Coastal charm, golden light, and unforgettable photo moments along Maine’s southern shores

Introduction: Where the Light Meets the Sea

There’s a moment at Nubble Lighthouse when the world goes quiet. The tide breathes in and out against the rocks, gulls hang in the sky like brushstrokes, and the setting sun paints everything in copper and rose. I’ve photographed this scene many times, but it never feels the same twice. Some evenings the sky bursts into magenta fire; other nights, the horizon softens into a watercolor wash.

I always climb down to the rocks near the water’s edge to frame the lighthouse from below. You can feel the ocean spray on your face and hear the waves hitting the granite just a few feet away. When the sky cooperates, it’s a vision to behold. This is what makes Southern Maine so unforgettable for photographers: it’s not just about the landmarks, it’s about the light itself.

In this Photography & Travel Guide to Southern Maine, I’ll share my favorite photo locations across York, Ogunquit, and Kennebunkport. You’ll find practical travel tips, photo advice for DSLR and iPhone users, and a few personal insights from returning here summer after summer. Whether you’re carrying a Canon R5 Mark II or simply your phone, this coast rewards patience, timing, and curiosity.

So grab your camera, pack a few extra batteries, and let’s chase that perfect Maine light.

Where to Stay: Comfort, Character, and Coastal Views

Best Neighborhoods for Photographers

York Beach is my favorite base for sunrise and sunset photography. You’re minutes from Nubble Lighthouse, and the light over Short Sands Beach can be magical before the crowds arrive.

Ogunquit has a slower, artistic rhythm. It’s home to the Marginal Way, a cliffside walking path with panoramic ocean views that shift dramatically with the light. Morning fog and soft color make this area perfect for moody, minimalist compositions.

Kennebunkport blends maritime charm with a bit of polish. Wooden docks, sailboats, and riverside reflections make it a joy to photograph at dusk. The streets glow under soft lamplight in the evenings, and every corner feels like a painting.

The First Rays of Sunrise From the Cliff House

Recommended Hotels

Luxury Options

Cliff House Maine — Dramatically perched on the cliffs of Cape Neddick, this property gives you cinematic views from sunrise to sunset. The infinity pool overlooks the Atlantic, and from your balcony, you can watch light storms dance across the ocean. We have stayed here several times and the location is ideal.
Hidden Pond — Set amid birch trees and gardens in Kennebunkport, this retreat feels like stepping into a nature film. Early mornings are especially beautiful here, with mist rising through the forest.
The Tides Beach Club — A chic boutique hotel sitting directly on Goose Rocks Beach. Its pastel interiors and oceanfront deck make it a joy to photograph during golden hour.

Mid-Range & Boutique

Union Bluff Hotel — Right on Short Sands Beach in York, this classic hotel puts you steps away from sunrise shoots and nighttime reflections.
The Colonial Inn — Ogunquit’s oldest inn and one of its most photogenic. It’s a short stroll to the Marginal Way and offers timeless New England character.
The Nonantum Resort — A waterfront gem in Kennebunkport, with boats drifting past your window and some of the best evening light in town.

Another great option is to get an Airbnb. The last time we visited, we rented an Airbnb for the entire family, and it was fantastic.

Getting There & Travel Tips

Southern Maine is an easy escape from Boston—about a 1.5-hour drive via I-95. If you’re flying in, Portland International Jetport (PWM) is the closest airport, roughly 40 minutes north of York.

Rental cars are available at the airport, and parking is widely available but fills up fast near beaches. Bring small bills for meters and lots.

For photographers, mornings start early here—sunrise can be before 5 a.m. in June—so plan to scout locations the night before.

Along the Coast on our first sunset walk

Ideal Duration of Stay: The Perfect Long Weekend by the Sea

If you’re coming for photography, four to six days is perfect. It gives you time to chase light without feeling rushed.

Day 1–2: York
Base yourself near Nubble Lighthouse. Photograph it at both sunrise and sunset—each gives the scene a completely different mood. Grab a Lobster roll from the Foot Bridge Lobster Shack in Perkins Cove. Walk along Short Sands Beach and capture reflections in the tide pools, or shoot surfers and sea foam in late afternoon light.

Day 3: Ogunquit
Start early with the Marginal Way, where the cliffs catch soft pink hues before sunrise. Midday, stroll through Perkins Cove and photograph the boats bobbing in the harbor. Late afternoon brings warm sidelight that enhances textures on the wooden docks.

Day 4–5: Kennebunkport
Explore Dock Square and the harbor area. Photograph the Old Orchard Pier at sunrise, when wet sand mirrors the sky. The riverside at twilight is perfect for long exposures.

Day 6: Scenic Drive & Hidden Spots
Drive slowly along Route 1 and detour through smaller beaches like Cape Porpoise or Moody Beach. You’ll find quiet coves, lobster traps, and working docks that feel frozen in time.

