Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Serena & Dan

Serena emailed the studio to inquire about maternity sessions and had some questions about the process and how everything worked. Caroline (our full time studio manager) spent some time with her answering all of her questions, and Serena decided she wanted to book her session at the gardens location. Serena had contacted us VERY late in her pregnancy, and we only had one date open for her - which fortunately worked for her schedule! As a reminder, if you want to schedule your session in the gardens location: be sure you are available on a weeknight as they are typically not available on weekends.

Serene came into the studio a couple of days before her session for her maternity fitting and I enjoyed getting to know her and her husband. They had a lot of questions about what shoes they should wear and what Dan should wear. I told them that we needed to choose options for Serena before we could address those questions, so we set about looking at all the options!

Serena really enjoyed trying on dresses from the studio wardrobe, and fell in love with two options: a steel blue lace dress, and another purple lace dress paired with a sheer white shawl. Now that she had chosen her wardrobe, we talked about what shoes she could wear that would look great, and options for Dan as well.

On the evening of their session, we met at the gardens. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and I teased Serena that she had hit won the lottery with her maternity session scheduling! Dan and I looked at his outfit options that he had brought along with him while Serena was changing into her first dress. He had brought along a pullover argyle sweater that worked perfectly with Serena’s options, so we were all set!

We started in the blue lace dress that Serena had chosen and headed into the gardens. The gardens have quite a few options within it to photograph in. I always look at what my couples are wearing and then decide where it makes the most sense to shoot. The sweeping stone stairs were a gorgeous setting for her blue dress, and we also went into a specific area of the gardens with hedges and lots of blooming flowers.

After we finished the first portion, Serena changed into her purple lace dress and we headed into the gardens to incorporate the hydrangeas and other plants as well as the Grecian columns and walking bridges. There was no need for Dan to change, and the majority of my dads stick with just one outfit!

Some of my favorite images from this session are towards the end. Most of my clients have relaxed quite a bit after a few minutes in, and are comfortable with being photographed - and that’s when their true personalities and connection becomes evident. When couples almost forget that I’m there and follow my prompts for guided natural interaction, everything unfolds naturally and beautiful images are created as a result.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this 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 Baby Photographer | Brooke is ONE!

When Kea emailed me to schedule a family session with some focus on her youngest daughter’s first birthday, I was so excited! I’ve been working with them since Kea was pregnant with their second child and have loved every session with them. They’re such a loving and fun family, and their kids all have so much personality! Because I’m also a mom of three, I really enjoy photographing big kids and larger families - a little bit of chaos never scares me! ;) (and who are we kidding, sometimes it’s a LOT of chaos!)

We sent over the style guide and Pinterest board to Kea and she came up with two different outfit collections and sent me photos. Both options she had come up with were wonderful, but I was a bit concerned about one due to the very summery nature (sleeveless dresses, sandals, and shorts) and the forecast being a bit on the colder side for spring. She hadn’t considered that factor, and it helped her make her decision immediately! Cold children can be more difficult to distract. When wearing clothing for a session that might be on the colder side, you can never go wrong with layers. That way pieces can be removed if anyone finds themselves too warm as the session goes on. I’m here to help with your wardrobe styling if you desire! While most of my clients find the resources we send them perfectly adequate, others want to run their choices by me, and I welcome that. I know it can be stressful to pull together the look for everyone, and I’m here to help ease that for you as much as possible.

Because we were celebrating Brooke’s first birthday, Kea wanted a lot of the focus during the session to be on her, but she wanted the entire family photographed also. That’s the great thing about First Birthday sessions! We can customize the focus to whatever you desire.

During family sessions, you can be assured that not every child will want to participate at the same time, and that’s perfectly ok! I look for who is interested and willing amongst the kids, and I come up with fun games to engage your children. I ask parents to go with the flow no matter what’s happening, and the rest will work itself out. When Kea viewed her gallery, she emailed me to let me know how much she loved the images and how her gallery perfectly showed who each of her children were.

As I photographed the family during their session, I kept laughing at each of the children’s very distinct personalities. You can see for yourself in the images exactly what their personalities are, and I absolutely love it! At the very end, Kea pulled out a cake pop for Brooke to enjoy. She had decided that Brooke had eaten enough sugar that week with all the birthday celebrations, and that she wanted to keep it super simple but still have SOMETHING. The cake pop was the perfect solution! I’ve had clients choose to present their one year old with cupcakes, cakes, pies, and donuts - there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate a birthday!

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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Elias

Earlier this week, I blogged Rachel’s studio maternity session, and am so excited to share her son’s newborn images today!

Rachel had elected to add on makeup services as she has done for all of her other portrait sessions. As a busy mom of (now) THREE boys, she appreciates being able to just show up and be taken care of.

The morning of their session, Rachel arrived with her mother and baby Elias and we went through the studio wardrobe together. She already knew that she wanted to wear the same dress for a few photos that she had worn for her maternity session as a way to come full circle. After viewing the other options, she fell in love with a gorgeous blush pink lace dress and settled into the makeup chair while I got started with Elias.

Elias was sound asleep when I took him back, and stayed that way for most of his session. He did need a nursing break, but then went right back to sleep! He made some of the cutest expressions with a lip curl and half grin here and there. The focus of my sessions are entirely on your baby, and I choose to use simple neutral wraps to achieve this and keep posing natural. If your baby doesn’t want to do into a certain position, I don’t force them to. Their comfort

I finished up pretty quickly with Elias and came out to the main shooting room just as his daddy and big brothers arrived. Aaron Thomas was still all about his sister, but Luca was still a little bit unsure.

Forcing big siblings to do something or putting a lot of pressure and expectation on them is (a) unnecessary and (b) almost always backfires. It’s SO much more effective to adopt a relaxed approach with no expectations at all. I work with so many children on a weekly basis, and have been told I have infinite patience. In all honesty, there is pretty much nothing that I haven’t seen at this point. I have a whole arsenal of techniques and tricks up my sleeve if I need them. My number one priority is the safety of your newborn. Some toddlers just aren’t going to come near their new sibling alone! Two and under is always a roll of the dice when it comes to “cooperation” for sibling shots, and the chances increase with age 3-4. Age 5 and up - I’ve never had a sibling this age not be a fantastic listener or not want to participate.

Since both big brothers were willing and ready to participate, we started immediately with the sibling images. Because of the ages of the big boys, I chose to have Aaron Thomas in the middle. That way if Luca decided to jump up, Elias wouldn’t be affected. I knew that Aaron Thomas was mature enough to stay in place and hold his baby brother securely. What you can’t see is that we have spotters right by the brothers ready to reach in if needed!

