a good idea with a high-resolution lens that can pick up the subtle ambience of the fox fires glowing in the forest and ensure your celestial capture is sharp and crisp.

Remember that the best places and times to photograph the Northern Lights are in rural locations and during the night, so it’s important you’re familiar with your camera and settings and can assemble your kit quickly in the dark.

Batteries can drain quicker in very cold weather, so make sure to charge your camera batteries and bring a spare with you – alongside having a decent amount of capacity on your memory card or extra cards.

Selecting Accommodation for a Northern Lights Photography Holiday

We offer a number of short break packages and longer holidays to Finnish Lapland and can organise every detail for you, from recommending an Arctic treehouse hotel, a luxury set of log cabins with your own private sauna, or a wilderness hotel among the snow.

Packages include airport transfers, and we can cater to any requirements, whether your bucket list consists of a log fire and five-star cuisine, or you’d prefer a camping experience to learn more about the culture of the Indigenous Sami people.

Many visitors to Finnish Lapland also incorporate some fun winter activities into their trip, with a huge range of things to see and do. Favourites include ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, visiting the Ranua Wildlife Park to experience a reindeer safari, or hiring a snowmobile for a guided tour.

For more information about booking your photography trip to the Northern Lights or for advice on getting that perfect shot, please get in touch with the Baltic Travel Company at any time or browse our Auroura viewing holidays online.