Bridal Shoot

What an amazing shoot today...I partnered up with Kate Parker of Kate Parker Weddings in New Hampshire to have a little fun. These are a sneak peak from today's session. More to come and shots of the amazing talent of hair, makeup, dress, flowers etc that all come together to create this wonderful finished product. Its late and I will write more about all of these talented people tomorrow.

Until then, Enjoy!-Roxanne

4 Adorable Boys

I have been so horrible at posting...a new resolution-ok so its not Jan 1 but I don't want to wait for New Years..I am going to try to put up one session a day-if I make it three times a week, then I think I will be doing good...

Here are some shots of some cute brothers that came in the studio recently. Enjoy!

On a Personal Note....

As many of you have already heard, but yet still many of you have not, On May 23rd I lost my husband in an accident. The past several weeks have been the most difficult time in my life (and I have been through some tough spots in the past). I have returned to work about 3 weeks ago after taking about 5 weeks off to focus on myself and my children.

I am now more focused on my work than ever. For 2 reasons...first its a great distraction from thinking about the things I can not change. Second, I have a new perspective on just how truly fragile life is and that these moments in our lives pass us by all too quickly. I know that the photos of my husband have become even more precious to me now and will only continue to be more so as they are handed down through the generations of my family.

For my brides and grooms in the remaining months of 2009, you recently received my annual letter...these were on my desk to mailed when the accident occurred. The information is still pertinent and I am still very much looking forward to capturing your love for each other on your special day! Many of you are already like friends and it will be an honor to document this day for you.

I am posting my husband's obituary along with a collage I created for the funeral of our family. So many of you share your lives with me and don't know much about mine....

I am fortunate to have found a partner in life and a love like that I experienced with Dennis. My hope is that if you are reading this, that you too are lucky enough to experience this type of relationship in your lifetime as well.

As a quote from City of Angels states (and I substitute him for her)" I would rather have had one breath of his hair, one kiss from his mouth, one touch of his hand, than eternity without it."

He was the person that recently built my new studio (you can read about this in the previous posts) and a huge support to me in my business. I know my focus on my work is more important than ever and is what he would insist on (especially having spent 5 months of nights and weekends and a few vacation days building the new space).

Thank you to all of my current clients who patiently waited for me to return to schedule their shoots and to see their proofs as I have been catching up, to the wedding couples and their friends and families who have had to wait just a little longer than my norm to see the photos on line, and to all those clients, brides and grooms of past and present, business associates and the community for all of you offers of help and kind words throughout this past 2 months. I am truly a blessed woman. God bless you all. -Love, Roxanne

Dennis Maurice Bedard, 37, left this world all too soon on Saturday May 23, 2009 in a tragic accident at his home in Bowdoinham. He worked hard, played hard, and loved deeply. He changed the lives of many people, including some who never even knew his name. His motto was to always put others before himself. He was above all else, a dedicated father and husband.

He became a father to Nicholas Cody Bedard, at the young age of 18. He matured into an incredible man at a much younger age than most because of this. He raised Nick as a single father from the age of 4. An accomplishment he was proud of and wouldn’t have allowed any other way. He was very proud that Nick had made the decision to join the Air Force this year and looked forward to visiting him around the world.

In early 2004, he met “the love of his life and soul mate” as he referred to her. Ms. Roxanne Denise (Whitcomb) Ashey was proud to become Mrs. Roxanne Denise Bedard on October 22, 2005 in an intimate ceremony filled with sentiment, witnessed by 65 close family and friends. Also in that ceremony he became a father to two more children that he loved as if they were his own, a son, Ryan and a daughter, Sarah.

He most recently had been coaching Ryan’s lacrosse team for the past 2 seasons and was proud of Ryan’s progress. He was in his glory as it combined two of his greatest passions-his family and lacrosse. He made a special connection to the other kids on the team and always had great care and concern for their sportsmanship as well as their skills. He was looking forward to watching their high school lacrosse careers.

Having come from a family of all boys and having a son himself, he was a little intimidated by this little girl who entered in his life but she very quickly became “daddy’s little girl”, every night after work he would come home and his face would light up as soon as she entered the room.

His third passion in life was playing bass guitar. He had the music in his blood and was an accomplished musician. He enjoyed classic and hard rock especially and had been thrilled to be playing out again recently.

Over the past few years he enjoyed traveling to Washington D.C., Quebec, Florida and Aruba with his wife and children. Rangeley had become the family’s special place. He enjoyed downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ATVing, boating, waterskiing, swimming in the pool at home, snorkeling, watching both boys play lacrosse, coaching, fishing, hunting, building things, the company of good friends, and being at home with his wife and kids.

He was the partner and strength in his wife’s business and proud of his own personal achievements as a manager at Max Finkelstein. He was well respected for his automotive knowledge and could fix anything. He leaves a life that was being lived to its fullest, and an example for all who knew him to try and be more like him.

