Chugach Peaks Photography

ated flawlessly via email. Joe had great expertise and made sure we got the absolute most out of our day even though we wanted to do so much. He seamlessly organized a once-in-a-lifetime experience that included multiple glacier stops via helicopter where we went to deep blue pools, cliff edges, and climbed up boulders. We had an absolute blast, had zero safety concerns, and even got to see baby goats! We also had a traditional wedding ceremony at a separate venue, and the transition between these two very different parts of the day was effortless. All on the same day if you’d believe it, and not one part felt rushed. Our reception was a blast and they captured most amazing candid shots where you can feel the energy and happiness. They simultaneously caught the big picture and the little details. The result? A perfectly orchestrated, epic day and a gallery of stunning images. P.s. Zero hate to Taylor Swift, but I got all my photos the same week she got engaged and I think my photos are way cooler. Just sayin’.

red every moment so beautifully from the scenery, the emotion, and the joy of our day. The photos are stunning and feel so us. If you’re eloping in Alaska, don’t think twice—Joe and Chugach Peaks are the way to go. We’ll cherish these memories forever.

ake your day special. He tailored our adventurous day to be exactly what we wanted. He’s knowledgeable, professional and beyond talented. Not only will he take amazing photos, he will help you plan your getaway so you know where to eat, stay and explore. I truly can’t recommend him enough!

about a week out and the weather was looking pretty dreary with extreme winds. We were both feeling pretty nervous about how the day might turn out, but Joe was committed to finding a place that would work for us- beautiful mountain views , but sheltered from extreme weather. He ended up picking this tranquil spot, with views and just a pocket of no wind. We also got to go to 2 other gorgeous locations. He was easy to talk to & gave us great recommendations in the area. Onto the photos..incredible. He captured our relationship and marriage perfectly- there’s no words to describe how happy we are with how everything turned out. His turnaround time for us was rather quick as well, about a month after (a note- we married early in wedding season) but we are so stoked with how everything turned out. If you want someone who knows all the spots in the area, cares, and is incredibly talented with a camera, go here!!

y, and we were on the phone with him the next morning, even though he was on vacation! Joe answered all our questions and, considering what you're getting, the pricing is extremely reasonable! We were traveling from Indiana and a bit nervous about a destination wedding but Chugach Peaks had tons of information at the ready for us- a guide answering every question you can think of about helicopter weddings, lists of restaurants, recommended vendors, and even things to do around the surrounding area! We chose Joe as our photographer along with the 7hr package. He was very quick with responses and was very communicative in the days leading up to the wedding. It's clear he's very experienced and nothing phases him, which helped put us as ease. The day of couldn't have been better! Instructions were clear on where to be and when. Joe was not only our photographer that day, he was our expert tour guide, location spotter, and of course, our wedding witness! He knows the surrounding areas so well and was able to fulfill a last minute request to find an ice cave, which was an absolute dream of mine that I didn't think was possible in September! I'd really recommend the 7hr package or even the all-day package. The day was jam packed and we didn't want it to end! The pricing was accurate to Chugach Peak's website and there were no surprises. After the big day, Joe sent us a message that he'd posted an Instagram story of the wedding- this was perfect to send to family members while we waited for photos and made for another memorable keepsake for us. The final photographs were delivered in 5 weeks- much quicker than the 8-10wks promised, even though we were at the end of the busy season! The photos themselves are amazing, beyond professional, and a perfect mix of candid, posed, close-up, and landscape shots. The prints from Chugach Peak's printshop are beautiful as well. Lastly, Joe has stayed in communication with us and continues to answer questions- most recently going out of his way to help me put together a special Christmas gift for my husband!

