Acadia Photography Workshop 2026
October 13-18, 2026
Join me in October for five days of all-out photography in one of America's most beautiful national parks. I'll be taking you to many of my favorite places in Acadia, as well as giving you personal tips and instruction to help improve your photography skills. We'll visit all the most iconic places in Acadia, as well as some lesser known spots– I've been photographing Autumn in Acadia since 2006 and know my way around the park better than most. The second to third week of October is always a great time for fall colors and if you've never been to New England in autumn, you're in for a real treat.
Along the way, I'll also be teaching you landscape photography– about light and how important it is, choosing the right lens for any given subject, using your camera in full manual mode to create better, artistic images, working with whatever weather we're given, essential and non-essential gear and more.
We'll be rising early every morning to meet at 5:30 and photograph the sunrise (which is around 6:50am) in a different part of Acadia each day, then heading back to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, we'll head out again for more photography, break for lunch, then shoot again until after the sun goes down around 6pm. Then we’ll do it all over again the next day. Although this is a field workshop and not a classroom workshop, if we’re stuck indoors by heavy rain (or after dinner), we should have time to process some photos in Lightroom and Photoshop and talk about the importance of good post processing technique.
This isn't a strenuous trip, but you should be in good health and be able to climb over the rocks and boulders along the Atlantic coast– which can sometimes be wet and slippery (Acadia is on an island so there's plenty of coastline for us to photograph), as well as hiking in the woods and on trails. Some of the locations we'll be visiting are close to the road so there won’t always be lots of hiking involved, but we’ll be hiking up to photograph some of the vistas too, sometimes up to a couple miles. Bring sturdy hiking boots and warm clothes. Acadia can get cold in the Fall, though it can warm up nicely during the day too.
As we get closer to October, I'll send you tips for what to pack, what camera gear I'm bringing (to give you an idea of what to bring, and what not to bring), and more.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a fancy camera?
A: No, anything better than a phone- DSLR or mirrorless camera- will suffice, though we do all take phone pictures during the workshop too. I’ve had photographers join me with basic DSLRs up to a top of the line $50K camera, but most photographers bring something in between. In 2025, I had my first attendee to bring a film camera, a TLR medium format Yashica, which was fun to see.
Q: What do you do each day?
A: Every day is made up of several excursions into the park… each morning we meet between 5:30 and 6am and head out for a sunrise shoot, then we visit one more location before heading back to the hotel for breakfast. Later, we usually do another 3-4 excursions, ending at around 6:15 at a sunset location. If the weather is bad, that usually doesn’t stop us. It rarely rains all day and a brief rain will mean more saturated colors to photograph as well as other benefits. If the weather makes traveling hazardous, we will stay indoors; we’ll never compromise your safety.
Q: Do I need to be an experienced photographer to join you?
A: No, though it helps if you're familiar with your camera and have had some experience doing landscape photography. In all my workshops, I've never had a professional photographer join me, though several have been experienced workshop photographers, traveling the world with their cameras. Others have been relatively new to photography and are just learning the ropes.
Q: What equipment should I bring?
A: A DSLR or mirrorless camera, lenses to cover the roughly 16-200mm range (though wider or longer lenses may also be handy), a sturdy tripod, polarizing filter, a graduated neutral density filter (not absolutely necessary but recommended), a laptop to download your pictures to every evening, spare camera batteries and camera cards. A sturdy pair of hiking boots and rain gear is also highly recommended. As I said earlier, I’ll email you a fuller list of recommended things you should bring as we get closer to the workshop.
Q: What does it all cost?
A: The cost for the 2026 workshop is $2495, with a $500 deposit required to hold your spot (take $150 off if you book before January 31st). Full payment is due 60 days before the start of the workshop. Your fee includes all excursions and instruction throughout the five days. We’ll carpool to each location; the fewer cars we take the better, as parking can be limited in some areas. You would need to cover the cost of transportation to and from Bar Harbor, accommodation for five nights (I highly recommend staying at the Bar Harbor Motel, where I have a block of rooms reserved at a discounted rate and offers a free breakfast), lunch and dinner each day, park entrance fees, trip insurance and any other incidental expenses. If you’d like to arrive early, or stay beyond the workshop dates, I can usually get you a discount on your hotel room for any extra days you’d need.
Q: What if I have to cancel?
A: Cancellations made 60 days before the workshop will be refunded fully. Cancellations less than 60 days will not be refunded, though if I can fill your spot from a waiting list, you will be fully refunded, including your deposit.
* Please note that, in an effort to avoid the crowds, we will not be visiting Cadillac Mountain or the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse during the workshop. There is a now a reservation system in place to go up Cadillac Mountain, and it’s very hard to reserve a spot; it’s unfortunate because the views from the top are great, but I have to say that I’ve always struggled to get a good picture from up there, and I’ve had much better success seeing the sun come up along the coast; it’s just a better composition. Also, the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse is very tricky to shoot due to the hordes of people and very limited parking (the last time I tried I was stuck in a traffic jam for 45 minutes waiting for one of the only 20 parking spaces to open up). It’s also hard to access since you have to climb over a lot of large boulders, so I wanted give you a heads up in case you were really counting on photographing either of these two locations. If they’re important to you, consider arriving a day or two early or staying on later to shoot them on your own. One of my goals is to take you to places that are away from the crowds, where we can experience the peace, tranquility and beauty of Acadia without being elbow to elbow with others or sitting in traffic.
