Gabby and Moe are two of the kindest, most incredible humans I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. These two wanted an intimate celebration of love and diversity. The pair got ready at an incredible summer resort, very dirty dancing vibes! We ate sandwiches while everyone slowly got ready and just enjoyed everyone’s company. It was such a joy to experience everyone’s beautiful energy and love towards the couple. They did a beautiful first look and exchanged gifts before we meandered around the property for photos. Heading to the ceremony and reception space it was great to see the buzz of last minute details being finalized. A huge part of their wedding was activism and inclusion. They offered pronoun buttons for folks to wear to create a safe space for community and also offered all gender neutral bathrooms. It was so lovely seeing the personal touches added throughout the whole day. I think the photos speak for themselves, so just enjoy!

To learn more and see more of Liv’s work check out the links below!

Jasmine and Cady // West Michigan // LGBT Engagement Photography

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Dan and Paul | Stetson Chapel | LGBT Wedding Photographer

 

Hey y’all! I’ve had a lot of interest in what my fave beauty products have been! I’ve been diving into makeup and skincare a bit more as a way to focus on myself and feel good! These items are some of my tried and true favorites that I always go back to. Obviously I have different skin needs than some people, I tend to be a little on the dry side so moisture is a huge thing for me. These items will link to Amazon if you’re interested in trying them for yourself!

This Pacifica serum is AMAZING! It’s scent is subtle but it adds a touch of glow while making me feel super hydrated! The texture is more of a gel than a serum but a little goes a long way! I love this brand especially because everything they have is vegan and cruelty free which is an added bonus.

Simple brand is another go to for skincare that feels good. These wipes are more refreshing than makeup removing but I love throwing some in my bag especially on trips to feel clean and fresh. There’s a slight clean scent but I don’t think it would be enough to irritate sensitive skin.

These are my GO TO makeup removing wipes. A ton of people in the beauty community swear by them and I totally get why. They aren’t super expensive and I always have them on hand in my makeup station. These ones remove better than the simple ones listed above, both are great but serve different purposes.

Ecotools hands down has the best and sturdiest brushes I’ve used. They used to have a duo brush set that was for eyeshadows, this set has the same brushes just individually. I love that they are made of bamboo and the quality of the brush hairs themselves is super nice.

I’m a face mask lover! This value pack has tons of really neat formulas and is really inexpensive. I also usually send these to clients to spoil them before the wedding too! Everyone loves a good face mask and they make great quick gifts to have on hand too!

This is like the weirdest thing on the list but truly it works! I have SUPER thick hair, so thick that every single time I get my hair cut the stylist is shocked. I have thick hair but also a ton of it, so a sturdy detangling brush is necessary. This one for whatever reason works perfect and is easy to clean too.

Mirrors can be pricey but honestly it’s a game changer. I do my makeup and skincare routines at my office desk so this type of mirror is super needed. The light is helpful and having a way to get close up is great!

Like I said my skin is dry so when I went into a beauty store this spring they suggested this one. I love how well it soaks in and just feels like a drink for my face. It lasts a super long time too, I’m just now finishing up my first jar from April. If you are looking for one step skincare I can’t recommend this enough!

Keeping my stuff organized is key especially because I do all my beauty stuff in my office. This organizer stores all of my nail stuff which surprisingly is a lot of stuff! I like that it’s see through too so it’s easy to grab what I need quickly.

Speaking of organizing, a tiered cart has changed everything for me in terms of convenience.  This isn’t the exact one I have but is really similar. I’m able to leave my makeup stuff all organized next to my desk and then pull it beside me when I’m actually getting ready. Similar to the nail organizer above it’s nice because I can see everything I need and grab it.

This isn’t a complete list but just some of my go to items I can’t live without. It’s taken a little experimenting to see what works for me but all of these things work together to make me feel put together and pampered for relatively cheap! I hope you’re able to find some new faves out of these things and would love to hear what works for you!

