Atlanta Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Alayna

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Alayna was referred to us by two of her good friends who have worked with us, and came into the studio for a very last minute fine art maternity shoot at 37 weeks pregnant! She added on hair and makeup services, which we highly recommend for the ultimate luxury experience and for the best photos!

Makeup for this type of session is best applied by a highly skilled professional who has an understanding of studio light and editorial work. Please do NOT go to the makeup counter at the mall or have a friend who is “pretty good” do it, or attempt to create a glam look that you’ve never done before with a YouTube tutorial. If there was ever a time to invest in having your hair and/or makeup done, this is it. Our HMUA team is comprised of amazing women with vast experience working on production/commercial sets, and they are skilled with all skin tones - including women of color.

Just as a note: we really don’t suggest waiting until 37 weeks to schedule your session since you never know when babies will decide to make their appearance, but in this case everything worked out and baby boy stayed inside!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art maternity sessions are photographed in our intown Atlanta studio with studio lighting. No natural light is used, and they are scheduled over a 90 minute-2 hour block. In contrast, our natural light (non newborn) portrait sessions are scheduled for a one hour block. The additional time is to allow plenty of time for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Since we are not reliant on natural light, our fine art session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can schedule for later evening hours after you’re off of work. It’s important to only schedule a late session as long as you know you won’t be tired in the evening from your day! Currently, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so please don’t wait until the last minute to try and book as we may not have availability for you. Most of our clients reach out to us when they’re at the beginning of their second trimester to get a session scheduled between 26-32 weeks of pregnancy. We want you to have a nice round belly but still be able to move well before you become encumbered by it.

Once you have connected with us and selected a date from what we have open, everything else is handled online in a secure and streamlined process. We’ll also send over a short list of what you should bring along with you to your session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks. We’re just down from Ponce City Market, and our studio is really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available as well as street parking if the lot happens to be full.

WHAT’S NEXT: YOUR PRE SESSION CONSULTATION

Why do we require a pre-session meeting? Because over the past 8 years we have found that clients who have spent some time with me (face to face or virtually!) before stepping in front of my camera are WAY more comfortable right out of the gate on their session day because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This is especially true for fine art maternity where you may be wearing next to nothing for part or most of it.

We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a lot of clients that drive to us from far away (90+ minutes) and sometimes from the neighboring states of Florida, the Carolinas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, so an in person meeting isn’t always possible! Many clients do bring a few of their own things to wear, and our studio has a limited wardrobe of bodycon dresses and crop tops, bodysuits that can accommodate a pregnant belly, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have beautiful Italian silk fabrics for draping and tossing in mostly neutral colors. Our studio wardrobe is complimentary to our booked clients, and is well loved. If you choose to schedule an in person meeting with me, you’ll be able to see and try on our pieces. If you’re planning on wearing anything of your own, you’ll bring that along with you as well, and we’ll design your session flow together!

During our meeting, we will discuss your vision for your maternity session. My clients have varying preferences and desires when it comes to the types of images they want. I have some that really want fine art nudes/implied nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time with just the belly showing. Some clients really love the look of fabric draping and want to incorporate a few of those, and others don’t. The choice is ultimately yours!

I’ll also ask your preference for the studio temperature during your session since that also varies between clients as well. I want you to be comfortable in every aspect while you are here!

CAN MY HUSBAND/CHILDREN PARTICIPATE?

While the majority of our clients choose to be the only participant for their fine art maternity sessions, your partner is more than welcome. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. Most families who want a family focused maternity session find our natural light sessions to be a better fit.

YOUR FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION: WHAT TO EXPECT

I’ve been photographing pregnant women for over 8 years now and truly LOVE it. When you arrive to the studio for your session, you’ll change into a robe that you’ve brought with you and you’ll be prepped by one of our amazing HMUA’s if you’ve chosen to add on services like Alayna. Everything in the studio will already be set up and ready to go when you’re finished with hair and makeup prep!

Once you’re finished, you’ll change into your first outfit. All your outfits will be lined up and ready to go based on the roadmap that we created during your pre session consult so there’s no wondering what to put on or wasting time.

If you’re feeling a bit nervous about not knowing what to do, don’t stress! I will walk you through everything during your session - from how and where to stand, to how much to tilt your head, and I’ll also coach you on your facial expressions! Our fine art sessions are much more geared towards what I like to call “power” posing. You will look strong, confident, and beautiful. Mothers are a force to be reckoned with, and these images are going to combine that strength with the beauty and femininity of your pregnancy. If you’re having difficulty being verbally coached, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my entire face for demonstration purposes! I promise that you will never be left handing and awkwardly trying to figure out what to do next.

