My Viking Experience in Reykjavík

Like many girls, I’ve looooved playing dress up since I was a kid…cat, cheerleader, princess, but I’ve never seen what I might have looked as an Icelandic Viking! Thanks to Mink Iceland Portrait Studio in Reykjavík, I finally had that chance. Iceland is a land of incredible landscapes, bubbling hot springs, and a truly unique culture. But beyond the geysers and glaciers, we discovered an unexpected highlight on our recent trip to Reykjavík: a Viking costume transformation!

Located on Laugavegur 11 in downtown Reykjavík, you can't miss their fierce signage!

Walk up the winding stairwell to the second floor photography studio and you'll find Mink Iceland. Lost? You can find them here on Google Maps.

And yes, we brought our two year old son along for the ride. When you're traveling with a little one, every activity is carefully scrutinized for its "toddler-friendliness." Would it be too long? Too loud? Too much sitting still? The Mink Iceland experience, which transforms you into a Norse warrior for a professional photoshoot, seemed like a wild card. But the idea of having these incredible, historical-looking portraits of our family, especially with our little Viking, was too tempting to resist.

Here's a little "Before" of our family in our street clothes at Mink Iceland in Reykjavík.

From the moment we stepped into the studio, we knew we'd made the right choice. The atmosphere at Mink Iceland is wonderfully immersive. We were greeted by one of the owners, Ræjan (a toddler dad himself) who was incredibly welcoming, and right away, we felt at ease. Founded in 2012, the petite photography studio is designed to transport you back in time, with large skulls, handmade leather crafts and authentic swords and an atmospheric setting. The attention to detail in the studio’s décor, clothing, and accessories draws from historical sources, Icelandic sagas, and archaeological finds, offering guests an opportunity to experience and capture the spirit of the Viking age through modern photography!

Ryan shared that his business partner, Guðmann Þór Bjargmundsson, did work on the Game of Thrones television series and made most of the costumes and handicrafts found here in the studio. They're a very artistic bunch as Ræjan's wife Náttrún even hand makes traditional Nordic runes, which she uses for storytelling and sharing cultural heritage. The studio's mood-setting background music reminded me of my favorite Spotify playlist I listened to throughout our trip to Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark a few years back.

You can change into your tunic in the bathroom and storage area behind the burlap curtain!

Then came the costumes! Josh and I were fitted with incredible, handcrafted Viking attire. Think thick layers of sheep fur, rugged leather archer braces, and sturdy woolen tunics. I even added a pair of white bone earrings and a platinum braid to my hair. The attention to detail was astounding, making us feel genuinely ready to set sail for new lands (or at least, for a really cool photo op). Mink had a bin of smaller, equally adorable Viking outfits that would have fit our little guy perfectly, but he just wasn’t in the mood. Our little conquerer was content tossing runes around the room, so we just rolled with it!

The photoshoot itself was such an interesting experience. Ræjan was an absolute pro at directing us into various poses, making us look much more stoic and fearsome than we probably are in real life. Chins down. Fierce eyes. Ræjan was also incredibly patient with our toddler, understanding that a 2-year-old's attention span is roughly equivalent to a hummingbird's. Our guy loved holding onto the tiny mead cups, so we just let him play with those and stay in his blue jeans. Despite the hiccups, Ræjan managed to capture some truly precious moments of our son looking surprisingly serious, and then, inevitably, of him growling with a sword.

It was awesome to channel our inner warrior for this inspired family photo shoot.

What truly impressed us was how Ræjan made it a family experience, not just individual portraits. We got fantastic shots of us as a trio, embracing our inner Norse clan. My only regret is that I didn’t look at inspiration photos in advance so I could have had a more authentic hairstyle! It would have been awesome to see a “look book” with Mink's recommendations on authentic styling ideas.

Don't mind the long pink nails...this is a focused archer at work!

I've got to say it was pretty awesome to wield a heavy knife and drum.

I kinda wanted to take home this green hood - so cute and it made me feel all woodsy inside! Here I am holding a ram's skull, which was a symbol of strength, fertility, and leadership in Viking culture.

Here are my men looking pretty fierce. I love the way our little guy is looking up at his dad!

These aren't just holiday snapshots; they're unique, artistic mementos that tell a story of our Icelandic adventure. We learned so much about these brave native settlers! Ræjan was a wonderful guide. If you're visiting Reykjavík and looking for something truly memorable, a bit out of the ordinary, and surprisingly family-friendly (even with a toddler!), we wholeheartedly recommend the Mink Iceland costume experience.

It's a fantastic way to spend an hour embracing Iceland's rich history and create some unforgettable memories – and stunning photographs – of your own. Check them out on Instagram, pop upstairs to their bespoke studio or book online!