5 Stunning Portrait Photography Locations in Anchorage, Alaska
Mountains, forest, or ocean? in Alaska, sometimes you can have it all! If you’re looking for a beautiful location for photos in Alaska near Anchorage, take it from a local Alaska photographer - you can’t go wrong.
Read on for some suggestions!
welcome
to my favorite place in the world, my home state, the beautiful wilderness of Alaska. there are SO many beautiful places in Alaska, you don’t have to go far to find a beautiful photo spot (I mean, you can literally see the mountains from the target parking lot). as a seasoned alaska photographer, I wanted to share a quick round up of some of my go to places for photography sessions in the (general) Anchorage area and why I love them!
Quick Tips for Picking a Portrait Location
I’m a big fan of hiking out for adventures and unique vistas, but I chose these spots because they’re easily accessible and cover all the versions of nature and views you can experience Alaska! basically, they’re perfect backdrops for photo sessions.
obviously, picking the best location for your session depends on a few factors - accessibility, the light and season change every location! so this is just a brief overview (:
1 Glen Alps / Flattop Trailhead
there’s a reason this spot is one of my go to locations - there’s so much variety within a short walk from the parking lot. Glen Alps area has some of my favorite lil dramatic pine trees, mountains in one direction and a view of the Cook Inlet on a clear day in the other direction. you can also hike up the trail if you want more of a view, or a different perspective on the mountains!
insider scoop: this location can get pretty windy, so keep that in mind! it’s not my first choice for sessions with little kids if the weather is iffy, especially since it tends to snow earlier in the year + stay snowy later than other locations because of the elevation. but I LOVE it for couple’s sessions, bridal portraits, or even branding depending on the business.
2 eklutna lake
this spot is special to me personally because we grew up coming to the campground in the area - BUT I don’t think I have to explain why it’s an awesome photo session location! the mountain towering over the lake is straight out of a postcard vibe. early in the summer, there’s a rocky beach and as the season goes on, tall green grasses take over as the water rises.
insider scoop: when the water rises later in the season, there’s a trail over a bridge to the left of day parking so you can get similar views and get closer to the water! also, depending on your cell phone company, you might not have service out at this location but it’s a straight shot to the parking lot and back to coverage, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
3 beluga point
on the side of the Seward highway, this unique spot has stunning views of the mountains over the ocean. it’s absolutely magical during Alaska golden hour (which is more elusive than you’d think, but worth it) and the rocky outcroppings are some of my favorite backdrops for photos. you get nature, drama, a minimal but adventurous coastal vibe.
insider scoop: depending on the tide, if you want to get adventurous you can climb up or out a little farther to get closer to the water! this spot can also get a little windy because of the location - you can either hide in the trees to the right for some coverage or head to the next location as a backup 😉
4 mchugh creek
backtrack a little bit to the OTHER side of the Seward highway and you get McHugh creek! there are three different parking lots, so it’s a bit of a choose your adventure location. the top parking lot is closest to a path in the trees that leads you to a full birds eye view of the Seward highway and mountains across the way! very epic. the second parking lot leads you to a little stream, a sheltered area nestled in the trees, and a beautiful bridge crossing said stream if you hike back a few minutes. the lowest parking lot has a cute little waterfall that leads into a little pond! you can hike down there right past the sidewalk. it’s a treasure trove!
insider scoop: I would definitely recommend having bear spray on you and making plenty of noise if you decide to hike back into the trails at all! my husband and I actually got our engagement photos taken here and ran into a bear and quickly found another spot, haha. 🐻
5 hatcher pass
okay, so this spot is an hour or so from anchorage but I had to include it because it is WORTH IT. Hatcher Pass is like, a completely different version of Alaska. you get the mountains and green rolling hills. there are plenty of smaller hikes to alpine lakes or ridge lines where you feel like you’re on top of the world, but also a few spots that are a few steps from parking areas. grab hot chocolate or something from the lodge after your session!
insider scoop: for starters, you will most likely not have service out in the Pass. if you are going to go up the summit lake road, it doesn’t open because of snow till late June/early July, the same with the Independence Mine road. also, you are NOT allowed to do photo sessions at/around the Lodge unless you are staying in one of them. so just appreciate the cute cabins in the distance haha!
having a hard time choosing?
truthfully, this is just to get you inspired - I talk with all my clients to figure out what they want from their session and then suggest locations based off of their desires to get the photos of their dreams!
I also have more locations in the vault that I suggest to my clients (I couldn’t give you all my secrets!!) so chances are, even if these don’t quite hit the spot, I bet you know somewhere that will.
let’s go!!
Ready to start planning, or just brainstorm a little? fill out the form at the link below, select “PORTRAIT” from the drop down menu and you’ll immediately have access to my portrait calendar! currently booking for July + August + September 2025.
Also - feel free to DM me on instagram if you’re just dreaming and want to get inspired!!
