Maine Coast Photography Workshop
Lighthouses, working harbors, rugged shoreline, and Atlantic light. Coastal landscapes that balance iconic scenes with intimate details.
Workshop overview
About the Maine Coast photography workshop
The Maine coast offers a rare mix of visually compelling subjects, including lighthouses, working harbors, weathered buildings, rocky shoreline, and constantly changing Atlantic light and sky. While compositions can appear obvious at first glance, making a strong photograph requires careful positioning and framing.
Rather than staying in a single area, we move steadily along the coast, relocating during the trip to stay close to different sections of shoreline. This allows us to photograph a wide range of locations under appropriate light. Working this way creates repeated opportunities to assess new scenes, choose strong vantage points, and refine compositions as conditions change.
Andy Cook is present throughout the workshop, not to make his own images, but to offer guidance as needed, whether that means talking through lens choice, refining a composition, or stepping back when a scene is coming together for you. Participants work in different ways, but the shared focus is on making clear decisions in the field and returning home with a strong set of photographs from across the coast.
Workshop highlights
A coastal route designed for photography
This workshop follows a planned route along the coast, staying near key areas to photograph both iconic locations and quieter working harbors and villages, allowing us to work efficiently and with good light.
Coastal inns and villages
We stay in historic coastal inns and spend time in small seaside villages that still feel like working Maine.
Monhegan Island: a different rhythm
Midway through the week, time on Monhegan Island changes how the workshop unfolds. With travel on foot and fewer logistical resets, participants have more freedom to repeat locations, explore ideas, and work at their own pace. For many, this becomes the highlight of the week.
Workshop itinerary and schedule
Overview
This workshop includes multiple lodging stops along the coast and a ferry transfer to Monhegan Island. We plan to photograph sunrise and sunset each day, with travel and downtime built into the middle of the day.
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Sunday, May 23
— Meet at the Bailey Island Motel for introductions and a brief discussion.
— Preview morning locations and photograph sunset. (Please have dinner before the meeting.) -
Monday, May 24
Relocate to Edgecomb, Maine.
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Tuesday, May 25
Relocate to Port Clyde (lodging TBD).
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Wednesday, May 26
Ferry to Monhegan Island; check in and photograph on the island.
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Friday, May 28
Final morning photography; ferry returns midday. Avoid flights scheduled for Friday if possible.
Lodging
Bailey Island Motel2041 Harpswell Islands Road, Bailey Island, ME 04003
Lodging website · 207-833-2886
We will have already paid for the Bailey Island Motel rooms. This night's lodging cost will be collected in advance of the workshop, and there's no need to contact the hotel.
Cod Cove Inn22 Cross Road, Edgecomb, ME 04556
Lodging website · 207-882-9586
Tuesday, May 25: relocate to Port Clyde (lodging TBD), Port Clyde, ME 04855.
Check-in: ·
Check-out:
Monhegan Island, ME
Lodging website · 207-594-7983
We will have a block of rooms reserved here. Participants may contact the hotel starting January 2027 to put a room in their name—please tell them you are with our group.
The workshop ends after morning photography on Friday, May 28, 2027.
Ferry return: Our ferry tickets are for a set departure time. We return midday on Friday, May 28. Because timing can vary, we recommend avoiding flights scheduled for Friday.
Optional: If you arrive early or stay after the workshop, consider photographing Portland Head Light or Nubble Light, both excellent sunrise and sunset locations.
What to expect
- Morning: We're out early, arriving before civil twilight and photographing through sunrise. Mornings are spent working scenes as light builds and shifts. Breakfast follows once the light is finished.
- Midday: Midday is generally lighter and more flexible. Travel, rest, and conversation happen here, along with time to review images. When questions come up, Andy is available to help talk through decisions made in the field.
- Evening: After dinner, we head back out to photograph through sunset and into twilight.
Registration
Join us to photograph both the Maine coast's classic scenes and its quieter, out-of-the-way corners.
