2026 Maine Photography Convention

Join us for the 76th Annual Maine Photographic Convention, hosted by the Maine Professional Photographers Association (MainePPA) — a four-day celebration of creativity, education, and connection.

From April 17–20, 2026, at the Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown, photographers from across New England will gather to learn, grow, and be inspired through workshops, keynote presentations, and hands-on sessions with some of the industry’s most dynamic educators.

What to Expect:
📸 Inspiring speakers — including Aaron Nace (Phlearn), Meg Loeks (Sigma Ambassador), Jen Stitt, Kristin Jones, and Patrick Wine.
🎓 Educational sessions covering portraiture, client experience, Photoshop artistry, night photography, and wildlife.
🎉 Networking and community — welcome and after-hours parties, group photo, awards banquet, and more.
🏆 Professional recognition — earn 1 PPA Merit for attending.
💼 Exclusive hotel rate — only $144/night for convention attendees at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your photography journey, MainePPA’s annual convention offers the perfect blend of education, inspiration, and camaraderie — all set in the heart of beautiful Freeport, Maine.

For the full convention schedule and to book your hotel, visit: https://maineppa.com/convention

Info: Join senior photographer and educator Kristin Jones for After Dark: Night Light Magic for Sessions, a hands-on night shoot that transforms the street into your studio. With over a decade of experience photographing 600+ high school seniors, Kristin brings her signature mix of creativity, technical precision, and infectious energy to every session.

Learn how to work with city lights, flash, gels, and creative lighting setups to craft bold, scroll-stopping portraits that sparkle with life. You'll gain insider tips on gear, lighting placement, color control, and posing with confidence—all while shooting in real-world conditions.

Perfect for photographers who want to level up their night photography and walk away with one-of-a-kind images that push creativity while nailing the technicals.

Info: Relax, chat and snack with members and speakers at our welcome party onsite at hotel suite #131. Don't forget to BYOB!

Info: Step away from the camera and discover how to craft a client experience so good it’s practically sinful. In today’s competitive, experience-driven market, stunning photos are only part of the equation—connection, service, and delight are what make your business unforgettable. Drawing on fifteen years in the wedding industry, Jen Stitt shares her Seven Deadly Sins–inspired framework for creating a five-star experience that keeps clients raving. Learn to identify your strengths, elevate every touchpoint, and build a brand that’s as magnetic as your imagery. A former Maine resident and co-founder of Fox & Brazen in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Jen blends photojournalism roots, cinematic lighting, and business savvy to help photographers thrive.

Info: Award-winning Maine photographer and filmmaker Patrick Wine, founder of Story Stroll, takes you beyond the traditional wildlife portrait and into the bigger story where animal and environment connect. Drawing from over a decade of fieldwork across the Rockies, Wyoming’s wilderness, and New England’s wilds, Patrick reveals how stepping back can add depth, context, and emotion to your images. Learn to compose photographs that balance subject and landscape, capture moments that feel alive and deeply rooted in place, and work with natural light to tell layered stories. This class is about rediscovering wonder—finding the beauty, respect, and storytelling potential within every encounter with the wild.

Info: Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the artistry, dedication, and achievements of MainePPA members. Enjoy a full banquet followed by an energetic celebration with music by DJ Rob Burnell. This is the signature social event of the convention—great food, great company, and a chance to honor the incredible work created over the past year.

Info: Relax, chat and snack with members and speakers at our after party onsite at hotel suite #131. Don't forget to BYOB!

Info: Join Patrick Wine for a sunrise landscape photography shoot at Portland Head Light, one of Maine’s most iconic coastal locations. Capture early-morning light, dramatic surf, and classic New England scenery while learning how Patrick approaches composition, timing, and natural light in the field. Open to all skill levels—bring your camera, dress warm, and prepare for a stunning start to the day.

Info: Explore artistic ways to create emotive portraiture with a strong narrative foundation. In this portraiture workshop, Sigma Ambassador Meg Loeks will discuss creative inspiration and the importance of detail and nuance. Attendees will learn lighting techniques that enhance storytelling by shaping mood and influencing color and clarity.

Meg will also discuss the importance of lens choice and creative settings. Explore inspiration, light and color with Meg to deepen your artistic vision and create portraits that tell powerful stories.

A fine art and portrait photographer from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Meg's nostalgic work centers around the home. She is honored to be a Sigma Ambassador, Profoto Legend of Light, 2022 Lightroom Ambassador, and volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, gifting sessions to families battling pediatric cancer.

Info: Relax, chat and snack with members and speakers at our after party onsite at hotel suite #131. Don't forget to BYOB!

Info: Join Aaron for this comprehensive intermediate to pro level Photoshop workshop. The morning session covers essential nondestructive editing techniques, layer styles and blending modes, gradient maps, and the benefits of smart objects and filters.

After lunch, dive deeper into advanced techniques including camera filters for global adjustments, dodge and burn techniques without color shifting, advanced compositing and masking with refined edges, layer blending and photo stacking, plus how to create customized brushes.

Perfect for photographers ready to elevate their post-processing skills from intermediate to professional level. This workshop requires an additional registration fee.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown, 5 Park Street, Freeport, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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