Ville Juurikkala

Ville Akseli Juurikkala (born 6 March 1980) is a Finnish photographer, music video director, public speaker and author. He is best known as a "rock photographer", having had a long working relationship with bands such as HIM, Nightwish and Apocalyptica. Other notable figures Juurikkala has worked with include Mika Häkkinen, Andrea Bocelli and Ban Ki-moon. He has also illustrated several books.

During his career, Ville Juurikkala has been awarded several times. He is also the first Finnish photographer to have his work featured at the prestigious Morrison Hotel Gallery.

Early life Ville Akseli Juurikkala was born 6 March 1980 in Lohja, Finland. His mother is film director Kaija Juurikkala, while his father Matti Tukiainen worked for the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions. Juurikkala also has a younger brother Oskari Juurikkala, who is a priest and a member of the Opus Dei movement.

After his parents' divorce, Juurikkala moved to Vantaa with his mother and brother. At age ten, Juurikkala took up keyboards, but switched to guitar six months later having been inspired by Guns N' Roses and Metallica. As a teenager, Juurikkala played in several different bands. Juurikkala was interested in a career in film, but was encouraged to first familiarize himself with photography. At age sixteen, Juurikkala took up photography and began to like it more than film.

After gymnasium, Juurikkala applied to the University of Art and Design Helsinki, but was rejected. Through City, he got his first chance to illustrate a book, when Helsinki restaurant Papà Giovanni needed a photographer for their cook book.

Juurikkala shot his first album cover for Darude's second record Rush. He also won the Kultajyvä–prize and was awarded at the Vuoden huiput ceremony the same year.

In 2008, Good Charlotte's lead singer Joel Madden asked Juurikkala to join the band on tour as their photographer. The collaboration soon led to Juurikkala moving to Los Angeles, where he worked with Kat Von D and Chester Bennington among others.

In 2015, Juurikkala's work was on display at the It's Only Rock'n Roll exhibition, which was held at the Tiketti Galleria in Helsinki. Some of the pieces were later included in the Sinä & Minä portrait exhibition at the Vantaa Art Museum Artsi. In 2017, the Helsinki Art Museum held an exhibition titled HIM: Right Here In My Eyes, which featured Juurikkala's newly shot photographs of HIM preparing for their farewell tour.

Juurikkala has also worked as a still photographer on films, such as Keisarikunta, Ganes and Imaginaerum. He also works as portrait and nature photographer. In 2019, Juurikka illustrated the book Metsässä – Uppoudu metsään, itseesi ja elämään by Jarko Taivasmaa. Juurikkala's work with The 69 Eyes was also on display at Finland's Motorcycle Museum in September.

Juurikkala's autobiography Irti – Hollywoodista Santiagon tielle was released on 18 April 2024.

Directing Juurikkala directed his first music video in 2007 for the song "Black Ice" by Hanna Pakarinen.

In 2011, Juurikkala and Jan-Olof Svarvar directed the documentary Lakeuksilta Hollywoodiin, which is based on musician and producer Jimmy Westerlund.

Style and influences Among Ville Juuriikkala's biggest influences are Bob Gruen and Anton Corbijn. His visual style has its roots in cross processing, a popular technique during the 1990s.

Personal life

From 2008 to 2011, Juurikkala lived in Los Angeles.

In August 2006, an inebriated Juurikkala married a Las Vegas stripper. The marriage was later dissolved. They have three children together: Valtteri, Lilja and Maija. In 2019, they moved to Lahti, and from there to Porvoo. Ville and Noora Juurikkala separated in late 2019.