Battered camera phone from 2003? Your thumb appears in every shot? Photos that are somehow ALWAYS slightly out of focus? Decapitate your subjects with terrible composition? If any of this sounds familiar, consider that Icelandair is on the hunt for people with a very specific skill: the ability to take absolutely terrible photos. And it’s willing to pay someone US$50,000 to try to do so.
Why bad? To show the world that Iceland’s natural beauty is so breathtaking, even a blurry photo, awkward composition, or terrible lighting can’t ruin it, says the airline. No filters needed. No AI trickery. Just raw, authentic moments of Icelandic wonder – regardless of photographic prowess.
Icelandair saw the need to recruit for this unusual role when focus groups revealed that many believe images of Iceland look “too good to be true.”
“We realized that Iceland’s landscapes are so stunning, they’re practically foolproof,” says the airline’s global director of marketing, Gísli Brynjólfsson. “ We’re tired of seeing polished, digitally enhanced images that don’t capture the real magic of our country. So, we decided to flip the script and find people unapologetically bad at photography, but who still love to capture every moment. Because sometimes, the best way to showcase authentic beauty is to throw away the rulebook.”
Applications are now open for this one-of-a-kind job role. Selected applicants will be contracted as freelancers for Icelandair and sent on an approximately 10-day photography expedition throughout Iceland in summer.
The successful applicant will receive a comprehensive Iceland trip package including flights, accommodation, transportation, plus a fixed fee of $50,000 for time compensation and any additional expenses.
The application process consists of three stages: a six-question questionnaire, a personal profile, and an optional video submission (up to 1 minute). Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a final video interview.
Icelandair will be using a host of tactics to find the perfect person for the job. Look out for ways they’re seeking applicants in your local city – it might just surprise you.
Please see here for link to apply – either for yourself or on behalf of a truly awful photographer in your life – and get ready to experience the real Iceland.
Applications for the position will be open until April 30. Apply HERE.
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