Upcoming monthly programs & events

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• Intro B&W Film Photography + Darkroom with Andrew McClees

  • Start
    January 17, 2026
  •  
  • End
    February 07, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    The Bakery Photographic Collective (630 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101)
  • Spaces left
    0
  • Registered
    5 registrants

  Join waitlist

  

  This introductory course for black and white film photography is designed to provide participants with an understanding of 35mm (or medium format) photography and the foundations for darkroom usage. Topics covered include but are not limited to: camera operation (aperture, ISO, shutter speed, light meter interpretation), film processing, darkroom setup, and darkroom printing.

  Only 5 Spots! PPA MERIT CLASS

  FREE Film Camera Rentals available

  Film & Paper Not Included

  
  

  About Andrew:

  Andrew D. McClees Is a photographer and writer living and working in Portland, Maine. He graduated From Columbia College Chicago in 2014 with a BA in Television Writing and Producing, and worked in the television industry until 2019 - He ran the DIY Photo Portal wastelandbooks up until 2024. He holds an MFA from Hartford Art School’s International Photo MFA, 2024.

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• 76th Maine Photographic Convention

  • Start
    April 17, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • End
    April 20, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Hilton Garden Inn Freeport, 5 Park St, Freeport, ME 04032
  • Spaces left
    82

  Register

  
  

  Join us for 3 days (and 1 BONUS day) of fun, education, and networking!

  Registration includes classes (except bonus day) and welcome/after parties. Attendees earn 1 PPA Merit

  Full convention details available here

  All sales are final and non-refundable.
  

  FRIDAY, APRIL 17th

  4:30 pm 

  Registration Opens

  
  

  5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

  Kristin Jones

  Night Portraits

  
  

  9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

  Welcome Party at Hotel Suite TBA

  
  

  SATURDAY, APRIL 18th

  8:30 am

  Registration Opens

  
  

  9:00 am - 9:30 am

  MainePPA Annual Meeting

  
  

  10:00 am - 12:00 pm

  Jen Stitt

  7 Steps for Client Experience

  
  

  12:00 - 2:00 pm

  Lunch on your own

  (Group Lunch Sign Up Available at Registration)

  
  

  2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

  Patrick Wine

  The Big Picture: Wildlife

  
  

  6:00 pm

  Convention & Speakers Group Photo

  
  

  6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

  MainePPA Award Ceremony & Banquet with DJ Rob Burnell

  $TBA

  
  

  9:30 pm - 11:00 pm 

  After Party at Hotel Suite TBA

  
  

  SUNDAY, APRIL 19th

  6:00 am - 9:00 am

  Patrick Wine

  Landscape Shoot Out at Portland Headlight

  8:30 am - 10:00 am

  Rebekah Wheeler

  Breakfast with MainePPA President

  10:00 am

  Registration Opens

  
  

  10:30 am - 12:00 pm

  Meg Loeks

  Elevating the Ordinary: Portraiture

  
  

  12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

  Lunch on your own

  (Group Lunch Sign Up Available at Registration)

  
  

  2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

  Meg Loeks

  Elevating the Ordinary (Continued)

  
  

  4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

  Image Competition Feedback & Discussion

  
  

  6:00 pm - 9:30 pm

  Dinner on your own

  
  

  9:30 pm - 11:00 pm

  After Party at Hotel Suite TBA

  
  

  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  
  

  BONUS DAY

  MONDAY, APRIL 20th

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Aaron Nace

  The Art of Photoshop

  
  

  MainePPA $249 / PPA $299 / PUBLIC $399

  (PPA Merit Class)

  REGISTER HERE

  Lunch Buffet Included

  All sales are final and non-refundable.

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• Intermediate Photoshop with Aaron Nace

  • When
    April 20, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Hilton Garden Inn Freeport, 5 Park Street, Freeport, ME
  • Spaces left
    92
  • Registered
    8 registrants

  Register

  
  

  Join us for BONUS DAY with Aaron Nace covering photoshop topics:

  • Nondestructive editing techniques

  • Layer Styles and Blending Modes

  • Gradient Maps

  • Benefits of Smart Objects and Filters

  • Camera Filters for Global Adjustments

  • Dodge and Burn Techniques without color shifting

  • Advanced Compositing in masking with Refined Edges

  • Layer Blending, Photo Stacking 

  INCLUDES LUNCH BUFFET / PPA MERIT CLASS

  MainePPA $249 / PPA $299 / Public $399

  
  

  ABOUT AARON NACE:

  Aaron Nace is the founding father of the platform Phlearn – a learning community dedicated to helping photographers and graphic designers learn and improve their craft. Phlearn has 21.7M subscribers on Youtube. Phlearn was created in 2011 and is one of the largest photography-based platforms of its kind.
  