ldn't be more thrilled with the entire experience. From the very first moment we reached out to Joe at the start of our wedding planning, through to the day of our wedding, every aspect of working with him was seamless, professional, and truly exceptional. Reaching out to Joe early on in our planning process was one of the best decisions we made. His wealth of knowledge and thoughtful recommendations—whether it was suggesting vendors or providing details for our helicopter package—made a world of difference. Joe and his team were always organized, prompt, and incredibly helpful in their communication, both before and after the wedding, which took so much stress off our plates. On the day of our wedding, Joe went above and beyond to make the entire experience unforgettable. He guided our helicopter pilots to breathtakingly beautiful locations on both the glacier and the mountaintop and even coordinated the positioning of the helicopters to ensure they were perfectly framed in the shots. His skill at directing us and making us feel comfortable allowed us to capture some of the most stunning and intimate moments of our day. After our helicopter adventure, Joe continued to surprise us by taking us to more incredible spots around Juneau—beaches, forests, fields—to ensure we had a diverse range of amazing photos. Joe didn’t just make our day unforgettable; he made it genuinely fun. His adventurous spirit and easygoing nature made the day feel relaxed and exciting. My husband and I loved chatting with him throughout the day, and he made the whole experience feel personal and special. As if that wasn’t enough, Joe created an unexpected Instagram video for us on his flight back to Anchorage that same evening! It was such a thoughtful surprise, allowing us to share a glimpse of our day with friends and family while we eagerly waited for our full photo gallery. And speaking of photos, Joe delivered them much faster than we anticipated, since our wedding was earlier in the season. The quality and beauty of his work left us completely blown away. Joe is more than just a photographer—he's a true professional and a master of his craft. It's no wonder he's such a highly regarded wedding photographer. If you're looking for someone who genuinely cares about making your day extraordinary and preserving those memories for a lifetime, look no further. Hire Joe—you won’t regret it!

nal, attentive, and genuinely cared about capturing the essence of our special day. The photos are simply stunning—full of emotion, beautifully composed, and perfectly capturing the breathtaking Alaskan landscape. The entire experience was seamless, and their team made us feel comfortable and at ease throughout the day. If you’re looking for a photographer who will go above and beyond to make your wedding memories last a lifetime, we highly recommend Chugach Peaks Photography. We are truly grateful for their incredible service!

g photographer. 10/10. Highly recommend

s on our walls to cherish every day. Now, for our upcoming wedding anniversary after moving back to Alaska, I worked with Joe to create new wedding albums as a gift for my wife. He had all our photos saved after all these years, re-uploaded them for review, graciously helped select when I couldn't decide, and even re-edited and touched-up with modern color science. Truly above and beyond. The albums are spectacular! Working with Joe and his team represent, in my opinion, the absolute best wedding investment we ever made, and we will continue to cherish these memories he helped capture forever.

n a thousand words. Joe is friendly, full of knowledge and incredibly talented. We are grateful for every moment of our experience. He completely matched what we wanted, a calm but beautiful day full of Alaska scenery. Thank you, Joe for helping make our dreams come true. We can't stop looking at our photos to relive our special day!

he area and can recommend an experience that’s sure to make all your friends and family jealous! He’s kind, respectable, and easily puts you at ease. We partnered with Joe to book an AK helicopter wedding tour and he took care of ALL the details. Coming from OOT, I felt very comfortable and at ease that all was organized and in place for our big day. We were a couple with a last min weather reschedule and, my friends, it was so freaking easy so don’t be scared of the risk there. We got the news in the AM, and within 10 min Joe had us all organized and rescheduled for a few days later. Joe stuck around that rainy day to take photos of a small ceremony on a misty lakeside dock in Wasilla. Then, another talented photographer, Nick, took us on a helicopter tour of a LIFETIME just a few days later. Sunshine all day, no wind, and just the most AMAZING sites I’ve ever seen in my life!! It was seriously no biggie for a reschedule and I’m so unbelievably happy to have had BOTH UNIQUE experiences! Look no further, this is your photographer. You won’t be disappointed. Hope to see you again soon, peace out, Joe for president ✌️

uld not have planned it alone. Joe helped curate the experience from day one, and he went the extra mile in so many ways. He helped us book the helicopter company (shoutout to Outbound Heli Adventures), included a list of vendors, and even provided a list of things to do in the area. He made sure we were prepared for the weather as well. He is an incredible artist who is experienced with navigating the terrain, and he ensured our utmost safety throughout the day. His portfolio speaks for itself, and we are so blessed to be a part of it. If I could give 10 stars, I would.

