Honesty first
This site uses AI to draft articles. I want to be straightforward about that — not because I have to, but because I think you deserve to know how the content you’re reading was made.
What follows is an exact description of how every article on Responsible Iceland Photography is created.
The Editorial Workflow
1. Topic selection Every article starts with a deliberate editorial decision. Topics are chosen based on keyword research, genuine gaps in existing Iceland photography resources, and my own experience from six trips to Iceland. No topic is published simply because it generates traffic — it has to fit the site’s positioning.
2. AI draft Once a topic is selected, I create a detailed brief — covering the location or subject, the target audience, the required structure, and the specific angles that need to be addressed. An AI model generates the initial draft based on that brief.
3. Owner review I read every article and apply my personal knowledge. This means correcting details that don’t match my on-the-ground experience, adding context that no AI can supply, and cutting anything that feels generic or inaccurate.
4. Leave No Trace check Every location guide contains a mandatory Leave No Trace section. Before publication, I verify this section against current Icelandic regulations — particularly guidelines from Umhverfisstofnun (Environment Agency of Iceland). Responsible information is the one area where I will not publish anything I haven’t personally checked.
5. Source verification Where environmental facts, access conditions, or regulations are cited, I verify them against official Icelandic sources: Umhverfisstofnun, Ferðamálastofa, Vatnajökull National Park, and Veðurstofa Íslands (the Icelandic Meteorological Office).
6. Publication The article goes live once I’m satisfied it meets the standards above.
What AI Can and Cannot Do
AI is good at structure, language, and covering ground quickly. It is not good at knowing what Vestrahorn looks like at 3am in October, or which F-road conditions catch photographers off guard every spring. That knowledge comes from being there — and that’s what I bring to every article.
The combination works. But the editorial judgement is always mine.
What This Site Will Not Publish
Some locations I know personally will not appear here. If a place is ecologically fragile, already under significant pressure from tourism, or specifically protected, I will not add to that exposure — regardless of the search volume. I consider this a deliberate editorial choice, not a gap in the content.
Affiliate Links & Monetisation
Where affiliate links appear — for camera gear, travel insurance, or car rental — they are clearly labelled. Affiliate relationships do not influence editorial decisions. A product or service only appears on this site if I would genuinely recommend it to a photographer planning a trip to Iceland.
Last updated: April 2026