Seek The Epic Experiences · October 7–12, 2026

Bring your dog
to the edge
of America.

A 6-day pet-friendly expedition through Acadia National Park and the remote Maine coast — where you and your dog are professionally documented in some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country.
Duration
6 Days
Group Size
Max 10 Guests
Dates
Oct 7–12, 2026
Investment
$3,500 / Guest
Apply to Join See the Experience
Max 10 GuestsPro Photo + Trip Film IncludedExpert Coastal GuidesDogs Welcome & CentralNo Photography Experience Required
The Experience

This isn’t a photography
workshop. It’s an expedition.

You don’t take a backseat to the landscape here. You’re in it — with your dog, in the fog, at the summit, at the edge of the ocean. Bret and Emily are there the whole time, documenting the trip as it actually unfolds.
That means the images come from the real experience: candid moments, epic environmental frames, quiet interactions with your dog, and posed portraits whenever the trip naturally gives us the right light, location, and moment.
Drone view of cliff campsite
Six Days

What the week actually feels like.

Day One · Wed, Oct 7

Arrival. Bar Harbor. The First Golden Hour.

You arrive in Bar Harbor by 3:30 pm, meet your group and hosts, and head to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse by 5 pm for golden hour. The kind of sunset that makes you realize that you made the right decision.

Day Two · Thu, Oct 8

4:30am. Cadillac Mountain. First Light in America.

Your dog beside you as the first light in America breaks over the Atlantic. Fog in the valleys below. This is the moment Bret and Emily were born to document.

★ Trip Centerpiece Moment

Day Three · Fri, Oct 9

Great Head Trail. Jordan Pond. Schoodic.

The highest sea cliff headland on the East Coast at dawn. Time around Jordan Pond. Evening at the wild, quiet Schoodic Peninsula. Throughout the day, Bret and Emily keep documenting the trip as it unfolds — candid moments, scenic frames, and natural portraits with your dog whenever the moment is right.

Day Four · Sat, Oct 10

The Road Less Traveled. Lubec. The Easternmost Point.

Three hours through fishing villages to Lubec, Maine — the easternmost point in the United States. West Quoddy Head Lighthouse at dusk. Your dog at the edge of America.

Day Five · Sun, Oct 11

The Tidal Flats. Camping. Night Sky.

The Bay of Fundy tidal flats at low tide — an alien landscape. A guide-led exploration. Then camping, fire, and a night-sky plan built around the weather. If conditions are right, we chase Milky Way and astrophotography. If not, we pivot to a beautiful backup evening experience.

Day Six · Mon, Oct 12

One Last Sunrise. Final Frames. Departure.

One last sunrise on the bay cliffs. Final adventure and final shots. You leave with the feeling of having truly done something unforgettable — and the visuals to prove it.

What You Receive

You’re not just booking a trip.
You’re booking the memories.

Every guest receives a professionally edited media package included in the trip price.
🎬

Cinematic Trip Film

A 60–90 second cinematic recap of the full expedition — landscapes, dogs, moments, and emotion. Delivered as a downloadable file within 14–21 days after the trip.

📁

Your Private Gallery

A professionally edited, curated private gallery focused on you and your dog. Expect a beautiful mix of candid moments, epic environmental images, and natural portraits gathered across the full trip — not one rushed portrait session. The goal is simple: when your gallery arrives, you feel like the week was captured the way it deserved to be.

🖼️

Full Group Gallery

A separate group gallery from the expedition as a whole — shared moments, landscape scenes, camp life, candid interactions, and the story of the full adventure from start to finish.

Emily’s images are rooted in real connection, not stiff posing. Some of the most meaningful photographs happen in between the obvious moments — a glance, a pause, a dog leaning into you after a long day outside. That’s the kind of work she is always watching for.
Your Hosts

Bret Blakely
+ Emily Allen

Bret Blakely portrait

Bret Blakely

Adventure Host · Visual Storyteller · Creative Director
Landscape, wildlife, and adventure photographer with a gift for turning extraordinary places into unforgettable visual stories. Bret leads the expedition, shapes the visual direction of the trip, and brings the same entrepreneurial energy and eye for epic moments that have defined both his photography and the ventures he has built.
@bretblakely · bretblakely.com
Bret Blakely is a landscape, wildlife, and adventure photographer featured by Sony Alpha Universe, profiled in CanvasRebel Magazine, and highlighted in Terra Mano’s Stories From The Mountain series. He has created content for brands like Solo Stove, Airbnb, and luxury cabin properties — and previously co-founded OnCore Golf, whose investors include Josh Allen.
Emily Allen portrait

Emily Allen

Lead Host · Pet Storyteller · Portrait Experience
Founder of Tailor Mayde Pet Photography. Emily specializes in emotional storytelling between humans and animals, with years of experience photographing pets and people in both outdoor and backcountry environments.
@tailormayde_petphotog · tmpphotos.com
Emily brings a naturalist’s eye for authentic, unscripted moments. Her client roster includes the Buffalo Sabres, Westminster Dog Show competitors, and the winner of ABC’s Pooch Perfect. Every moment out there is an opportunity — and she won’t miss a single one.
Selected Work

What you take home.

