Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A foggy and drizzly winter maternity session

Katharine contacted me to schedule a maternity and newborn session. She and Howard were expecting their first baby, a little boy! At first, Katharine didn't think she cared about the location of a maternity session, but then realized she really wanted an outdoor session at the park location. No problem! She came to the studio with Howard, and chose two dresses that she really loved. Howard is one of the funniest people I have ever met, and he kept me laughing with his jokes and wit while Katharine was busy trying on pieces. We discussed what he should wear for the session, and Katharine asked to add on HMUA services as well. 

The day of her session, she came to the studio where Margaret, our HMUA was waiting for her. Margaret created a gorgeous waterfall hairstyle for Katharine and a beautiful clean beauty look for makeup. When I arrived it was starting to sprinkle and there was an incredible amount of fog. 

So, why didn't we reschedule the session? Simple: why should we? It wasn't pouring rain. The fog was incredibly unique and beautiful.  I actually LOVE overcast weather for shooting just as much as I love the bright and sunny days. The weather was a part of the story and it made their final images absolutely stunning. Katharine and Howard were up for it, so we headed to the location and the sprinkling rain turned into more of a mist and then stopped completely. 

We had a lot of fun during their session. Howard kept us laughing throughout, and Katharine looked absolutely stunning. When you feel beautiful and confident, it shows! 

Here are some of my most favorite images from this foggy winter session. I'm so glad it all worked out the way it did! I can't wait to share Katharine and Howard's newborn session images on the blog later this month! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Sophia, 10 days new

Martina contacted me a couple of months before baby Sophia was due, letting me know that she wanted to schedule a newborn session. We scheduled her on the calendar tentatively since Sophia had a scheduled birthdate. Babies sometimes arrive earlier than their scheduled c-section or induction, so any dates we place on the calendar for a client are not set in stone. We'll adjust them if necessary! 

When the family arrived at the studio for their newborn session, they brought along Grandma and Grandpa who were visiting from their home country of Germany. It was pretty neat to hear German being spoken in the studio. We've had so many clients from all over the world in the last year: Australia, England, France, China, Malaysia, Korea, Nigeria, and now Germany. I wonder what other countries clients will be from this year?! Big sister Celina and dad Felix were also on hand. The family chose to dress Celina in one of the studio dresses for little girls, and Martina chose a champagne pink dress for herself. We started with the family images first so that Celina wouldn't have to be cooped up in the studio for the entire session. Celina was not interested in holding her sister or being next to her. This is absolutely normal for toddlers! I will not force a child to do something they don't want to do, so we just work around your child's comfort level. Your baby's safety is my paramount consideration. Placing a toddler who doesn't want to participate next to a baby is a recipe for injury, so I simply won't do that. In Celina's case she preferred to interact with her baby sister while being held by her daddy. My goal is for children to feel safe and secure during their sessions in the studio, and often that's in the arms of a parent. Sometimes a child will warm up to me later and be willing to take some solo images with baby, but sometimes not. 

When Celina was finished with her part, her grandparents took her down the street to play at a playground. Siblings coming to sessions are always welcomed! If it is possible for the family to do so, we usually arrange for siblings to arrive later after the baby's solo portraits have been finished. Sometimes that just isn't doable for families, so we work around what can be managed and is easiest for families! 

After Celina departed, we finished up with parent images. Martina and Felix were so sweet to each other, loving and enjoying each other and their new daughter. Sophia fell into a very deep sleep during this part of the session so when we finished, I quickly wrapped her back up and took some more baby only portrait images (the last images you see in this post on the rug) in the newborn shooting room. 

*this session was photographed before the installation of the new white studio flooring

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 | Clarissa

Clarissa contacted me for a studio maternity session. She was pregnant with her first baby, a little girl. She had previously gone the DIY route with a hobbyist friend, and realized that hiring a professional would ensure the results that she envisioned. She drove all the way from Hampton, Georgia to work with me! 

