Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Ben & Kathleen in the studio

Kathleen wasn’t so sure that she wanted to book a maternity session, but her friends and family kept encouraging her to do so. After speaking with me about the process and what she could expect from everything, she decided to go ahead with scheduling a session! If that’s you, and you aren’t sure - let’s talk about it! I hear a lot of common concerns and fears, and am more than happy to walk you through what you can expect and how we address those worries so they aren’t an issue anymore.

Because Kathleen’s schedule was pretty tight, and she didn’t want to have to worry about a weather reschedule, she chose the studio for her location. Our studio is super easy to get to from anywhere in the metro Atlanta area. It’s right on the Atlanta Beltline right next to Bully Boy & two.urban.licks, with free parking. Because of our huge wall of windows (11 feet high and 25 feet wide), we are able to photograph even on cloudy days with abundant and beautiful natural light. Sometimes we’ll augment natural night (it still looks natural!) with our Profoto strobe and light modifiers, but it’s very rare that we need to.

Kathleen also chose to add on hair and makeup services, and was so excited to come in for a fitting to borrow from the studio wardrobe. Kathleen expressed a strong preference for simple pieces, and wanted arm coverage as well. Pro tip: if you want to cover your arms, don’t rule out short sleeve or sleeveless dresses! Sometimes throwing a shawl on top is all that’s needed to provide that arm coverage and also creates a gorgeous layered look for a more textured aesthetic. We had a ton of fun going through all of the options that fit with her vision, and after trying on several pieces, she fell in love with two dresses. The dresses fit the bill of being simple in style, but looked absolutely beautiful on her skin tone and brought out her blue eyes. We also discussed what her husband, Ben, could wear that would work well with her selections.

Maternity fittings: they’re important!

I am often asked, “Do I have to come in for a maternity fitting?” You are absolutely NOT required to borrow from our wardrobe, but I’d still like to see you before our actual session together. Bring what you’re thinking of wearing, and we’ll look at them together. Maternity fittings do take some time from your week, but they’re important, and this is why: we are pulling together your look, AND getting to know one another! When we have gotten to know each other already, you will come in for your session much more relaxed and ready to go. So much of that initial nervousness won’t even exist, because I’m not a total stranger to you. We have a LOT of out of state clients: if that’s you, we schedule your fitting to take place right before or the day before the session if you’re in town. This enables us to spend some time getting to know each other before I actually start photographing you and gets you warmed up and comfortable.

On the day of her session, Kathleen arrived at the studio and settled into the hair and makeup chair along with an armful of options for her husband that she had pulled from his closet. While Margaret worked with Kathleen, I went through Ben’s wardrobe options and pulled out what would work best with her dress choices.

When clients bring options for their husbands, I ask for 3 things.

• your husband should actually like the items

• they should be pressed and ready to go (we won’t have time to spend steaming them)

• they should fit.

LOTS of husbands gain that pregnancy sympathy weight - so make sure he tries on those items before you add them to the options you bring to the studio! ;)

After Margaret finished up with Kathleen, Kathleen looked absolutely gorgeous, and was excited (and a little nervous) to get started. She told me that she wasn’t quite sure what to do and felt a little awkward. I reassured her that the way she was feeling was totally normal, and that she didn’t need to worry about what to do and when - because I would take care of her. I guide my clients through the entire session experience from start to finish. At this point, I am in my seventh year of business, so it’s pretty safe for me to claim expert status at working with maternity clients. ;) From how to position your leg to where to place your hand and fingers, to subtle adjustments of your head angle, I’ve got it handled! I’ll also be on the lookout for a bra strap peeking out, stray hairs that can be tucked, lipstick on teeth, etc. The only thing you need to worry about is relaxing and having fun!

Kathleen’s husband, Ben, arrived shortly after Kathleen had gotten dressed. I directed him to what I had pulled from his options and started photographing Kathleen solo while he changed. Kathleen and Ben have such a fun relationship and we had a lot of fun goofing around and joking throughout. Both of them expressed that they were pleasantly surprised at how much FUN the entire experience was, and they absolutely loved their final gallery images. Kathleen thanked me for helping her decide to go forward with a maternity session even though she had been unsure, and told me that she would treasure the images forever and can’t believe she almost chose not to do it.

Enjoy a few of my favorite portraits from Ben & Kathleen’s maternity session! I can’t wait to see them again and their sweet baby for a milestone session this coming summer!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | The L Family at the Park

I first worked with Tiffany and her family in 2018 when she relocated to the area from Tennessee. She had loved her photographer there but could no longer travel back and forth for sessions, and decided it was time to find someone local to her. A Google search led her to me, and she knew as soon as she viewed my portfolio and read about my approach that she had found her new long term photographer.

