Meet Suzy Van Dyke

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi there! My name is Suzy VanDyke, and my husband & I are full time wedding photographers. Our studio is smack dab in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, but we are so blessed to travel all over the world shooting gorgeous weddings! I love Jesus and seek to honor Him with my whole life. I’m involved in all sorts of things related to photography and ministry – sometimes it’s hard to keep them straight! ;) I lead the SoCal small group for Pursuit 31 (a Christian women’s photography group + so much more) and help coordinate the Pursuit 31 Conference each year. I’m also involved in my church’s high school ministry, lead small groups, and help at our fabulous summer camp. I’m so thankful for these opportunities to meet amazing women and encourage eachother in the Lord! My perfect day would be a trip to Ventura with my hubs, snuggling on the sand enjoying the ocean breeze with some hot coffee, followed by thrifting downtown at all the cool shops, and then surfing in the afternoon!

2. Where is home? My dad was in the Navy growing up, so I’ve lived in many places including Central America, NY, GA & KY, but right now I’m so happy to call California home! :)

3. A website/blog you frequently visit. I love Green Wedding Shoes because Jen always has the most gorgeous, unique weddings! When our photos get featured on her blog, I jump up and down with excitement! ;)

4. If you could have lunch with one person who would be. One person? If I could only pick one person in the WHOLE WORLD it would be my sweet hubs… but I don’t think that’s what you mean ;) If I could have lunch with one person it would probably be my pastor John MacArthur. He’s been teaching God’s Word for over 50 years and has preached through the entire New Testament verse by verse. A lunch with him would be so cool!

5. What are five words friends would use to describe you. I had to ask my friend for this one. Bubbly. Sweet. Loyal. Energetic. Creative.

6. Where do you see yourself five years from now? Still living here in sunny California, and still volunteering in my church high school group, I love them so much! Maybe teaching more (we host a few workshops a year) and mayyyybe a mom ;)

7. If you had to choose one lens, which one would it be? One lens for a wedding day: 24-70, because it’s so versatile. One lens that’s my favorite right now, 85 1.2

8. What’s in your camera bag? 24-70, 85 1.2, 70-200

9. How long have you been doing photography? Our business, Lukas & Suzy VanDyke Photography has been around ten years, but I learned how to shoot when I married Lukas 3 1/2 years ago, and he taught me everything I know! Well, almost everything ;)

10. What type of photography do you focus on? We exclusively do weddings and engagements – it’s so fun!

11. Did you go to photography school? Nope

12. What advice would you give to your 15 year old self? I think being a teen is difficult, especially in the world we live in today that prioritizes self-gratification above everything else. To believe something different is so totally counter-cultural, to submit your life to Jesus Christ and live for honoring Him is unheard of. As a teen in a small town, I struggled with feeling like I was the only one going through the trials in my life and seeking to truly live for Jesus. Looking back, I would tell myself: “Trust in the Lord through the trials. God is bigger than your circumstances and is loving and trustworthy. He has purposed where you are right now. He is working all things together for your good, and cares about your heart and attitude before Him. Nothing is beyond His control.”

13. How does your relationship with God affect the way you do business? My relationship with God has everything to do with how we run our business. It is what motivates us to do everything honestly, whether reporting tax information or talking with a client. It is the foundation of our respect and love for our brides and grooms because we seek to be like Jesus to them and shine His love and truth into their lives. Through any frustrations in our business, my relationship with God and knowing that He has purposes for me and a plan for my life is what keeps me trusting Him in all things.

14. Favorite verse? Hard one! Right now, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ” -1 Corinthians 10:12-14. This verse encourages me so much because it reminds me that I can handle situations without sinning through His power. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit changes you from the inside out!

15. How would you describe your style? Editorial, clean, and classy

16. Who or what is the greatest love of your life. First Jesus, because He saved me when I was dead in my sins, and has redeemed me so that I am a beloved daughter of God. He has given me a new heart and identity and I am so thankful!! Secondly, my husband, who is the most amazing gift I have ever been given. He shows me in his everyday life what it looks like to honor the Lord.

17. Who has been the most influential person in your life?  My parents – they raised me with an understanding of who God is and why we need Jesus to be saved. I am so thankful for their faithfulness to raise me looking to God and His Word for the answers about life.

18. If you could shoot with another photographer, who would it be? Kristin Wall and Karen Stott – cause we would have SO MUCH FUN!!!!

19. Where do you find your inspiration? I find my inspiration in random things in the everyday world. For example, I hosted a stylized shootout for photographers in Kentucky last week, and decided to tie in a subtle mismatched fabric theme. I had never seen anything like that before, I had just gotten the idea when I was looking at an antique sewing station and my mom’s old fabrics she had collected over the years.

20. If you could choose one person to photograph, who would it be? A couple who had never gotten any wedding photos. It would be amazing to do a session with them because I know they would cherish the images and it would be meaningful since they didn’t have any from their special day.

WEBSITE: www.lukasandsuzy.com
BLOG: www.lukasandsuzy.com/blog
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/susannah.vandyke
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lukasandsuzy
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/susannahvandyke/