One reason photographers step behind the camera is to capture what they find interesting and beautiful in the world and share it with folks who appreciate the same things. I would venture that the job is similar to that of a writer – we just create stories through pictures.

And specifically, as a real estate photographer, we are called upon to create dreams.

Most of the time, here in Alaska, our “stories” center around a single family carving out a life against gorgeous, largely untamed nature. Occasionally, though, we have the opportunity to tell a tale that’s a bit outside of that box.

Take the story of Deshka Landing Lodge for instance.

This up-to-date community lodge with five guest cabins and designated camping space stands an hour and a half north of Anchorage and only yards from a boat launch into the Susitna River. It was coming to market in 2017, creating a rare opportunity for potential buyers: the chance to acquire an established lodging and fishing charter business. The place was well-equipped, cabins fully-furnished, and the business turnkey.

Tourism reports estimated that two million tourists visited Alaska that year, spending $3.2 billion while they were here. Travelers want unique experiences, and Alaska is full of them for most people – traditional fishing, hunting and trapping, aurora watching, ice fishing, dog sledding, and so on.

That’s just part of the “story” of Deshka Landing Lodge, though.

Yes, it was bound to be a great, moneymaking investment for the right buyer. But its promise of adventure, recreation, and relaxation went beyond tourists – the owners would also get a slice of that life.

In a year where surveys showed striving for greater work-life balance winning out over both salary and a flexible schedule as the most important factor when evaluating a job prospect, it was a business for dreamers.

So that’s what we focused on in our photo shoots – the lifestyle of the lodge. The closeness to nature. The adventure. The dream.

Enter two dreamers: Jim, an avid fisherman and hunter, and his partner Maria, a motorcycle enthusiast and an impeccable quilter.

I can just imagine them searching for a nice little business to run. Something that would allow them to achieve the balance they’d been seeking and do work they felt passionate about.

When Kloud Realty pointed them toward the Deshka Landing Lodge listing, it was a match made in heaven. And, I like to think, the photos helped them to visualize themselves living that dream in all its glory.

By the end of June that year, the newest chapter of the Deshka Landing Lodge had begun. And travelers who’ve stayed since count themselves lucky it did.

Today, people from all over the world come to enjoy unforgettable Alaskan fishing experiences, homemade meals and family-style dinners, comfortable cabins, indoor and outdoor community areas, daily housekeeping, and fish processing/freezing services through the various packages Jim and Maria now offer.

These are the best kinds of real estate success stories in my opinion – when everyone involved has the chance to dream a little bigger.