Last fall, I met the family out at the field location for a family/milestone session around their son Abel’s second birthday. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed working with them. They told me they’d be in touch for another session… and sure enough, they were…. for a family MATERNITY session because they were expecting TWINS!!!! Tiffany chose the park location, and she made sure to get book their newborn session as well so she would be on our schedule.

We book twin maternity sessions on the earlier side for mamas for two reasons. (1) Bellies grow bigger much faster with twins, and we want you to feel comfortable at your session (2) Twin mamas are more likely to go on bedrest or have early deliveries. So, we schedule twin mamas for 24-28 weeks in most cases when we have enough notice! That being said, we have photographed twin mamas even later in pregnancy that were last minute clients, so if you’re past 28 weeks and want to book a maternity session, please don’t think it’s too late! If you’re comfortable and still moving well with no restrictions, you’re good to go.

We scheduled Tiffany’s maternity fitting to take place right after our Santa event ended since they were the last clients for that day. I wanted to save them a trip since they live an hour away from the studio. Abel had fun eating extra holiday goodies and talking to Santa as he packed up to leave, and Tiffany and I got started at looking at the dresses. She chose two really beautiful gowns that looked amazing with her skin tone and eye color. She laughed about choosing the sequin topped dress since it’s not what she would normally go for, but she just loved it so much. We have a lot of clients fall in a love with a dress that they wouldn’t have chosen just seeing it on the hanger - so keep that in mind when you come in! Sometimes a dress that you didn’t think you would even like becomes the frontrunner top pick once you see it on your body. We discussed what the boys should wear for the session as well before they left, and emailed her the style guide to have on hand. She found the style guide super helpful and easy to read, but still wanted my seal of approval on the final choices. She emailed me a photo of two outfit combinations to ask for my input, and I circled the pieces that went best together and sent back an email with my input. Easy peasy! I offer this to all of my clients because I want them to feel confident in their choices and serve them however I can to make things as smooth as possible for them. If you’d rather make an appointment for an in person style consult at the studio, we can schedule one! Mamas just bring the clothes they’re considering and we chat and go through them to pull everything together. It is never an inconvenience to assist our clients with this, so don’t hesitate to ask.

The evening of their December maternity session, it was the very beginning of winter, and it was a bit chilly outside but not too bad! We had a pretty mild December this year for the most part. Tiffany looked at me before I pulled my camera out and said, “For your information, I’m terrible at this. Just wanted you to know.” I laughed and told her she didn’t need to worry about a thing. The vast majority of my clients don’t know what they’re “supposed” to do. Guess what? You don’t have to, because I’ll guide you the entire time. My direction is clear and concise, and I will also demonstrate for you exactly how to stand and look to make it even easier. It’s basically adult “Simon Says” at some points! ;) I promise you will never be left standing there staring awkwardly at the camera wondering what on earth you’re supposed to do next. That’s not the way I work around here.

We started off with just Tiffany and then pulled in Greg and Abel for some family photos. My goal during maternity sessions is to make it as easy on pregnant moms as possible. So I have other participants be the ones that jump in and out and I change up my angles as well rather than have mom constantly have to move around and change it up.

I love to photograph expectant moms with just their child. When kids are participants in sessions, we spend a lot of time playing and having fun to keep them interested and engaged. You are one of their favorite people in the whole world, so this is very natural interaction. I’ll give you guided prompts for things to say or do to get those giggles and smiles if they’re not already happening, and everything will unfold organically.

Abel was a busy little guy, so when I saw him start to get fidgety, we moved on from our spot and explored the park a bit. He loved being able to run and walk with mom and dad, and had fun playing in the leaves as well. While your child is happily playing, I’ll photograph just you and your partner. If you have a child that can’t be trusted to stay close or is just too young, I always recommend bringing along a stroller to hold them for just that bit. I’ve been known to hold a baby on my hip in a pinch, but not every baby is okay with someone other than their parents holding them! Your photos will reflect it if you’re stressed out about where your child is wandering off to instead of safely secured in the stroller in your line of sight.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this maternity session! I can’t wait to share the beautiful newborn session photos of their new additions on the blog soon!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Kimberly & Eric

Kimberly contacted the studio for a  maternity session at the park location. She had a few schedule limitations on her calendar due to travel, but we were able to find a date that worked! We scheduled a maternity fitting at the studio to take place a couple of weeks before her session, and sent along the style guide for her to have on hand when thinking about what her husband should wear.