→ Register for the Maine Coast workshop
On the next page, you'll find secure PayPal buttons. You can check out as a guest using your credit or debit card—no PayPal account required.
Workshop details
- Experience level
- Beginner to advanced. Participants should be comfortable working independently at times, as the group often spreads out while shooting.
- Group size
- Small group (target number of 8 participants).
- Effort
- Moderate. Some locations are right off the parking lot, while others include rock scrambling or hikes with elevation—especially on Monhegan Island. Hiking boots are recommended.
- Conditions
- Cold ocean water keeps the air chilly. Bring warm layers, including winter-weight clothing, to stay comfortable during long periods in the field.
- Included
- Ferry transportation to Monhegan Island.
Getting to the workshop
Air travel
Most participants fly into Portland, Maine or Manchester, New Hampshire. Boston is another option.
Drive times:
Portland to Bailey Island: ~1 hour
Port Clyde to Portland: ~2 hours
Manchester to Bailey Island: ~3 hours
Port Clyde to Manchester: ~3.25 hours
Driving and carpooling
Roads are mostly paved and a standard rental car is sufficient. A GPS or smartphone makes relocating between hotels and restaurants straightforward.
Recommended gear
Lenses
A versatile range helps on the Maine coast. Focal lengths spanning roughly 16mm to 400mm (after crop-factor adjustment) cover wide shoreline scenes, lighthouse framing, and tighter details in harbors.
Filters
A polarizer helps manage glare and deepen color. A 6-stop (or stronger) neutral density filter is useful for long exposures when waves and tide invite slower shutter speeds.
Monhegan Island travel
Monhegan has almost no vehicles, so we carry what we bring. Consider packing a smaller, easy-to-carry bag or duffel for the island portion of the workshop. You can leave larger luggage in your vehicle on the mainland and travel light.
FAQ
- Is this workshop more about learning or photographing locations?
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Both. You'll photograph strong Maine locations, while also focusing on the decisions that shape the final image: where to stand, what to simplify, how to work with wind and waves, and how to recognize when the light is offering something worth capturing. Andy is present throughout the workshop, and instruction is available, not required.
- How fast-paced is this workshop, with all the relocations?
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The workshop has a clear rhythm, with sunrise and sunset photography and most travel happening mid-day. Some days involve more moving, particularly when we change lodging, while others, especially on Monhegan Island, offer longer blocks of time to work without the car. The pace is active but balanced, with relocations designed to support the photography.
- How much hiking and scrambling is involved?
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Moderate. Some locations are close to parking, while others involve uneven rock, short climbs, and occasional scrambling, especially on Monhegan Island. You don't need to be especially fast or athletic, but you should be comfortable moving carefully on natural terrain, sometimes in the dark, wind, or wet conditions. Good hiking boots make the week noticeably easier.
- How does the Monhegan Island portion work, and what should I expect?
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Monhegan is primarily foot travel for participants. Luggage is transported separately to the hotel, but once on the island you'll be walking everywhere. That's part of what makes it such a strong photographic experience: you can stay with a scene longer, work different angles, and pay attention to small changes without feeling like you're in transit all day. For the island portion, pack a smaller bag and leave extra luggage in your vehicle on the mainland.
- Will there be post-processing instruction and image review?
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Some, but it's lighter than workshops where we're in one place all week. Travel and early mornings naturally limit long processing sessions. That said, Andy is happy to review images, talk through edits, and answer Photoshop questions as time allows. If you'd like hands-on help, bring a laptop with Photoshop installed, but the primary focus remains field decisions and well-considered captures.
- What are the conditions like in late May on the Maine coast?
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Late May feels more like early spring than summer. Wind is common, temperatures change quickly, and the cold ocean keeps the air cooler than most people imagine. Overcast conditions are frequent and can be excellent for coastal photography, while clear mornings tend to be crisp and high-contrast. People who dress for spring and summer end up very cold sooner than they expect.