Stefanie contacted the studio during her second trimester to schedule a newborn session for her second baby. She mentioned that she was a bit nervous about the sibling portion of the session because her older son, Oliver, is very shy and doesn’t do well with strangers. We assured her that we work with LOTS of shy little ones, and have a tried and true approach to them in which we let them warm up to us on their terms rather than get into their faces.
When Stefanie contacted us a few months later to let us know that baby Thea had arrived, she asked if she could add on hair and makeup services. She was driving from over an hour away for her session and wanted to have less things to worry about on her way out the door. We checked with our HMUA team and sent over a couple of dates for Stefanie to choose from. After she confirmed her date, we sent her our newborn prep packet which is full of helpful tips and guidance on what to bring from home for the rest of your family.
When Stefanie arrived at the studio, we looked through the studio wardrobe at some options for her. She chose to wear a a beautifully textured cream lace dress that she loved. We offer a wide variety of sizes to fit 0-14/16 and they can accommodate lots of different heights as well. Stefanie commented how easy the whole process had been as she sat down in the hair and makeup chair. She was so glad that the only thing she had to worry about was getting to the studio and that we took care of the rest for her.
I got started with Thea’s solo images. She was wide awake when we first started. Wide awake babies are great - as long as they’re also calm! I always love to take that opportunity for some open eye photographs. Not every baby opens their eyes during their time in the studio though. I’d say about 50% of my little clients do. I always discuss mom’s preferences regarding headbands and tiebacks prior to beginning newborn sessions for baby girls. It’s totally up to you whether you want a tieback for all, some, or none of their images. I choose tiebacks from my collection that are proportionate to your baby’s head and also work well with their skin tone and the overall setup. We keep our sessions very neutral so the focus is on your little one and all their sweet features!
After I finished up, Tom and big brother Oliver arrived at the studio! Just as Stefanie had predicted, Oliver hid behind his parents and didn’t want to look at me. So…. I ignored him. I’ve found this is the absolute best way to get a child interested in you. It was effective because he wanted to know why this lady with the camera wouldn’t even look at him. He approached me closely and I said hello. I asked him if he would like to lie down next to his sister or hold her, and he was emphatic that he did not. I think it’s really important to respect the feelings and wishes of big siblings. If they don’t want to do sibling images, we are not going to force it. Forcing things makes the experience negative and stressful for them. Instead, we’ll work around it and focus on family and parent images instead. That’s exactly what we did, and Oliver thought that my silly faces were pretty funny. He gave me a few grins, and his parents were amazed by how well he was doing with me. Stefanie sent me an email later that day after she was home thanking me for taking time with him and for being so patient. It’s part of the job! I want every person in my studio - big or small - to feel respected and that they were treated with kindness.
When I sent over their proof gallery, Stefanie was so happy with the images! She kept saying she couldn’t believe how he was smiling and interacting, and that the whole experience was absolutely amazing. She hadn’t expected much from the family portion, so was absolutely blown away. I thanked her for choosing to entrust me with photographing her family. Choosing who to work with for your newborn and family photography is a big decision, and I am always so honored and excited to be chosen!
Here are just a few of my favorites photographs from their newborn session!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, baby or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.