Maternity fittings are an opportunity for you to come to the studio and look through our client wardrobe! We’ll chat and get to know each other while you try on pieces. The majority of our dresses can accommodate most bellies and are based on bust size. We have dressed female clients from size 0-14/16 and that are 4’10” through 6’2”! Usage of the studio wardrobe is included with your session, and even if you choose not to borrow from the wardrobe you'll still have styling assistance from us if you need it. We care about your session experience and the final product, so we work closely with you to help you choose the best colors and styles to take the stress out and make it fun! Kimberly really enjoyed trying on all of the dresses, and settled on two that she looked and felt beautiful in. We discussed a few different options of what Eric could wear based on what she had chosen that would stay true to his style preferences.

On the evening of their session, we met at the park and I was struck by how much fun the two were having together. It was almost like I wasn’t even there, to be honest! They had eyes only for each other, and it was just the sweetest thing. Very little direction was needed from me other than where to stand and which direction to face to work with the strong backlighting, and the rest was all them. If you don’t know what to do, don’t worry - I’ll tell you exactly what to do. I position clients, and then give prompts for natural interaction and will adjust certain things when necessary to make sure it’s flattering to my clients. The rest is all you - all you have to do is focus on each other!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos! Isn’t her round pregnant belly the cutest?!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Katherine & Daniel at the park

Katherine contacted us to book a maternity session and let us know that she had been referred to us by a few nurses on her floor. I immediately knew which floor it was because we have literally had FIVE nurses from the same floor come to us! :) I love when our clients loved their experience so much that their friends know they’ll be taken good care of too.

After looking at the locations, Katherine chose to book a maternity session with us at the park location. When she came in for her maternity fitting, she informed me that her husband didn't enjoy having his picture taken and would probably feel super awkward. I told her not to worry at all. I really love working with dads and have lost count at how many have told me they enjoyed the experience after initially thinking it would be something they just had to survive and get through. Dads like really clear direction and knowing what to expect, and I make sure they get that! My sessions are not dragged out and never ending, and your guy will feel comfortable with me and my direct but laid back approach quickly.

Katherine came in to the studio for a fitting, and after looking through several options, she chose two lace dresses from the wardrobe. One was a gorgeous cream off the shoulder dress, and the other was a steel blue dress that looked beautiful with her eyes. We discussed what her husband should wear, and she asked for my opinion on whether she should add hair and makeup services. My opinion is always, absolutely, yes - you will not regret it! This is coming from a gal who doesn’t wear makeup or even own any - but you can bet that I work with a member of our team whenever I am stepping in front of the camera. Our hair and makeup team is absolutely incredible, and each artist will work with you to create a look that is true to who you are tailored to your specific preferences. If you want classic and clean or want a bit more dramatic glam, they can do it. They collaborate WITH you during the process, and they’re just wonderful. She ultimately did decide to add on hair and makeup services  and met Brielle at the studio the afternoon of the session to get ready.

I met them at the park on a beautiful and sunny fall evening with her dresses, and while Katherine was getting changed into her first dress, I chatted with Daniel and got to know him a bit. I could tell he was a bit nervous and not really looking forward to this, but absolutely loved his wife and wanted him to be happy. I let him know that being nervous wasn’t necessary because I was going to tell him exactly what to do and would literally nudge him into the right position if he wasn’t there. He was visibly relieved to hear this and it didn’t take him long at all to relax! Because my primary focus is on love and connection between my subjects rather than “Ok, please look at the camera and smile” formal and stuff portraits, your guy just has to focus on YOU. Most expectant dads look at their pregnant wives and start thinking about everything that the future holds, and they start smiling all on their own without any help from me. How can you not smile when you’re looking at the only part of your life that truly matters?

Enjoy a few of my favorite pictures from their session!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Taylor & Julianne

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you’re spending it with people you love. I decided to share one of my favorite fall maternity sessions with one of the sweetest couples in honor of it!

When Julianne contacted us, she let us know that she was actually the aunt of three newborns that had passed through my studio in the past four years. Her most recent niece had just come through, and she absolutely loved all of their photos. She told us she couldn’t imagine going anywhere else based on what she had heard about the experience from her brother and sister-in-law and knew she would be coming to us whenever she started a family. That day had come, and she chose to book maternity and newborn together. For her maternity session, she chose the park as her location and we scheduled a time for her to come into the studio to try on dresses.