When Clarissa came into the studio, she told me that she had fallen in love with the images on the website and knew I was the perfect photographer for her. She tried on several pieces from the wardrobe and chose a lace dress and a split front dress as well since she knew she wanted a few bare belly images. All clients decide their comfort level. Some clients know they want bare belly images, and others know they don't. This is YOUR maternity session, so we will craft it to fit what you envision within the setting you choose.  We talked about all things pregnancy and afterwards, and had lots of fun chatting. She works as an ER trauma nurse, so I told her that it was likey that very little about being a mother would faze her since she's seen it all at this point! Clarissa definitely has the perfect personality and demeanor to work in the nursing field: she is calm and serene, and makes others feel at ease immediately. 

The day of her studio session, we arrived and began shooting. She had brought a flower crown with her to wear with one of the dresses. We do have a couple of options for flower crowns in our studio wardrobe as well! There was lots of laughter during the session and we had a great time. She looked absolutely beautiful in the dresses that she chose. When she saw her finalized images, she let me know how much she loved them and that she would let me know when her daughter was born. I'm excited to share images from her newborn session later this month, and the story about how that newborn session happened! 

*this session was photographed before the installation of our new white studio floors

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Baby Photographer | Mommy & Me Sessions Event

The Mother's Day Sessions are now open to the public! We opened booking to our existing clients last week, and are already 50% sold out of our spots. Our booking calendar is now open to everyone and spots are still available on both April 23rd and April 30th.

A few important notes!

1) Sessions are for mothers and their children only. Babies should be at least 8 weeks old, with no upper age limit. If your oldest baby is 12, they're NOT too old!  If you have multiple children, bring them all to participate! There is no limit to the number of your children. We'll talk about if you want individual images with each of your children in your gallery or prefer to have everyone together. If you are a same sex couple, this is for one mom. 

2) Professional makeup application is complimentary! You'll need to arrive 35 minutes BEFORE your scheduled time slot. If you are late, our makeup artist will not be able to accommodate you. If you don't want makeup application, feel free to skip it or ask for very light makeup. Tips are not suggested or expected. 

3) If you're pregnant with an older child, you're welcome to participate. If you're pregnant with your first baby, you'll need to contact us about booking a maternity session instead as this is not designed to be a maternity session. 

4) You can opt to dress casually (jeans and white t-shirt) or dress it up a bit! A What to Wear style guide will be emailed out to you in advance of the session. 

5) 50% is due to book with the remainder due April 9, 2017. You can also opt to pay in full at booking. 

Want to see all the details and book your spot?! Click here. 

Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Fresh 48 Photographer | Camille, 12 hours old at Northside Hospital

When Crystal emailed me to tell me that she was expecting her second baby and wanted to book a Fresh 48 and newborn session, I was so excited! I had worked with Crystal for her maternity and Fresh 48 sessions with their first child and loved working with their sweet family. She elected not to do a maternity session this time around since she was so close to her due date when she contacted me. 

Crystal let me know that she was scheduled for an induction so that I would have the heads up on scheduling their session. Well, little Miss Camille had other plans and decided to start the process the day of her induction. :) Beat them to the punch! Crystal let me know that Camille had arrived, and I was able to schedule their session to take place before she was even 12 hours old. I arrived and started photographing Camille and her mommy. Phillip (dad) arrived with big sister Grace and it was so sweet to see Grace meeting her new baby sister and talking to her. Many families schedule Fresh 48's so that they can document their older child meeting their new sibling. I did the same thing with my children, and I can state from personal experience that it's so nice to let a professional document the meeting so you can soak those precious moments in without missing things by being behind an iPhone or your own camera. Live in the moments that will never happen again and be fully present for them! That's what I'm here for. 

You can see some images from big sister Grace's Fresh 48 session by clicking here. It's so neat to see both girls and see how different and unique they looked. I am sure they will be the closest and best of friends as they grow up. My two older daughters have an age difference of 22.5 months and they are inseparable. They love each other just as fiercely as they sometimes fight. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Photographer | Harper

I had last seen Candace and Brandin at their studio maternity session with me, which can be viewed by clicking here. I was so excited to hear that they had welcomed a little GIRL! They waited to find out if they were having a boy or a girl until birth, and since I did that with all three of my children, I always love getting to find out after their maternity session and see the excitement (and sometimes disbelief!). 

