Machias Seal Island, Maine, Puffin Photography Workshop

June 25 – 28, 2026

Overview

Join me, John K. Putnam, and my good friends Benjamin Williamson and Nathaniel Child from June 25-28, 2026, on a photography workshop to the famous Atlantic puffin nesting colony of Machias Seal Island! During our three mornings together we will travel ten miles out to sea to visit the summer home of thousands of nesting seabirds. With three excursions to the island, our workshop is designed to maximize your chance of filling your memory card full of close-up shots of puffins! Between our island visits, we will take time for group image reviews as well as outings to several spectacular coastal locations to photograph dramatic cliffs, lighthouses, fishing harbors, and more.

• Number of Attendees: 12
• Number of Instructors: 3
• Level of Difficulty (fitness requirements): Easy-Moderate

Schedule

June 25:
Our workshop kicks off in Lubec with an opening presentation, introductions, and a welcome dinner. As the day winds down, we’ll head out for our first sunset excursion together.

June 26–27:
For the next two days, we’ll leave Lubec each morning for the quick 25-minute drive to Cutler, where our boat charter will be ready to take us out. A simple breakfast will be available before we leave, and you’ll have the chance to prepare a bagged lunch to bring aboard. Once we land on the island, we’ll head straight to the bird blinds for up to an hour of concentrated shooting time. It may sound brief, but the opportunities are incredible, with puffins and other seabirds often approaching within just a few feet, filling every moment with action. After returning to shore, we’ll take a midday break before meeting again for image reviews, dinner, and an end of day outing. When conditions allow, we’ll also chase the early morning light with optional sunrise sessions for even more landscape photography.

June 28:
On our final morning, we’ll have one more chance to land on Machias Seal Island and spend additional time photographing the puffins. The ride back to shore offers a perfect moment to reflect on the week, sharing highlights, reliving favorite moments, and saying our goodbyes as we wrap up an unforgettable experience.

Two Notes on the Trip

Island landings are never guaranteed.
Machias Seal Island does not have a dock for our boat to tie up to and landings become unsafe when the surf is rough. While we make every effort to land, conditions can change quickly, and safety always comes first.

This workshop requires a good level of physical mobility.
Most locations are accessible, but there will be opportunities for moderate hikes to reach the best coastal viewpoints. Expect uneven, rocky, root-covered terrain. In addition, landing at Machias Seal Island requires a degree of agility, please read more about the landing process below.

About Machias Seal Island

Machias Seal Island is a small, rocky island located ten miles offshore from Cutler, Maine. The island is disputed, with both the United States and Canada claiming ownership. Machias Seal Island Light, a light station that stands at the center of the island is operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, who keeps personnel on the island year round making sure the Canadian flag is flying for all to see. In the summer months researchers are also stationed on the island, watching over an impressive variety of migratory seabirds, including Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Common Murres, and Arctic Terns. Machias Seal Island is home to the largest puffin colony on the Maine coast, boasting thousands more birds than any other site and making it one of the most extraordinary seabird destinations in the region.

Machias Seal Island is also the only place accessible from the U.S. where the public can photograph Atlantic puffins from land, and Bold Coast Charter Co. is the only U.S. tour authorized to make landings on the island (which is why we hire them to bring us out there). Landings on the island are not guaranteed. Neither are departures to the island. Bold Coast Charter Co. has been running this tour for many years and they put the safety of their passengers above all else. If a landing is not possible the boat will instead cruise the shores of the island where we’ll have the chance to photograph puffins swimming in the water and flying through the air. We may also have a chance to photograph harbor seals and gray seals resting on the rocks.

Getting onto the island from the boat can be an adventure all in itself, from Bold Coast Charter Co:

Island landings involve participants transferring from the tour vessel into a large outboard-powered skiff which is navigated to a designated landing area on the rocky shoreline. Depending on the sea conditions, there is a possibility of wet feet, although most days we manage to keep everyone completely dry. While assistance is provided at every stage of the landing, conditions are slippery, and a degree of physical mobility and surefootedness is required.