The day of her maternity fitting, her sister-in-law let me know that she would be stopping by to pick up her newborn collection order. As luck would have it, Julianne arrived shortly after Kate did and we all chatted for a bit. Kate left, and Julianne and I started going through the pieces. We had fun looking through everything and I pulled items that I knew would look great with her skin tone and body type. My first consideration is always the color of the dress with a client’s skin tone. Secondary to that is how it fits. If a dress is too big we can often clamp it and resize it that way! Our studio wardrobe has a wide range of sizes from 0-14/16 and accommodates all heights - we have dressed 4’10” to 6’2” female clients for sessions! After trying on several pieces, she chose a gorgeous nude dress with a lace overlay and a simple pale pink dress. We discussed what her husband, Taylor could wear from his own wardrobe too. When you come in for a maternity fitting we’ll discuss that together, but the nutshell version: keep your partner true to HE is and respect his style preferences. He’s part of the session and we want him to feel comfortable too, not like an imposter wearing something he felt forced into.

The day of their session, we met on a gorgeous and sunny evening, and Taylor looked great in his chinos and pullover sweater. Julianne got dressed in her first dress and Taylor and I chatted a bit about what to expect during the session while she was doing that. Both of them told me that they weren’t really sure what they were doing and were a little nervous, and I reassured them that everyone feels that way! With me, you don’t have to worry about what to do because I will give you clear guidance the WHOLE time. You’ll find that after about 10 minutes you are naturally doing everything you need to, and once you’ve relaxed and start having fun - we get those beautiful and authentic images that show your emotional connection. I get so many clients who tell me that they love the photos they see on the website but “My husband isn’t lovey dovey so I don’t think we’ll get those gorgeous pictures.” Let me tell you something. Most of my clients aren’t “lovey dovey”. But the moments you see are real and not forced. All I do is position my couples in close proximity to each other and give them a prompt, and what unfolds is uniquely them. You cannot fake emotion in photographs, and your love for one another will shine through with those quiet looks and exchanged smiles. I’ve never had a couple not break into a smile when I ask them to think about their baby and what they think they’ll look like! So don’t worry about what to do with your hands or how to stand, or where to look - I’ve got you! :) We’re going to have a blast, just like Julianne, Taylor, and I did.

See for yourself! I can’t wait to share their newborn pictures of their beautiful baby boy on the blog soon.

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | The S Family on the mountain

Priscilla ans Steve are long term clients and near and dear to my heart. I first worked with them when they were expecting their little boy! They were new to the Atlanta area at the time and were in search of a photographer that didn’t overly process their images as they love a clean and beautiful look that doesn’t look fake. I fit the bill for that, and I photographed their maternity, newborn and First Birthday sessions for Luke.

I was THRILLED for their family when Priscilla emailed me to let me know they were expecting their second baby! I’m often one of the very first people to find out when my clients are expecting another one because they want to ensure they’re on my calendar since I often am booked out a few months in advance. I’m really good at keeping secrets! ;)

Priscilla had seen some of our mountain location photos and is always up for an adventure, so requested their maternity session be there.

Priscilla is 4’11”! She is a petite little thing, and when she first worked with us she was worried we wouldn’t have anything that would fit her because of her height. She knows now that she doesn’t have to worry about it because we can outfit a range of heights and sizes from 0-14/16. Our shortest client that we have ever had is 4’10” and our tallest female client was 6’2”. We were able to dress them both from our studio wardrobe with no problems.

Priscilla came into the studio for a fitting and fell in love with two of our dresses. We discussed wardrobe for Steve & Luke, and she also elected to work with Margaret, our lead HMUA for add on hair and makeup services. She’s worked with Margaret many times in the past, and really enjoys playing with makeup for a more glammed up and fun look. For mamas that prefer a more understated and muted look, that’s not a problem at all! Our makeup artists will work closely with you and create the look that you’re going for - whether that’s the “no makeup” makeup look or a little dash of Kim K. ;) Priscilla’s hair and makeup looked absolutely amazing and she was so happy with it as it was exactly what she had requested.

We met at the mountain location and started the walk up. I always have mamas wear shoes that are easy to walk in and change into whatever shoes they’re wearing for the photos once we are at our shoot location. I like to start my mountain sessions at the base in a wooded area and then make our way up to the top. Many pregnant women have handled the hike with ease, but be aware that your husband will likely need to carry your toddler if you have one as it can be a bit much for them. That being said, when my son was two, he had no problem getting up to the top by himself but it does take more time with short little legs!