When they came in for their newborn session, I (quietly!) squealed a little bit. Baby Harper was a tiny little peanut just under six pounds. She was an adorable tiny little peanut, and she slept like a champ. Candace and Brandin were just so sweet with her, and I loved seeing them as a brand new little family of three. 

Candace elected to have Harper in some tiebacks for a portion of the session. I will never put a tieback on a baby's head that is not proportionate to them. There are no giant flower headbands the size of Texas here. All of my tiebacks are small, sweet, and dainty. It is ALWAYS up to mom whether or not they are used! Some mamas prefer that no tiebacks be used at all, and that's totally okay. Others like a mix, and others want one for every image. I'll work within your specific preferences!

We sailed through Harper's solo images and then started the parent and family images portion. Candace brought a taupe dress from home, and also chose a white lace dress from the studio wardrobe that caught her eye. 

Isn't this family the cutest?! I love how in love Candace and Brandin are with each other and their new daughter. Images that capture that are my absolutely favorite and the ones that will be the most important in the future. 

*As a note, this session was shot before the new white studio flooring was installed. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 | Traci & Lee

Traci contacted me to schedule a studio maternity session. She was expecting TWINS, and wanted to make sure she had photos to remember her pregnancy with them. I typically schedule twin moms at around 26-30 weeks since they tend to show sooner, and are less and less comfortable the further along they are. 26-30 weeks seems to be a great timeframe for a beautiful round belly and ease of physical movement. She and her husband Lee came to the studio for her maternity fitting, and she tried on several dresses. She chose a simple pleated dress and a split front chiffon one, since she knew she wanted to have some bare belly photos also. Lee and I discussed what he should wear while she was trying on dresses, and also got to know each other a bit. Dads can't always make it to the maternity fittings, but I always love it when they do. It gives us a chance to chat and makes the actual session day easy and comfortable since they've already met me and know what to expect. If your husband hates having his photo taken, I promise it will be as pain free as possible with me. Your husband won't be asked to do anything he's uncomfortable with, nor will he be forced to spend two hours having his photo taken. So far, I've gotten high fives from every dad that has worked with me and they all told their partner that I was pretty cool and I made the experience way more fun than they thought it could ever be. 

On the day of their session, Traci arrived and we got right to shooting! She looked absolutely gorgeous and I LOVED the way she chose to wear her hair! 

I'm such a lover of black and white images, and this session's images just look so beautiful in black and white. Clients receive both color and black and white edits of their final edited images in their gallery, but I'm choosing to share only black and white ones for this blog post.  

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Logan

I last saw Adrienne & Dave at their studio maternity session, which can be viewed here. I was so excited to find out that they had welcomed a little BOY! They waited to find out what they were having until birth, and because I did the same with my own three children I always just love the guessing and wondering, and then finding out from the elated parents. 

When Adrienne had tried on dresses for her maternity session fitting, she tried on a short lace one that she loved. She didn't think it was the right fit for her maternity session, but told me to remember it because she was pretty sure she would want to wear it for her newborn session. So many clients find their newborn session clothing while they're trying pieces on for maternity! 

She had also worked with Margaret to add on hair and makeup services, and worked with her again for her newborn session. 

When Dave, Adrienne, and baby Logan arrived at the studio, Adrienne got into the makeup chair, and I took Logan into the newborn shooting room. He had some of the longest eyelashes I have ever seen on a newborn, and Adrienne had specifically requested that I capture those for her. He was such a good little sleeper so that proved quite easy! I always love capturing the tiny little details of newborns such as their nose, toes, lips, belly button, eyelashes, hair swirls, etc. I always talk to my clients about if there are any special features they want captured. When I was finished with Logan's solo portraits, Adrienne was almost finished with her hair and makeup. I kept working and shot daddy and son images with Dave and Logan, and Adrienne joined in for family images. My sessions do have a general flow that I loosely follow, but they're always adaptable and tailored to each unique baby and family. Sometimes babies have a harder time settling, so we'll switch it up a little and focus on parent images first until they're sleepy. Whatever the case may be, the top priority is the comfort of your baby and family. No stress is allowed at the studio! Newborn sessions are time for you to come and relax and enjoy each other as a brand new family.

