Adventure to Iceland with Kendall McCaugherty and Mike Kelley

Join Kendall and Mike for a three-day workshop in Reykjavík, Iceland, designed for photographers with a background in architectural photography. Together, you’ll will explore the aesthetic aspects of image design and its relationship to the architectural subject matter.

The workshop addresses both technical and artistic elements of composition, focusing on how the direction and intensity of light can create a sense of movement and lead to more interpretative photographs. Kendall and Mike will share their working philosophies and photographic techniques through digital demonstrations using tethering software like Capture One, guiding participants on lens selection, composition, and use of models within the frame.

The unique architecture and location of the Harpa Concert Hall offers a rich variety for daily assignments, both exterior and interior, and allows participants to apply what they’ve learned during demonstrations. By the end of the workshop, participants will elevate their architectural photography, discovering new interpretative perspectives and enhancing their artistic vision.

Tentative Workshop Itinerary: Group 1

• Day 1 – Tuesday, July 29th, 2025:
  • 10:00 AM | Meet at Harpa Concert Hall 
  • 10: 30 AM | Introductions 
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Tour / Scout Harpa
  • 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Lunch (included in the price of the workshop)
  • 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Demo
  • 2:30 – 7:00 PM | Individual photography
  • 7:30 PM | Dinner (included in the price of the workshop)
• Day 2 – Wednesday, July 30th, 2025:
  • 10:00 AM | Meet at Harpa Concert Hall 
  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Demo
  • 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Lunch (included in the price of the workshop)
  • 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Demo
  • 2:30 – 7:00 PM | Individual photography
  • 7:30 PM | Dinner (included in the price of the workshop)
• Day 3 – Thursday, July 31st, 2025:
  • 9:30 AM | Meet at Harpa Concert Hall
  • 10:00 AM | Catered Breakfast + Image Review
  • 12:00 – 4:00 PM* | Lunch + Whale Watching Excursion (optional)
    • *Time may change slightly 

Tentative Workshop Itinerary: Group 2

• Day 1 – Monday, August 4th, 2025:
  • 10:00 AM | Meet at Harpa Concert Hall 
  • 10: 30 AM | Introductions 
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Tour / Scout Harpa
  • 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Lunch (included in the price of the workshop)
  • 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Demo
  • 2:30 – 7:00 PM | Individual photography
  • 7:30 PM | Dinner (included in the price of the workshop)
• Day 2 – Tuesday, August 5th, 2025:
  • 10:00 AM | Meet at Harpa Concert Hall 
  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Demo
  • 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Lunch (included in the price of the workshop)
  • 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Demo
  • 2:30 – 7:00 PM | Individual photography
  • 7:30 PM | Dinner (included in the price of the workshop)
• Day 3 – Wednesday, August 6th, 2025:
  • 9:30 AM | Meet at Harpa Concert Hall
  • 10:00 AM | Catered Breakfast + Image Review
  • 12:00 – 4:00 PM* | Lunch + Whale Watching Excursion (optional)
    • *Time may change slightly 

What’s included?

• Instruction
• Access to Harpa
• Lunch and dinner on days 1 + 2
• Breakfast on day 3

What’s not included?

• Lodging
• Airfare
• Transportation
• Day 3 Lunch + Whale Watching add-on $250

FAQs

• When is the full tuition due? Tuition is due in full upon reserving your spot. Tuition is non-refundable but is transferable. If you can’t make it, you’re welcome to give your spot to a friend — just let us know beforehand. However, you can pay in installments using PayPal.
• Why is the workshop so small? We have taught many workshops in our careers and agree that it’s nearly impossible to teach adequately as soon as class sizes get larger than eight people. Due to the specialized equipment and wide open spaces required to have everyone not only learn about, but also practice, architectural photography, we kept it small and intimate so that attendees not only get a chance to make amazing photos, but also have plenty of time interfacing with instructors.
• Which airport do we fly into? Keflavík International Airport
• How do we get from the airport to Harpa? All attendees will be responsible for their own transportation. Rental cars and Uber are available.
• Which hotel should I stay in? There are a variety of lodging options in Reykjavík, so the choice is entirely up to you. We recommend staying somewhere near Harpa. There are plenty of walkable options at all pricepoints.
• What is included in the price? Please see above. Airfare and hotels are not included and must be booked by attendees separately.
• Can I bring my significant other, a friend or family? Since you are responsible for your own lodging and transportation, you are welcome to bring guests to Iceland; however, we cannot accommodate friends, family or guests during the workshop itself or at meals and group outings.
• What equipment should I bring?
  • Mandatory
    • Camera
    • Lenses
    • Tripod
    • Blank memory card
    • Card reader
    • Laptop
    • Any/all cables for your gear
  • Nice to Have:
    • Rain cover
  • Clothing:
    • Pack layers (it’s Iceland! the weather is highly variable)
    • Rain jacket
    • Waterproof shoes
  • Medication:
    • If you have any allergies, please let us know and also bring an EpiPen, and/or any other medication required to treat an issue or allergic reaction. We’ve heard the healthcare in Iceland is great but let’s not test that theory if we don’t have to.

About Kendall McCaugherty

Kendall McCaugherty graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art Photography from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2013. That same year, she joined Hedrich Blessing photographers as an apprentice and continued developing her craft at the renowned Chicago-based studio until its closing in 2017. Kendall joined her mentors Steve Hall and Nick Merrick upon the establishment of Hall+Merrick, becoming a photographer in 2018 and a principal in 2022. In a few short years, Kendall has become known for her impeccable photographic technique and vision, and is one of the most sought after architectural and design photographers with an award winning client base. Her work has been published in top industry periodicals such as Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Interior Design, Metropolis and the Wall Street Journal.

About Mike Kelley

Mike Kelley is a photographer based in Los Angeles, California who specializes in photographing architecture and aviation.

He grew up in Ipswich, Massachusetts: a small coastal town that’s one part postcard and one part dramatic Boston movie.  There he was lucky enough to meet a number of amazing teachers who opened his eyes to the world of art and design; this would alter the path of his life in more ways than he could ever imagine.

After studying studio art and environmental science at the University of Vermont, he moved to Lake Tahoe, California, in hopes of becoming a professional snowboarder (graduating right after the ’08 recession made this seem like a great idea). A couple of years and too many injuries later, Mike found himself taking up an offer to photograph a few homes for a client he’d met while recuperating. What started by chance turned out to be the perfect mix of technical challenge and creative outlet, and he decided right there and then that it absolutely must be his career.

In 2018, he founded the Architectural Photography Almanac, a resource for architecture photographers and those in the architecture industry seeking to learn about the craft and theory of architectural photography.