In total honesty: if you’ve never had a session with studio lighting, it will most likely feel intimidating at first. Our lighting is on wheeled stands with large modifiers on boom arms. Once you’ve gotten used to it all, it won’t take you long to start having fun! After the first lighting set, you’ll find that you’ll get into your groove and you’ll have learned what to do from my prompts or adjustments.

We will take breaks throughout for you to get some water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a second. If you need anything, all you have to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up whenever you’re ready to resume!

Alayna was pretty nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a session like this. If that’s you too, don’t worry: that’s the case for almost all of our fine art/editorial maternity clients, so you’re in good company! She looked absolutely STUNNING with her hair and makeup, and was excited to get started. We created some absolutely gorgeous images with a mix of her pieces and studio wardrobe pieces. She brought her own non-maternity jeans and black lace bra/thong, and used our pieces for everything else in her gallery. Our HMUA stayed for a few minutes to assist with fabric tossing, which took a few attempts to create the perfect image!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Alayna saw her final images she absolutely loved them and was so excited to share them with her friends who sent her my way. Those friends also emailed me to express how amazingly beautiful they found the photos, and to thank me for taking good care of her.

It is my opinion that fine art editorial photography is most powerful in black and white. However, your selected final images will come in both color and black and white versions for you!

The majority of our clients end up ordering their favorite image for a piece of wall art (metal and acrylic prints are a favorite for this type of photography) or put them all into a beautiful heirloom album.

If you’re considering a maternity session for yourself, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child. 

I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session with studio lighting is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer any questions you have!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Alayna’s editorial maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely beautiful?!

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 at the Park

Kyra contacted us at the beginning of her second trimester to ask about how we ran our studio (specifically, our COVID precautions since she was a higher risk pregnancy) and after speaking with us, knew she definitely wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Kyra had contacted us early on in her pregnancy, we were able to schedule a weekend date for her maternity session. We book MONTHS in advance, so the sooner the better when it comes to having date options to choose from. If we are out of weekend options, clients just plan to leave work earlier on a weekday. Weeknight sessions have their own perks: one of which is that our locations are much less crowded! As a note: ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset and sometimes we offer sunrise sessions at certain times of year (mostly in August/September). If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time! If you’re booking a sunrise session, we meet about 5 minutes before sunrise!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Kyra’s session paperwork to her. We handle our entire booking process securely online, and it’s all very streamlined. Our studio has been described by many as a “well oiled machine” and we are proud of that fact! After Kyra sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if the lot is full).

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to ensure you have ample time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby likely won’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and are in love with it, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore at your session. Our clients can choose up to two looks.

As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not at all required but about 95% of our clients do borrow from it! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting - as Kyra did! If able, I strongly recommend that all clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other. If you can’t make the time to come by the studio, virtual options are available via Zoom or FaceTime! Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Kyra came in for her fitting, she commented on how many dresses we had. It’s true - we have a LOT. Like many of our clients, she was a little worried that we might not have anything that fit her well that she loved. Our studio wardrobe has outfitted women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16. We talked about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I pulled options for her that I knew would work well with her skin tone. She also chose a dress from our little girls’ wardrobe for her daughter to wear as well.

You do NOT have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing, but you’ll need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead time allows us to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband the photos from her phone, Kyra decided on a moss green off the shoulder dress and a purple dress with a shawl to cover her arms.

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH KIDS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 4 hours. When a child is involved, it becomes even MORE important to not have an overly long session because they just can’t deal with it. Four hours is an insane length of time to shoot a standard natural light portrait session that isn’t a newborn session, and it’s why a lot of first time dads to be come in assuming they’re going to hate the entire experience and it’s something they have to grit their teeth to “get through”.. Nope. Dragging it out is not how I roll.

Instead, I’m going to lead you and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interactions that you see in my images is 100% authentic. In the interest of total transparency, most of my subjects can’t quite get there on their own unless they have worked with me before. So….I do initial work of getting you positioned juuuuuuuust so, adjust your hair and clothing if necessary, and THEN give you a simple action prompt that sparks that natural interaction. Little kids don’t follow direction well (or at all), so we just let them be themselves! I’ll give you simple instructions and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is no stiff and formal posing where everyone has to be perfectly still for twenty eternal seconds - that is NOT possible (or realistic) with small children!

