Beyond Arctic Team

Krista

What is your favourite Beyond Arctic tour?

I’m a big fan of the Reindeer Farm Visit -tour, mostly because I'm at my best when I'm with animals and tours that include both humans (kids and/or adults) and animals. I also like to do the Ranua Wildlife Park -tours and Photoshoots (especially at the nature location).

Favourite hobby?

Horses! I'll always have a spirit of a horse girl – although the precious old friend of mine passed away 1,5 years ago, after all of the 16 years we spent together. For now I'm curious to find out what's life without being daily responsible for taking care of my own horse. I guess it will take a while to figure out how to fill those 'big boots' left by a horse – and is it even possible, or should I just accept that there isn't any other thing to replace a horse than another horse.

Where are you from and what is your background in guiding and photography?

I’ve born and grown up in Tornio (Sea-Lapland, Finland), 120 km from Rovaniemi to south-west. The city of Tornio is over 400 years old what makes it the most oldest city in Finnish Lapland. It's located right at the border of Sweden where the cultural region of Torne Valley spreads out to both sides of the Tornio River including areas from both Finland and Sweden.

As a guide I'm just a beginner with only one full season behind me but as a photographer I'm a professional: having way much more experience in photography than in guiding. My own experience based opinion is that it's good to be a pro in another occupation so it's a lot easier to stay focused on learning and mastering the another one too. I'm also an entrepreneur running my own little photography company as a 'side business' beside my studies of audiovisual mediaculture (media science) at the University of Lapland.

What do you like about being a guide in Lapland?

Being both a guide and a photographer is interesting combination that allows me to operate at the field of profession as a photographer when simultaneously improving my guiding-, service- and language skills as working at the travel industry.

Finnish Lapland has always been my home. I find it fascinating to see how the traveling here is increasing and how it will be affecting the whole Lapland – and how to ensure that all of us are taking the responsibility of respecting and maintaining our environment. The nature of Lapland is so extreme yet so sensitive and pure. We need to keep it safe.