grapher myself, wedding photos ranked priority 1 for me. The majority of our budget went here. As I would tell past clients when I was shooting weddings - it’s the only tangible thing you have after the day has past. I came across Chugach Peaks on wedding wire.com and after looking at the portfolios of all the shooters, we decided on Joe Connolly. His images were beautiful spontaneous moments that really captured the emotion of the day. Joe’s style of shooting was amazing - he captured moments - many without me even realizing he was there, and even the posed portraits were relaxed and spontaneous. We braved the winter temperatures and held our ceremony outside - (I highly recommend The Inn at Tern Lake) and I’m extremely pleased that we did so! Our wedding was a magical winter wonderland! My husband and I were so thrilled with the images that Joe was able to create for us, that we are also doing a helicopter wedding photo shoot this summer! I simply cannot wait as I know those images will be breathtaking!! Joe’s easy going demeanor made us immediately comfortable and he was very responsive to every text and email I sent. For someone who appreciates good photographs and is critical of quality, Joe Connolly of Chugach Peaks Photography does not disappoint! Thank you so much for giving us cherished memories of our wedding day!

inquiry phase, Joe was very patient in helping me and my significant other navigate our helicopter wedding planning at Knik Glacier. We really wanted to capture the fall colors since it is our favorite season and Joe took the time to not only explain the timeline for that but also spent over an hour chatting about various topics pertaining to the intricacies of having an adventure wedding. After chatting a few times, we decided to proceed with the booking and do not regret it at all! Our timeline was tight, about 6 weeks, and we spoke multiple times on the phone, texted and emailed. Joe not only is an amazing photographer but is also a great business owner who prides himself in quick responses, transparency and attention to detail. We booked Joe to take photos at the AirBnb for a first look, gift exchange, getting ready photos and for the helicopter wedding for 6 hours total. Joe recommended the 5 landings that we explored and each location was so amazing. He taught us about the geography of Chugach State Park, told us many fun stories, and helped us with posing which made us feel very comfortable and welcome. We just received 999 edited photos less than one month after our wedding which is an amazing turnaround timeline (we were expecting them back in 10-12 weeks). This will vary depending on wedding schedules but we were very pleased with the quick turnaround. The final photos are AMAZING and we are very happy with the final product! I would highly recommend Chugach Peaks Photography to capture your special day. Also, we ended up choosing Joe but all of the images from the team of photographers are amazing 😊 If you are doing a heli wedding, do not forget to tip and offer to buy the photographer and pilot a lunch! They really appreciated the kind gesture and went above and beyond with everything. It truly was a day to remember!

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efore the ceremony. During the reception he interacted with guests and captured photos of almost everyone. At the end of the night, he took some incredible photos of us in the rain. We couldn’t be happier with Joe. His photos are absolutely beautiful, and he’s an amazing photographer. Highly recommend!

we live in Maine. But joe supplied us with other vendors to help us out , local suggestions, just everything you could imagine! But the pictures and day of is what really mattered ! We had a blast!!! These pictures will keep our special day alive!

modating in getting our shoot in while we were visiting AK for a short period over the summer. We even got to do two locations, making all of my AK engagement photoshoot dreams come to life. At ease getting to know my photographer, Monica, ahead of time, knowing the photos will come out great for the wedding.

l in advance of the ceremony. He is super responsive, personable, and excellent at what he does!! Our wedding day would not have been the same without him, and we are so grateful! We cannot imagine having our day any other way with the absolute amazing recommendations on where to have our ceremony, take pictures, and even where to dine later in the week! I highly recommend Chugach Peaks to anyone looking for someone to help make their own day both seamless and very special.

hen we were booking with him, he always answered/responded immediately and provided detail about the wedding day and things to do in Alaska in general. He took his time and genuinely wanted us to experience the best of Alaska. We got married on the glacier, flew to the mountains and then the ice wall. He gave us background on the glacier by explaining the history and made it also feel like it was a tour. He captured every moment beautifully and gave us advice on how to pose. He was truly an amazing person to work with and I trust him with anyone’s wedding day.

s incredibly funny, personable, and kind. He made my husband and I comfortable and made the whole experience fun. Joe is incredibly knowledgeable about the area, he knows all the best spots! Our helicopter pilot Savannah was incredibly kind and helpful! She helped me with my dress, carrying my bouquet, and ensuring I walked safely across the glaciers.