After finishing up in the woods, we walked up to the top, and the sunset was absolutely stunning that evening! It was such a gorgeous night and pretty warm for the fall as well. We had some wind gusts which added beautiful movement to Priscilla’s hair and dress, and I couldn’t be happier with their images!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from their family maternity session on the mountaintop.

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | The P Family on the Mountain

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Nicole & Kevin in the studio

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Millini, Cedric & Lincoln in the gardens

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Ana & Abraham at the park

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A studio session with Sophie & Jamie

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A Field Maternity session with Erika & Matthew

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Roxanne, Zach & Orlando

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Safeeya and family in the gardens

Safeeya had just moved here from out of the country, and didn’t know of any photographers in the Atlanta area. She looked around online, looked through my website, and fell in love with my maternity sessions in our gardens location. As a reminder, the garden location is not available on weekend evenings, so if you want your session to take place there, you will need to arrange for your schedule to accommodate a weekday. During certain times of the year, we can also shoot an hour after sunrise time at the gardens as well - this is a perfect fit for early risers or those who want to avoid the summer heat. Weekends are sometimes available for sunrise sessions - just ask about that when you inquire!

A couple of weeks later, the family came in for their maternity fitting at the studio, I was delighted to meet all three of them! Big sister was absolutely adorable and such a sweetheart. Safeeya tried on lots of dresses, and had it narrowed down to five. I encourage my clients to take photos in each of the dresses and then send your final choices attached to an email. This ensures that we have the dress steamed and ready to wear for your session in advance, and prevents any mixups from happening since we have a LOT of pieces in the studio wardrobe. Safeeya emailed a few days later with her final choices: both off the shoulder dresses since she loves that look so much. One was a gorgeous floral dress in chiffon and the other was a cream lace dress - she looked stunning in both! They also chose a dress for their daughter from the studio wardrobe as well and expressed how happy they were that they didn’t have to go out and find something for her. Our baby and children’s wardrobe is much more limited than our wardrobe for moms, but those who have borrowed from it have loved what they’ve found.

On the evening of their session, we had such gorgeous light! Once everyone was dressed and ready, I started with family images. I always do this for two reasons: (1) in case they decide they’re over the session and don’t want to participate anymore later on and (2) to get them used to me and the sound of the camera shutter.

As we walked around the gardens, I photographed the family together, some with just Safeeya and her daughter, and some of Safeeya alone. As her daughter’s interest started waning, we gave her a break and spent some time just photographing Safeeya and her husband together as well. It was such a fun time with them, and I enjoyed hearing stories about their home country and the traveling they’ve done. We’re so lucky to photograph clients from all over the world!

I LOVED working with this sweet little family of three (soon to be four!) and can’t wait to see them again very soon for their newborn session!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Adrienne, Dave & Logan

When Adrienne emailed me to let me know she was expecting baby #2, I was so excited! I first worked with them when they were expecting their first baby for their maternity session in the studio, and again for his newborn and First Birthday sessions, and then a family session that also was at his second birthday milestone. As with Logan, they had decided to wait until birth to find out whether or not they were having a boy or a girl. I made the same decision with all three of my own babies, so I love when my clients also opt to not find out beforehand!

She let me know that she wanted to book both maternity and newborn with add on hair and makeup services to both. Adrienne loves working with our HMUA team, and has elected to add services on to nearly every session! A couple of weeks before their session, she came to the studio to look through our wardrobe. We are constantly adding pieces to it and sometimes retire other pieces. At 4’11”, Adrienne is one of our most petite clients (the winner stands at 4’10”!) and has a very small frame. We have plenty of options to accommodate petite clients though, so it’s not a worry. After looking through the options, she decided on two dresses: a pretty purple maxi dress, and an off the shoulder white gown with a high low hem. I love this particular white gown for my petite clients since they can walk freely without having to worry about moving the dress bottom out of the way. I carry clamps and fabric tape in my bag at all times, so if a dress is too big for a client we can usually make it work. We’ve also had other instances where the dress wouldn’t zip, so we just clamped the back of it to the client’s bra. If you’ve browsed the website, you’ve probably seen plenty of instances of that… but you just don’t know it since it’s not visible! ;)