Pro Tip: Use your iPhone for quick street shots or café scenes when traveling light, and rely on your DSLR for long exposures, sunsets, and telephoto compositions.

Best Time to Visit: Summer Light and Coastal Color

Summer is when Southern Maine truly shines. Long days stretch well past 8 p.m., giving you plenty of golden hour opportunities. The colors are vibrant, the water sparkles, and coastal towns buzz with life.

Morning: Misty light and calm reflections—great for minimal seascapes or drone footage.
Midday: Strong contrast, perfect for black-and-white photography or architectural detail.
Evening: The magic hour. The sky turns peach and lilac, especially over Nubble Light and Dock Square.

For quieter scenes and softer light, late September is incredible. The crowds thin, and the air feels crisp, with just a hint of fall color along the coast.

Getting Around: Easy Drives and Ocean Walks

To photograph Southern Maine properly, you’ll need a car. The drive from York to Kennebunkport takes about an hour, but plan for detours—you’ll want to stop often. Coastal roads are lined with fishing boats, lighthouses, and sea grass fields that beg to be photographed.

Once parked, each town is easy to explore on foot. The Marginal Way in Ogunquit is pedestrian-only and ideal for photography. In Kennebunkport, most spots around the harbor are walkable, with good light from mid-afternoon through blue hour.

If you’re visiting without a car, regional buses and rideshares are available, but having your own vehicle gives you freedom to chase the light—especially for sunrise and sunset shoots.

I would love to own a house with Adirondeck Chairs Looking out at the Ocean

Dining & Coffee: Coastal Flavor and Photogenic Plates

There’s something about Maine’s seaside towns that makes every meal feel earned — maybe it’s the salt in the air, the sound of gulls circling above, or the way light pours through café windows at breakfast. York, Ogunquit, and Kennebunk are full of welcoming spots where great food meets perfect photo opportunities.

Maine’s coastal food scene is a feast for both the palate and the lens.

Congdon’s Donuts (Wells) — A classic stop for early-morning photographers. The maple-glazed donuts and steaming coffee pair perfectly with a sunrise over the ocean.
Coffee Roasters of the Kennebunks — Soft morning light pours through the windows, making it a peaceful spot to review photos or charge gear.
Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company — Great for casual evenings with local craft beer and wood-fired pizza.
Earth at Hidden Pond — A destination in itself. Photograph the food here—it’s artful and plated with an eye for color and texture. This place is incredibly good.
Wicked Ice Cream — Bright, colorful interiors perfect for candid portraits.
Scoop Deck - in Wells, Maine. This is a must-stop! The ice cream is amazing and the staff are great. So many flavors to choose from.
Perkins Cove Lobster Shack — A must. Grab a lobster roll and photograph the boats drifting in and out of the harbor. Sunset here feels cinematic.
The Boathouse Restaurant - in Kennebunkport, not only has excellent views from the outdoor deck but also delicious seafood.

Photography Gear to Bring

DSLR/Mirrorless Kit

Camera: Canon R5 Mark II
Lenses: 15–35mm for landscapes, 70–200mm for compressing coastal scenes, 24–70mm for general travel.
Filters: ND filter for smoothing water, circular polarizer to cut glare and deepen skies.
Tripod: Lightweight carbon fiber model—essential for sunrise and long exposures.
Extras: Lens cloths (the salt air sticks), spare batteries, and microfiber towels.

iPhone or Smartphone Tips

Use Wide Angle for landscapes and Portrait Mode for people or food.
Activate HDR for bright coastal light.
Night Mode works beautifully at twilight around harbors.
Edit using Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed for a clean, natural look.
Keep a small tripod and battery pack handy for long days.

Drone Photography in Southern Maine

Flying a drone along the Maine coast opens up new creative possibilities—but also requires care.

Regulations:

Stay clear of Nubble Lighthouse, as it’s within restricted airspace for safety reasons.
Avoid flying over crowds or private property.
Check the FAA B4UFLY App for real-time airspace updates.

Best Drone Locations:

Goose Rocks Beach: Wide, calm, and perfect for aerial reflections.
Cape Porpoise: Offers a bird’s-eye view of lobster boats and islands.
Ogunquit’s Marginal Way: Fly early in the morning when winds are calmer.

Pro Tip: Use ND filters to smooth motion in water from above, and keep exposure slightly under for better color retention. The light from 6:30–8:30 a.m. or 6–8 p.m. gives soft, cinematic tones.

Top Photography Spots: From Lighthouses to Harbors

York and its neighboring towns are filled with postcard-worthy views, but it’s the light and perspective that make each image stand out. Here are some of my favorite photo locations — all within a short drive of each other — along with the best times and techniques to make your shots truly shine.