Ellie and Martín have such a beautiful relationship that I was honored to photograph. Their wedding, held at Boatwerks Restaurant in Holland, Michigan was a perfect blend of their cultures and love for each other. Ellie told me they wanted it to feel like a tropical getaway without the destination wedding price. I think they did a stunning job, thanks in part to the gorgeous florals from Stems Market. I loved the modern fiesta vibe and the bright colors paired with neutral backdrops to create a fun environment. It was such a joy to witness and capture their nuptials and I’m so eager to see how they grow together in the future!

Julia and Robert were referred to me by a dear friend who thought my style and personality would mesh well with theirs. Well they were right and during Julia and Robert’s engagement session we hit it off. We had chatted back then about the woodland ethereal feel the couple wanted for their day. I knew it would be incredible and they didn’t disappoint. The florals that dripped from every inch of the setup from Brennan at Overgrowth Floral were so dreamy. I mean take a look at that completely handmade arch! I loved the elevated backyard feel that the venue and their personal touches gave. I’m just so giddy with how everything turned out and I got some pretty kick ass friends out of it!

 

Dajanae and Herman celebrated their love with their closest friends and family at the Bissell Treehouse. It was so inspiring seeing their friends share stories of how much the couple had impacted their lives. From the beginning Dajanae said this was not just a wedding, but a thank you, to everyone in their lives. That mindset was clear throughout the whole day. I was blown away by the florals and how perfectly their vision came to life! It’s pretty clear to see just how much these two love each other, it was such a fun time!

To learn more and book Liv for your wedding check out the website or the blog posts linked below!

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Day and Herman | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

Josh and Ashley | Meijer Gardens, MI | Grand Rapids Elopement Photographer

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I knew Katrina when I was in middle school, we had met through a mutual friend (the maid of honor!) and when she and Sasha reached out years later about photographing their Loft 310 wedding I was SO pumped. I absolutely love connecting with couples that I know and getting to capture their love. It was clear when we me up for their Engagement Session that their wedding would be spectacular and they totally didn’t disappoint. Loft 310 is a great venue, the best in Kalamazoo I think. They offer such gorgeous spaces to allow couples to really cater their wedding to their personal taste. I loved that these two didn’t feel obligated to do any traditions they didn’t want. It just felt like a huge celebration of love and friendship. Sasha and Katrina are a perfect pair and their big day matched that perfection, thank you for allowing me to be there to capture it!

To learn more and see more of Liv Lyszyk Photography’s work check out the blog posts below or go to the website!

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Nikki and Carolyn | Delton, MI | Queer Wedding Photographer

Hollis and Kenny | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

 

I did it! I failed. I went from 24 weddings in 2018 to 19 for this season. My goal was 20 and I failed. So what happened when I didn’t reach my goal? Not much. To be honest I kind of expected my career to fall apart and the world to crumble around me. But you know what? My career is still there and I’m doing ok.

I’m a goal setter. Each year in my off season I look at my books from the previous year and plan out how I want to do even better. My goal for 2019 was 20 weddings. A goal I thought would be hit by the end of January, but here we are half way through the season still at 19. I think part of why the number 20 was so stuck in my head is the fact that the number of weddings each year is a benchmark for my success. When people who don’t understand the full scope of wedding photography ask about my job the first question is “how many weddings do you have this year?” And I think no matter what that number is people would still be impressed. But, when it comes to the photography community, which can be pretty cutthroat, that number feels small.

So how did I come to be ok with my perceived disaster. I thought about the 19 couples who trusted me. Who chose me. Who are allowing me to be a huge part of shaping their legacy during an important time in their lives. Those 19 couples don’t give a shit how many weddings I have. In fact, having fewer weddings coupled with going full time allows me to invest my time and energy even more into helping them plan their days. I also thought about little Liv. How proud she would be of me, pushing through all the bullshit that made her question if she would even be around to have a career.

