Starting as Sawyer Rose Photography and Pirate Cove photography, we have merged and melded our wedded skills into...

Harvey & Co. Mercantile — a veteran-owned, Maine-based small business built on creativity, healing, craftsmanship, and the belief that handmade things still matter.

If you had told us a few years ago that we’d someday be building a Maine-based photography and apothecary business together, we probably would have laughed… mostly because we were busy making candles in a shed and accidentally buying too many craft supplies.

But here we are.

At the heart of our business is photography. Long before we ever poured wax or blended beard oils, we both found ourselves drawn to cameras. Photography became a way to slow down, pay attention, and hold onto moments that otherwise disappear too quickly. From windswept coastal Maine landscapes and the excitement of street photography, to family milestones, portraits, events, and candid in-between moments, photography taught us to stay present and appreciate the beauty that already exists around us. That same creativity eventually found its way into crafting.

For Justin, candle-making began after a difficult chapter in life. What started as experimenting with wax and scents in the shed at his grandmother’s house slowly became something therapeutic — a quiet process of rebuilding, creating, and finding peace again. For Lacey, jewelry-making came during trauma treatment and the practice of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), where learning to create with her hands became grounding, calming, and deeply meaningful.

Some people go to therapy, and we did that too! We just also apparently cope by procuring wax melts, wire cutters, beard balm tins, and enough fragrance oils to accidentally turn the house into a pirate-themed apothecary.

And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today, Harvey & Co. Mercantile combines our love for photography, handmade goods, and authentic craftsmanship. We are currently expanding our growing line of Maine-inspired apothecary products, including:

Handmade candles

Artisan soaps

Beard oils, balms, and salves

Custom handmade jewelry

Small-batch home and self-care goods

Whenever possible, we prioritize locally sourced ingredients and materials, supporting other small businesses and makers here in Maine. We believe products should feel personal — not mass-produced — and that the stories behind the things we buy still matter.

Our style is heavily inspired by the Maine coast, old mercantile shops, apothecaries, fishing villages, weathered wood, salt air, and a little bit of rugged nautical charm. Somewhere between “local artisan market” and “slightly haunted ship captain’s cabin” is probably the best way to describe our aesthetic.And while we’re still very much in the early stages of this adventure, we’re building this business with our family in mind. Between the two of us, we have five children, and one of our greatest hopes is that Harvey & Co. Mercantile becomes something they someday contribute to in their own unique ways — whether through photography, art, crafting, music, storytelling, or ideas we haven’t even imagined yet.

At the end of the day, this business isn’t just about products or photographs. It’s about creating meaningful things.Capturing moments people never want to forget.Building a life rooted in creativity and connection.And maybe making your house smell really good in the process. So whether you found us while searching for a Maine photographer, handmade candles, artisan beard care, custom jewelry, or just wandered into our little corner of the internet by accident — we’re grateful you’re here.

Thanks for following along while we figure this whole thing out one photo, candle, and questionable amount of craft supplies at a time.

— Justin & Lacey

Harvey & Co. Mercantile