Rachel slipped into her dress, and we continued with family images. I asked the big boys for permission to play some games with them and if I could touch them gently to move them where I needed them to be. When young children feel that they have a choice in the matter, they are much more likely to be happy and willing participants! You’ll always hear me talking to your children with respect. I 100% believe in asking them for permission to touch them. If they say no, that’s ok. We’ll work around it! We gave the boys a quick break to photograph some daddy and son images, and then a few of just the parents with Elias. I had daddy and big boys out the door in about 30 minutes. Rachel’s husband had braced himself for a horrible time because of their last newborn session experience, and was shocked (and pleasantly surprised!) by how much fun he ended up having. She later sent me a screenshot of a text exchange with him saying “That wasn’t bad at all! She was great, and had us in and out!” ::dusts off shoulder:: Just kidding! I can’t predict how your newborn will do - I’ve had some newborns decide to start crying at the start of family images, and we then have to spend some time getting them calm before we can continue. That being said, I make every effort to be as efficient as I can be so that you are there for the least amount of time possible.

After the boys left, Rachel changed into her white dress and we photographed just her and her last baby. It’s such a bittersweet feeling holding your very last baby and knowing you won’t get to do it again, even if you’ve made the decision yourself and know it’s the right one. I still wonder if I’m REALLY done, even though my brain knows I am! I looked over at Rachel’s mom and asked her if she’d like to be in a few of the images. She waved me off, saying that she wasn’t dressed appropriately. I responded by saying I had the perfect top for her to put on. When she took a really long pause, I grabbed the tunic off the hanger and handed it to her before she had a chance to change her mind. I’m so glad she decided to participate for a few images! What a precious gift to give Elias: a three generations photo. I know Rachel will also fondly look at the images of her mom with Elias in the future. We wrapped up the session and parted ways.

After seeing her proof gallery, Rachel chose to keep all of her images, and we designed a gorgeous album together for their home as well as a huge wall portrait and other smaller prints. I LOVE assisting families with albums and wall art so that they can enjoy their photographs in their homes every day. Our album covers are so gorgeous: and I’m partial to the suede and velvet materials! We have a stack of albums in the studio for you to peruse while you’re there, and it gives you a chance to touch them and see which one is your favorite.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Elias’s newborn session! I can’t wait to see him and his older brothers again in October for his six month milestone 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 Newborn Photographer | Hank is four months!

Adam & Melanie first worked with me when they brought their sweet little boy, Hank, to my studio for his newborn session. You can view those images by clicking here. Melanie contacted us soon after his newborn session to get on the calendar for milestone sessions. She chose to schedule for 4 months, 8 months, and 1 year. Scheduling in advance is recommended so that you can reserve the dates that you want! Melanie wanted to have the dates on the calendar so she could plan Hank’s vaccinations to take place after each one just in case he was fussy for a couple of days after getting them.

On the morning of Hank’s milestone session, the family arrived. Melanie had chosen to add on hair and makeup services, and had been paired with Margaret this time. She had previously worked with Brielle for Hank’s newborn session, and will be working with Brielle again later this month for Hank’s eight month session! All of our HMUA’s are incredibly talented! If you really love the one you work with, you can always specifically request them. However, we cannot guarantee a specific person’s availability will coincide with mine. We take care of coordinating your HMUA so you don’t have yet another thing to schedule. Our studio experience has been designed to be super easy and streamlined so it’s as low stress as possible for you!

I loved the navy floral dress that Melanie had chosen to wear fro her own closet! Adam had brought along a few shirts because he wasn’t sure which one would work best. I looked at what he had brought and immediately pointed at the best choice for what Melanie and Hank were wearing, which was a pink and white striped seersucker button down. Most dads will bring a few options to choose from, so don’t be afraid to do that to! I’m here to help and am a quick decision maker. I know what will photograph well and have an eye for the best colors to suit an individual’s skin tone AND complement what everyone else is wearing. So, no need to worry about it: I’ve got you covered. Melanie had brought a light blue sleeveless romper and another white romper with a Peter Pan collar. Since they’re from Alabama, she loves the southern style! :)

We started Hank’s session with interaction between him and mommy . Four month olds are limited in what they can physically do on their own since they cannot sit up unassisted, and will need to be held by other session participants for a portion of the session. Getting them warmed up for the camera is as simple as playing and snuggling. Your baby LOVES to interact with you, and this is where we will get those beautiful images of your baby looking at you with nothing but pure love. We added daddy in for a few, and Hank started getting fussy. Melanie and Adam were apologetic, and I told them not to worry about it!

Being a photographer with a focus on babies and children is not for the faint of heart. It requires endless patience, a loving heart, and adaptability for a constantly changing situation. Anyone who has a baby knows how they can get fussy for some inexplicable reason. Us adults are trying to figure it out, and no matter what we do, sometimes they get even more upset! I totally understand because I’ve been there - with my own children, and with my clients! So if your session feels like a runaway train because your baby isn’t “cooperating” like you had dreamed about, don’t stress about it. Seriously, just relax, and we’ll go with the flow.

In Hank’s case, he needed a bottle and a power nap. During his power nap I was able to get some of the sweetest and most snuggly images. When he woke up, he was back to his happy self and we wrapped up the session with lots of family and solo images.

I so love this wonderful family and can’t wait to see them again at the end of this month and see how much Hank has grown!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A studio session with Rachel

I first worked with Rachel for her maternity session when she was pregnant with her second child. She had already booked an in home newborn photographer before meeting me, so I didn’t photograph that baby’s newborn session for her. The experience that their family had with their in home session was pretty stressful for a host of reasons. Even though she lives an hour away, when Rachel found out that she was expecting baby number three, she immediately contacted the studio to get on the calendar for a maternity and newborn session because she didn’t want to risk our calendar filling up. She did not want a repeat of the experience she’d had with her last baby, and she knew that a session with us would be easy and seamless because all she would have to do was show up.

I was so excited to see Rachel again for her second maternity session with me! She came into the studio for a maternity fitting a couple of weeks beforehand to look through the wardrobe and try on pieces. Almost immediately, she chose a gorgeous white dress that fit her vision perfectly. Rachel also chose to add on hair and makeup services. She had worked with Margaret for her first maternity session with me, and was paired with her again for this one!

The day of her session, she arrived at the studio all ready to go. Margaret preps non newborn portrait clients at her home studio which is located close by. If you’re a newborn client, your HMUA will come to the studio to prep you while your baby is being photographed alone. Because Rachel just wanted a handful of images, she had chosen our smallest collection which is available for in studio sessions only. It’s a short session (20ish minutes) and has one outfit and up to two participants. So, if you’re being photographed solo or just want a few images of you and your partner. this might be the right choice for you! While most of our clients choose to book higher collections, this was the perfect fit for Rachel and what she wanted. She loved her gallery so much that she wasn’t able to narrow it down to the included number and ended up adding some images to what was included. If you’re not sure what’s the best fit for you, we can help you decide that!

Come back in a couple of days to see the newborn session of Rachel’s THIRD baby boy, and enjoy the handful of her favorites!

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 Baby Photographer | Liam is ONE!!!

I first worked with Liam when he was a tiny newborn, and you can view the images by clicking here. I was so excited when his mom, Jennifer, emailed asking to schedule a First Birthday session in the studio for him!

After discussing potential dates, they chose one, and we sent over a few things. All clients receive our easy to read style guide and links to our Pinterest inspiration board. First Birthday clients who are choosing to incorporate a cake into their session get a cake tips sheet! Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose is important. We have a preferred baker (she can even deliver the cake to the studio!) that we highly recommend, but Publix also does a pretty good job if you’re looking for something super simple. The studio has a Publix located very close by, so we provide our clients with the bakery phone number. Picking up from that Publix means you’re spending less time in the car trying to balance a cake on your lap, and that you don’t forget your cake. (yep, it’s happened more than once!) If you’re not loving the idea of including a cake, no worries! Plenty of clients opt to not include anything while others pick something less traditional like a pie or donuts.

The day of Liam’s session, the family arrived and we spent a little bit of time chatting about how the past year had gone for them with parenting! I couldn’t believe how big Liam was compared to the first time I’d met him, and how beautiful his giant blue eyes were. (And just in case you’re wondering, his eyes are not edited in any way - they actually look just like that!) I loved the adorable gingham checked romper and moccs that Jennifer had dressed him in for his solo portraits. Since Liam was pretty comfortable with me right off the bat, we started with just him and then worked mom and dad in and out for a variety. I loved all of Liam’s expressions and smiles and his ADORABLE two little bottom teeth! He also had the most unique way of sitting with his ankles perfectly crossed. I’ve never seen a baby do this before, and I’ve photographed a LOT of babies. During milestone sessions with babies, I’m always looking for the special and unique things that they do because I want their mom and dad to be able to remember them always. I like to imagine that twenty years from now, there will be conversation about how Liam used to sit with his ankles crossed just so…. and out comes the photograph to see exactly how it looked.

After we finished up with that part, it was cake time! Most clients will either strip their baby down to a diaper with a cover or a onesie, and some will have a second outfit. Again, it’s a matter of personal preference! If your baby hates to be wiped down, choosing to have them wear clothes will definitely eliminate some of the surface area that will have to be wiped afterwards. ;) Just something to think about when deciding!

Liam was immediately interested in his cake and needed no help or encouragement to explore it. If your baby is hesitant, don’t worry! I have a bag of tricks up my sleeve to help encourage them in non stressful way. Be prepared to offer a taste of icing to them if they’re slow to warm up! I also like to point out that even if your baby hates cake, their First Birthday session is NOT a “failure”. The whole point of the cake portion is to see how your baby reacts. You get to watch all the funny expressions and moments without being worried about capturing it, and it’s just as special regardless of whether they dive into the cake or fling it off to the side. Either way, you’ll have beautiful and authentic images of how everything organically unfolded and a story to tell your child someday!

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 Newborn Photographer | Baby AJ

Laura contacted the studio in her second trimester to inquire about a newborn session. After speaking with Caroline, our studio manager, and reviewing the information sent over with her husband she replied that she was ready to book!

One of the questions clients ask us is: how do you book a newborn session date when you’re pregnant? Answer: you don’t! Booking a newborn session with us in advance of your baby’s birth means that you’re securing your guaranteed spot on our calendar. We only take a limited number of newborns due in each month in order to provide our clients with the best experience from start to finish. Newborn sessions take longer to photograph than regular portrait sessions, and also take longer to edit due to the complex skin work that newborns often need. (ie: skin flakes, jaundice, purple feet - just to name a few) Once you’re on our calendar, you simply let us know when your baby has arrived! We’ll ask you a few questions about your baby and your recovery and schedule your session based on the answers to those questions. In general, we see newborns in between 8-21 days of life. That being said, we’ve photographed as young as 5 days old and as old as 6 weeks when the family’s situation necessitated it. So if you’re reading this now while holding your three week old and kicking yourself for not scheduling a newborn session, just contact us to see if we have room to fit you in! You will not be the first, and you won’t be the last. The number of last minute newborn sessions from moms who initially thought they didn’t want one and then changed their minds is much higher than you’d think! (and every one of those moms has expressed how glad they were that they did!)

Laura contacted us after AJ was born to let us know he had arrived. We scheduled his newborn session date, and sent over our short and sweet newborn prep packet. It details how to prepare for your session, what to bring, and what to wear if you’re planning to bring your own clothing from home. The studio wardrobe is always available to clients, but some clients prefer to wear their own clothing and it’s totally a matter of your personal preference!

When Laura and her husband arrived at the studio with AJ, I had to keep from squealing when I saw his little face. He was SO cute, and slept like a rock for his solo portraits! Mom and dad hung out while I photographed AJ in the newborn shooting room, and just as I was finishing up, the little guy woke up in need of a diaper change and very hungry! Perfect timing, if you ask me! His parents attended to his needs while I did a quick setup of the main shooting room for the family and parent portion. Mom and dad had opted for a more casual look, and I loved the white top that Laura paired with her jeans.

After AJ had finished eating, he was awake, but happy and calm. I love taking advantage of the time that newborns are awake for some open eye images. We took a few of those, and when he started to get a little wiggly, I bundled him back up. It wasn’t long before he was soon asleep again. Parent and family images are usually the easiest part of sessions. All you need to do is snuggle and love on your baby. I’ll tell you where to look, how close to stand to each other (hint: it’s closer than you think), and even make suggestions for where to put your hands if you find yourself at a loss. We’ll be casually chatting throughout, and it’s a very relaxed and laid back experience. I have no room for stress at my studio! Your newborn session experience should be a positive one where you feel cared for and not rushed.

How beautiful is this new family of three?!

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 Couples Photographer | Marc & Brielle

Even if you don’t have children, you’re still a family who chose each other. Marc & Brielle chose each other ten years ago, and I was SO excited to photograph them for their outdoor fall session! Many of you may know Brielle since she works with a TON of our clients as a member of our HMUA team. Needless to say, Brielle did her own hair and makeup for their couples session!

We scheduled their session to take place at the park location in November. The leaves had started changing and the park was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was warm and golden, and the colors are so rich as a result. Atlanta is so hard to predict when it comes to fall foliage since so many factors are at play: rain, temperature, etc. We schedule tons of sessions in November, but one thing to be aware of is that it could be cold, or it could be warm. Ah, Atlanta. I love you, but you are so unpredictable.

I love couples sessions because we just walk around and explore, and the two of you cozy up and snuggle. Yep, that’s pretty much all my couples really have to do… pretend you’re on a date night and I’m not there. ;) In all seriousness though, my main goal of a couples session is to capture your unique relationship and how you feel about each other. I’ll give you some guidance for how I want you to interact, and I’ll also intervene if I see either of you are giving yourself a self inflicted double chin. Your photos will be the best of both worlds: natural interaction, but also a bit directed so you look every bit as beautiful as you are. Sometimes my prompts will make you laugh because you feel ridiculous - but guess what? It’s a real laugh! I want genuine emotions and true connection between the two of you, and I have ways to help that happen if you’re freezing up in front of the camera a bit.

These two were so fun to work with. I’m smiling as I look through the images because I can literally hear Brielle and Marc laughing and teasing each other throughout. They used several of their images for their Christmas card, and I was lucky enough to be on that mailing list!

As of this blog being published, we only have a few November weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights. If you can make a weeknight work and dip out of work a bit early, you’ll have far less people to contend with wherever we shoot. Weekends are more crowded since tons of people are out and about. Just some food for thought!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this awesome couples’ fall 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 | Eden & Gizachew

When Eden called the studio to ask about scheduling a maternity session, she mentioned that she wanted to wear a linen dress with embroidery to honor her Ethiopian culture. I visited Ethiopia as a teenager, and knew exactly what she was talking about. She decided that the studio would be the best setting for her because she was concerned about our infamous Atlanta humidity affecting her hair. She came to the studio for a maternity fitting beforehand, and brought her dress along with her. After looking through the wardrobe, she fell in love with an off the shoulder ruffled sleeve dress that was a perfect complement to her Ethiopian dress, and we were all set for her session! We chatted about what her fiancé, Gizachew, could wear from his wardrobe and what would look best with each dress. We provide our clients with a style guide that is super easy to follow, and have a great Pinterest inspiration board as well. So many of our clients have the perfect clothing in their own closets and don’t realize it until they look through the boards and review the guide. We’ll provide as much assistance as you need: I’m available for style consults in the studio where you can bring in options for what session participants are wearing and I’ll help you put it all together, or you can email your outfit combinations and I’ll provide feedback. We’re here to make your session experience as easy as possible!

The day of their session, we met at the studio, and got started! Eden looked absolutely gorgeous, and it was clear how devoted Gizachew is to her and their unborn baby. He was a little bit nervous about what to do and told me he wasn’t sure where he should put his hands, and I reassured him that I would take care of all that for him and direct him along the way. The truth is, most of my clients aren’t really sure what do to. And that’s TOTALLY ok. I’m the one that can see what it looks like through the camera, and you can’t! I’ll make adjustments as needed and tell you exactly what to do the entire time: from where to look, how to stand, etc. It’s all taken care of for you. Most of my clients express relief that I take care of this for them, and comment on how easy it all was when we’re finished!

As we moved through the session, I photographed Eden alone and would call Gizachew in every so often. This is the most efficient way to photograph a session! Who wants be stuck for two or three hours being photographed?! I often hear from my dads that they hate photos because of their engagement session (not their wedding!). These poor guys were trapped in front of the camera and apparently got their fill of being photographed for life. Honestly, that sounds pretty awful to me! An hour is all I need for portrait sessions, and many sessions are more in the 45 minute range. As a note, newborn sessions are an exception as we need a couple of hours for those due to the time it takes to photograph a tiny baby with all of the nursing and diaper changes happening during that time!

Here are a few of my favorites from their studio 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 Family Photographer | An Adair Park Lifestyle Session

Sometimes I go to my clients’ houses! If you didn’t know that, now you do. :) I always deliver client sessions in both color and black and white, but I’ve chosen to share only black and white images from this session.

An in home family lifestyle session is perfect for many families - especially those who really want their home to be the background for the photos. Jaqai and Mandi have the COOLEST old home in Adair Park that they have lovingly restored over the last few years. The house gets incredible natural light, and we had so much fun during our time together. This was not the first time I had worked with this family - I last worked with them when they were expecting Zax for their studio maternity session! Want to see those images from that maternity session? Just click here!

Lifestyle sessions capture your family as you are, where you are. I’ll send over some instructions beforehand, with suggestions of what to wear and how to prep your home beforehand. They’re straightforward and simple. We’ll discuss what you do as a family and have a couple of activities in mind. The timing of in home sessions also depends on a few factors - the most important of which are (a) when is your child well rested and at their happiest? and (b) when do the rooms you hope to be photographed in get the best light? We’ll work together to determine the best time and go from there when we schedule your session!

For this family, I arrived in the morning hours. Jaqai and Mandi asked what we should do first, and I asked what they would normally be doing at this time of day. We started on their front porch while they played and had fun. I think they realized about five minutes in that this was not going to be as awkward as they thought, and they visibly relaxed. When Zax asked to go inside to play, I followed them as they all sat on the floor to play. Lifestyle sessions are led by the little ones in your family! We go with their moods and interests, and get lots of amazing images that really capture your child’s personality and expressions along the way.

After playing with trucks, the family headed to read a book on the couch, and enjoyed a tickle fight and some snuggles. Zax lost interest for a bit, so I took the opportunity to photograph just Jaqai and Mandi together for a few. Of course, when Zax realized we were having fun without him, he jumped back into the fray and we wrapped up the session in the living room and front entrance door before I said my goodbyes.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!

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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Ava

You last saw this sweet couple’s maternity session at the field here on the blog a couple of days ago. If you missed it, no worries! Just click here to see those images.

I was so excited when Heather let us know that little Ava had arrived! Heather asked to work with Margaret again for add on hair and makeup, and we scheduled the date for Ava’s newborn session. Adding on hair and makeup is super easy! You just let us know that you’d like to do so, and we take care of determining who is available, and send you a date. You have enough going on taking care of your new baby, so we’ll take care of the coordination for you. As a note, our HMUA’s are often busy on the weekends with weddings and other events, so the vast majority of our newborn sessions are booked on weekday mornings.

When the new family of three arrived at the studio, I couldn’t get over Ava’s full head of dark hair! I had a sneaking suspicion that would be the case, but babies have surprised me before and looked nothing like their parents or I thought they would. It’s always so neat to see a newborn with their parents and see what features they have from each parent. Some newborns look like their very own person with no features from anyone! Genetics are such a cool thing.

Heather settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, and I took Ava to the newborn room to begin her solo portraits. Some of our clients are concerned that adding on hair and makeup services will cause their session to last longer… I think the opposite is true! I’m going to be photographing your newborn alone anyway, so you’ll just be sitting twiddling your thumbs and waiting for me to be done. Why not choose to get pampered by one of our incredible artists while you’re waiting anyway? They are MAGICAL at helping newborn moms look like they’ve had a full night’s sleep. ;)

Ava was a good sleeper for me, and even cracked a few sleepy smiles. Her big cheeks and perfect little lips were absolutely adorable. Since she was such a good sleeper, we moved through her solo portraits pretty quickly, and finished up right before Heather was finished being prepped. I took the time to pull a few options from our wardrobe for Heather, and Ava needed a diaper change and a feeding, so the timing was perfect.

Heather chose a gorgeous blush pink lace dress which was perfect for her skin tone and looked amazing on her. Jason had brought along a few different shirt options, and I chose a white one with tiny blue dots all over. Subtle patterns are great! If you’re worried about what your husband should wear, don’t be. We send out a handy newborn prep packet in advance of your session that goes over all of that. Most dads bring a few options along, and I make a decision on what will work best in about 5 seconds. All you have to do is make sure that it fits the subject well and is ready to be photographed (ie: no wrinkles).

Once Heather and Jason were dressed, I wrapped Ava up and we began the parent and family portion of the session. I LOVE getting to see parents with their new baby, especially when they’ve worked with me for maternity! The changes that happen in their dynamic and relationship as new parents are beautiful, and I can clearly see it. I hear maternity clients confess to me that they’re a little bit nervous about being a first time mom and then I get to photograph them confidently holding their new baby. I see the slightly nervous anticipation of what is to come between my couples at their maternity session, and then I get to photograph them looking at their new baby with loving awe and wonder. How incredible is that? Welcoming a new baby is, without a doubt, one of the most momentous times to happen in your life, and sometimes I pinch myself that my job is to photograph that for my clients.

Because Heather and Jason had previously worked with me, they were pretty comfortable during their session and knew my main “rules” what what to do and what not to do in terms of where to stand and how to turn their heads. Even if a client has never worked with me before their newborn session, it’s no problem. I’ll guide you through the entire experience and gently make adjustments or demonstrate what I need for you to do. You’ll catch on in no time at all. Sessions here in the studio are laid back and relaxed: there is no place for stress here, because it’s so unnecessary!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Ava’s newborn session. I can’t wait to see this little sweetheart and her parents again in the fall for her six month milestone 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 Family Photographer | Logan is TWO!!!

I first worked with this family when they were expecting their son for their maternity session in the studio, and again for his newborn and First Birthday sessions. Adrienne and Dave are some of the most loving parents I’ve met, and that’s very evident when I’m around them.

Adrienne emailed to ask if we could schedule a family session for Logan’s second birthday. He’s an October baby! My birthday is in October, and so are the birthdays of my two younger children. While we’re on the subject of October… we are almost fully booked for weekend dates in October. We still have a handful of weeknights open at this time. If you’re hoping to have an outdoor session, please don’t delay in contacting us to get on the calendar. November is also starting to fill up with just a couple weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights as well.

Adrienne has worked with our HMUA team for her previous sessions, and this time was no exception. Our lead artist, Margaret, worked with her and we met at the field location that evening. Logan had fallen asleep on the way… so he was a little bit disoriented and shy at first. He also had a death grip on … a toothbrush. Definitely one of the most unusual objects that I have ever seen in a session!

As a mom of three, I know how stressful it can feel to plan your session and then have it seemingly go sideways if your child (or children!) are in a less than stellar mood. I always tell my clients to come into their sessions with a laid back and relaxed attitude. Children know when their parents are stressing out, and it can sometimes make it worse if they decide it would be fun to push a few of your buttons. Putting pressure on children almost always backfires. Here’s the deal: you cannot FORCE a toddler to smile and look happy, and why would you want to? Every time you look at your images you would see that the smile wasn’t real and you would remember how miserable everyone was that day. Instead, I give my little clients the time and space to warm up to me. If they want to snuggle with you, we go with that. Once they’re more comfortable, I’ll quietly give you some prompts of things to do with your child. I also step pretty far back and let things unfold naturally to capture your unique family dynamic in the most authentic way possible.

As for that toothbrush… well, Adrienne asked me to leave it as it was. Editing it out would not have been realistically possible with many of the image, but she told me that she knew she would laugh about it someday, and that it was a great story to share with him when he was older. That being said: if you don’t want your child to have an interesting object, bring neutral wooden toys if you think they’ll need something to hold. Whatever you bring for them: you need to be okay with it being in the images. Some children won’t give it up. :) In Logan’s case, we were eventually able to get him to trade his toothbrush for a lollipop towards the very end. And as you can see…. the sugar definitely transformed his mood and made him into a little camera ham!

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!

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 | Heather & Jason

Heather was referred to us by another long term client of ours. We love working with referred clients! Heather and I had actually met briefly at a party at that client’s house the year before, so we weren’t total strangers to each other. She contacted us in her second trimester to schedule a maternity session at the field location because she loved the look and feel of what she had seen on the blog and portfolio. She also opted to add on hair and makeup services and was paired with Margaret. Most of our clients reserve their maternity sessions when they are in their second trimester. To clarify: they are booking their session when they are in the second trimester: not scheduling their session to take place in the second trimester. Maternity sessions are scheduled during the third trimester -generally between 28-34 weeks! Reserving your session early helps with having more date options to choose from - especially if you need a WEEKEND date outdoors! I only photograph outdoor sessions in the hour before sunset, hence the limited availability on the weekends. Weeknights are also available as well.

Heather came to the studio for her maternity fitting, and we discussed her style preferences. She mentioned that she wanted to go ahead and reserve her newborn session as well, so I sent Caroline a quick message to get that taken care of for her. After she tried on multiple pieces from our studio wardrobe, she chose a gorgeous off the shoulder dress and a taupe backless dress. Before she left, we discussed what her husband Jason should wear and I made some suggestions based on what she told me about his personality and style preferences. Caroline followed up later that day by sending her our style guide so that she could refer to it while going through Jason’s clothes! The style guide is super simple and SO easy to follow. If you have any questions or want more input, I’m available via email. Many of my clients bring some options with them to their session if they’re not sure, and I make a quick decision to pull it all together. Every client decides the level of support they need from me, and I ensure they get it!

On the evening of their March session, it was sunny and gorgeous. Mild late winter days are another reason why I love living in Atlanta so much - I photograph sessions outdoors all year round because it’s rarely cold enough to not be able to shoot outside.

Heather had told me at her fitting that she and her husband weren’t pros in front of the camera and that Jason was a little camera shy. If this is you, know you’re not alone. I’ve had a few clients that work as professional actresses or models, and even they sometimes feel a bit nervous in front of a camera. It’s completely normal. Don’t stress - I’ll take great care of you. My direction for what to do during your session is very straightforward. I’m known to demonstrate exactly what I want my clients to do, and we’ll have a lot of fun during your session. Just come ready to have some fun and connect with your partner, and I’ll handle the rest.

During the session I asked how brave they were, and they said, “We’ll do whatever you ask!” So we made our way through tall grass and briars to get to a little spot that I love, and the resulting images were absolutely gorgeous. I love when clients are willing to go outside of the box a little bit for creative purposes, because it’s always worth it. Jason was a little bit nervous at first, and I could tell by how he was standing. About 15 minutes in, he started having fun, and that’s when I started REALLY photographing them together. I usually photograph mom a bit by herself and have dad jump in and out until I can see that they’ve both relaxed and let their guards down. I get it: being yourselves as a couple can feel weird and awkward at first when someone you don’t know all that well is standing and literally watching your every move. As you’ll see from their gallery, by the end of the session they had all but forgotten I was there and were totally comfortable and at ease. I adore the images - the way they look at each other is just so loving and beautiful.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this beautiful session at the field. As previously mentioned, Heather’s look was created by our lead HMUA, Margaret. Serious hair goals here: her hair is so thick and gorgeous! She commented on how much she loved her makeup and truly felt like herself, and made sure to let me know she wanted Margaret again for her her newborn session. Check back in a couple of days to see images from their beautiful little girl’s newborn session!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Alexandra is ONE!

Tiffanni lives in Woodstock, Georgia and was looking for the perfect photographer for her daughter’s first birthday. She wasn’t able to find any photographers that she loved close to her, so she expanded her search to Atlanta.  She loved what she saw because she felt our work was classic and timeless and felt we would be a perfect fit for her vision. So, she called the studio and chatted with Caroline, our studio manager. She had lots of questions, and Caroline spent some time with her on the phone answering her questions and discussing her vision for her daughter’s first birthday session.

One of the big questions was whether to photograph the session indoors or outdoors.  The answer to this question is different for every client! There are multiple factors to consider when deciding and we will go over these with you in depth so you can make a fully informed decision that is best for your family.  Ultimately, Tiffanni chose the park location for her outdoor session and we gave her a few dates to choose from.

Tiffanni also wanted to know whether she could include a birthday balloon and Alexandra’s rocking lamb in her session. Balloons can pose a challenge, especially outdoors, but we are always willing to give it a shot!  Fortunately, the wind cooperated with us that evening, and you’ll see how we included the lamb and balloon in Alexandra’s session in the gallery below. Although we don’t provide props, we can definitely work to incorporate them in your shoot!  We understand some items add a meaningful connection for the family. As a note, our studio antique high chair is not for outdoor use - so if you’ve seen other sessions with that high chair in use, please know that bringing it outdoors is not an option.

Tiffanni was unsure whether her own outfits would work for the shoot, and asked if we could provide any insight.  We’re here to help with that! We have a style guide, studio wardrobe, and a Pinterest board as resources for our clients. Clients are ALWAYS welcome to schedule an appointment at the studio as well to go over outfit choices and browse through our studio wardrobe. Tiffanni jumped at the chance to schedule a consult, so we put a date in the calendar for her. About a week before her session, Tiffanni brought Alexandra and her husband Myron to the studio. We discussed the outfits for Alexandra that Tiffanni had purchased from Etsy boutiques for Alexandra, and I made specific color recommendations based on Alexandra’s outfits. Tiffanni checked out the studio wardrobe and loved many of the pieces! She chose one of our lace dresses to have as a backup option if what she had from her own wardrobe didn’t work out and left feeling confident that she would look and feel great for her session either way. While Tiffanni was trying on pieces, I enjoyed chatting with Myron and playing peek-a-boo with Alexandra. Bonus for you if you come in beforehand: It’s always nice to meet the person photographing you before you actually step in front of the camera! 

After our studio visit, Caroline emailed our style guide to Tiffanni and directed her to our Pinterest Board.  Our style guide is simple, easy to read, and straightforward!  Clients find these resources incredibly helpful. Please know that we are always here to answer questions and guide you in your selections and will provide as little or as much help and input as you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance - we are here to serve.

We met the evening of the session at the park location.  I LOVED the outfits that the family had put together! Tiffanni wore her own pale chiffon skirt with a satin band and a white cap sleeved shirt, Myron wore linen pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, and Alexandra wore an adorable long-sleeved lace ballerina tutu dress with coral details and a sleeveless all white lace dress. Tiffanni had purchased both from sweet Etsy boutiques.  Most parents bring two different outfits for their child and we change halfway through the session.

Tiffanni brought Alexandra’s birthday cake from her favorite bakery in Woodstock for the cake smash portion. You decide whether to include a cake at the end of your session.  Some clients choose to have a cake, some choose to have donuts, some choose to have a pie, and some choose not to have anything.  Should you choose to include something, we suggest bringing a towel, lots of baby wipes, a jug of water, and wash cloths for outdoor sessions.  If you don’t want to deal with transporting a cake to your session at the studio or park location on top of everything else, you can order one through our preferred baker and she’ll take care of delivering it to the studio. Bonus: She can accommodate allergies and vegans!

We began with family photos of Myron and Tiffanni loving on Alexandra. I loved the open-mouthed kiss Alexandra gave her mom and the piggy back ride on Daddy’s shoulders! Tiffanni and Myron’s love for their daughter shined through every image. If you’re worried about freezing up in front of the camera, there is no need to. I’ll give you directed guidance for things you naturally do with your child.  I then step back and capture you in your element. 

We interspersed solo portraits of Alexandra throughout the family photos. I follow your child’s lead, so there is no one set flow, other than ending with the cake smash. We had fun playing games while I photographed Alexandra riding the rocking lamb, plucking flowers off her birthday cake, and with her pink birthday balloon.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Alexandra’s First Birthday 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Ellis

I first worked with Jess and David for their maternity session in the field, which you can view by clicking here. They had not scheduled a newborn session, but I checked in with Jess to see how she was doing. I really love staying in touch with my clients after I’ve worked with them and seeing photos of their little ones as they grow! Jess responded that they hadn’t had their little girl yet, but were still waiting and would let me know when they did. A few weeks later, Jess emailed the studio and asked if they could schedule a newborn session for Ellis! They hadn’t thought they wanted a newborn session, but after Ellis had arrived a couple of weeks ago and they saw how quickly she was changing and growing, they decided that they wanted to preserve those early days. It took some finagling when it came to the studio schedule, but we were able to fit them in on a day that worked for both of us when Ellis was almost FOUR weeks old. I prefer (when possible) to photograph babies between 8-21 days of age, and we schedule most between 8-16, barring any complications for mom and baby. However, sometimes things happen or we get a last minute request for an older newborn whose parents had a change of heart about wanting newborn photos. If that’s you, don’t wait to contact us - if we can fit you in, we will. Most of our clients book their newborn sessions when they are in the second trimester.

You may wonder how we book a newborn session for a baby that hasn’t arrived yet. You aren’t alone -almost everyone asks us this! Simply put: we have a limited number of newborns that we will take for our calendar. When you reserve your newborn session, you’re reserving a guaranteed session on our studio calendar. Our calendar is based on due dates, but babies operate on their own schedule. If you’re due in the month of May, but deliver in June - no worries, you’ll still have a guaranteed spot. When your baby arrives, you simply let us know. We’ll ask you a few questions regarding your delivery and baby’s stats, and then schedule your session based on the answers to the questions. If you’re adding hair and makeup services we’ll also take care of making sure one of our HMUA’s is available on the date that we schedule for you. Easy peasy! All that’s left is to review our short and sweet newborn prep packet that we’ll send to you after scheduling your date, and then just show up for your session.

On the morning of of their session the new family of three arrived at the studio with Miss Ellis! I was so excited to see them and hear about their delivery experience and how they were settling in to parenthood. We discussed whether they wanted to have Ellis wear headbands during the session, and they decided on a mix - some with, and some without. I leave this decision up to each parent. I have everything your baby will need and when I choose headbands for your baby, I’m choosing the best colors for their skin tone and the best size for their head. We don’t do flowers the size of a ten gallon hat in this studio! All of our headbands are meant to be simple and dainty so that the attention is on your baby’s sweet face and not what they’re wearing on their head.

Ellis was a big girl since she was almost a month old, and was wide awake when we got there. She made me work to get her to fall asleep, but once she had nursed and been shushed and swayed and soothed, she fell into a deep sleep and I was able to photograph her solo portraits pretty quickly. It just took us a bit of time to get her to sleep, but we used that time to chat and catch up. I am never in a rush, and your baby is never an inconveniencing me. All of my sessions are very laid back with no stress and baby leads the way.

Jess and David had followed our style guide and had opted to go with earthy tones which I LOVED. Olive green is one of my favorite colors and I half jokingly told Jess that I wanted to steal her dress. It seriously is one of my favorite colors, and she looked gorgeous in it. They had brought along some headbands for Ellis, and once I saw the mustard yellow bow, I knew it was a perfect fit for what they were wearing. Since they were wearing more casual clothing, they opted to dress her in one of our studio onesies rather than a wrap. The onesies that we have are selected for their fit and their color - many of the onesies out there are too white and will photograph with a blue cast. They also tend to be ill cut and bunch up under the chin. We have them in a couple of different sizes to fit the tiny babies and the chunkier ones. :) Ellis was wide awake at this point, and I loved it! She was so alert, but so chill and relaxed with her parents holding her. Some awake babies will fuss and flail, but not Ellis. She just casually checked out her surroundings and looked right at the camera for so many of her images, which is pretty rare for her age. I can’t wait to see her when she’s older and see if her personality is still the same as it was during her newborn session when she was awake!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this awesome family’s 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 Family Photographer | John is TWO!

I first worked with Myra and John for their maternity session at the field when they were pregnant with John. You can see their maternity photos by clicking here. I saw them again the next to photograph John’s First Birthday Session (click here to view those images). Myra contacted us to schedule a family session for John’s second birthday this year and opted for the park location again. Whenever I have families repeat the park location, I switch up where I shoot in the park! The park is really big, so I could easily photograph a family here several years in a row and it would look different each time. Myra also asked to add on makeup services with one of our hair and makeup artists, and we paired her with Brielle.

We sent Myra our style guide and Pinterest inspiration board for her to look through. Since she had worked with us a few times before, she was pretty confident in her choices. The day of her session she did bring two options for herself because she wanted my opinion on which would work better with the outfits she had chosen for her son and husband. I took one look and pointed at the option that worked best. I am MORE than happy to give input to clients for their sessions - and we can do this with a scheduled style consult beforehand at the studio, via email, or even the day of from an armful of options that you bring. If you choose the day of, you just need to ensure that the clothing fits well and is ready to wear for the session. Myra chose to have John wear suspenders… I absolutely love suspenders on little boys and think they are just about the cutest thing ever. Too bad my own three year old son refuses to wear them!

During their session, we had a lot of fun laughing, tickling, and being silly. John is such a sweet little boy and his parents are wonderful! Photographing their family session for his second birthday was so much fun, and the happiness and love are so evident in their images. Here are a few of my favorites!

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 Baby Photographer | Elijah is ONE!

I first worked with Elijah’s parents for their maternity session in the gardens, which you can view by clicking here. So many of my clients choose to work with me for their baby’s first year (and subsequent babies!) and then schedule annual family portraits after that. I absolutely love getting to watch my littlest clients grow over the years!

Briana scheduled Elijah’s First Birthday session to be held in the studio. First Birthday sessions almost always include parents too unless they opt to not be in them. I strongly encourage parents to participate because these photos are a gift to your child. They will look at them someday and see the love of their parents that enfolded them. We are not JUST celebrating your baby’s first birthday - we are celebrating the fact that you made it through your baby’s first year. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, so let’s honor that!

You might wonder where the cake is …. there wasn’t one. Not all our clients choose to include a cake. It’s entirely a matter of your personal preference. Some clients choose not to give their babies any sugar for a few years, while others just don’t really like cake. Some clients get creative and include something different like a pie or pile of donuts. If you do decide to use a cake (or something creative!), we’ll send you our cake tips sheet for best practices. Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose to use matters! Pro tip: avoid whipped icing like the plague. It’s SO difficult to wipe off of skin and makes the floor slicker than an ice skating rink. Take it from me: I went sliding across the floor after my one and only experience with it… never again! :)

We sent over our style guide to Briana to help her in choosing what they should all wear. It’s super helpful and clients report that it takes so much stress out of figuring out what to wear. Most parents celebrating a first birthday have two outfits for their baby. I always encourage parents to make sure one of the outfits shows off their baby’s toes, and chunky legs. When your baby is a full fledged toddler and starts to lean out, you will miss their babyhood chunkiness terribly… and reliving the cuteness will simply be a photo away.

Elijah was a curious little guy and pretty serious. My flow for these sessions varies and depends on your child. Some babies need to be in their parents’ arms for a bit and warm up to me. Others are ready to go as soon as they walk in. If your baby is walking, I’ll make sure to photograph them doing that! My main goal is to photograph your baby just as they were at this age. I want you to look at the photos and remember their personality, their funny expressions, and the little details you love. Trust me, someday you will compare their baby photos to what they look like now. Maybe it’ll be the day after you drop your son off at college. We can’t stop time, but we can freeze a small portion of it in photographs so we never lose the memory. Photographs are my way of making memories tangible, and why I love my job so much. It’s so bittersweet to watch my own children grow up.

Because Elijah was a bit shy, we rotated through family, solo, and parent images and then ended with an outfit change and more solo portraits. Important note: Eli’s dad was standing very closely next to the chair just out of the frame ready to catch during his solo pictures. The safety of my little clients is the top priority during sessions, and a parent is always right there to spot.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Mr. Eli’s 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 | A Field Session with Jessica & David

Jess contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a maternity session at the field with add on hair and makeup services. We also went ahead and scheduled a time for Jess to come to the studio for a maternity fitting.

On the afternoon of her maternity fitting, Jess came to the studio and we discussed her style preferences. Jess was so much fun to talk to, and I really enjoyed getting to know her. We have very similar laid back personalities, and meshed well. After talking about her likes and dislikes in terms of color and style, we looked through the wardrobe, and Jess tried on quite a few options! She ultimately chose a long sleeved cream dress and a silk moss off the shoulder dress. We then discussed ideas of what her husband, David, could wear from his closet that would work well with her choices but stay true to his personality and style.

A couple of weeks later, I met Jess and David at the field. The weather was absolutely perfect and a bit cloudy with the sun shining through in some spots. Even though the sky was slightly overcast, it wasn’t a problem and is beautiful in its own right! I love the cloud details that you get from these days, and it also gives us more flexibility in the directions you can face and shoot from. Nobody wants to stare at the blinding sun!

Jess and David were a little bit nervous at first, which is normal! I reassured them that I would make sure they didn’t look awkward even if they felt like it at first. A few jokes later, and we were laughing and having fun, and they visibly relaxed. Pro tip: I can tell when guys are inwardly panicking a bit by their posture. If they’re standing ramrod straight, we’ll work on relaxing him a bit more. :) Jess looked gorgeous and I directed her as we went through the session with the best way to stand and where place her hands. My direction is straightforward and to the point, so you’ll never be left standing there bewildered and wondering what the heck you’re supposed to do. Many of my couples are surprised when I ask them to do things they naturally do on their own! I make a few simple tweaks for the most flattering images! I want your images to show who you are as individuals and as a couple and showcase your unique dynamic. All my couples are so different, but the one common thread they have is that they deeply love each other. Sometimes it can take a little work to get couples to show that love in front of the camera, but once they relax and forget about me a little, we’re golden.

Here are a few of my favorites from Jess & David’s session! Check back in a couple of days to see their adorable little girl’s newborn session on the blog.

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 Baby Photographer | Viola is ONE!

I first photographed Viola as a tiny little newborn! Not every session I shoot is blogged because of the sheer number. I only blog three times per week, but shoot 20-30 sessions per month. So… you can see how the math doesn’t allow for it.

I saw Viola again at our annual Santa event when she was around 6 months old, and just loved getting to see her family. Right before her first birthday, her mom emailed us. She confessed that she hadn’t thought she needed a First Birthday session, but now that Viola was almost one, she was feeling very nostalgic and realizing that she couldn’t keep Viola little. She didn’t want to forget all the little details of what Viola was like at one, and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her. Photographs of your baby are (unfortunately) the only way to freeze time. I look at my seven year old biggest girl… and I’m still not sure how it happened so fast! It’s hard for me to remember what she was like as a baby by my memory alone, but fortunately for me - I have countless photographs of her and all the little details I never want to forget.

The family was on vacation the next week and had one day open that I fortunately also had open on my calendar since my weekend was already totally booked. I was thrilled to be able to see and photograph them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed since their newborn session. Viola definitely kept so many of her features from when she was a newborn. Her parents also opted to work with our baker for her smash cake, and chose a pretty pastel pink rosette design. The cakes from our preferred baker are DELICIOUS, and she’ll even deliver to the studio right before your session time. That’s one less thing to worry about, and less stress. If you haven’t tried driving to the studio with a cake in a box balanced precariously on your knees or the floorboard…you haven’t lived dangerously Haha. Oh, and if you have dairy/egg allergies or are vegan, she can accommodate that too! Just ask us for her information when booking and we’ll gladly provide it to you! Whether you opt to use our preferred baker or not, we’ll provide you with a cake tip sheet. Believe it or not, the type of icing you use matters - and the tip sheet will get you all squared away!

On the morning of their session, the family arrived and had brought a pink crocheted dress for Viola that her mom wore as a baby! Lisa didn’t have any bows for her, and asked if we had any on hand. I grabbed a few from our collection and found one that worked perfectly for her dress.

We do have a small selection of clothing available for babies and children as we’ve found that most moms celebrating first birthdays want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a great style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well either in person or by email. Making your entire experience fun and stress-free is important to us!

We started with just Viola for solo portraits, and she was such a happy little girl. She thought I was hilarious, and we got lots of smiles. During sessions I add in parents and don’t really have one set flow - I work with my littlest client and whatever mood they happen to be in! Sometimes a one year old will need a snack or a snuggle break, and we’ll take one. They run the show since they don’t exactly take direction. ;)

After we finished with the portraits, I asked if they wanted to change Viola into something else to smash the cake. They decided to keep her in her dress. Icing does wash out pretty easily, especially when it’s in a pastel color, but if you want to ensure that your child’s first birthday outfit stays pristine, it’s best to bring another option. You can dress them in a camisole (we have a few on hand) or strip them down to just a diaper/diaper cover or pants/shorts.

When the cake was presented to Viola, she immediately touched it. She wasn’t super interested in eating it until her parents came to have some fun with her. She was definitely more interested in poking the icing than eating it.

Clients should know that every baby reacts differently to cake and how they reacted at their party (if you had one) may not be how they react in the studio. Many babies do not “like” their cake at their party. Parties are a TON of sensory overload for young babies. At the end, when the cake is served, they’re often tired and totally over it all. Additionally, a bunch of people staring at you is not exactly a low pressure situation. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun!

When Viola’s mom viewed her images from the session, she emailed us with her image selections and this sweet note below:

“Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for these beautiful images. You managed to capture Viola's personality perfectly! I initially wasn't sure that I needed a first year photo shoot, but I am more than 100% thankful that we went ahead with it. We couldn't be happier! You are always so fun to work with. Thank you and Caroline for being so accommodating and just wonderful people all around.”

Here are a few images from this fun little girl’s birthday celebration 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Olivia

I first worked with Gloria and Andres for their maternity session in the park, which you can view by clicking here. When Gloria emailed me to let me know that sweet baby Olivia had arrived, I was SO excited! We scheduled their newborn session and scheduled Brielle as she had specifically requested for hair and makeup add on services.

The morning of of their session the new family of three arrived at the studio with little bitty six pound Olivia! We were all surprised at her light hair since we had all been convinced it would be dark when she was born like her parents! She had such sweet and dainty little features, but was also a very opinionated little thing - especially about where she wanted her hands to be! Gloria and I looked through the wardrobe and she chose a simple white lace mesh dress to wear. She said she was so happy that finding something to wear wasn’t something she needed to be concerned with after having a baby. We hear this all the time from our clients and have a wide variety of sizes 0-14/16 to choose from.

Olivia was a curly and sleepy baby and stayed asleep for the majority of her solo portraits. She did NOT like her hands to be moved during, so I moved very, very slowly and coaxed her little hands and fingers patiently into place. I’d much rather have relaxed hands than clenched little fists! Babies dictate the flow of their session. What works for one baby won’t necessarily work for another, so every newborn session in the studio is unique to each individual baby and every session looks different.

After we had finished with Olivia’s solo portraits, I brought her out for a bottle. Her parents opted to have her wear a headband from my collection for the family portraits, so I pulled a few headbands from my stock, and they chose their favorite one. The rest of the session was very quick and easy as Olivia was tired out and slept well. We had a lot of fun and did our best not too laugh too loudly so we didn’t wake up the baby!

After the newborn session, her parents chose their collection and also chose to add on a beautiful distressed leather album that included both their maternity and newborn images together. Enjoy a few of my favorites from Olivia’s newborn session!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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