These are just a few of my favorite images from Logan's session. I wish I could share them all! As a note, this session took place in October in our studio before our new white flooring was installed. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Photography | Kathleen & Owen | A mommy and me session

Kathleen called the studio phone at the very last minute to see if we could work her into our schedule for a maternity session... at 38 weeks pregnant. She is an actress out in Los Angeles and was living here temporarily while her husband was finishing up work on a movie set. She decided that she really wanted maternity photos with her little boy to document her pregnancy with her little girl and how sweet her little boy was. I happened to be at the studio working when she called, so we had her come right over from where she was shopping at Atlantic Station for a maternity fitting. 

When she arrived at the studio, she let me know that she wanted to dress more casually for part of the session in jeans and the shirt that she had on so she could tumble around with her son, and also wanted to wear one of the studio dresses for part of the session. I thought that was a great idea, so we set about trying on dresses, and she found one that she loved. She showed me sweater that she had just picked up for her son, Owen, and I thought it was absolutely perfect. We said our goodbyes and crossed our fingers that she wouldn't have little Miss Lily until AFTER her scheduled session.

Fortunately, Lily stayed in, and we met at the park location. It was an absolutely gorgeous and warm November evening. When they arrived, Owen had fallen asleep in the car and didn't wake up even when moved to a stroller. We decided to let him wake on his own since most toddlers aren't exactly the happiest when awoken! I started with solo images of Kathleen, and then Owen woke up. He was a little bit grumpy, but his curiousness about me and where we were won out.  When he heard that he got to play, run around, and hug his mommy, he was all about participating. 

I LOVED working with Kathleen and Owen, and was so happy that I was able to make a last minute session work for them! Kathleen chose to order a large mounted print of the first black and white image of them snuggling, and I thought it was the perfect choice. 

If you have waited until the very last second for a maternity session and are wondering if you should go for it... contact us! We'll chat about what you're hoping for, and see if we have any availability to get you in right away. No maternity client has ever regretted documenting such a special time in their life. We'll have fun, you'll look and feel beautiful, and you'll have a story to tell your baby about that time mommy waited until she was 38 weeks pregnant to book a maternity session.....

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Photographer | Everett

Jessica and Daniel worked with me for their field maternity session, which you can see by clicking here. I actually was able to meet baby Everett the day after he was born! I was at Northside Hospital shooting a Fresh 48 session for a client, and Jessica had texted me to let me know that Everett had arrived. I responded that I was actually in the hospital with another client, and that I'd love to stop by and say hi if they were up for a quick visit. She responded that they'd love that so I dropped in for a quick 5 minute visit and got to see their handsome baby boy. 

The day of their newborn session at the studio, Everett was wide awake and very interested in his surroundings. I love when babies are awake since it allows me to capture some of their funny newborn expressions so parents always remember what they looked like. I wrapped him snugly, and employed some of my newborn photographer tricks to get him to fall asleep, and within 15 minutes he was fast asleep. Parent and family images were most important to Jessica and Daniel, so we focused more on that for their session. Daniel borrowed another shirt from the wardrobe, and Jessica opted to wear her own clothing from home as she wanted a more casual and comfortable look with a simple sleeveless blush top and jeans.

I seriously love this little family so much and am so glad to know them! All of my clients are important to me, and I love getting to know them on a personal level, and being trusted to capture some of the most special times in their lives. It's a huge honor, and one that I don't take lightly. 

When Jessica and Daniel viewed their images, they knew right away that they wanted a professionally printed album, so they chose a collection that included one. Digital files are a non factor in client decision making because all of my collections come with all of the high resolution edited digital files in the gallery.  Many clients decide that they want to display their images in their home, so they choose a collection that includes a wall gallery or an album. There is a collection for every need!

Jessica and Daniel came into the studio to help design their album, which was a lot of fun. First, they chose their favorite linen for the cover, and then we spread out the proofs all over the floor of the studio. They chose their top favorites they wanted in their album, and decided on a mix of both color and black and white images. I designed the album with their input, and then sent them the proof. They requested a couple of changes since they decided they liked the color version of a couple of images better in the album flow. I revised the proof and they approved it, and the album was ordered. I loved their album so much that I have one as a sample in the studio. I don't believe clients should have to invest in something sight unseen, so all the products are available for clients to see for themselves. 

Here is a little sampling of some of my favorite images from their session! This session was shot in the studio before our new white flooring was installed, so the flooring is no longer dark hardwood. Other than this change, the studio is the same. 

Black and white image of an Asian woman laying on a bed with her newborn son in front of her, taken at the natural light studio of Lily Sophia Photography.

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 | Jessica & Daniel

Jessica contacted me in the middle of April to see if I had availability for a maternity and newborn session. She was expecting their first child, a baby boy! I responded and let her know that I had one opening left for April, and that it was three days away. She jumped at the chance to book her session, and came to the studio for a maternity fitting with her husband.

Jessica and Daniel have a pretty significant height difference! She is all of 5'2", and he is super tall at 6'6". She was a bit concerned that the dresses in the studio would be too long for her and not work well, but I assured her that many of the pieces work for a wide range of heights. We also have what seems like an unlimited supply of safety pins to temporarily fit clothing to more petite bodies! Jessica ended up choosing two dresses that she loved and looked gorgeous on her. Her husband opted to borrow one of the men's chambray linen shirts that we have on hand for men so he wouldn't have to worry about shopping with the session being so soon. 

We met at the field, and it was such a gorgeous evening. I LOVE shooting in the field year round, and it's absolutely beautiful when it's both cloudy and sunny - but I definitely just adore sun soaked images, and that's exactly the kind of evening it was. 

During the session Daniel kept crouching down out of habit. I let him know this wasn't necessary and to embrace the height difference. For some images when couples are snuggling, I do encourage dads to get as close as possible but ask them to do this how they naturally would. For some men that's bending at the back, others bend their knees. I want your images to be true to who you are both individually and as a couple. 

Here are just a few images from our fun evening shooting in the field. I absolutely loved working with this couple for maternity and newborn (check back tomorrow to see their newborn session!) and am looking forward to seeing them again for their son's First Birthday Session! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Family Photographer | Ava's sitter session in the gardens

Brittany contacted me several months in advance to get on the calendar for a late fall family/milestone session in the garden location. She wanted a weeknight so her husband wouldn't miss any football games. The gardens are only available on weeknights, so this was the perfect choice for their family. 

The last time I saw little Ava and her parents was at her newborn session when she was an itty bitty twelve days old, which you can see here. I loved working with Brittany and Frank, who are the owners and driving force behind a successful real estate firm here in Atlanta! They are such a sweet family, and little Miss Ava has the biggest blue eyes and the best personality. Frank is not a big fan of having his photo taken, but has decided he likes working with me because I don't make things awkward and actually fun to be around, according to Brittany. That makes me happy to hear, because I work really hard to win dads over! 

I provided styling assistance to Brittany via email with link exchanges of suggestions of what to wear, and we pulled together a comfortable and cute look for everyone that would photograph well in the gardens setting. My studio wardrobe is always available to borrow from, but many families choose to just utilize my styling assistance instead and shop from their own closets or purchase some new clothes to wear. The most important thing is to be comfortable and look like YOU! 

Brittany had worked with Margaret for her hair and makeup services when we had shot Ava's newborn session and she loved the experience with her. We scheduled their family session to take place on Brittany's birthday, so she treated herself to Margaret's services again! 

We met at the gardens on a mild fall evening, and had lots of fun wandering around and exploring. Brittany chose to mat an 11x14 print of one of their session images and place in a 16x20 frame. I have a gorgeous frame line in the studio, and take care of all of that for my clients. It saves you the hassle of getting the print, taking it to a frame shop, picking out a mat and frame, leaving the print, and then driving back to pick it up. Instead, my clients just choose their frame, and it's ready for pickup within 3-4 weeks time and ready to hang right on the wall! 

These are some of my favorite images from this sweet family's session - I just can't get over Ava's big beautiful blue eyes! 

If you're looking for a family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work 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, family and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jasmine & Gregory in the studio

Jasmine contacted me to see if I had any last minute availability to photograph a studio maternity session. She and Gregory were expecting their first child, a baby boy, and were so excited! Jasmine knew she wanted a split front dress as she wanted some bare belly images, and she also knew she wanted something lacy. She found two dresses in the studio wardrobe that fit her vision perfectly. 

Jasmine and Gregory met through work and have been together for a long time. They are such a loving and affectionate couple, and we had a lot of fun during their session. I loved Jasmine's gorgeous braids and big smile. Gregory was so devoted to her and doted on her the entire time. Aren't they the sweetest?! I'm choosing to share my favorite black and white images from their session with me, but clients always receive both a color and black and white edit of each image. 

Congratulations Jasmine & Gregory! Your son is such a lucky little boy to have such loving parents like you. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Photography | Baby Addison

Nicole contacted me in October to see if I had any availability for a newborn session in November. I was able to fit them in, and she elected to add on hair and makeup services as well. 

The day of Addison's session, Nicole walked into the studio wearing a sweatshirt, yoga pants, and her hair in a bun. She also brought her grandmother along since her husband was at work and could not come for the entire time. Nicole chose a gorgeous dress from the studio wardrobe and settled into the hair and makeup chair. Margaret started working her beauty magic with Nicole, and I took baby Addison into the newborn shooting room for her solo portraits. Addison was such a cute little thing and slept pretty soundly during her time with me. She needed to nurse a few times, so I brought her to her mommy to nurse while she was having her hair and makeup done. We have a couple of nursing pillows in the studio available for client use (they're washed in between sessions) and they fit perfectly on laps in the makeup chair! Our HMUA team is very supportive of nursing and will continue working while you nurse your little one. 

As I was finishing up with Addison's solo images, her daddy, Chris arrived. We started shooting daddy-daughter images and then when Nicole was finished, she stepped in for the family images. Chris had to head back to work so he bade us all goodbye, and we finished up with images of Addison and Nicole together.  Every family I work with has their own unique needs, and I'll work with each client to accommodate them as needed when it comes to the session flow. I completely understand that many daddies just don't get paternity leave, so we can structure your session to enable him to stop in during his lunch break! 

Here are just a few of my favorite images from Addison's newborn session! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Photographer | William, 17 days new

When Joanna contacted me, she was pretty sure her son was too old for a newborn session. This is such a common misconception and it really makes me sad that so many parents want newborn sessions but hear this information and give up on finding someone. I'm here to tell you that your baby does NOT have to be between 5-10 days old for a newborn session in my studio. As a matter of fact, I'll shoot up to 30 days of age, but I always make sure that my clients know what realistic expectations are for their session. The older the baby, the "stiffer" they tend to be in terms of how curled up they'll be. If I have a much older baby that doesn't want to curl up, I'll simply put them into a position that is comfortable for them. We are all about letting your baby lead the way during sessions so they feel safe and comfortable.

Joanna also decided to use our HMUA add on services, and worked with Margaret for her makeup. Clients have the option of just makeup, or both hair and makeup! Margaret used shimmer powders for Joanna's gorgeous eyes and she looked absolutely beautiful! She said she was so glad to have an hour to relax and have her makeup done while I worked with William and that she was amazed at how Margaret was able to make her look NOT tired. That's the most common remark that we hear after clients look in the mirror... our HMUA artists definitely have their bag full of tricks to making new mamas feel cared for and look well rested.

This family was such a sweet family, and I loved working with them. William was such a stretchy little baby... he stretched himself into natural poses, and I captured those. Not every baby does well being left to stretch as some have startle reflex if they're not in deep sleep, so I tend to swaddle those babies to keep them comfortable until they're sleeping deeply enough to not startle. Nobody likes to wake themselves up by hitting themselves in the face!

Here are some of my favorite images from William's newborn session. Isn't he just the cutest little guy?  

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If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer here in Atlanta, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Photography | A studio session with Adrienne & Dave

Adrienne and Dave came to visit me for a complimentary consultation at the studio in May for a consultation to meet with me and learn more about the booking and photography process. It was really important to them that they mesh well with their photographer's personality and develop a relationship. I love clients who want this, so I always welcome a meeting! They had also just relocated to Atlanta and were in the midst of moving into their new home, making plans for everything baby related, and in the next couple of days after meeting with me...Dave threw his back out. I didn't know this at the time, of course. I had been so busy at the studio with clients as that spring and summer were the busiest on record, so I assumed they were busy also or had found someone that was the perfect fit for them. Several months later in August, an email popped up in my inbox from Adrienne asking if she could book a maternity and newborn session, and apologizing for not getting in touch sooner. I literally only had ONE remaining date in my calendar for a studio session, and made room for another newborn on my calendar for them in October. 

When Adrienne came to the studio for her maternity fitting, she was a bit worried that we wouldn't have anything that would fit her. Adrienne is 4'11" and sometimes that height can be swallowed up in dresses. The studio wardrobe has seen clients from 4'11" to 6'3" and ranging from size 0 to 16 and we've always found options that will work for them! Adrienne was no exception. She fell in love with one of our fitted strapless lace dresses with a sweetheart neckline. The off white color complemented her skin tone perfectly! She also loved the backless taupe crinkle gown that is so popular with our clientele, and chose that as well.

Adrienne also decided to work with Margaret for her hair and makeup. Margaret is incredibly experienced with pretty much every skin tone (and undertone) as well as hair texture. I'll put it this way... everyone who chooses to work with our HMUA team is so glad that they did, and it makes the experience that much more fun! Maternity clients with studio sessions simply show up at the studio in advance of their session to be prepped. Enjoy a drink from the studio fridge, help yourself to snacks from the snack basket, chill out to some music (just play from your phone via Bluetooth on our studio Bose speaker), have a great conversation with your HMUA, and make some plans to go out for a meal afterwards to show off your gorgeous hair and makeup! 

I arrived about 10 minutes before our session start time to get set up for Adrienne's maternity session. Once she was finished with hair and makeup, we helped her get dressed and began the session. It was so much fun, and Adrienne and Dave are just so sweet together! She told me that she is Filipino and that Dave is Chinese, and that they are wondering who their baby will take after more. I think every parent wonders that... I know I did. Adrienne and Dave also decided NOT to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. I made the same decision with each of my three pregnancies, so I'm always so excited when a couple tells me they're not finding out - getting to see their anticipation and wondering if they're going to have a son or a daughter is always so fun. 

Here are some of my favorite images from their maternity session in black and white! Sometimes I love a session so much in black and white that I choose to share only those on the blog. Adrienne and Dave received their images in both color and black and white as the final images are edited in both formats.  

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Newborn Twin Photographer | David & Sania

Janell contacted me to see if I had availability for The Birth Session, but unfortunately I was not. I do not accept births between the months os October-December due to the holidays and the birthdays of my own three children and husband who were all born in those months. Janell was disappointed but completely understood, and decided to book a Fresh 48 session for her twins when they arrived! Her babies ended up arriving a few weeks early and had to spend some time in the NICU, so Janell decided to transfer to a newborn session instead. When they arrived at the studio I was in complete awe of how tiny and cute they were! David was 5 pounds 2 ounces, and little miss Sanîa was 4 pounds 12 ounces. They were the SWEETEST little duo, and happiest right next to each other all cuddled up just like they were in their mama's belly. I also took images of each individually, and then concluded the session with family images. It was a lot of fun, and I just LOVE this family! I can't wait to see these little babies again for their milestone sessions and watch them grow. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Baby Photography | Abby turns ONE!

Abby came to the studio to celebrate turning ONE and was the very first baby to be photographed on the new studio floors! Her mama elected to borrow some pieces from the studio wardrobe for Abby's session. We started off with one of my favorite tutus which we put over a grey camisole and paired with one of the many tiebacks in my collection. These tiebacks are often worn during newborn sessions, and it's pretty special to use one of the same ones when your newborn turns one!  

After capturing Abby crawling around on the floor and playing with some of the studio toys, we decided to contain her a little bit using some of our studio chairs. The high chair is a genuine vintage high chair with the perfect amount of natural weathering, and is so perfect for crawling and walking babies! It keeps them contained for a little bit so their expressions and little details can more easily be captured, and is the perfect way to transition to the cake portion of one year sessions. 

I always have a parent place the cake on the tray so that I can capture the first reactions to cake. A lot of clients ask when they should schedule the one year session. The answer depends on your personal preferences! Some of my clients want the images to truly capture their baby's first exposure to cake. Others prefer for that moment to be at their first birthday party and schedule the one year session for the week afterwards. Either way you choose, babies with cake are adorable! All of my clients have told me afterwards that they LOVED being able to just stand and watch and take in every moment without worrying about taking pictures themselves. 

I think it's safe to say she loved her cake, don't you? It was so funny watching her navigate her cake and then deciding this would be the most efficient way to get as much as possible into her mouth. Smart girl! 

Chubby cheeks and long eyelashes...forever preserved to remember. Those cheeks will slowly disappear as she grows into a toddler and a little girl but her mama will always have these images to remember exactly what she looked like. 

After we cleaned Miss Abby up, her mama started getting her ready to go. When she pulled this dress out of her diaper bag, I immediately asked if we could take a few more images because it was just SO perfect. And sure enough, these last few images ended up being some of my favorite from Abby's one year session! 

If you would like to reserve your baby's first year session, it's never to early to do so! Many of my clients schedule their six month and first year sessions when they see me during their newborn session. I love documenting babies and young families as they grow, and I would love to work with you to create milestone images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 | Stephanie & Ben at the park

When Stephanie contacted us to learn more about our maternity and newborn sessions, she chose to book both. I love working with couples for both, and often see them for important milestones and then every year thereafter. 

Stephanie came to the studio for her maternity fitting and I saw right away that she had a free spirit and loved the bohemian look. I pulled two dresses that I knew she would fit in, and she fell in love with them immediately. They were perfect for her skin tone and her personality! She had initially chosen the studio for her session, but I let her know that I felt the park was a better fit for what she was envisioning and the dresses she had chosen. She agreed, and we changed it to the park location since I still had availability for that time of day. We discussed what her husband should wear, and she also elected to book HMUA services as well. 

The day of their maternity session was freezing cold and a bit windy. I am always a fan of wind during sessions because it adds such a beautiful and natural element that can't be replicated. I could follow clients around with a leaf blower, but I just don't think that would work as well. (Yes, I am joking) I assured her that I work quickly, and grabbed a blanket from my stash to bring along with us which came in handy for warming up in between. The blanket even made it into some of their final gallery images! :) 

We had so much fun during their session and laughed a lot. Ben was a little unsure at first (like most husbands!) but after about 5 minutes, he was having a good time too. The most common concern that my clients express is that they don't know what to do and are afraid they're going to look awkward. Listen. It's MY job to get you comfortable and having fun. We'll build a relationship of trust and communication at the beginning of your experience with me when you come in for your maternity fitting. During your actual session, you won't be left wondering what to do. I'm with you every step of the way. When you look at your images after the session, you'll smile and remember how much fun you had during, and that the moments were real moments and reactions and not faked. 

Here are some of my favorites from this gorgeous session! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 Family Photographer | The Cook Family

I had so much fun shooting this family session for the Cook family in December! Liz didn't have time to shop for her family before their session, but I assured her that we could work with things from their closet. Many clients like to purchase special outfits for their family sessions, but it's definitely not necessary! The most important thing is for you to be comfortable in your clothing and for it to reflect who you are as individuals. No one wants to look at a photo from twenty years ago and wonder why on earth they chose to wear what they did. As part of your experience of working with me, I provide complimentary style consultations over email and sometimes in the studio depending on schedules. I'll even send over links of suggestions of where to purchase pieces that fit within your budget. As always, the studio wardrobe is available to clients who are interested in borrowing from it. 

Liz chose to have her hair and makeup done, and I just loved the gorgeous textured braid she chose! When we arrived at the field, I informed the family that it was time to have fun together! So many dads hate having their photos taken because photographers drag out the session longer than it needs to be or expect small children to be perfectly behaved and sit with their hands folded on their laps. That's just not how I operate. Sessions with me are a time to have fun, love each other, and laugh... a lot. I'll give you tips and tricks to best prep for the session, and we'll work with whatever curveballs your threenager lobs our way. All you need to do is be a family, and I'm there to help with simple and easy direction for natural interaction. There is no need to fake moments or connection... the moments you see here are authentic. 

Without further ado, here are some of my favorites from this sweet family's session.  

If you're looking for a family photographer who will document genuine emotion and authentic moments of you together, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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.