Our society is built on hustle. It’s long work weeks, no time off, letting ourselves go uncared for in the name of success. When did it become a bragging right to say you take no days off? I’ve built my career around the life I want to live. Because of my career I’m able to go on vacations with my partner, I’m able to be at home to care for our pets, I’m able to grab coffee with a friend and not miss out on my payday. I’ve been able to take the time to focus on my physical and mental health more. The things I’ve gained from this career, and specifically this year, are not measurable by numbers. It’s the things I’ve gained from my friendships and relationship that truly mark my success.

I know that this year and that goal won’t be the only one I perceive as failure. Life is all about seasons, and without this season of “failure” I wouldn’t be working so hard on making myself better. We can’t fault ourselves for doing the best we can with the resources we have. So take it from me, failures aren’t really failures, they are opportunities to learn and grow. I’m glad I failed.

Liz and Dan are the perfect match. Their punny sense of humor shines through in everything they do, and their wedding day was no exception. I loved how positive and uplifting of a day it was. Their ceremony took place at City Life Church in downtown Grand Rapids. Their home church that means so much to them. Music filled the air and pure joy as they signed their license and made it OFFICIAL official. We then headed to Sparta, Dan’s stomping grounds, and celebrated at Long Lake Park. This is a gorgeous park with a super neat pavilion area for them to set up the reception. One of their favorite bands played as we enjoyed Two Scott’s BBQ for dinner. These two danced the night away and we roamed through the park to grab some more photos. I’m so glad these two found and chose me to be their photographer. It was the perfect laid back and fun wedding and I know Liz and Dan have so many great years ahead of them!

To learn more and see more work from Liv head to the Website or check out the blog posts linked below

Josh and Ashley | Meijer Gardens, MI | Grand Rapids Elopement Photographer

Ashlee and Allison | West Olive, MI | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Hollis and Kenny | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

 

Hollis and Kenny are two of the most fun and chill people I’ve worked with. Immediately we clicked and photographing them was a breeze! I’m going to be photographing their Belle Isle wedding next year and if it’s anything like this session I’m in for a real treat. We explored the industrial district of Grand Rapids near the river and had a blast. The sun was stunning and cooperated so well for us to get some stunning sunset shots. Enjoy some of my favorite frames!

To hire Liv as your engagement or wedding photographer check out the website and click the other blog posts below!

Jasmine and Cady // West Michigan // LGBT Engagement Photography

Dan and Paul | Stetson Chapel | LGBT Wedding Photographer

Nikki and Carolyn | Delton, MI | Queer Wedding Photographer

Ashlee and Allison’s wedding will always hold a special spot in my heart. It was truly the biggest honor being chosen by the professor who taught me so much about photography to photograph something so important. When looking for photographers having someone who was part of the lgbtq community was important to them and I was happy to be their lgbt wedding photographer! I had already photographed them last fall for a brewery engagement session and seeing their love for each other and general photogenic personalities made me so excited for the wedding.

The couple

When I asked them about their love story they told me “In classic lesbian style we actually were dating other people at the time we met at LEZ Connect. After a couple of years of friendship and breakups we connected and realized that we were what each other was missing. It was crazy to think each other was there the whole time and we never knew it. From there everything fit into place – our families, our dreams, and our paths. The rest is just history!” I absolutely love how they found each other when the timing was right.

The wedding

The wedding was held at Camp Blodgett in West Olive. The venue is set back by the beach with a stunning view of Lake Michigan. The couple chose a blush and floral theme to the day and did tons of appetizers rather than a full sit down meal. Guests were welcomed by a cocktail hour before the wedding which got everyone excited to take their beverage out to the deck and witness the stunning ceremony. The deck overlooks the lake and during the ceremony the reading of the supreme court decision that made marriage equality the law of the land had tears in everyone’s eyes.

I’m so excited to share these images and celebrate such a special union. Ashlee and Allison make me proud to be an lgbt wedding photographer and be able to celebrate love like theirs.

To hire Liv as your LGBT wedding photographer check out the website or the blog posts below!

Nikki and Carolyn | Delton, MI | Queer Wedding Photographer

Jasmine and Cady // West Michigan // LGBT Engagement Photography

Morgan and Abe // Camp Merrie Woode // Michigan Wedding Photographers