he photographed our engagement and wedding day! She was so much fun to work with and our pictures turned out amazing! She captured all of the special moments and delivered SO many beautiful pictures! Chugach Peaks Photography was a pleasure to work with! I highly recommend using them for all of your photography needs!

we were about the weather. The wind and rain just made it that much more special in our eyes. Thank you for capturing all of the beautiful raw emotions of not only Cole and I, but our friends and family. We are in love with all of these photos! We are so thankful we'll be able to relive that day through these photos forever. Lets talk about that turn around, less than 4 weeks, I am stunned. I was fully anticipating 8 weeks minimum after that crazy summer. I was in disbelief when I got your email last night. You've gone above and beyond. We're going to look at the album options and turn in the questionnaire. We will definitely be booking with you again if we need any photography and recommending you highly to people we know. Thank you again for a spectacular experience and service. Sincerely, Sydney Kenney

our photographer, but actually helping plan out the whole day including transportation (helicopter), lodging, and even dining logistics. He even recommended some vendors for your typical wedding day needs (like flowers). Joe (and his team) made the entire process seamless. I can’t express how important this was to a stress free elopement. He’s not a wedding planner, but I’m confident that with just a few exchanges with him, you’ll have everything you need for a perfect wedding day if you’re not interested in getting into the nitty gritty of your wedding day details. As far as the quality of his company’s work, the photos speak for themselves. They’re going to come out spectacular. We were thrilled with the quality, quantity, and variety of photos. Joe is also an officiant (no need to take up an extra seat) and a commercially trained pilot. This made us feel a bit more safe knowing that between him and the pilot, there are two people onboard who can fly the aircraft. We also hired a videographer, and they worked really well together (like a team, not stepping on each other’s toes). We didn’t have our family around (we eloped), so it was nice that Joe was pleasant to hang out with for the day, as well!

nicest person you could have involved in your wedding. We had to change plans a few different times because of the pandemic, and he worked with us through it all, finding a time finally in 2021 that would work out. Beyond that, he even gave us a lot of tips of things to do and see while in Alaska and even tips about moving there since we fell in love with the state! Wouldn't do photography with anyone else!

ly seduced by the photos on Joe Connolly’s website and Instagram account, where his extraordinary talent as a photographer is on display. We called to inquire and, after just one telephone conversation with Joe, we booked a trip from New York to Anchorage for an impromptu wedding in the wilderness. What we couldn’t have anticipated from his photos alone is how incredibly warm, helpful and fun Joe would be during the days and weeks leading up to our trip. He had regular check-ins with us to make sure we’d done routine things like request a marriage license from Alaskan authorities, while also sitting on the phone with us to browse endless pictures and discuss our vision for the wedding. (Joe is a pilot, and even went flying the week before our arrival to scope out potential locations for our wedding photos, sending us iPhone pictures from the air.) We called and emailed regularly as our big day approached and Joe was never too busy to take our calls and answer our questions, big or small. Having never been to Alaska, we also relied on Joe to help us round out the rest of our vacation, and his recommendations for food, entertainment, activities and accommodations did not disappoint. On the day of the wedding, Joe went above and beyond to make everything as easy and comfortable as possible. Not only was he super attentive to all of our needs throughout the day, but, in addition to selecting the destinations we would visit—all of which were spectacular, off the grid, and expertly scouted by Joe, personally—he also served as our wedding officiant and read beautiful words during a private, mountainside ceremony that made us forget all about the plans we’d left behind on the East Coast. If you are considering eloping to Alaska or are simply seeking adventure, please consider giving Joe a call to see what he can offer. After our experience in Alaska, we certainly can’t imagine getting married any other way.

olved any concerns we had. On the big day, Joe's pre-trip preparation and knowledge of the ideal wedding photo spots in the Chugach Peaks along with his decisiveness maximized the time we spent collecting memories and photos at multiple locations. His relaxed manner kept the bride and I at ease and made for a relaxing day - we can see it in our photos. He also officiated our unforgettable ceremony on the glacier! Joe and his team worked diligently to process and deliver the photos in a timely manner. They are incredible and capture the emotions and scenery of the day. Joe deserves the five star rating and we recommend without fault his photography services for whatever event you may have.

