The holidays can be a tough time for the LGBTQ community. So this styled shoot celebrates the warmth of love in the midst of darkness! Samantha and Brianna were the perfect models, their relationship is so sweet and Samantha’s sense of humor is perfection. When dreaming up this styled shoot I wanted to layer warm colors with both vintage and modern style influences. The dresses provided by BIANKA Bridal coordinated so perfectly without matching. I loved the layers of softness on Brianna’s gown with the more structured texture of Samantha’s. The tablescape had elements of nature brought in that set off the gold chargers and place settings from West Michigan Rental Company as well as soft hand lettering done by Zoey Devine! We can’t forget the amazing florals from Posh Petals that were even more gorgeous than I could have imagined! To round everything out the small but mighty gold lead semi-naked cake baked with love at The Cakabakery tasted just as luxurious as it looked.

This whole vision came to life so perfectly and I’m immensely proud of all of the vendors and people who helped it come to fruition. The idea that people experience such a hard time finding inclusive vendors in this day and age breaks my heart. We literally have a supreme court case that is deciding whether people can be turned away simply because they are LGBTQ and planning a wedding. If anyone in the area is looking for progressive vendors who embody diversity please hire the vendors used for this shoot! Everyone deserves a beautiful day filled with love ones, no matter who they are.

I met Lindsey my freshman year of college and we bonded over lunch, stressful classes, and the excitement of her pregnancy with her first born son. Throughout the year we became super close and meeting Aidan for the first time at the hospital was so special! Fast forward to this fall and Lindsey contacted me about doing family photos for them! It was the first time I had met Ruben but seeing him interact with Aidan and Lindsey made it clear how special of a guy he is. Although life has gotten crazy the last few years and we don’t talk very much I love keeping up with her life and accomplishments! She truly has beaten all obstacles and is crushing her biggest goals! I’m so proud to know such a strong mama and loving family!

I’ve had the privilege of working with the lovely ladies over at Dynamic Essence a few times now! In fact you might recognize Lisa and Brit from their beautiful greenhouse wedding this past February. They have both been working super hard and have just recently opened up their own chiropractic center in Grand Rapids! Hearing them talk about this dream at their wedding makes it so special to see it come to life! These team photos, taken right before the grand opening, were so much fun! Their focus on being in tune with your body and nature is a mission I can definitely get behind. It’s so exciting watching this family grow and fulfill their purpose and I’m so grateful to capture the moments along the way!

Videography: Ashley Kalin

I’ve known Gene and Paula my whole life, in fact they are family! I was super excited when they asked me to do a quick anniversary session for them. These two celebrated 50 years of marriage this year and it’s not surprising when you see them together. Their sweet personalities compliment each other so well and I’ve looked up to them for a long time. We decided to get some photos with my aging grandmother while we were all home too, you’ll see those at the end. I love when work doesn’t feel like work and I’m able to share my passion with loved ones. Even if these two live the furthest away out of all of our family it’s so special when they come to see us in Michigan!

I’ve known Jason and Janine pretty much my whole life, I grew up in the church they attended for many years. When I was younger they were the first family I really got to witness go through the adoption process. As a little kid I was amazed by their capacity to love and care for a child that wasn’t biologically theirs. It taught me so much about what family really means. Getting to photograph their now family of 5 was such an honor.

Jason is an avid outdoorsmen so seeing him interact with his girls and showing them all about the plants and wildlife we encountered during our session was so sweet. These girls are so full of spunk and balance sweet and thoughtful Isaac so well. His care and concern for them was great to capture. Janine is the same warm and friendly person I knew years ago, she is the perfect mother for her children and a partner to Jason.

One of the things I love most about family sessions is how different each one is. With this session the kids were all about exploring and showing me tons of places they wanted their photo taken. I was happy that they got involved in the process and were able to enjoy it as much as I did!

Sammie reached out to me after finding a few photographers who weren’t experienced or comfortable with working with LGBTQ couples. As much as it saddens me that some people still have problems with it, I love getting to work with these couples and giving them the treatment and experience they deserve! We instantly clicked and Sammie’s bubbly personality got me so excited to work with them! They woke up at the butt crack of dawn and met me in Kalamazoo for this sweet fall couples session.

Interested in learning more about my availability for your wedding? Head over to https://livlyszyk.com/ and click on booking to shoot me a message!

When Rachael reached out to book her session with me I was floored. I had offered up a canceled mini session spot in Kalamazoo and Rachael, from Grand Ledge said she wanted to take it! They drove all the way from Grand Ledge to get their family photos taken by me, an honor I didn’t think I deserved. Rachael is a photographer herself so I had put a lot of pressure on myself but when we first met it was as if I knew her for years. It was such fun chatting with her as we walked around Asylum Lake Preserve.

Their daughters are so full of spunk and personality and warmed up to the camera right away! You can tell they have a momma who loves photographing them. I was so glad that we were able to get out and enjoy the fall weather! These photos totally sum up the joy and love that this family has, they were all so great to work with and I really hope we can do it again soon!

