The Ultimate Guide to Family Photos in Juneau Alaska

Portrait

Mar 11

little boy runs at brotherhood bridge trail juneau

little boy skips rocks at mendenhall lake in juneau

mom and son blow a dandelion at eagle beach campground in juneau

real talk on what to expect + how to show up at your family session

If you're planning family photos in Juneau, Alaska, you're in the right place. This guide covers everything you need to know from what to wear and where to shoot, to what the light actually looks like here and why it works in your favor. I'll be updating it as things change and new spots make the list, so bookmark it and come back. Let's get into it!

Location, Location, Location

Juneau has no shortage of beautiful backdrops for family sessions. Mountains, water, open fields, rainforest - they all surround Juneau. When you book family photos, your questionnaire will ask about: what look and feel you’re after, your kiddos’ ages and general session vibe preferences. From there, I make my tailored location recommendations based on your vision and where I think we can achieve that.

Some favorite Juneau photo locations are:
- Brotherhood Bridge: a favorite for late summer when the fireweed is in full bloom because that pink against the mountains is hard to beat.
- Sandy Beach: close to Juneau cruise ports and less traveled with epic mountain views.
- Skaters Cabin: an incredible combination of land, sea, and sky (iykyk) all in one frame.
- Eagle Beach campground: something totally different - a vast, open field with mountains stretching out behind you.

Choosing a location in Juneau for family photos isn’t necessary to book! You can lock in a date and we can figure out the where later. In your welcome email, you’ll get a location guide with detailed descriptions that can help you decide.

Also… I always have a handful of special spots I keep in my back pocket for the right session, especially if you’re up for an adventure in Juneau or something a little different.

Styling Your Session (or not)

There's no dress code for your family photos in Juneau. I'll send you a style guide with loose suggestions if you want them: layers, comfort, colors that don't fight each other... but I'm not going to ask you to coordinate outfits down to the shoes. The goal is for your photos to look like you, not like a catalog shoot. Wear what you actually feel good in. Bring a jacket you love. Let the kids wear their favorite thing. Go for colors you already have in your closet. Authentic always reads better than coordinated-but-uncomfortable. My sessions are built around movement, connection, and real interaction and it's hard to do any of that if you're tugging at your waistband or worrying about your shoes.

With that said, there are some practical, highly recommended items you should have on hand for your family photos in Juneau: a rain layer, a warmth layer and practical shoes for everyone. Even if no one wears needs the layers (yay for cooperating weather!), Alaska is too unpredictable to trek somewhere without them!

My Approach to Family Photos in Juneau

My approach to family photos in Juneau Alaska is pretty simple. I'm not interested in stiff poses, forcing smiles or trying to get your kids to sit still. That's not how it really happened, ya know? I would rather follow your family's lead and let the kids run, let the adults actually talk to each other, and make photographs of what's already there. I love to put you into good light or a great backdrop, give you something to DO and let you guys take it from there. There is no way to do it wrong - and yes, I will always take a looking and smiling photo first and then let the magic happen! Centering your session around an activity helps build a creative base for interaction. Think: an hour playing on the beach collecting shells, an hour walking your favorite nature trail looking for wildlife, an hour at home painting or even folding laundry. The ordinary really is extraordinary. As a mom, I never ever take uninterrupted family for granted so my goal at a family, maternity or engagement session is always to give that time to you. Turns out, if you let yourself be fully present, the absolute best pictures come out of it. If you want more detail on how I actually work with families, reach out and let's chat! Inquire here with questions.

Seasons

Choosing the when of family photos in Juneau is pretty straightforward given the seasonality of Southeast Alaska. If you have flexibility in choosing a season for your family photos, you can weigh the benefits of shoulder season (late April through May, and September), glorious, glorious Alaska summer (June through August), brisk fall (October through November) or a true stick season/winter wonderland (December through early April). Most families choose summer or shoulder season for obvious reasons: warmth + weather.

Shoulder season tends to bring clearer skies and more cooperative conditions
Summer runs warmer and is great for those long summer nights
Fall allows for true sweater weather, golden tones and the shift to cozy season
Winter is quieter, no crowds and gorgeous if you want to brave the snow

Timing (Golden Hour?!)

Once you've nailed down the season/date, it's time to talk timing. Most photographers in the lower 48 talk about scheduling your session for golden hour; however, Juneau doesn't really do golden hour like other places. What do I mean by that?

→ In the winter, Juneau averages 6-7 hours of daylight. In the summer, Juneau averages 18 hours of daylight. This puts golden hour either very early or very late in these seasons. I’m happy to take your family photos in Juneau late into the summer night but that isn’t always ideal for little ones or schedules!

→ The one thing you can count on in coastal Alaskan towns? Clouds. The light from overcast days is soft, diffused and incredibly flattering unlike the harsh overhead light of more southern localities. Because of this, timing is less urgent. I can photograph all day in cloudy weather and bonus: no one is squinting.

→ Summer is very popular for visitors arriving on cruise ships. Because of this, sometimes it's good to consider crowds. Additionally, if you ARE a cruise ship passenger, you have to work with your time in port! (No big deal though -- see the thing about clouds above 😉)

So all of that to say: timing and golden hour isn't as big of a consideration as it is in other locations. Scheduling a time for your Juneau Alaska family photos is actually pretty flexible. I always recommend morning for a bit of fun rising light and less crowds!