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• Sit, Stay, Smile and Woof: Pets & People Workshop with Travis Patenaude

  • When
    June 06, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    UMaine, IMRC, Orono
  • Spaces left
    5
  • Registered
    4 registrants

  Register

  Sit, Stay, Smile and Woof

  Learn the tricks of the trade to photograph people and their dogs.

  Unlock your inner dog whisperer and enhance your portrait sessions.

  Workshop Overview

  Dogs don't just sit for portraits; they share emotion and deep connection with their people. In this all-day workshop with Travis Patenaude, you'll learn how to bring those stories to the surface.

  Travis will walk you through his approach to working with dogs of all personalities and how to understand dog body language, guiding you as you photograph real dogs and their humans in a variety of lighting setups. You'll discover how to create comfort, invite authentic expression, and craft images that feel honest and heartfelt. And you'll get to practice these skills.

  Come ready to learn, play, and create images that are truly meaningful.

  What You'll Learn

  • How to work with dogs of all personalities
  • How to read and respond to dog body language
  • How to guide dogs and humans through portrait sessions
  • How to create comfort and invite authentic expression
  • How to photograph real dogs and their people in a variety of lighting setups

  Example Images

  

  

  About Travis Patenaude

  

  Travis Patenaude, a highly acclaimed dog photographer from Stink-Eye Photography, creates unique portraits that foster an emotional connection between the subject and the viewer. He believes emotions and feelings are a vital part of telling stories and have to be put in a form that touches the hearts of people to evoke empathy and to make the viewer want to learn more about these dogs.

  Travis is an advocate for animal rescue and animal rights, in particular raising awareness for the plight of the hunting dogs of Spain. He has won international awards and has been published across international print, online media, and magazines.

  Bonus

  Networking dinner after at the Family Dog in Orono, 6 p.m. with Travis and Deb Bell.

  The Details

  Location UMaine, IMRC, Orono

  Date Saturday, June 6, 2026

  Time 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

  Price $349 (Maine PPA) | $399 (PPA) | $499 (Public)

  Class Limit This class has a limit of 8 people

  Merit Earn 1 PPA Merit for attending!

  Lunch On-site lunch included

  Lodging Stay on campus at Hotel Ursa: hotelursa.com. We will share a promo code with you at registration.

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• Street Photography Retreat with Barbara Peacock

  • Start
    August 14, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • End
    August 16, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Downtown Portland, Maine
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  
  

  Challenge the portrait norm with street photography!

  This 3 day retreat includes a introductory lecture on Friday evening, daily meetings at photo headquarters, photo excursions with Barbara, and live critique of each student’s work.

  Only 8 spots! PPA Merit Class

  LODGING OPTIONS

  Photo Headquarters in West End: 1 room with Queen Bed, $400 for 3 nights

  Holiday Inn by the Bay: 2 Queens, $250/night

  RETREAT SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

  FRIDAY

  12pm Lunch at Honeypaw (optional)

  2pm Street Photo Practice (optional)

  3pm Lodging Check In (optional)

  5pm Dinner on your own

  6:30-8pm Introductions & Street Photo Lecture

  8pm Social Hour at Photo Headquarters - BYOB

  
  

  SATURDAY

  7am Meetup at Photo Headquarters - Walk to Farmer’s Market at Deering Oaks Park, Shoot streets on the way

  8:30am Walk back to Photo Headquarters, Shoot streets on the way

  9:30am Image Submission Deadline

  10am-1pm Image Review at Photo Headquarters

  1pm Group Lunch at Octillos or on your own

  3pm Meetup at Photo Headquarters - walk to Old Port/Downtown

  7:33pm Sunset

  8:30pm Group Dinner at Little Tap House (optional)

  SUNDAY

  7am Rise & Shooting on your own (optional) maximize your time!

  9:30am Image Submission Deadline

  10:30am-12:30pm Image Review at Photo Headquarters

  1pm Group Lunch at Ugly Duckling or on your own

  2:30-3:30pm Review top 3 images from each photographer at Photo Headquarters

  6pm Closing Group Dinner at Eventide Oyster Co. (optional)

  
  

  MONDAY

  10am Lodging checkout

  
  

  
  

  
  

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