The evening of their session, we met at the park location and got started. At their last session, Logan had still been pretty shy and had stranger anxiety, but at almost a year later, that had all changed. He was outgoing and friendly, and had fun participating! How adorable are his little blue glasses?! During maternity sessions that include families, I almost always take the opportunity to photograph dads with their little ones while mom is getting changed into her second look, and this time was no exception. Dads really enjoy having fun with their little ones, and we have some fun playing and goofing off in those few minutes. I’ve had several moms comment that they had no idea what was going on while they were getting changed and that they were brought to tears when seeing the proof gallery and the special daddy-kid moments that they didn’t see unfolding. It’s the last time it’ll just be your little family unit before the newest member arrives, and it’s such a bittersweet feeling. Rest assured, your life is about to change in an amazing way and your heart will love even more than you ever thought possible. Almost most every client I have worries a little bit about how it’s all going to work out! I remember being in labor with my second baby and holding my firstborn in my arms during contractions at home… and thinking to myself “WHAT HAVE I DONE?!” The idea that she would no longer be my only little sidekick made me slightly terrified and I worried that maybe I was somehow going to ruin her life. Verdict? It made her life incredible and she has a best friend for life… and I had two of the best little sidekicks ever…. now it’s three since their brother joined us too!

Towards the end of the session, Logan was getting a bit restless, so I had Dave take him off for a break while I photographed just Adrienne. I called Dave back over for a few couples images, and then Logan was interested in participating again. The bubbles I brought along may or may not have had something to do with that! ;) All in all, it was a fun 45 minutes together and I worked around Logan’s willingness to participate at any given moment throughout. People ask what’s needed for a successful family session. I’d say it’s an even tie between patience and flexibility for all the adults present (me and parents!). I know those sweet moments WILL happen during sessions, and it’s just a matter of being patient and quick on my feet. While I give my families guidance and direction for natural interaction, the kids run the show. At the end of the day, you cannot force a three year old to have genuine emotion or interaction - but trust me, with patience and flexibility, that will unfold on its own.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family maternity session - and be on the lookout for the photos from their newborn session soon!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A Mommy & Me session at the park

I first worked with Jess when she was pregnant with her first baby, and was so excited to hear that she was expecting a second! We scheduled her maternity and newborn sessions, and met up at the park on a summer evening in August. She also asked to add on hair and makeup services, which she’s done for pretty much every single session at this point. She loves our HMUA team so much that she’s hired them for special events not related to photography - and she’s not the only one. Many of our clients have done the same thing, and our artists love working with them for any of their beauty needs - from event prep to makeup lessons.

I’ve worked with Jess MANY times at this point (maternity, newborn, six month, First Birthday, 18 months, and Santa for her first child) - so we’ve gotten to know each other over the past couple of years. She let me know she’d be bringing one of her own dresses (I got her hooked on the brand when she wore one of their dresses during her first maternity session) and she borrowed a blush off the shoulder dress from the studio wardrobe. It’s one of my favorite dresses to photograph clients in on sunny days because I can shoot through the sheerness of the dress and create beautiful images that show off the belly without actually showing any skin. You’ll see what I mean later in this post!

Griffin is a busy little boy, and as any parent with a toddler knows: you can’t really tell them what to do. Directing two year olds is not actually a thing. Fortunately for my clients, that’s not how I run my sessions with small children. I engage with them and give parents direction for natural interaction. We play games, sing songs, break out bubbles…whatever it takes. I want your little ones to have fun during our time together. Come to your session with patience and a go with the flow attitude, and we will create beautiful images of your family together.

Enjoy a few of this sweet mommy and son duo before welcoming the newest addition (check back in a couple of days to find out if it was a boy or a girl!).

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Kayla & Johnnie

Kayla called the studio to book a maternity session. She didn't think she wanted one initially but she found herself changing her mind the further along she progressed her her pregnancy with her baby boy. We were able fit them into the studio schedule and she came in one weekend afternoon for her maternity fitting. It was fun chatting and getting to know each other as we went through the wardrobe pieces. The only problem we had was that she loved almost every single dress she tried on! I took photos of her in each of her top favorite options, since she wanted to get her husband’s input. Most of the time I can guess which wardrobe piece(s) will be the winner but not this time: she honestly looked amazing in every single option she was considering so she couldn’t have gone wrong with any of them!

Ultimately, she chose one of our newest wardrobe additions - a beautiful blush pink ruffled off the shoulder gown that was fitted and showed off the belly. Before she left her fitting, we talked about what Johnnie should wear based on each of the options she was considering, and said our goodbyes.

The afternoon of their session, Johnnie and Kayla arrived and I got to know Johnnie a bit before we got started. He’s a personal trainer and was fun to talk to. Once Kayla was ready she then informed me she was feeling a bit nervous about everything because she wasn’t sure of how to stand or what to do with her hands.