The photographs below are a cross-section of what Bret and Emily create in the field. Every guest leaves Acadia with imagery shot in the same register — cinematic, emotional, built to outlast the memory itself.
Bret portfolio 1
Bret portfolio
Bret portfolio 2
Bret portfolio
Bret portfolio 3
Bret portfolio
Emily portfolio 1
Emily portfolio
Emily portfolio 2
Emily portfolio
Two wild horses rearing on hind legs — Emily Allen photography
Emily portfolio
Safety + Guides

You’re in good hands.
All of you.

Acadia Trails

All selected locations are dog-permitted, low-technical, and appropriate for guests of all fitness levels. Bret leads safety, pacing, and route decisions throughout.

Lubec + Cobscook Bay

The Bay of Fundy has the highest tidal range on earth. We partner with a certified local coastal guide for all tidal flat exploration. Non-negotiable — and part of what makes Lubec extraordinary.

Your Dogs

Dogs must be leash-trained, comfortable around other dogs, and on a leash no longer than 6 feet on Acadia trails per NPS policy.

Weather

Maine in October is spectacular and unpredictable. We build flexibility into every day. We never cancel a sunrise because of clouds — those are often the best ones.

Why Join The First Edition

This is not missing testimonials.
This is a first-edition advantage.

Founding expedition — be part of the very first Acadia + Lubec experience.
Hosted by two professional photographers with distinct specialties in landscape storytelling and pet portraiture.
Your trust comes from the strength of the work, the clarity of the experience, and the small-group design — not fake testimonials.
Founder note from Bret + Emily

We created this trip because we both believe the best parts of life happen outside — in beautiful places, with the people and animals we love most. We love travel. We love wild places. We love the kind of experiences that leave you changed in a quiet way. And we know that for a lot of people, the dog by their side is part of every memory that matters.

This trip is for people who want more than a vacation and more than a photo session. It is for people who want to stand somewhere extraordinary with their dog, feel fully present in it, and come home with memories that actually match what the experience felt like.

The first group matters because they help set the tone for everything this becomes. In an age where AI can generate almost anything, this is the kind of thing it cannot replicate: real weather, real adventure, real connection, and the feeling of sharing it with your dog in a place you will never forget.
How It Works

From application
to the image on your wall.

01

Apply — 5 minutes

A short application to tell us about you, your dog, and why this trip. We respond personally within 48 hours.

02

Pay deposit to reserve your spot

Once approved, you will receive a deposit link with a 72-hour hold window. Deposits are non-refundable and applied to your final balance.

03

Trip confirmed + pre-trip packet

Once the minimum guest threshold is reached, the trip locks in and you receive the full prep packet: gear, pet requirements, logistics, and expectations.

04

Final balance due 45 days out

Final payment closes 45 days before departure. Optional split-payment structure can be offered.

05

The trip. The film. The photos.

Your private gallery, group gallery, and cinematic trip film arrive within 14–21 days of the trip ending.

What’s Included

Everything in the price.

✦ 6 days of guided adventure in Acadia + Lubec
✦ All guided tidal flat exploration with certified local guide
✦ Your private edited gallery centered on you and your dog
✦ Cinematic trip film (60–90 seconds)
✦ Full group gallery — private online delivery
✦ Pre-trip prep packet + gear recommendations
✦ Bret + Emily as your hosts for all 6 days
✦ Ongoing documentation throughout the experience
Not included: lodging, travel, food, personal gear, and travel insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions before
you apply.

Do I need to be a photographer?

Not at all. Bret and Emily handle all professional documentation. The trip is designed for people who want to be in the experience, not behind a lens.

What kind of dog is this trip for?

Any dog that is leash-trained, comfortable around other dogs and people, and physically capable of 3–6 mile trail hikes.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderate fitness. Expect 4–6 miles on varied terrain with no technical climbing and no overnight backpacking.

What happens if the weather is bad?

We build flexibility into every day. Maine in October can be foggy, rainy, and dramatic — often producing the most extraordinary images. For night photography, we will always work from the conditions we actually have and pivot when needed.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Deposits are non-refundable. After final payment, refunds are only issued if the spot can be filled. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

When do I receive my photos and film?

Within 14–21 days of the trip ending via private online gallery and downloadable film delivery.

October is closer
than you think.

Ten spots. One trip. A film you will watch for the rest of your life.

Apply to Join
Questions? Email acadia@seektheepic.com
DM @bretblakely or @tailormayde_petphotog