I want this to be the trip of a lifetime for you, where you get to spend several days in a beautiful part of the country at a beautiful time of the year and growing your passion for landscape photography, and enjoying the company and camaraderie of other like-minded photographers. Check out images made by some of the photographers who attended the workshop in October 2025.
If you're interested in joining us this October, send me an email or fill out the link below and I will email you a registration form.
What past participants have said…
“Michael Hudson’s Fall 2025 Acadia Photography Workshop was excellent. Mike’s workshop took us to a variety of both iconic and off-the-beaten path locations—ranging from forests, lakes and beaches, marinas and lobster boats, mountains and rugged Maine coastlines. The workshop is high energy, with opportunities for sunrise and sunset photos, and many additional locations during the middle of the day. I very much enjoyed this memorable Photo Workshop and highly recommend it. Thank you Mike!”
Andrew, North Carolina
“Michael, once again thank you for a great experience, this trip was definitely something I will remember and treasure! What drew me to Michael's workshop was his photographs. I admire his ability to see the small picture as well as the large and I was grateful for his instruction and keen eye. He's also a fun guy to hang out with! ”
Candy, Virginia
“I give all the credit to our excellent instructor! No, seriously--other than a handful of Milky Way shots, I'd never shot in fully manual mode before the workshop. I learned SO much from you and feel like I gained a lot of confidence in that week. Thank you again!”
Katie, Massachusetts
“Thank you again for a great week of learning, laughing, great camaraderie with each other and making memories! Thank you for all your support, knowledge and showing us different ways of looking at things. Someday, I would love to attend your workshop again. I really enjoyed the low key, small group atmosphere with a group of like minded peers.”
Deb, New Hampshire
“I must say, thank you for an awesome time in Acadia. Thank you for the pointers on how to use the manual settings on my camera: it has opened up a whole new world to me! 🙂. I only just downloaded the images last evening, so will spend the rest of the week going through them. Thank you again for the week and my official introduction to professional landscape photography! It was most enjoyable and encouraging.
Let me know when you might be doing another one ! 🙂. I'm in!!”
Clement, Nassau, The Bahamas
“The trip was fantastic!”
Bharat, Palm Harbor, Florida
“Just wanted to drop a note to let you know that I had a wonderful time at the workshop and it did not disappoint. Keep me posted on any new workshops you may be doing next year.”
Andy, Fresh Meadow, New York
“Many thanks for a great workshop at Acadia NP. The wisdom from your years of trips to Acadia and even more years behind a camera is evident. I have no suggestions for improvement. What's more, you have the right temperament for working with newly acquainted groups of people who have photography in common but come from all over with their different experiences, opinions and expectations. Hats-off to you for a job well done!”
John, Toronto, Canada
“Thanks for a very productive tour. I really enjoyed the diversity of Acadia’s landscapes. But, most notable was you: your enthusiasm, supportive nature, guidance and friendly personality. Wish you lots of success!!
Job well done and big thanks.”
Alan, San Jose, California
“One of the positive impact of COVID on the workshop was the small group size. I felt that really helped in developing a good deal of camaraderie, and more importantly, you were able to spend more time with us individually. I also appreciated the tips, suggestions, and second set of eyes (you) as I have a tendency to have tunnel vision and you helped me see things I would not have seen otherwise. One example that stood out for me was the "cotton candy" skies post-sunset at Otter Cliffs.
Additionally, the social aspect of the workshop meant a great deal. Having our meals together (especially our blueberry breakfasts lol) and carpooling really was a good way to break the ice and get to know each other. We are all still in touch and networking, and to an extent that I haven't experienced in other workshops - this is a very positive thing for me!
For days, we went from before sunrise to late night, long hours in the field taking pictures. And because of the time we had in the field, the places you took us, the timing of the pictures so the lighting is good, etc., I walked away from the workshop with some very good pictures that I'm enjoying now and still do (one of my favorites is blown up and is hanging above my couch lol). Given the amount of time spent out shooting, and the fact that the cost of the workshop included the hotel, plus transportation (thank you for carpooling!), I thought it was one of the highest value workshops. In other words, I got my money's worth :)
Mike, overall, it was a fantastic workshop and I have really enjoyed it. So much so that when I received your email about your plans for the 2021 workshop, I'm thinking of doing it again! :)”
Vicki, Calera, Alabama
“It had what I look for in a workshop - a photographer whose work and approach to photography I respect, the camaraderie of fellow photographers, a great venue with plenty of opportunity to capture an image worth displaying and an opportunity to learn. I liked the way he gave everyone the attention they needed and the way he listened to suggestions and acted on them. It was great fun and I came away a better photographer. Thanks, Michael.”
Mike, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
“Thank you for deciding to lead the workshop in such a stressful year! It was absolutely the BEST thing I could've done for my creative soul and spirit! Grateful for it all!”
Alicia, St Louis, Missouri
Michael Hudson has been a professional photographer since 1989- his whole working life. He has been photographing Acadia every October since 2006 and has been leading workshops there since 2017. He is the author of The Photographer's Guide to Acadia and Under October Skies (Autumn in Acadia), which is sold in the Acadia visitor center. His photos have been seen in calendars, on websites, in magazines and even on the Acadia annual visitors pass. Recently, one of his photos was used as the cover image on the official Bar Harbor Visitor’s Guide. He's passionate about Acadia and teaching others to enjoy the outdoors through photography.