Nubble Lighthouse (Cape Neddick Light)

No matter how many times I photograph Nubble Light, it always takes my breath away. The lighthouse stands proudly on a tiny island just off the rocky coast of York, connected only by a narrow service bridge. It’s the perfect marriage of Maine’s rugged beauty and coastal history.

When to Go:
The best time to photograph is sunset, when the warm light hits the rocks and turns the white lighthouse into a glowing beacon. I’ve also shot it before sunrise, when the sky fades from deep blue to lavender. On calm mornings, you can catch reflections in the small tide pools near the base of the cliffs.

Where to Shoot From:
Walk down to the rocky shoreline below Sohier Park. Climb carefully onto the larger boulders closer to the water’s edge—this low angle allows you to frame the lighthouse dramatically against the sky. Watch for wet spots on the rocks, as they can be slick from sea spray.

Pro Tip (DSLR): Use a 15–35mm lens for wide compositions that include the rocks, seaweed, and crashing surf. Add an ND filter (6–10 stop) for long exposures that smooth the water into mist. Shoot around f/11 for depth and focus stacking if needed.

iPhone Tip: Activate HDR mode to retain detail in the sky and water. Try crouching close to the rocks to add texture in the foreground.

Short Sands Beach, York

Just a short walk from downtown York, Short Sands Beach is one of the most photogenic stretches of sand in Southern Maine. At low tide, the beach reveals a wide reflective surface that mirrors the sky, especially after an evening rain.

Best Light: Early morning or late evening. The angle of the sun creates long shadows and catches the wet sand beautifully.

Composition Ideas: Capture the arc of the beach with the cliffs and Nubble Light faintly visible in the distance. At sunrise, the mist from the sea often glows pink and gold, making this a wonderful spot for minimalist compositions.

Pro Tip (DSLR): Use a polarizer to deepen the sky and reduce glare from the wet sand. A 70–200mm lens works well for isolating surfers or capturing waves breaking against the rocks.
iPhone Tip: Use Panorama mode for sweeping horizons. Focus on reflections by shooting from knee height.

Perkins Cove, Ogunquit

Perkins Cove feels like it was designed for painters and photographers. Wooden drawbridges cross over calm harbors, lobster boats sway with the tide, and colorful buoys line the docks. Every direction offers a postcard-worthy view.

Best Light: Late afternoon until sunset. The low sun creates warm, directional light that bounces off the boats and ripples across the water.

Where to Stand: Start on the pedestrian bridge for an overhead perspective, then move down to the dock level to photograph reflections. The harbor walls act as natural frames for your composition.

Pro Tip (DSLR): Use a 24–70mm lens for flexibility. Stop down to f/8–f/11 to keep both the boats and the reflections sharp. Look for leading lines from the wooden planks or ropes that draw the viewer’s eye through the frame.

Marginal Way, Ogunquit

This 1.25-mile cliffside path is one of Maine’s most scenic walks. It winds along rugged rock formations with panoramic ocean views that change with every turn. You’ll want to stop every few steps to shoot.

Timing: Arrive just after sunrise for soft light and minimal crowds. Late afternoon works beautifully too, when the sun lights up the cliffs in warm tones.

Best Angles: Frame the curving path as a leading line through the landscape. From the midsection near Oarweed Cove, you can capture both the surf below and the horizon line stretching endlessly north.

Pro Tip (DSLR): Use a wide-angle lens (15–35mm) and polarizer to enhance the turquoise tones of the water and reveal detail beneath the waves. Try long exposures around 1–2 seconds to catch motion in the surf.
iPhone Tip: Stand at a curve in the path and shoot slightly downward, including a portion of the rocky cliff for scale. Switch to Portrait mode if you want to blur the background slightly for an artistic feel.

Dock Square, Kennebunkport

In the heart of Kennebunkport, Dock Square blends charm and texture. Shingle-clad shops, bright flower boxes, and harbor views create a layered scene full of life. When the sun dips, the area glows with warm streetlights reflecting off the water.

Best Time: Blue hour, right after sunset. The combination of warm artificial light and cool sky tones creates a stunning contrast.

Where to Shoot From: Stand near The Clam Shack and look toward the bridge that crosses the Kennebunk River. From this angle, you can capture reflections of both the buildings and boats.

Cape Neddick

Expansive and peaceful, Cape Neddick is one of Maine’s best photography locations. At low tide, the beach stretches out for miles, with shallow pools that reflect the sky like glass. It’s ideal for minimalist landscape photography.

Best Light: Sunrise or sunset, when the low sun grazes the rippled sand. Foggy mornings also create ethereal, pastel tones.

Composition Tips: Look for subtle textures in the sand or patterns left by the receding tide. Use the distant islands or beach houses to balance your frame.