Once you’re relaxed and in the zone, that is when the magic begins. There is no need to be nervous about not knowing what to do, because the truth is: you don’t have to when you’re with me. Your dynamic with your family is unique, and it SHOULDN’T look like every other session out there. I don’t do cookie cutter sessions. Instead your session will show all of you loving each other in your own way, and highlight the beauty of your pregnancy and the love you have for your new baby on the way.

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t needlessly long. I allot an hour for outdoor portraits - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. (Pro tip: be sure to be on time to your session). I shoot efficiently and can do so very quickly in a pinch when needed, but I don’t possess the superpower of being able to keep the sun from setting.

Fact: When we start your session, you’re going to be a tad nervous and probably feel a bit awkward for the first little bit. This is 100% normal. I regularly shoot 20+ maternity sessions per month (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 8 years now. I have seen it all.

I’d say that most of my subjects start relaxing in 10 minutes or less. As such, the photos I take at the very beginning often don’t make it into the final proof gallery. The very first little bit is intended to be a warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction for how to move and position your bodies. Once you’re relaxed and having fun, that is when we start getting those keepers for your proof gallery!

I like for moms move around as little as possible and structure my session flow around them. Pregnant moms are often sore, their feet and hips might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag them all over the place. Instead, partners are be the ones in and out of the frame as directed. Breaks are taken as needed for mamas to drink some water or just take a breather.

We started out our session in the most beautiful summer sunset light, and I spent some time photographing Kyra solo and pulling in the rest of the family for some images from time to time. Juniper was having a rough evening and wasn’t particularly into being in the photos, so we gave her plenty of space and then she eventually came around! One of the things that you’ll notice in this gallery is that Juniper is also in two outfits. This actually wasn’t the original plan, but Juniper let us know that she wanted to wear her own clothes. I believe in respecting children and letting them have input too. Once she was wearing her own outfit, her mood changed so much and she started having fun. I could see Kyra’s relief that Juniper was happy and participating - and her little outfit and boots are just adorable and worked well!

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, a BIG congratulations!!! This is such a special time in your life, and it’s truly an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat.

Have you watched the video on our website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, check it out - you can click here to see it. It’s a quick 90 second investment of your time, and will provide a general overview of what it’s like to work with me. Bonus: you’ll actually get to see my whole face in the video unlike when in the studio with me due to my mask! ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s park maternity session below… and come back in a few days to see the gorgeous newborn images of their second daughter!

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 Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Analy

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Analy came into the studio in the middle of her third trimester for a fine art maternity shoot. Analy is a really special client - I first worked with her when she was pregnant with her first baby, Julia. Shortly after Julia was born, she was diagnosed with biliary artresia and was placed on the liver transplant wait list. During the waiting process, Analy discovered she could donate a portion of her liver to her daughter, and was ready to do so. They held out for as long as they could in hopes another liver would come through with Analy being Plan B, but when Julia’s liver deteriorated to the point they could no longer wait, Analy and Julia were taken into surgery for the transplant. You’ll notice the surgery scar on Analy’s belly from donating part of her liver to her daughter. I think this is such a powerful testimony to the love of a mother, and that editing out would have been absolutely ridiculous to do. The scar is beautiful because of the incredible story behind it, and Analy was gracious enough to share with all of us!

ANALY’S STORY (IN HER OWN WORDS)

Our daughter, Julia, was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver condition that occurs in infants. The bile ducts inside and outside of the liver are scarred and blocked; the bile cannot drain into the intestine and builds up, leading to liver damage.  Inevitably, babies born with BA will need a liver transplant at some point in their lives.  

This means that they end up on the liver transplant waiting list and if a donor liver does become available or a perfect match is not found, then little can be done to save their lives.   We happened to be at one of the best locations not only for Biliary Atresia treatment, thanks to the amazing Hepatology team at CHOA Egleston, but also at one of the few locations in the country that offered the option of living donor transplants.  CHOA and Emory University Hospital partnered up and gave us the option for a living liver donor.  After two full days of expedited testing, they gave us the most wonderful news: I was a perfect match for Julia!

As parents we know we would do anything for our children because our love for them is beyond unconditional.  Julia already had my full love and heart, why not give her a portion of my liver too?  

I was officially her plan B and quickly became her plan A when a donor liver never came.  Her condition took a turn for the worst in the blink of an eye and we couldn’t wait any longer.  At only 7 months old, Julia underwent a lifesaving transplant and received a portion of my liver and a second chance at life.  How amazing is it that research, medical advances and the loving medical professionals at CHOA & Emory allowed us to save her life?

