Sunrise Anniversary Session at Moraine Lake

Krystal Shuhyta
Oct 8
3 min read

If couples were given adventure travel badges, these two would have earned theirs! Illiana and Miguel were in Canada to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary and we were absolutely honoured to spend the day together and capture their moments - even if it meant an early start to the day! Our goal was to capture the breathtaking views in the Canadian Rockies as well as the undeniable, genuine love between Illiana and Miguel. Goal crushed - if we do say so ourselves, this anniversary session at Moraine Lake was a chef's kiss.

A couple embraces on rocky terrain by the tranquil moraine lake with mountain backdrop of the valley of the 10 peeks. She's in a blue dress; trees and sunrise colors enhance the scene.

Planning An Anniversary Shoot - The Back Story

Our planning began while I was in Bali - the same place where Illiana and Miguel exchanged their vows five years ago. Since then they have traveled the globe together and plan to experience Africa and New Zealand in the coming year. They even plan to take advantage of our New Zealand Travel Blog! This partnership is one of those ones that you just feel! Illiana was all in when Miguel reassured her that no matter what came their way, they would divide and conquer, and well, Miguel tried to find something wrong but just couldn’t - the rest is history. Engaged in Italy, Illiana and Miguel decided to celebrate five years of marriage in Canada and we couldn’t have been happier to be the ones capturing their love on film.

The Sunrise Anniversary Session at Moraine Lake

Despite Illiana’s dislike for early mornings, we agreed on a sunrise anniversary shoot at Moraine Lake. And don’t worry - the early wake up was well worth it - just check out those images. Like the light that crept across the lake and brightened our backdrop, Illiana and Miguel’s love was all-encompassing at this photoshoot! In classic apparel with smiles for days, this photoshoot was made complete when the sun put on a show while the lake lay flat. Moraine Lake stood absolutely still for us - creating the most stunning mirror image of the mountain - God’s creation was on full display. We truly couldn’t have hoped for the sunrise to be any more beautiful than it was - the only thing outshining it was Illiana and Miguel’s love!

The After Glow

Feedback is best from the source - we will let Illiana and Miguel speak for themselves on the experience. Here is what they had to say:

Illiana shared with us:

“From the moment I inquired about pricing, Krystal went above and beyond. She hopped on a video call with me all the way from Bali, no less and was instantly warm, welcoming, and genuinely interested in understanding my vision. When I shared our original travel dates, she was honest and let me know that all the national parks would be closed during that time, and that Banff wouldn’t align well with our itinerary. Looking back, that honesty was a blessing in disguise!! I would’ve been so disappointed to visit while everything was closed.

We ended up rescheduling our shoot for our second anniversary and considered doing it on Canada Day. Once again, Krystal’s experience came through: she gently recommended we choose a different date — and THANK GOD we did! Moraine Lake showed off that morning! The photos look like they came straight out of a storybook. I’m truly in awe!

Moraine Lake is notoriously hard to book for sunrise shoots, but Krystal made it happen the moment reservations opened. Beyond her incredible talent behind the camera, she also helped me plan parts of our trip and I can’t stress enough how much she went above and beyond.

If you’re looking for a photographer who doesn’t just deliver breathtaking images but also genuinely cares about your entire experience, Krystal is your girl. She captures the beauty in you and the world around you. I’ll be forever grateful for the magic she created.”

A couple embraces atop rocks, with turquoise lake and sunlit mountains in the background. She's in a blue dress, at sunrise at moraine lake.

Moraine Lake Photographer

Illiana and Miguel’s anniversary session at Moraine Lake is a shining example of how we bring your unique love story to life through breathtaking photography. Whether you’re planning a romantic anniversary photoshoot, a dream destination wedding, or an intimate engagement session, when we work together, you can focus on your special day and making memories that last in breathtaking locations like the Canadian Rockies. If you are ready for an adventure tailored to your love story, please reach out here. On the other hand if you are not ready to commit just yet, you can check out our Ultimate Moraine Lake Guide or our Moraine Lake Elopement Packages in the meantime.