Shelby Tsika Photography

03/04/2026

Our girl is here, praise the Lord! Olivia Louetta Marquardt arrived at 12:28 AM on February 28th, changing our world forever 🫶🏼

02/24/2026

38 weeks post to remember the belly! We are ready for you, baby girl!

01/17/2026

A few snaps from this pregnancy since we are 33 weeks on Monday! I really didn’t know if I would be okay. If she would. But here we are, almost at the end!

These pictures feature:
- finally exploring our new city and the beautiful parks!
- an incredibly sick first 20 weeks
- Cody & Margo literally being the cutest
- an incredibly debilitating second trimester, complete with the worst OCD flare of my life (thank you, hormones) and panic attacks that required me to have a lot of support and start medication
- ultrasounds that made me cry
- books that helped me through
- Margo being my bff during the hardest times
- Walks with headphones and feeling better
- Cody putting together all the things
- my baby shower in college station 🫶🏼

If you’re going through a mentally and physically hard pregnancy, especially after infertility, and you see the baby moon pictures and joyful moments from others on this app that you can’t have right now… know that if your expectations are not met… God still sees you. He is still holding your story. He is still working through it and teaching you irreplaceable and holy things if you pay attention. Thank you, Jesus, for never leaving me. Thank you for grabbing my attention. Thank you for this answered prayer. 🤎

12/07/2025

After years of praying, hoping, and enduring tests and treatments, God surprised us with a little life out of the blue… when we weren’t even paying attention! Our girl will be here in early March! 🌼🌿🌸

This pregnancy after infertility has been so difficult. It has held almost-procedures, rushed high risk visits and scares, miracles, sadness, joy, deep pain, bright hope, and struggle. We are both healthy and doing well as we enter the third trimester next week - I never thought we would get here 😭 The gratitude I have for The Lord and Cody in this season is immeasurable. While it has not looked at all like I thought, as this little girl kicks in my tummy, I am overwhelmed.

God is good, not because of our circumstances, but because when He has been silent or said ‘no’ throughout this journey… He has never left me without strength for my weakest days, comfort, or hope. He provides. He is mighty. And He is steadfast in His holding of us. Praise Him for carrying us through this beautiful, joyful, and painful life. I cannot wait to tell my daughter all about the One who is knitting her together, gives her great purpose, knows all her thoughts and numbers her days.

04/20/2025

Sharing this poem that follows the journal post I published today. Happy Easter, friends. To those who are in pain today, remember He took that to the cross, too ❤️

04/07/2025

Life lately in pictures w/ updates:

- A snap from my last food shoot. Ever.
- A trip to Austin… because we are moving there!?
- Support group things
- An old book I love and a new book I am figuring out
- Galveston trips for robot testing for Cody’s PhD.
- Cody passing his defense last week 🥲

You read all that right 🥹 This summer Cody and I will be moving to Austin for his first job post PhD and I will not be taking on any photography clients for the foreseeable future.

(My print shop will stay live and I will still add my landscape and nature work there❤️)

I look back at my business of almost 10 years in awe of what God has done. If I am honest, though, I feel stripped. Stripped of the desire to discuss colors that look best behind a sandwich, if a pickle is in the exact right spot, and if a cocktail has enough bubbles. I am thankful for my business and God’s provision in it. I’m thankful for the unique and fun job that food photography is. I’m just so ready for a shift into work that He has put on my heart.

Mental heath issues have been a huge part of my story. I have wrestled with God, my body, and my mind throughout my life. I am thankful to be in a healthier place today.

Most of you know I made the decision to go back to school last year… I plan to focus on finishing my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and, once finished, will pursue that career fully.

I have a heart for those suffering from OCD like me, but also am potentially interested in serving those who experience severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. Those whose lives feel utterly interrupted and perpetually altered for the worse. Who feel like life isn’t worth living. Who have no hope.

Going forward with this account…
When I write something on my Substack, you’ll know it here. When I share a reel or a post every other month, the algorithm might let you see that. I’ll do feed posts about my nature photography and family life. Maybe this will become a therapy account when I graduate?

I am thankful for those I have mentored, photographed, and served. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️

10/13/2024

For the rest of October, I am donating 100% of my print shop proceeds to Helene relief efforts.
Specifically in the small towns and Yancey county if I can! Shop below:

Photo collection by Shelby Tsika Photography

10/12/2024

For the rest of October, I am donating 100% of my print shop proceeds to Helene relief efforts. Specifically in the small towns and Yancey county if I can!

Comment “PRINTS” and I’ll send you the link to shop these prints of western NC and more 🫶🏻

04/03/2024

There’s a place for YOU at ! Check out our schedule for the first week of April…

03/19/2024

I haven't published anything since my book came out, so here's an ode to my sweet lemon tree that has taught me much about God:

the tree that has taught me much about God