Have you ever visited a place where you think, “This can’t possibly be real?” That’s the feeling I get whenever we visit Eklutna Lake. This glacier-fed lake is massive, featuring 15mi of shoreline and some of the most beautiful views in the Greater Anchorage area. About a 45min drive from Anchorage and a 30min drive from Palmer & Wasilla, the road back is super winding, but well-worth every mile and bend and makes the perfect backdrop for this Eklutna Lake family photography session.

We usually stick to the farther back shoreline, closer to the trees, as it helps filter the strong sunlight from our long summer days. This also means that visitors can enjoy the lake without accidentally photobombing our pictures! With so many beautiful scenic locations in Alaska, often the most photogenic spots are shared with visitors and tourists so we’re careful to schedule on non-peak days and find those quiet corners for our family photo sessions.

For this one year milestone & family session, we planned for 7pm in late May, just as the sun was starting its descent into the golden hours. Sometimes mamas can be concerned about getting too close to bedtime, but 9.5/10 little ones take a nap on the drive out and wake up excited to play outside in the sunshine and fresh air! The shoreline is filled with the coolest driftwood to climb on, teepees made by past visitors (it’s a local tradition!), and so many rocks to find and collect. It’s the perfect place to make some fun memories together.

And if you want to see another session from the beautiful Eklutna Lake, check out Reed’s session.