This is the NUMBER ONE thing clients say right before a session starts, and I’ve got good news! You don't need to worry, because I’ve got you covered I will guide you through the entire session and will give you gentle direction for natural interaction while taking care to shoot from the most flattering angles. I will take the best of you, and together we'll create some beautiful photos for you to look back on.

We got started, and I modeled exactly what I needed Kayla to do - and she was a pro in no time at all. Johnnie was great as well, and I would simply nudge him a little bit in the direction I needed his head to go if my verbal direction wasn’t enough. She looked absolutely stunning in her dress, and had the most fun dangly earrings ever. (I’m a big fan of dangly earrings myself!) Statement earrings almost always work in maternity session and usually a better choice than a statement necklace. Why? A statement necklace is right above the belly and can compete with it for the viewer’s eye. For a maternity session, we don’t want that! I always suggest a more simple necklace for moms who want to wear one and to choose bangles or fun earrings for accessories if that’s their thing.

Johnnie and Kayla were so sweet together, and we were finished with their session in about twenty minutes! I ran into Kayla at our local Target a couple of weeks before her due date and she told me how much they loved her maternity pictures and how glad they were that they’d gone ahead and done them. She said they felt that they would have really regretted not having them, and expressed how excited she was to come in for their newborn session. Speaking of which… the newborn session is taking place TODAY! I can’t wait to meet and photograph their beautiful new baby boy!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Renee & Marcus in the Gardens

Renee contacted us to see about scheduling a maternity session at the gardens location. She was so excited to hear that we had availability that worked with their schedule, and asked to makeup services as well. We paired her with Brielle, who is one of our most requested artists and super fun to hang out with while having your beauty needs taken care of. We also penciled Renee in for a maternity fitting appointment to look through the studio wardrobe a couple of weeks before her session date!

On Renee’s fitting date, we had a lot of fun going through the dresses and getting to know each other. She looked beautiful in so many of the options and snapped selfies of her top favorites so she could take some more time to think. Renee had let us know prior to her fitting that she was pretty tall and was worried we might not have things long enough. We reassured her that we work clients of all shapes, heights, and sizes from 0-16. Our tallest female client so far was 6’2” and our shortest was 4’10”. We have a variety of styles from glamorous to bohemian to understated elegance. If you decide to wear your own clothing, we’ll help you out with an easy to follow style guide and are available for feedback on anything you’re considering! We are here to help in any way we can, because we believe that your session experience should be as stress free as possible.

Renee narrowed down her choices and emailed us a photo of one selected dress. She let us know that she was going to wear a last minute dress of her own as her second option that was in keeping with the style guide suggestions. We have wardrobe pieces dry cleaned or laundered after being worn for a session, so we need to know your selection four business days in advance of your scheduled session date. This ensures we have enough time to get it to the dry cleaners and back if necessary! If you can’t decide on your choices the day of your fitting, no worries at all - we’ll let you know the exact deadline to let me know by. Before Renee left, she and I determined that based on her husband’s personality and her choices, his wearing a suit for one look and a more casual look for the other would be the best choice for their session. That being said, the vast majority of our guys wear just one outfit - so don’t feel like you need to have two outfits for your guy too! It’s totally a matter of personal preference.

The evening of their session we met at the gardens and got started wearing the more casual look. I love photographing at the gardens since there are lots of different areas and varying backgrounds to photograph. I definitely choose where to photograph within the gardens depending on what my couple’s outfit looks like. Certain areas lend themselves well to a dressier look, while other areas are better for a relaxed and casual feel. Marcus looked great in both of his outfits, and it was so much fun to photograph the two of them together. They’ve been together a while, and were lots of fun to be around! .

Enjoy a few of my favorites from their gardens maternity session! Renee was absolutely radiant, and it really shines through.

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jai in the studio

Jai contacted us at the very last minute to see if we had any availability for a studio maternity session. She had come across my work on Instagram and knew immediately that I was what she had been looking for. So many of our clients come to us through Instagram - it’s such a visual platform and great for finding that thing you’ve been looking for but couldn’t quite find. I know I’ve personally been there with the “I’ll know it when I see it” when I’ve been searching for something!

We scheduled a maternity fitting for Jai, and she came to the studio with her best friend to try on pieces. Jai already had one specific dress in mind that she knew she wanted to try, but was open to everything. The minute she tried on the backless halter dress, her smile said it all. She knew she’d found her first option, and mentioned she’d really like to show her belly in some of her images. I suggested a split front dress, so I pulled out the few that we have. Don’t worry if you don’t want to show your belly in your maternity photos - it’s completely client preference. All of our split front dresses can also be worn closed. After trying on a few, she decided on a strapless split front gown with a white bandeau top and soft pink bottom. It complemented her first dress choice perfectly! We chatted a bit about what Jai’s partner should wear, and she and her best friend headed out.

