Your Guide to Juneau Alaska Engagement Photos

Engagement photos in Juneau, Alaska are their own kind of magic with natural beauty around every turn. Maybe you’re local or maybe you're cruising to Alaska but either way, engagement photos in Juneau don't look like engagement photos anywhere else. There's rain that we don't apologize for, light that does its own thing depending on the season, mountains that show up in the background like they're trying to steal the shot, and a whole lotta green depending on the season. This guide covers when to book, what to wear so the weather works with you instead of against you, what an engagement session actually looks like, and how to pick a location (even without having been here). Let's get you ready!

when to take engagement photos

Everyone reads engagement photo guides and they all say the same thing: golden hour, golden hour, golden hour. Cute in theory but a lot less useful when you live somewhere the sun sets at 3pm in December or doesn't really set at all in June. The sun in Juneau doesn't do what it does in the lower 48. An 8pm session in July is not the same as an 8pm session in July anywhere else you've lived. And most times… sun? Never heard of her.

SUMMER (late June through August): long light, late evenings, more flexibility on timing, more visitors in the more iconic spots. There is nothing quite like an Alaska summer day.
SHOULDER SEASON (September through October, April through early June): my favorite of them all. Less people, brisk enough for a sweater and some cuddly photos. A moodier vibe overall with some fog and changing colors.
WINTER (November through late March): short window, but that window can be stunning. The sun might set early but it lights a fire in the sky when it does. If you’re local (or brave enough to travel here in the winter), it’s worth considering!

weather (oh, the weather)

Rain is not a dealbreaker here. It's not even really a plan B. I like to tell clients that I promise rain and hope for sun. Some of the moodiest, most romantic photos come out of a soft gray sky and a little mist in the trees. we'll talk about what to actually do with the rain, not around it!

what to wear

Styling your Juneau engagement session can be overwhelming. You probably have what you need to get started in your closet already. Basing your styling off a well loved piece is an awesome start. Give him that flannel he loves and those broken in jeans and then choose her outfit based on that - or vice versa!

A few Juneau-specific notes:

Footwear is important! Think about the kind of location you want and dress your feet appropriately. Heels on Juneau’s rocky shoreline or sandals on a muddy trail not only pose a safety risk but remember: your photos feel and look better when you’re comfortable.
Bring a backup layer always because rain is a thing! Weather can change pretty quickly here so layers are both practical and fashionable for engagement photos in Juneau. A great jacket adds texture to a photo the same way an accessory would anywhere else. Xtratuffs or rain boots scream Alaska and are practical!

After you book, you’ll receive a full in-depth styling guide that breaks down color theory, coordinating not matching and telling story through color.

what to actually expect

I offer 30 or 60 minute sessions. My 30 minute sessions are limited to 3 locations in the Valley (the area by the glacier!)
Weather contingency: my policy is generally to embrace the weather. If you’re local and dreaming of a sunset, I’m always happy to reschedule based on the forecast. If you’re cruising in, we make the best of it! Authentic southeast Alaska engagement photos will have a bit of a dreary drizzle.
Laughing. Let’s just be real: I have a strongly held belief that photo sessions should be fun, especially engagement sessions. My approach is always to make you laugh a little, interact with one another, be playful and maybe a little silly.

choosing a location

Juneau gives you more range in 20 minutes of driving than most cities give you in an hour. We have: old growth rainforest. channel/bay/river. mountains still holding snow in July and downtown with some real texture and history in it. The setting isn't really the decision here, the mood is! Ask yourself: do you want quiet/green/moody (forest!), big/dramatic (mountains!), light and wide open (bay/channel!), vast/loose (meadow!) or rugged/rustic (rivers!)

This is also the part I help with. You don't need to know exact locations for your Juneau engagement photos, you just need to know what feeling you're going for and I'll take it from there. Remember you can get multiple of these in one session too! Many of our meadows feature a mountain view. Our rivers run through our rainforests. And our shorelines feature wide open views of our mountains.

mini or full engagement session?

Mini sessions: 3 pre-chosen (by me!) locations. A few quick poses, a handful of prompts to grab your interactions and you’re back on your way to your cruise ship excursion. Great if you have something else planned that day or just want the basic photos for save-the-dates!
Full session: the whole thang. We customize location based on your vision. We can venture to multiple spots at that location (ex. walk along the trail to get multiple options).

It’s really up to you and your time frame! I don’t limit photo based on session length so you’ll always get the best of what I take.

headed to juneau on a cruise?

If you're coming through on a ship and want engagement photos while you're here, that's genuinely doable! It just takes a bit of planning. Juneau can be tricky to navigate if you’ve never been here but don’t worry: I offer transportation for a small fee to/from photo locations and cruise ship ports. I can also help you navigate our city bus system ($2! Can’t beat it!) and locations that are accessible off the bus routes.

If you have excursions planned during your port call in Juneau, I recommend a mini session close to one of your excursions. If photos are your only plan, add on that transportation fee and let’s go explore. I can drop you wherever you need to be without the pressure of schedules or waiting on an Uber.