Icelandair hires 'really bad' photographer
- Icelandair opened applications for a “really bad photographer,” offering one amateur a 10-day Iceland trip and paid campaign role before April 30. - The winner gets travel expenses plus US$50,000, and must be 21 or older, able to travel in June 2026, and join marketing shoots. - The campaign turns a tourism pitch into a paid casting call for amateur content. (icelandair.com)
Icelandair is recruiting a “really bad photographer” and offering a 10-day trip to Iceland plus US$50,000 for the winner’s photos and content. (icelandair.com) The airline says applications are open until April 30, 2026, and frames the campaign around one claim: “even the worst photographer can take great photos of Iceland.” (icelandair.com) The selected applicant must have no professional photography background, no special interest in learning photography, and be comfortable using a phone or basic camera. (icelandair.com) Icelandair says the winner must be 21 or older, hold a valid passport, have a clean criminal record, and be able to travel for up to 10 days in June 2026. (icelandair.com) The job is not a standard giveaway. Icelandair’s terms describe it as a contest tied to a separate contractor agreement covering filming, photography, interviews, testimonials, and other marketing activities. (icelandair.com) The prize includes flights, accommodation, transportation, activities, and a fixed fee payment, with the public campaign page listing that payment as US$50,000 in addition to travel expenses. (icelandair.com 1) (icelandair.com 2) Applicants answer six questions, and Icelandair says a 60-second video about their worst photo failures can improve their chances. (icelandair.com) (euronews.com) The airline also requires the winner to be fit for outdoor activities, including hiking over uneven terrain, and eligible to travel not just to Iceland but also to the United Kingdom and the United States. (icelandair.com) (euronews.com) If Icelandair follows its own pitch, the winner’s bad photos will end up in a global campaign meant to sell Iceland as a place that looks good even through a shaky camera. (icelandair.com)