On the eve of my 22nd birthday I find myself reflecting on all that I’ve learned, accomplished, and failed at so far in life. I figured since I love lists so much I might as well compile one and share it. So here we go, 21 things I’ve learned in 21 years.

1: Age is just a number

It might surprise you, depending on how well you know me, that I’m only turning 22. I’ve often used the “twenty-something” descriptor in order to be taken more seriously and hide the fact that I’m so young. But honestly, screw that! I’ve accomplished a lot in my 21 years and that number doesn’t determine my worth or legitimacy.

2: Find your voice and use it

This year I’ve been very vocal about my shift into being a visibly equality minded business. As a queer woman (see point 6), it’s important to me to use my voice and stand tall for my beliefs. It does no one any good by keeping quiet.

3: Sometimes you still need your mom

My mom and I have had a shift in our relationship as I’ve moved away, and even though we don’t talk constantly (mostly because my life is pretty boring day to day) I still find myself needing her. We took a mother daughter trip this summer (see photo below) and it was such a fun experience! No matter how old I get I know our bond will be special!

4: Taking a day during the week to refocus is key

Wednesdays are generally my days where I don’t look at work stuff. I focus on recharging during the middle of the week and quite honestly it’s what keeps me somewhat sane.

5: It’s ok to let go of toxic relationships

I’ve learned that letting go of relationships that do me more harm than good is the best act of self care. I need to be the best me in order to serve others well and if I find myself worrying over a situation in a relationship for too long I let it go. Not to say I stop talking to friends without reason, but if I feel in my gut that it’s not serving me in any way then it’s ok to move forward.

6: Identities shift and change as we age

When I first came out in middle school I had no idea that my identity would shift and change so much. Essentially I’m back to where I was when I first came out, but I had to remain open to myself and my identity as it changed. There is nothing wrong with growth!

7: It’s ok to have Taco Bell breakfast if you’re having a bad day

8: Even if you don’t like wine now eventually you’ll probably find one you love (St. Ambrose Cellars Secret Beach)

9: Holidays are still the best time of the year

10: Learning your Love Language is life changing

If you haven’t heard of the 5 Love Languages drop everything and google it! My love language is acts of service (I literally asked Maxx to clean the house for my birthday present). It helps me communicate my desires and needs better as well as understand where I might be missing the mark for my partner’s needs.

11: Get a good night of sleep every night

I’m already over the stage of staying up late and sleeping in. I’ve learned I’m most productive in the morning (see next bullet point) so it’s way healthier for me to be going to sleep at the same time and waking up at the same time every day. I feel refreshed and know exactly how to plan out my day.

12: Have a morning routine and stick to it

My morning begins with the same things each day. It helps me prepare myself for the day and get the most important things out of the way first thing.

13: You will “fail”

14: You will “succeed” 

15: No matter what find a lesson in all that you do

16: Sometimes you’ll be scared

If you feel scared to do something, most likely it’s super worth it. Take chances on life and do the things that terrify you. Obviously don’t put yourself in real danger, but my best moments were often the scariest! I have an amazing support system so the scary things become pretty easy. Even if it doesn’t work out perfectly, refer to bullet point 15.

17: Don’t compare your life path with anyone else

I often find myself wondering when I’ll be able to go full time into photography, when I’ll get married, have kids, but I have to remind myself my timeline in life is different than everyone else. The internet makes it nearly impossible to stop the comparison game, I’m getting better, but it’s often a daily struggle.

18: Mental health isn’t something to be ashamed of

As someone with an assortment of mental health “issues” I’ve learned to not be afraid of it and embrace it. Will I always have some sort of level of depression? Maybe. Will I always have anxiety? Most likely. I’ve tried to learn my triggers and combat them. One thing that I struggle with a lot is the changing of seasons. I got a sunlight lamp for my desk and I’ve noticed it helping already!

19: Always say thank you

I’ve gotten further in life by saying thank you than anything else. Sending thank you notes for referrals, treating someone to coffee, sharing photos with vendors, the list goes on. People recognize kindness and gratitude and it will come back to you ten fold.

20: Always say “I love you” at the end of phone calls

In my life I’ve lost a handful of close family members, some very unexpectedly. I always end phone calls with an “I love you” because I don’t know when it will be the last time I say that.

21: Celebrate everything

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day things, but I try and remember to celebrate victories, no matter how small. This year I graduated college, jumped into my business head first, celebrated 3 years with an amazing partner, made so many new friends. All of these things are celebration worthy! I think that’s why I love birthdays so much, it’s a time when everyone remembers to celebrate!

So if you’ve made it to the bottom of this list kudos to you! I’m thankful for the space to share my thoughts and even more thankful that people read it! It’s been an incredibly exciting year and I have so many fun things planned for my 22nd year of life. I hope that you’ll stick around for the journey and share in all of my celebrations!

When I met Eleni at my day job we instantly clicked. She lit up telling me about her son and I was so exited when she asked me to do his 2 year photos. She knew she wanted something less posed and focused on those candid moments. We headed out to Riverside Park in Grand Rapids and let Carl run around on the playground. I think it’s pretty obvious that he had a great time! This kid loves smiling and chasing geese. I’m so thankful to have met Eleni and gotten the opportunity to work with them!