Photographer of the Month: Mads Peter Iversen

Award-winning photographer Mads Peter Iversen has made photography education accessible to everyone through his YouTube videos and passion for mixing cinema with photography. Originally from Denmark, he went from teaching philosophy to becoming a full-time photographer traveling the globe.

After experimenting with many different photography genres, including headshots and videography, he landed on fine art landscape photography. We love his way of mixing movie-like scenes into his photos. His nordic photography draws the viewer in and keeps them asking for more. We sat down with him today to gain insights into his world.

How long did it take you to transition from a school teacher to a full-time photographer?

I guess around five years. I did a few different things in between finishing my education and going full-time as a photographer. I also needed to figure out if photography was a career I wanted to pursue.

What are 3 things you wish you knew before you got started in photography?

I think I can sum up it up in three words:

– Authenticity: Be yourself, be honest.

– Business: You need to learn to value your work and make a salary for yourself.

– Patience: It doesn’t happen overnight, but slowly grows. You’ll likely not even reach a point where you decisively can tell yourself that you “made it”.

What camera equipment do you use?

Right now, I am in the Sony ecosystem. Sony a7R3 and a Sony Alpha a6000 as a backup.

Lenses: Sony 12-24 f/4, Sony 24-105 f/4, Sony 70-200 f/4, Sony 100-400 f/5.6-6.6, Sony 20mm f/1.8, and Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 III.

Where was the most beautiful landscape you have ever visited?

Impossible to say precisely as all landscapes vary a lot. On my US tour, I especially loved Yosemite Valley, Death Valley, and The Redwoods of California. I have a very special place for the British landscapes too. And both Iceland and Faroe Islands are just beyond this world epic! I love all the places I’ve visited.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

Getting out of bed during summer to catch the sunrise.

What is the easiest part of your job?

Enjoying nature. You don’t have to think, you just have to be.

What is your process for deciding where and what to shoot?

I generally have a specific subject I want to photograph, then I try to previsualize how it’ll work in different kinds of light and atmosphere, then I figure out when I can get that and try to be at the location when it is most optimal.

How has your work evolved?

My editing has become softer, not less, just softer as to get an end-photo, which isn’t too far from potential reality.

You mention in your bio that you “shoot to edit” can you talk about how you mastered editing and any insider tips?

I watched A LOT of tutorials from other photographers and picked out what I like the most. It is a long process, and I still learn and develop “my style”.

Books, courses, or future projects you want to share with our readers?

I am working on my 3rd eBook, which will be about the elements we deal with in landscape photography. I am also collecting ideas for a physical book.

Besides books, I am working on/developing a project I call “Landscape Composition Week”, where I release three free videos with tons of information about landscape photography, which leads to a big masterclass/webinar on composition in Landscape photography. And lastly, I am always working on my YouTube channel.

Conclusion

Thanks so much to Mads Peter Iversen for sharing all his insights and travel with us. If you are interested in learning more about his work, you can check out his Website, Instagram, and YouTube Channel.

If you are interested in learning about another photographer we have not yet interviewed, simply drop us a line in the comments below on your top pick. We love helping you discover the worlds of other photographers to help you learn and grow.

Also, if you love podcasts, you can listen to Mads Peter Iversen chat live with our very own Taya Iv on the Great Big Photography World Podcast. Listen for free here!