Today we’d like to introduce you to Sivan Rettew.
Hi Sivan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Honestly, it’s kind of wild to look back and see how I ended up here—because photography definitely wasn’t the plan! For most of my life, I thought I’d go into medicine. I went to UCF and got my degree in Micro and Molecular Biology, thinking I’d eventually become a doctor. But the further I got into that world, the more I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. My heart is too soft for the medical field, and I knew deep down I needed to find a different path—one that could still let me help people, but in a way that also connected me to my creative side. I’ve also always been one to compliment women, as I truly think every woman is so uniquely and deeply gorgeous in her own way. Never would I have thought that there was a career out there to incorporate all of the things that I love!
Photography had always been something I loved playing around with, but I never imagined it would become my career. It started as a hobby, then a side hustle, and then—almost accidentally—it turned into something really meaningful. I photographed weddings for 10 years (starting in 2009), and in that time, a bride of mine wanted to hire me for her boudoir session. This opened up a whole new world for me, and I will forever be grateful for her introducing me to the world of boudoir.
Somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t just taking pictures…I was helping women see themselves differently. And that lit something up in me I hadn’t felt before. Since then, I opened up a beautiful studio that caters to boudoir photography, and it’s become a second home to me!
Then at the ripe age of 37, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo a double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and recostruction. That experience changed so much for me—not just physically, but emotionally, too. It deepened my understanding of what it means to feel disconnected from your body, to crave control, to search for beauty and power in hard moments. It gave me a whole new level of compassion and purpose.
Now I get to hold space for other women going through all kinds of chapters in their lives—whether that’s healing, celebrating, rediscovering, or just needing a reminder of how incredible they already are. It’s such an incredibly unique career that I would never have had on my Bingo card! I am constantly in awe of my clients, my all-female team, and honestly…myself too.
I never imagined this would be what I get to do in my life, and it feels exactly like where I’m supposed to be!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No roads are always smooth. Getting a business off the ground means putting yourself out there a lot. It means a lot of free sessions, a lot of mistakes learned from, and a lot of self-education. I did not go to school for photography or for business, so I had to teach myself everything. The vast majority was trial and error. You know….the whole “fake it ’til you make it” mentality!
All in all though, I look back at my journey in the photography world, and I feel really proud of how things have gone. I have always hustled, and I have always done my best to make sure that my clients have been happy. Whether it was weddings, families, couples, or boudoir.
Some obvious struggles are the growing pains of any business. You eventually reach a point where you either work yourself into complete burnout (at that time, I was booked upwards of 9 months out for boudoir sessions and handling EVERY aspect of my business on my own), OR you take a huge leap of faith and make the decision to expand the business. That requires finding people who you can trust to love your business, treat your clients with respect, and help create the safe environment you’ve always given your clients.
Since making that move to expand my team, I’ve hired an incredible studio manager, several associate photographers, and a social media director. Watching my team thrive in our two studios and create magic is something I can’t quite explain. By growing my team, it has allowed me to focus on parts of the business that I truly love. Everyone has a role that makes their hearts happy, and that’s something that brings immense joy to my heart.
We get to create art while helping women feel empowered — what could possibly be better than that?
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lovely in Lace Boudoir by Sivan Photography specializes in female portraiture. Our artwork focuses on helping women realize their potential through our lens. So many of our clients come in lacking confidence, feeling insecure, and full-heartedly believing that they aren’t worthy or beautiful.
It’s an absolute JOY to see their faces light up when they see the first photo on the back of our camera during their session. The shift in their mood in that moment is palpable, and it’s the moment we excitedly wait for in each session.
We have two unique studios. Luxe has floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in a lot of natural light. The colors of Luxe are generally lighter. On the flip-side, we have Allure, which is darker, moodier, and more sultry. Having both of these spaces allows us to truly cater each session to each client as they select the studio that best fits their vision!
I’m extremely proud that Lovely in Lace is inclusive of all body types. No woman is like the other, and that’s our super power as women! We are so unique and beautiful. What we perceive to be flaws are what make us truly unique. I pride ourselves in our ability to make women of all sizes, all walks of life, and all journeys feel safe, comfortable, and confident. As women, we have all walked through something difficult, and offering kindness, compassion, and beautiful artistry is something I am immensely proud of.
What we offer isn’t just a photoshoot. It’s therapeutic, transformative, and healing. Our clients walk out not just with newfound confidence, but heirloom photos and products that will help carry that confidence throughout their lives. Anytime she needs a reminder, all she has to do is pull out her artwork and see what a goddess she is!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy? First and foremost, my family. We’ve had our own challenges in life, starting with difficulty in getting pregnant. We had to do IVF to have our two beautiful children, and I will forever be grateful for how far science has come in order to help couples like us to have the families they’ve longed for. Our kids are EVERYTHING to us.
Other things that make me happy:
– Good health (after you go through something scary like cancer, it really opens your eyes to how fragile life is and how much you should appreciate good health!)
– My husband. He’s my ROCK, through and through. He makes me laugh constantly, and I just love him to pieces!
– My mom! She’s such an inspiration to me. She is an artist, and has always encouraged me to tap into my artistic side. She is the reason I grew up as a confident woman.
– Sushi
– Dancing
– Exercise
– Playing games with my family
– Traveling
– Being cozy
I try to find joy anywhere I can! Life is stressful enough as it is…why not just dance in the kitchen, eat your favorite food, and do the things that bring you joy?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovelyinlace.me
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelyinlaceboudoir/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovelyinlace
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelyinlaceboudoir?lang=en
Image Credits
Lovely in Lace Boudoir by Sivan Photography