His family and friends were his entire world. He was a loving and dedicated son to Anita and Robert Bedard of Sabattus who deeply miss him. He was the baby brother that was always there when needed by his older brothers, Ricky Bedard and his wife Alarice of Manchester, Maine and Normand Bedard of Auburn. He was a loving uncle to Brynna Bedard and Amanda Bedard Saunders and her husband, Mike. He loved his young great-nephew, Folken like a grandchild. He was heartbroken when he lost his oldest brother “Ronnie”, in an accident in 1994. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He has left an enormous void in the lives of his “other parents” Emery and Roberta Whitcomb of Monroe and his sister in law Trudy Glidden and her husband Mark of Orrington. He will be greatly missed by his friends, they were like brothers to him and they know who they are.

Visiting Hours with the family are open to all from 2-4 and 6-8pm on Friday June 5th. A Celebration of his Life will be held on his 38th birthday, Tuesday, June 9th at 2pm. Both located at Brackett Funeral Home 29 Federal Street Brunswick, Maine.

A reception immediately following the June 9th service will be held at the Topsham Legion Hall on Foreside Road across from the field where he coached. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Dennis Bedard Memorial Fund c/o AFCU PO Box 327 Topsham, Maine 04086. A scoreboard and other items for his lacrosse team will be purchased in his memory.

Ribbon Cutting

Here are a few photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony and the open house last Friday, May 8th. (Thank you to my friend and fellow photog Michele Stapleton for taking these).

The town of Topsham has been super in welcoming me across the river. I feel as if I have "come home" at this new location...and the comments from current clients who have seen me at my previous location, all had similar responses, saying it feels so homey, warm and comfortable...and that is just the atmosphere I want everyone to feel when coming to Roxanne Ashey Photography...if you haven't been in yet, call for an appointment and see for yourself.










And as if it were a sign that this was the right decision to move....a DOUBLE rainbow appeared half way through the open house...I grabbed the camera and shot these out the front door as family and friends and clients all stopped the conversations and just awed at the sight out the window...rainbows this pronounced are rare enough but double ones are very rare...so follow the rainbow...it leads to my door :)

Some Pictures of the new studio

If you aren't a facebook fan, then you haven't seen these yet (and you should add us to your facebook!)...but here are some shots of the new location in Topsham...

BEFORE

This was just after one coat of paint was on the walls and the interior walls were starting to go up...so consumed with the move (there was more to this then I can tell you...but everything worked out) that I didn't realize how few before photos I took! This had been a raquetball court...my husband (the talented man he is) made the entire conversion except for creating the front entrance and window...we had some help from friends and family and I just want to say thank you to everyone that has helped, especially Dennis...you are one in a million and I am so glad to have you in my life...I love you!

Grand Reopening/Open House

The new space is open-in fact I have already had about 15 photo shoots in the past 6 weeks!

I love the openness-and everyone that comes in, especially those that had seen my other location-LOVE IT!

Still a few things to do-have had to wait for spring for some of the exterior items-not easy moving into a new space in the end of January, especially when it was never an office suite before! The walkway still needs to be laid, some painting in warmer temps needs to be done, etc etc.

I am excited to show it off, it was a lot of work, but very worth it. So I have finally set a date...

Mark your calendar everyone! Friday May 8th, 2009 from 3-7 pm I will be hosting the official re-opening of my new location and an Open House for everyone to come and check out the space.


I have partnered with Tony Cox, a fellow Bowdoinham resident and all around nice guy, from Casco Bay frames in Portland, to add a new dimension to Roxanne Ashey Photography. Everything covering the walls will be framed by Casco Bay Frames. My studio is now offering framing services through Casco Bay Frames. Come look for yourself to see the great selection of styles, quality, and price.



I am looking forward to May 8th, seeing all of you, and kicking off the start of the warmer season!

Attention Facebook Fans

Roxanne Ashey Photography has a page and a group on Facebook and would love to have you become a fan of the page or join the group, or both! Just click on each link and it will take you there. You can find me there as Roxanne Bedard...



Happy Facebooking!

Best Of Maine Weddings-Season 2

Well another year has past, and the show has been running for a few weeks now, but incase you haven't seen it or if you don't live in the area...here is my segment on this years season of The Best of Maine Weddings. Happy viewing!

New Year-New Location!!

I have MOVED!!! I am so excited...I left my space inside Fort Andross (the old mill) in Brunswick and just opened a brand new space in Topsham.

It's only about a mile from my old location, on the same road even...but the parking is better, the street visibility is better, and I was able to make the space more my own-I love the new wall colors and hardwood floors!!

I can't wait to show it off...but there is still some unpacking and trim work to finish but we are almost there. My husband and I, with the help of a few others, have made quite a transformation of this space in just 2 weeks. I will post photos soon..maybe in a couple more weeks-when its picture perfect.

Thank you to my clients that have been patiently waiting while I had to stop taking portraits in the studio during the transition... I hope to be able to start shooting again later this week-and boy am I looking forward to it..its bigger, brighter, and I can already feel the new creative energy!

Stay tuned for the announcement of my Open House date in a month or so and some incredible offers too!