⚠️ATTENTION: This workshop is sold out. You can still add your name to the waitlist by clicking the green “Book Now” button and then selecting “Join Waitlist.⚠️

Get ready to check Alaska off your Top 10 list!  

Year after year, participants have said it themselves: "This is just SO magical!" and thus it inspired the name for this tour. 

Prepare to have a truly magical, private, small-group experience!  You will explore the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska with us as we take you to spectacular locations each day.  This unique region is often called "Alaska in Miniature" because virtually every Alaskan wildlife habitat type except Arctic tundra is represented here.  This tour will provide any nature-loving individual with an experience of a lifetime!  

The crowd-free atmosphere gives you the peace, flexibility, and mental and physical space to photograph Alaska from your own unique point of view. Your caring leader(s) are also experienced and skilled photographers who can help provide advice, instruction and guidance that enables you to capture incredible images of Alaska through your lens. This truly is a world-class experience.

Prepare to be amazed by the breathtaking beauty of our location! In 2024, we moved to a new location nestled on a seaside bluff overlooking the Cook Inlet and the magnificent Alaska Mountain Range.  Our cabins offer an awe-inspiring view of Mt. Redoubt, a beautiful dormant volcano. The cabins are spacious, inviting, and include modern amenities like Wi-Fi, full kitchens, and access to laundry facilities. We are confident that these amenities will provide an elevated experience for all workshop attendees. 

• In our June/July workshops, we typically see 50–80+ species of birds and wildlife, including moose, bear, eagles, sea otter, puffins, whales, and more. 

• Only 6 participants on each wonderfully private, one-of-a-kind, first-class adventure. 

• You are never without support!  You will be joined by either Lisa or one of her professionally trained photography guides (and often both) on each daily excursion and at the lodge throughout the tour. This offers you a tailored photographic experience with plenty of guidance and support. In addition, the boat captains, local wildlife guides, and other experts will further support your experience. 

• This incredible experience is designed to be original and unlike any other photography tour offered in Alaska

Suggested Physical Fitness level:  Level 3 – Moderate
Appropriate for those who are in good health.  Involves half- to full-day activities that may include light- to moderate-intensity walking or light hiking on mild terrain for periods of 5–30 minutes, or standing for 1+ hour at a time on location. May require ascending/descending one flight of stairs. Elevations range from approximately 0-3,000 feet. May involve off-road travel in SUVs, multi-terrain vehicles, small planes, or boats, any of which can make riding a bit bumpy. Must also be able to get in and out of small boats with light to moderate assistance and board/deplane bush planes with light to moderate assistance. May also involve varying weather conditions from about 40°F (4°C) to 90°F (32°C) with sun, rain, sleet or wind. Modern restroom facilities and/or vault toilets available in most cases. You must be able to carry all of your own gear and belongings at all times.

Elevation:  0 to 3,000 feet, with most excursions below 500 feet elevation.

Photography Skill Level:   All levels. Hands-on instruction is provided by your instructors. Knowledge of manual settings and your camera body is strongly recommended. A free on-demand tutorial created by Lisa Langell is included with your registration to help you learn manual exposure settings. 

 Visit the Magic of Alaska FAQ page 

The following information is an excerpt from our full Terms and Conditions (click link to view full terms).

Cancellation:  We understand that unexpected situations may arise that result in your inability to join us for this event. We will definitely miss you and realize this is a difficult decision for you. We very strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance immediately after you have booked your trip to protect your investment in the event you need to cancel before your event, or depart early during the tour.  Additionally, travel insurance may help cover any emergency medical care, remote evacuation, ambulance services, etc. that are needed while you are with us.  You must contact us in writing and complete a cancellation form provided to you at that time in order to engage the cancellation.

Refunds & reselling your seat: If you need to cancel and do not have travel insurance, we will make every reasonable effort to resell your seat. If we are able to do so, we will refund the amount you have paid, minus a $350 administration fee to cover the costs of marketing, selling and processing the transfer. Please note that the ability to resell your seat, even if discounted, is not guaranteed.  If we are unable to resell your seat, all deposits and payments are non-refundable.  No credits, transfers, vouchers, etc. are available.

Deposit:  Due at registration

1st Installment: Sept 1, 2025

2nd Installment: November 1, 2025

3rd Installment: January 1, 2026

Final Installment: March 1, 2026

Non-payment of installments:  Payments not made on time will have a five-day (120 hour) grace period for you to complete payment so that your registration remains active. If your payment is not completed by that time, your seat may be cancelled and no refund issued. For your convenience, we offer auto-billing to your credit card so that you never miss a payment.