Pro Tip (DSLR): A tripod and ND filter are perfect for long exposures that turn the small waves into silky motion. Focus a third of the way into your frame for maximum sharpness.
iPhone Tip: Crouch low and tilt slightly upward to catch the reflection and horizon line. Convert to black and white in editing to emphasize shape and texture.

York Harbor Cliff Walk

Often overlooked, this short coastal walk in York provides gorgeous perspectives of the rugged shoreline. Stone walls and wildflowers line the path, and waves crash dramatically below.

Best Light: Mid to late afternoon when the cliffs are illuminated and the water glows turquoise.

Pro Tip (DSLR): Use a wide lens to emphasize the sweeping coastline. Include a person or fence post for scale.
iPhone Tip: Stand near bends in the path and capture the curve leading toward the sea. Use the wide lens to enhance the sense of depth.

Old Orchard Beach Pier

For photographers seeking solitude, Old Orchard Beach Pier is a must. It offers long, uninterrupted stretches of sand and some of the most vibrant sunsets along the Maine coast. The sun will rise behind the pier, providing a great sunray shot.

When to Go: Golden hour through twilight. After the crowds leave, the beach becomes serene and still, with tide pools reflecting the fiery sky.

Pro Tip (DSLR): Try long exposures (15–30 seconds) with a 10-stop ND filter to blur the waves. Shoot from very low angles for reflections.
iPhone Tip: Lower your angle close to the waterline. Focus manually and tap to expose for the highlights to capture those vivid sky colors.

Drone Photography: Coastal Perspectives from Above

Few places capture Maine’s rugged beauty from the air quite like York. The combination of rocky cliffs, turquoise water, and classic New England charm makes it a dream for drone photographers — but it’s also a place where respect for the environment and community is key.

Where to Fly:

Nubble Lighthouse Overlook: You can’t launch from the island itself (it’s protected property), but flights from Sohier Park or the nearby parking area provide stunning elevated views of the lighthouse surrounded by sea spray. The early morning calm often brings mirror-like reflections in the tide pools below.
Short Sands Beach: Excellent for low-altitude flights around sunrise when the beach is still quiet. The curve of the shoreline makes a perfect composition leading toward Nubble Light in the distance.
York Harbor & Cliff Walk: Gentle, cinematic flight paths over the harbor capture sailboats, reflections, and classic coastal homes framed by cliffs and gardens.
Marginal Way, Ogunquit: Offers spectacular sweeping perspectives of Maine’s southern coast — ideal for wide, cinematic shots that show the contrast between rocky headlands and crashing surf.

When to Fly:
Mornings are best — wind is lighter, light is softer, and beaches are quieter. Maine’s coastal breeze can shift quickly, so keep flights short and steady, especially near the ocean. Avoid flying over crowds or private homes, and always maintain line of sight.

Gear Tips:
A DJI Mini 4 Pro or similar lightweight drone works beautifully here and keeps you within FAA’s sub-250g category. Pack extra batteries, and bring ND filters for smooth cinematic motion in bright daylight. Polarizing filters also help reduce glare on the water and make colors pop.

Legal & Safety Notes:
York and Ogunquit don’t have town-wide bans, but certain areas near Nubble Light and beaches can have restrictions during peak hours. Check the B4UFLY app for airspace updates. Avoid disturbing wildlife, especially seabirds nesting along the cliffs.

Pro Tip for Drone Photographers: Composition matters just as much in the air as on the ground. Fly slowly, follow leading lines like coastlines or docks, and shoot during golden hour when long shadows reveal texture and depth. The key isn’t altitude — it’s storytelling.

Festivals & Local Events

Southern Maine summers are alive with visual stories.

York Days Festival (late July): Parades, fireworks, and local pride. Great for handheld, high-ISO shots at night.
Ogunquit Art Festivals: Artists fill the streets—fantastic for candid people shots and colorful details.
Kennebunkport Festival (June): Music, art, and food under twinkle lights. Perfect for low-light street photography.

Arrive early, be respectful, and ask before photographing vendors or performers.

Final Thoughts: The Rhythm of the Coast

Every time I return to Southern Maine, I’m reminded that great photography isn’t just about finding new places—it’s about seeing familiar ones with new eyes. Whether you’re standing on the rocks below Nubble Lighthouse, watching the boats drift in Perkins Cove, or catching your reflection on the wet sands of Old Orchard Pier, the coast rewards patience and curiosity.

If this Photography & Travel Guide to Southern Maine helps you plan your own adventure—whether with a DSLR, drone, or iPhone—I’d love to see your photos. Tag me on Instagram (@chasinghippoz) or follow my latest photography updates at ChasingHippoz.com.

And if you’d like to join one of my upcoming Maine Photo Workshops, sign up for my newsletter below to be first to know when they launch. The next golden hour is waiting.

My Photography & Travel Guide to York, Maine

Introduction: Where the Light Meets the Sea