area. We provided him with a brief description of the kind of scenery we wanted in our photos and he knew exactly where to go. I wish we would have done the helicopter option, but, even without it, very happy with the results :)!!

r. The pictures were beyond stunning, I was obsessed! How could those be real? So I started reading reviews. "Joe" kept being mentioned, so I knew I had to have this Joe guy as my photographer. I had no clue what I was doing, but I would figure everything else out later. Once I contacted Joe and talked with him, he jumped right in and gave me guidance on everything with the wedding day and with visiting Alaska in general. This is an all around guy. He is very easy to talk to and answer questions. We were able to book their Airbnb, Hemlock House, so the sleeping arrangements during our stay were covered. Check! I was getting married on a glacier, but how do you get on one? Joe was able to book the helicopter to get us there. Check! Who was going to marry us? Joe had that figured out and the witnesses. Check! The stress of the trip was just gone talking to him. Fast forward to our wedding day. The weather had not been so nice the days before, but he assured us we would get fabulous pictures. The day came and there was no rush in the morning. We booked the 7 hour package, and I would have been disappointed if we had done any less, wish it would have been longer! He gave us a great location to do our "first look" shots, then off we went to another location. He was constantly taking pictures, so he got the good and the funny. He was always aware of the surroundings and knew where to go or what angle to use. He gave us guidance if we were feeling silly from smiling so much haha! The helicopter company Joe booked us with was phenomenal and he picked out the perfect spot to get married by a glacier pool, which is what I wanted most. It was a bit of a trek to get there, but worth every second. I wanted to spend the entire time there but Joe assured me there was more beautiful Alaska to see so off we went! Each stop was different and we couldn't believe we were actually getting photographed where we were. Joe really knows the places to get the best spots. He was so much fun, talkative, and helpful. We loved our experience with him. He was taking pictures right up until the last possible moment. Once we got our pictures back I have been blurry eyed and so indecisive on which ones to order, I can't stop looking at them!! Remember the glacier, our 1st stop, I didn't want to leave and Joe saying let's go? I'm ashamed to admit to myself that our 3rd stop is my utmost all-time favorite pictures to look at. The color differences are just breathtaking. I'm so glad he told me there's more to see! I'm telling you, this guy knows his locations. Hands down, go with this company. It is worth everything and then some to have one of the most important days of your life be captured in a single shot, or multiple in a row... haha. And if you're still wondering if those pictures are real? Take it from me, I can now say from first hand experience, they are. Uriah and Ann Julin

they were very accommodating of that change, which helped my stress level a lot! Monica was willing to take pictures outside on a 6 degree day, and did a wonderful job of capturing our day. We got great pictures, and during the ceremony and reception we barely even noticed that she was there capturing the moments. Thank you

t off on the wrong foot within an hour of meeting him, after he said we were ‘making it awkward’ by kissing too much. This felt odd to us, as this was our wedding day. We also did not feel like Joe gave us adequate posing guidance. We are not models and, based on past experience with professional photographers, we anticipated that Joe would be able to give us directions. At a few points, I asked Joe for specific guidance on how to position ourselves to get a better picture and he would just shrug and impatiently say “I don’t know.” At one point, he told my husband ‘you don’t know how to pose your body,’ and then said he was putting my husband in “time out,” sending him to stand off to the side while he continued taking solo pictures of myself. Joe made this ‘time out’ announcement while taking a video to share on his public Instagram page. This sort of criticism, especially shared on a public forum, made us feel even less at ease. Another issue was that we felt Joe did not take our picture requests into consideration. We took a helicopter to Knik Glacier in order to take a dip in a glacial pool. Joe had mentioned that his goal was to get some sexy, steamy shots to submit to an online site, however, we were not interested in sexy, steamy photos. We said we wanted fun, goofy photos of us, but Joe seemed more focused on his vision. This was frustrating for us, as what we wanted felt unheard and unimportant. Once we had stripped down into our underwear, Joe told my husband to put his pants back on because his (plain black) underwear were “lame.” At several points throughout both days we shot with him, Joe chose to multitask by taking our photos while also taking videos for his Instagram at the same time. We felt it was unprofessional that Joe juggled the time we paid for with posting on his social media page. Joe’s lack of focused attention also resulted in several photos that are awkwardly framed and feature unsightly details. We do not have any shots facing directly down the center of the aisle, as Joe was standing slightly off to the side as he took photos throughout the ceremony and afterwards for our portraits and group photos. In our group photos, Joe neglected to tell us we were not centered under our arch. On the glacier, Joe left my veil in a messy bunch by my feet rather than asking us to take the time to fan it out. These are details we feel are par for the course for any wedding photographer, but seemed to either go unnoticed or were purposely overlooked by Joe. Lastly, our package included a $250 print credit for photos. During the two week period between receiving our photos and receiving the print credit code, we used an online service to have several photos printed at a very low cost. When we received the prints from Joe, we were surprised to see that they were indistinguishable from the prints we received from the online service - same photo quality, same photo paper, even shipped in the exact same packaging - despite the fact that Joe charged over 12 times as much as the online service. Also, the online service delivered our photos within three days of ordering them, whereas Joe’s photos took 7-10 business days to be delivered.

ely the way to go and Joe knows all the great spots! I have to confess I keep watching his stories because everything is so beautiful and I get to relive that magical day. He is a wonderful photographer.

photographer, we stumbled upon Chugach Peak's photos and were blown away by their work. My husband and I knew we had to make this a priority in our wedding budget. Joe, the owner, made it simple for us to choose the photographer we felt best aligned with our vision. Our photographer was so natural! We didn't even notice she was there and she captured amazing candid moments. Everybody constantly asks us for their contact info. Our pictures were out of this world. Way to capture the beauty of Alaska and us! Forever grateful.

t when it comes to ordering prints before the deadline, photos, and non stop questions. Life happens and my husband and I didn't order prints right away and were about to miss our deadline and Joe extended our photos countless times. Joe responds immediately when I am panicking about wedding photos and needing assistance on his site or concerns. The day of my wedding, Joe and his staff were completely professional, calm, and improvised on a location due to the rain. I was nervous how the pictures would turn out with the rain but they came out BEAUTIFUL! Don't ever stress if it starts to rain at your wedding because Chugach Peaks Photography will do an amazing job capturing your photos. My husband and I both agree the rain really added to our pictures. Who would of thought? I HIGHLY recommend Joe Connolly and everyone at Chugach Peaks Photography as they're one of the bests photographers in Alaska. Also, comparing to other photographers in town, you get the best quality without putting a damper in your wallet. Chugach Peaks was one of the best deals we had for our wedding. I look forward to working with Joe and Chugach Peaks Photography in the future! Natalie Wolgemuth Kenai Wedding 2018

out even more beautiful. Our wedding was in winter and she did a great job getting all different kinds of beautiful backgrounds and pulled us aside for a few more photos when the light outside was just right. She is very nice, flexible, and easy to work with as well. Joe was great with communication too.

big day. So reading reviews were really important to us to help narrow our list. We were initially drawn to Chugach Peaks Photography because they had great reviews, their website showcased many different types of weddings, and we liked the images we saw - bright, fun, candid, and beautiful! But what really made Chugach Peaks stand out from the rest was the effort they made to get to know us despite being afar. Joe spoke with me, the bride, first then made sure we regrouped with my husband at a later time. AND to top it off, we did get to meet face to face when he and his wife were visiting the Bay Area! They invited us to their vacation rental where they hosted us so we could get to know each other and become acquainted. During this time we shared our vision, budget, and timeline while Joe shared his experiences and advice as a result of all his experience. One example: Justin and I did not want to have a first look, we really wanted to save that moment for the ceremony. But Joe convinced us that this would be our time, just the two of us (well three, with Joe lol) to cherish and be calm before the storm. And he was right - the rest of the day and night went by in a blink of an eye and I will forever be thankful for the time we had together for our first look. All in all the end result was a very fun day that was perfectly executed to the minute and thousands of photos that captured our special day perfectly from start to finish. I also feel I have a new friend. Thank you, Joe! I couldn't recommend him more.