The afternoon of her maternity session, Jai showed up and had brought along a cool bohemian hair clip she’d picked up. She asked what I thought, and I told her that if it was her style, the color was perfect for both dresses and would look great. I’m always a big fan of accessories! The kind you select is important though, because we want to keep the focus on your bump. If you wear a flower crown that’s bigger than your head, or a statement necklace the size of Texas, they may take away from your bump since the viewer’s eye will immediately be drawn there instead of your belly. Most of my clients bring along their favorite jewelry the day of their session and we go through it and make selections then. How you wear your hair also affects which jewelry I suggest wearing - there are so many factors that go into styling a session. I’m here to help every step of the way.

After Jai got dressed, her partner arrived as well. I introduced myself and learned that he was also an artist, and worked as a clothing designer. I always love meeting other creatives, no matter what industry they’re in. Once I explained the ground “rules” for how to stand and where we got started. The two of them didn’t need much guidance during their session - but if you do, don’t worry! I’ll make sure you know exactly what’s happening and what you need to do the entire time. You’ll never be left standing there feeling awkward and confused about what to do next.

During my maternity sessions, I don’t ask my expecting mama to move around a lot. Partners are the ones jumping in and out of the photos. Your body is doing a lot of work growing a baby, so I like to go as easy on you as possible! This also allows me to flow through the session efficiently in each dress. I’ve been told by many partners that it was the easiest and quickest maternity session they’ve ever had and that they enjoyed the experience despite thinking they wouldn’t. It seems that prior engagement sessions are mostly to blame for the intense dislike of photo sessions among my male clients. I will not keep you here in the studio any longer than necessary. Studio sessions here are super relaxing. It’s a completely relaxed vibe, and we have a whole fridge of drinks, snack buffet, Google Fiber, and a comfy couch to hang out on. Your partner will be well taken care of when they’re not being photographed!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Jai’s maternity session! If you’re considering maternity photos, I would love for you to browse the maternity portfolio and reach out to see if we’re the perfect fit for you!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Srividya & Raghu, a studio maternity session

Srividya contacted us to schedule a maternity session and asked for the studio as her location. We arranged a time for her to come in with her husband for a maternity fitting a couple of weeks before her session too. We schedule maternity fittings for 1-2 weeks before the session date. We will not schedule for earlier than two weeks because of the potential of belly growth! If a client tries on a dress that’s pretty tight without much wiggle room, I will have them choose a backup dress for it just in case. This has never actually happened, but I’m all about covering all the bases so there are no unpleasant surprises on the day of!

My maternity fittings are about 20-30 minutes long, We send ahead a tip sheet with directions, where to park, and what to bring along. I also have my clients take cell phone in the dresses they like the most if they’re not 100% sure of which should be their final choice. This gives them time to think about it and poll their trusted friends and family members for opinions if you want more help. Once the decision has been made, my clients simply attach the photos of their final choices and email them to me at least four business days (M-F) before their session date! This allows me to make sure your dress will be clean and steamed before your session.

Srividya and her husband, Raghu came together on the day of our fitting. She had lots of fun trying on dresses and her eyes lit up when she saw one of our sequin and tulle studio dresses. It was the perfect choice for her skin tone and personality. She chose to wear a more simple white off the shoulder dress for her second look, and then we were all set.

A couple of weeks later, Srividya and Raghu returned to the studio for their maternity session. Brielle was there waiting for them as they had added on hair and makeup services. I arrived a few minutes before our session start time and loved the look that Brielle had created for her. Srividya mentioned she felt absolutely beautiful and was so confident and excited to get started!

Once Srividya was dressed, we got started! At first Raghu was a bit nervous but I reassured him that I would walk him through everything. He wanted the experience and photographs to be perfect for his wife (such a sweet husband!) so he wanted to make sure he didn’t mess anything up. There’s no need to worry about that with me. I will give you verbal direction and I’ll also come right up and move your head where it needs to be. Most guys prefer if I just come up to them and move them instead of saying “Ok, turn your head two inches to the left.” It’s just easier for all of us! Srividya was a natural in front of the camera and needed very little direction. By the time we were midway through, Raghu was relaxed and enjoying the session. You can see by the genuine smiles that we had a lot of fun!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from this couple’s maternity session!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.