Julia is now 3 years old.  She loves astronomy, dancing, painting and always has a smile on her face.  We know our story is a happy one because we have her with us but, unfortunately, that is not always the case with other Biliary Atresia families.  A lot of babies never receive their gift of life so it’s important to not only be aware of the fact that there are babies out there whose life depends on organ donation but also become one of those incredible & selfless individuals who are willing to save them by becoming an organ donor.

Life is fragile, this we’ve learned firsthand, but one of the most beautiful things about it is that we have it within us to give others a second chance.

Little is known about Biliary Atresia; we don’t know what causes it, how to prevent it, and there is no cure for this horrible disease that has claimed the lives of so many babies.  Our family has set up a fund at CHOA Egleston to help fund their Biliary Atresia Research Program.  They are one of the only centers in the country with a dedicated research program for BA and they’re making great strides in learning more about this disease.  If you find it in your hearts to make a donation and help us give other BA babies worldwide a second chance at life, please make a contribution to the BA Hero Fund at CHOA to help fund BA Research.  You can follow our family’s journey on Instagram at mighty_julia_ba and find the direct fund link here.   

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art maternity sessions are shot in the studio with studio lighting only over a 90 minute-2 hour period to allow for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Because we shoot with studio lighting, session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can start in the later evening hours after you’re off of work as long as you know you won’t be overly tired at that time of day. As a reminder, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so don’t wait until the last minute to book!

Once you have contacted us and selected a date for your session, it’s all handled online through our secure and streamlined process. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her to the session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).

PRE SESSION CONSULTATION

We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a limited wardrobe of bodysuits, bodycon dresses, bodycon crop tops, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have a small collection of mostly neutral colors of Italian silk chiffon fabrics for draping and tossing! If you elect for an in person consult, you will have the opportunity to try on our pieces as well as bring your own for me to go through, and we’ll create a session roadmap together!

During our consult, we will speak at length about your vision for the session. Our clients are all over the map when it comes to the types of images they want to create during out time together. Some want fine art nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time. Some want to have a few with fabric tossing, and others don’t. We will also talk about your preference for the studio temperature during your session. Many of our clients choose to be the only participant in our fine art sessions, but your partner is more than welcome as well. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. We’ll discuss all of these things at length (I’ll be taking notes throughout!), and you’ll have the opportunity to ask me any questions you have!

****The most IMPORTANT reason that we require a pre-session meeting is this: Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This especially proves true for sessions where you’ll be wearing next to nothing for part of it. ***

FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 7 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;) When you arrive to the studio, we’ll get started. I will walk you through everything the entire time - from where and how to stand, to how much to bend your elbow, etc. I’ll also coach you on your facial expression. If I can’t verbally coach you through expressions, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my face for demonstration! :)

It can feel a bit intimidating at first standing under a giant light modifier that flashes with every frame, but you’ll soon start to have fun with it! You will hit your stride, and you will look absolutely stunning. You may also decide that being a supermodel is way too much work and they deserve every penny they earn. ;)

Most of the the images that I take at the very beginning of your session are just for the warm up to get you comfortable (and to adjust the lighting settings as needed!) We will take breaks if you need them for water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a minute. If you need something, all you need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

Analy was definitely nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a fine art session like this. She joked that she didn’t remember how to wear heels because she never wears them anymore due to being at home all the time. We had a lot of fun cracking jokes and using the hair fan for some beautiful movement in her hair. Analy refers to the hair fan images as her “Kim K moment”. The hair fan looks super intimidating because it’s on the larger side. Don’t worry, I promise not to blast you with the tornado speed setting. ;)

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Analy saw her images she was blown away and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. While I personally believe that fine art editorial photography is the most powerful in black and white imagery, your selected images will have both color and black and white versions! The majority of our clients choose their favorite image for a piece of wall art or put their favorites into a beautiful heirloom album to pass down to their child.

If you’re sitting here reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer allllll the questions you might have.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this amazing mama’s maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely stunning?!

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 | Laurel & Eran

Laurel contacted us at the end of her second trimester to ask about how we ran our studio (specifically, our COVID precautions since she was a higher risk pregnancy) and after speaking with us, knew she definitely wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session.