If you choose to pay for the entire event up front in one lump sum,  should you need to cancel, your refund will be prorated according to the due dates for each installment, compared to your cancellation date.  (For example, if you canceled after the 3rd installment was due but prior to the final installment due date, the amount equal to the portion calculated for the final installment will be refunded to you.) 

Langell Photography, LLC reserves the right to resell, gift or otherwise utilize your cancelled reservation for any purpose at the discretion of Langell Photography, LLC without further obligation or consideration to you.

Substitutions/transfers:   Substitutions/transfers: If you wish to substitute another individual in your place, we will gladly transfer your reservation to another individual, provided you notify us in writing via email and include their name, address, phone number, and email address. 

The individual to be transferred or substituted in your seat must be approved by Langell Photography, must be over 18 years of age, confirm they are mentally and physically able to participate, agree to all terms, and pay Langell Photography in full for any amounts remaining by the due dates provided in your reservation.  There is a nominal fee for the transfer service.  

We will pick you up at the Kenai airport midday and take you to the lodge.  You will be able to settle in to your cabins, capture a few images of wildlife along the Cook Inlet, and get acquainted with your fellow travelers. 

A delicious late lunch will be served, followed by a helpful "Camera Clinic." This event helps everyone get further acquainted while your instructors provide photography tips, helpful settings, important techniques, and give you time to ask questions, learn more about settings and get prepared for our first excursion.

Find your Eagle paradise at Eagle Beach  

Get up close and personal with eagles!  Our first outing is to visit Eagle beach --  a special spot on the Cook Inlet coast where we will find an abundance of bald eagles canvasing the coast for fish, sparring with one another, and courting behaviors in mind-air.   

This beautiful, uncrowded beach is the ideal spot to capture images of Alaska's most iconic bird. It will not take long to have 1000s of images of these beloved birds as they do their acrobatics and feast on the fish from the waters nearby.  If you're lucky, you'll also stumble across "wishing rocks," fossils and large pieces of raw coal that floated in from the floor of the inlet. 

June is the prime time of the year to visit this special place as the eagles congregate here before moving on to salmon feeding grounds later in the season. 

Feast your eyes on puffins, whales, Steller sea lions, Bear glacier and the Gulf of Alaska's rugged and stunning coast.  This is a must-see experience! 

Spend the day on our private and spacious boat.  Here we will have the time and freedom to explore up to 100 miles of coastal Alaska in search of not just seascapes, but plenty of birds and wildlife. Species often spotted on this tour include:

•  Tufted puffin 

•  Horned puffin

•  Humpback whale

•  Orca whale

•  Dall porpoise

•  Steller's Sea Lion

•  Northern Sea Otter

•  Harbor seal

•  Bald eagle

•  Common murre

•  Pigeon guillemot

•  Mottled murrelet

•  Black oystercatcher

•  Rhinoceros auklet

•  Pelagic cormorant

•  Black-legged kittiwake

•  Glaucous-winged gull

You will indulge in the palpable sights and a cacophony of sounds of massive black-legged kittiwake rookeries. We will also view rafting common murres.  Our search for whales will commonly result in humpback and orca, with the occasional Dall porpoise, fin and Minke whales if we are lucky!  We'll also search for the huge, endangered Steller’s Sea Lions and scan the cliffs for Mountain Goats.  Some of our most scenic moments will include Bear Glacier, Fox Island Spit, and "Spire cove,” along one of Alaska's most photographable seascapes.

Additionally, for those that wish to do so, we can include a brief sportfishing experience designed to quickly catch black rockfish, a prized whitefish known for its delicate, mild flavor and wonderful texture.  We will outfit you with the fishing poles and abundant assistance to help you easily catch these fish.  The fish are then cleaned by our deckhand and vacuum sealed.  Average sized fish weigh about 4-7 pounds.  Our chef will prepare your fresh catch for dinner!

 

Board our private boat for an exclusive 6-hour excursion into Kachemak Bay. This customized tour, offering unique experiences not available in previous years, is designed to showcase the unparalleled beauty of the area. 

While exploring the serene waters of Halibut Cove and various other bays and coves, you'll enjoy a Langell Photography exclusive--pause at a beautiful location to enjoy have a delicious, hot, hearty picnic style lunch while dining along the shores of one of Kachemak Bay's beautiful remote coves, and then continue exploring the coast and islands for birds and wildlife.  

During lunch, our Captain will join us!  He will answer your questions while also sharing fascinating local stories, history, and knowledge about the local ecology here.  Our special lunch will definitely add breadth and depth to your experience in this region!