I encourage you to read the Bold Coast Charter Co. FAQ page which can be found HERE, but please direct any questions you have regarding this workshop to J.K. Putnam Photography.

Bold Coast Charter Co. does not offer refunds for non-landings, therefore, J.K. Putnam Photography cannot either. You will be fully refunded the cost of the Bold Coast Charter tour ($300/day) if the Bold Coast Charter Co. tour is canceled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lot of expensive gear to take this workshop?

No! You can make great images with simple equipment. The birds are viewed from hides and are often only a few feet away. Large, telephoto lenses are not necessary. I use a 100-400mm lens which I find to be perfect. That said, it does help to have a camera with advanced autofocusing options such as eye-tracking, but it is not necessary. A telephoto zoom lens such as 100-400mm, 100-500mm, 150-600mm, etc. will get you most of what you need when it comes to birds.

What are the fitness requirements?

The terrain on the island is very easy to navigate… getting on the island is another story. See above for more details on that. We will also have chances to explore the impressive coastal scenery of the area, which sometimes requires short hikes.

What equipment do you recommend I bring?

• DSLR or mirrorless camera
• Telephoto lens that zooms to at least 400mm on a full frame sensor
• For landscape opportunities, you will want a wide angle zoom such as 14-35 or 24-70.
• A sturdy tripod and head (you will not need or want a tripod on the island for birds)
• Camera backpack (a shoulder bag is not recommended)
• Rainproof covering for your camera and lens
• Laptop Computer with editing software (we use Adobe Lightroom Classic)
• Card Reader
• Extra Batteries
• Extra Memory Cards

What about transportation?

We recommend flying into Bangor International Airport. You are responsible for your own transportation. We will require carpooling out of Lubec at times.

What about lodging?

All lodging during the dates of the workshop is included. Hotel information will be provided after registration. All lodging is single occupancy.

What should I wear?

I recommend layering your clothing. The temps we will be working in will change, starting cool in the mornings and warming up throughout the day, and then dropping again at night. You will want warm clothing for windy days and for the boat ride out to Machias Seal Island.

• Hiking boots or sturdy shoes with good grip
• Quick drying pants and shirts (at least two pair)
• Wool or synthetic socks
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants

What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?

The weather will not cooperate. That said, being out in bad weather usually leads to great photo opportunities! Fog and overcast skies can provide even lighting to work under when photographing the birds. As mentioned above, landing on Machias Seal Island is never guaranteed. Bold Coast Charter Co. does not offer refunds for non-landings, therefore, J.K. Putnam Photography cannot either. You will be fully refunded the cost of the Bold Coast Charter tour ($300/day) if the Bold Coast Charter Co. tour is canceled.

Will there be bugs?

We will definitely see mosquitoes on the mainland, but bugs are never an issue on the island.

Price: $3250

SOLD OUT – Wait List Only

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A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due at the time of booking, the full payment is due by April 25, 2026.

Included in the Price:

• One-on-one instruction from three of the most knowledgable photographers in New England
• Hotel accommodations for the duration of the workshop
• Boat charters to Machias Seal Island
• Breakfast each day
• Bagged lunch each day
• Classroom space
• Daily image reviews

Attendees are responsible for:

• Transportation to and from Lubec, Maine, including flights
• All Meals outside of breakfast and lunch
• Travel Insurance: www.squaremouth.com

Cancelations:

Cancelations made by April 25, 2026 will receive a refund for any amount paid over the deposit. Cancelations made after April 25, 2026 will receive no refund. If a canceled spot is able to be filled before the start date of the workshop a full refund will be given, including the deposit. We cannot give out credit for cancelations. This is an expensive trip to run so our cancelation policy is non-negotiable. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance: www.squaremouth.com

Acknowledgement of Risk:

You will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk upon arrival.

Meet Your Instructors: