Wild Alaska

Join our Alaska photography workshop for unmatched access to capture intimate moments of mother bears and cubs in their natural habitat, offering the perfect opportunity for close-up wildlife photography.

Travel to the United States' "Last Frontier"

Dates: July 24-31, 2025 | Location: Silver Salmon Creek Lodge

Tuition: TBD| Deposit: TBD

Deposit due upon registration, full tuition due 120 days before the workshop. Workshops limited to 10 participants. 

Journey alongside the incredible nature photographers Morgan Heim and Chris Steppig in this semi-private setting as you capture stunning images of Alaska’s wild inhabitants, including bears, eagles, puffins, seals, sea lions, otters and more! We have been to Alaska numerous times and are excited to offer the best instructors to learn alongside while enjoying the beauty that is Alaska.

Take your nature photography to the next level

Our Alaska workshop is not simply a photography trip, it’s an educational adventure that will make you a better and smarter photographer while loading up your portfolio with stunning nature and wildlife images. This is a small-group workshop with limited availability so reserve your spot today!

At Summit Alaska You Will

Up-Close Wildlife Photography

Up-Close Wildlife Photography

Capture incredible images of Alaska’s iconic bears, along with puffins, eagles, seals, otters, and more, all in their natural habitats.

 

 

Master Nature and Landscape Photography

Master Nature and Landscape Photography

Learn creative techniques for photographing both wildlife and stunning Alaskan landscapes, while gaining insights into the habits and habitats of Alaska’s diverse wildlife.

Personalized Portfolio Reviews

Personalized Portfolio Reviews

Enjoy ample one-on-one time with expert instructors for in-depth portfolio reviews, ensuring you grow as a photographer throughout the workshop.

 

Register now!

Early Bird Discount

Early Bird Discount

$9,340

Before July 1, 2025

 

Full Tuition

Full Tuition

$10,190

After July 1, 2025

 

Workshop Itinerary

Recommended arrival day into Anchorage.

We will wake up early to catch our plane to Silver Salmon Creek. After taking a wildly scenic flight to the lodge, we’ll have time to check in and get settled. Depending on when we arrive there will likely be time to explore the area around the lodge for wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

Welcome to the wild Alaskan wilderness! We will rise early before breakfast to photograph the sunrise and look for bears along the coast. After a great early morning outing, we’ll return to the lodge for breakfast and some time to edit the morning’s images before a brief critique session followed by lunch. The afternoon will be spent around the lodge learning about conservation and wildlife photography. We will head back out to the beach around sunset in search of more bears and spectacular scenery.

Similar to yesterday, we will grab our cameras before the sun and head out in search of more brown bears. Rather than returning to the lodge for lunch, we will hop on a boat and head towards Bird Island to spend the rest of the afternoon photographing nesting puffins. We’ll return to the lodge in the afternoon for another lecture, some downtime, and another evening bear excursion.

We will rise early before breakfast to photograph the sunrise and look for bears along the coast in the mornings. After our early morning outings, we’ll return to the lodge for breakfast and some time to edit the morning’s images before a brief critique session followed by lunch. The afternoons will be spent around the lodge learning about conservation and wildlife photography. We will head back out to the beach around sunset in search of more bears and spectacular scenery.
Today we return to Anchorage via float plane. In case of weather, we suggest that return flights from Anchorage are scheduled for tomorrow afternoon or evening.
Return home from Anchorage. Schedule return flights in the afternoon or evening just in case there is weather when trying to leave the lodge.

The final workshop schedule will be provided one month prior to the event. Please keep in mind that the schedule is tentative and may be adjusted as needed during the workshop.

Meet Your Instructors

Workshop Faculty

Morgan Heim

Owner / Director

Chris Steppig

Workshop Faculty

Morgan Heim

Morgan (Mo) Heim raises a camera for one purpose – to capture moments in an animal’s life that will make us consider what that life means. Inevitably, those stories involve people as much as wildlife. How we treat them. Why we need them. What we love, or hate about them. Mo, used to work as a wildlife ecologist for NOAA on things like killer whale surveys and the Elwha Dam Removal project. She later earned a Master’s in environmental journalism and is a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). She has covered endangered fishing cats and shrimp farm development, and the environmental impacts of marijuana grows in our nation’s forests. In 2016, she became a National Geographic grantee for her collaboration on urban coyotes. Her photographic work has appeared in outlets such as Smithsonian, Discover, NationalGeographic.com, Nature Conservancy Magazine, and bioGraphic.com.

Owner / Director

Chris Steppig

Chris is the owner and director of Summit Workshops. Summit was his first job out of college and nearly 20 years later, this is home.  He is in charge of all workshop operations, scheduling, logistics, faculty, social media, marketing and sponsorship. Chris has a passion for conservation, travel, and education and the workshops are a dream platform to help others reach new heights as not only photographers but as people.

Chris is an affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The iLCP is a U.S. based non-profit whose mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. This affiliation provides a tremendous opportunity to help deliver great content and also be an advisor on matters large and small.  He is also a professional advisor for Outdoor Photographer magazine.  Through collaboration and great communications with the editor of the magazine, there have been countless articles written by Summit Alumni in the magazine over the years.

Student Testimonials

I had the most amazing experience and it was truly a bucket list trip. The student to instructor ratio was perfect and the amount of time spend in the field was perfect.

Rick Tackett
Another great workshop. Exactly what I've come to expect from Summit and the education and experience that you get from it. Looking forward to the next one.

Jason Refuerzo
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Frequently asked questions

No! Summit Workshops is available to any photographer, regardless of what brand of camera you use. We often have camera gear available to borrow, free of charge, but you are not required to use that gear or any specific brand. 

  • ALL travel while in Alaska is included

  • *Includes float plane from Anchorage to Silver Salmon at beginning of workshop and from Silver Salmon to Anchorage at the end of the workshop

  • ALL meals and Silver Salmon lodging are included

  • Travel to and from our departure point in Anchorage is NOT included

  • Lodging while in Anchorage is NOT included

Our Sports Workshop is for shooters of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans. We all learn from and help one another, that is what makes the Summit Community so special. 

What to Know

We will be meeting in Anchorage, AK on the morning of July 24 to depart to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge by plane. Participants are responsible for travel to and from Anchorage. To account for any travel delays, we recommend arriving in Anchorage on July 23, a day before the morning plane departure. For lodging in Anchorage we recommend the Courtyard by Marriott, which is closely located to the airport and our departure area. We will be taking a plane back to Anchorage on July 30, and recommend that participants book flights to return home on July 31 as same day departure home can be tight.

Spouse and companion discounts are available for this workshop! These discounts are for non-photographers who want to share in this amazing experience with you. Please contact us for more information. Pricing is based on double occupancy, but you can inquire about a single supplement at an additional cost.

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