Our guide and expert birder will take us throughout the bay to locations that are known for a variety of bird and wildlife species including:  

•  Horned and tufted puffin 

•  Common murre

•  Harbor porpoise

•  Harbor seal

•  Northern sea otter 

•  Pelagic cormorant 

•  Harlequin duck

•  Marbled murrelet

•  Black oystercatcher

•  Bald eagle

•  Pigeon guillemot

•  Black-legged kittiwake

•  Glaucous-winged gull 

One of the highlights of this tour are the close-up views we typically see of northern sea otters and their young, along with epic seascapes that give you the backdrop for incredible photography.  

Afterward, weather and tide-permitting, we will explore the Homer Spit for other images of the beach and harbor to capture the unique seascapes and details that Homer has to offer.   The "spit" offers picturesque scenes along the marina docks, shopping areas, and seashore!  

On our way back, as time permits, we will explore additional points along the Cook Inlet that often give us opportunities for photographing eagles, an active nest (hopefully), moose, songbirds, and more.  

Birds we may see this time of year include:

• Golden crowned sparrow

• Common redpoll
• White crowned sparrow

• Orange-crowned warbler

All provide wonderful opportunities for wildlife and scenic photography, allowing you to capture the essence of Alaskan wildlife and landscapes.

Described by countless Magic of Alaska participants as one of the most unforgettable adventures of their lives, this custom-designed Dog Sledding & Landscape Photography Excursion is a true highlight—delivering jaw-dropping scenery and truly epic photographic opportunities.

The experience begins with a thrilling helicopter flight over dazzling blue glaciers, deep crevasses, and cascading waterfalls as we make our way to a remote glacier. Once we land, you’ll step out onto the ice itself—surrounded by stunning alpine terrain—and meet the sled dogs and mushers who will guide us through this snowy wonderland.

You'll first ride the sleds, giving you a unique, immersive vantage point for capturing the landscape. Then we’ll position ourselves to photograph the sled teams against a backdrop of soaring peaks and icy vistas—an ideal setup for creating striking, iconic images that celebrate both the grandeur of Alaska and the rich tradition of dog mushing. This exclusive experience was collaboratively crafted by Lisa Langell and is designed with photographers in mind—it’s truly one-of-a-kind.

Expect a mix of landscape photography, action shots of dog sledding, expressive portraits of the dogs, and more. Capture both stills and video—even on your smartphone—to bring this adventure to life through your lens.

After the scenic return flight, the adventure continues with a wildlife scouting expedition. We'll be on the lookout for moose, bears, birds, and other Alaskan wildlife to round out an already extraordinary day of photography and exploration.

We will embark by air to a remote location in Lake Clark National Park for bear viewing and photography for the day.

This scenic ~30 minute flight provides stunning views, abstract photography opportunities, and more as we fly over mud flats, tundra, volcanoes, mountains and glaciers. 

We will land in an area with habitat that draws coastal brown bears from around the region, offering photographic opportunities for these incredible, iconic animals! Guided by professionals who understand bear behavior and safety and accompanied by your photo instructor, we will spend the day looking for photographic moments of the bears and scenery in the area before returning by air to the Kenai Peninsula.

Explore the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Refuge via the waters of the Kasilof River, known for its serene, peaceful beauty. As we venture through this hidden gem, prepare to capture wildlife and scenic images that will forever etch Alaska's untamed spirit into your memory.

The Kasilof River, with its pristine waters and magnificent surroundings, provides the perfect backdrop for capturing nature's fleeting moments. Imagine the soft morning light illuminating the forest and reflecting off the shimmering river, offering a painterly palette for your lens.  

As we quietly drift along the river, be prepared to witness majestic bald eagles soaring through the sky, common loons feeding, and myriad mergansers, ducks, kingfishers, Bonaparte's gulls, Arctic terns, and more.  We will also seek to photograph moose, beaver and other species we may encounter along the way. Each encounter will leave you feeling peaceful and alive, having experienced a part of Alaska few see in this beautiful way.  With every click of your camera, you'll capture the essence of Alaska's magical allure.

Whether you are an experienced photographer looking to refine your craft or a nature enthusiast eager to preserve Alaska's natural wonders, this photo tour on the Kasilof River is an extraordinary opportunity to deepen your connection with the wild and unlock your creative potential.

Species we seek to find include:

•  Moose

•  Beaver

•  Common and red-breasted merganser

•  Greater scaup

•  Common raven

•  Bald eagle

•  Bonaparte’s gull

•  Common loon

•  Arctic tern

•  Belted kingfisher

•  Varied Thrush

•  Greater and lesser yellowlegs

•  Spotted sandpiper

You will return to the lodge in the early afternoon so that we can pack your things and be escorted to the Kenai airport to begin your trip home.