Have you watched the video on our website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, you really should - click here to see it. It gives you a really good general overview of what it’s like to work with me and what my philosophy behind photographs is.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Laurel’s husband had a non-traditional work schedule, so she let us know that she would need a weekday evening for their session and chose the park location. We have more weeknights available than weekend dates, so she had more date options to choose from! Many of our clients choose to take a half day from work or just leave a couple of hours early to schedule a weekday evening session depending on what time the sun is setting on their session date. ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset. If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Laurel’s session paperwork. We handle EVERYTHING securely online in a very streamlined process. Our clients find the whole process super simple and love it. After Laurel sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to make sure you have enough time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby shouldn’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and want to choose it, we’ll go ahead and have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore when we get to your session date. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Our clients can choose up to two looks. As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not required but about 95% of our clients do choose to borrow from it! Even if you don’t, it’s great for inspiration and to see what looks great on you! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting. If able, I strongly encourage clients who are planning to wear their own clothing to come in with that clothing for me to see beforehand and so that we are able to meet each other as well. Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Laurel came in for her fitting, she was surprised by the number of options available to her in the wardrobe. She had been concerned we wouldn’t have options for her as she’s taller. I have dressed women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16 - so no need to worry because we likely do have something! We talked about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I started pulling options for her. She tried each of them on and I assisted by taking an iPhone photo of her in each one that she loved so that she could show her husband later.

You do NOT have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing, but you do need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead times allows us to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband, Laurel decided on a gorgeous blue gown that brought out her eyes and a gorgeous lace overlay dress.

SESSION EFFICIENCY

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 4 hours. That’s a crazy length of time to shoot a portrait session, and it’s why a lot of first time dads to be come in thinking they’re going to hate the entire experience. Nope. That’s not how I roll. We’re NOT going to drag this out. Instead, I’m going to guide you both through the entire experience and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interaction you see in my photographs is 100% authentic and real. In the interest of total transparency, most of my couples can’t quite get there on their own. So….I do the work of getting you positioned just where where you need to be, tweak hair and clothing where necessary and THEN give you an easy to follow prompt that spurs natural interaction. THAT, my friends, is when the magic happens. So, please don’t be nervous about not knowing what to do or think to yourself, “We will never look like those couples”, because the truth is: you don’t have to. Your dynamic with your partner is unique to the two of you, and it SHOULDN’T look like any other maternity session. What it WILL look like is the two of you loving each other the way you do best, as well as highlight the love you have for this brand new baby that you’re welcoming into your family and haven’t actually met yet. Oh, and you’ll also look absolutely gorgeous. ;) 

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t torturously long. I allot an hour - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. (Pro tip: be on time, because while I can shoot efficiently and very quickly in a pinch, I simply don’t have the power to make the sun stay up in the sky). When we first get started, you’re going to be a little nervous and feel awkward. This is 100% normal and par for the course. I’ve got you. There are months that I shoot 20+ maternity sessions (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for over 8 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;)

I’d say that most of couples start hitting their stride in roughly 10 minutes or less. Sometimes the photos I take at the very beginning will meet my standards and they’ll make it into your proof gallery, but most often not. The very first little bit is just the warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction. Once I can see you’re relaxing and starting to have fun, then we’re going to start getting some of those perfect keepers for your gallery!

I have moms move around as little as possible in each spot in the location that we go to. You’re pregnant, your feet might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag you all over creation and make you feel like you went to advanced step aerobics by the time you’re done. Instead, your partner will be the one jumping in and out of the frame as directed. I always remind my clients that if they ever need a break or to sit down, all they need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

We started out our session in the most beautiful fall lighting, and I spent some time photographing Laurel solo and pulling Eran in for some images from time to time. The two of them were just so cute together, and we had a lot of fun. Once they started having fun and laughing (which didn’t take long), I was able to get some of the most stunning images. We did eventually make our away over to a secondary spot that I like to shoot silhouette images at, as these are a popular request of clients (and I LOVE them).

At the end of their session, we said our goodbyes, and I sent over their proof gallery the next week. They LOVED their images and had such a hard time narrowing down what they wanted, because they were “all so beautiful”, as Laurel said.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Laurel & Eran’s park maternity session below!

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 | Harini & Vinod

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 | Robin, Josalin & Keegan

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 Mountain 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.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Alison & Michael at the field

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 | Courtney & Jay

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 | Rachel

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 | Shariel & Eaton

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 | Vikas & Deepika

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 | Lindsay, Matt & Peyton

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 & Family Photographer | Jennifer, Jobe, and Jonah

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 | Whitney, Lane & Archer

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 | Andrea & Andrew 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 | Abby & Jameson

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 | Camille & Kyle

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 | Diara 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 | Madeleine, Tyson & Parker

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.