Atlanta Lifestyle Family Photographer | Baby Suman's In Home Milestone Session

Did you know that I travel to homes too for lifestyle sessions? (but not if you have or had a cat in the home, because I will literally have to be taken to a hospital due to my severe allergies)

I first worked with this sweet couple for their maternity session at the park location. You can view those images by clicking here. I was so excited to head to their home in East Cobb and meet their son, Suman! Chitra wanted to schedule an in home session and include her mother in the photos as well, which I was more than happy to do. We chatted a bit about the best time for Suman during the day when he was well rested and happy, and settled on a date.

Suman is the most adorable little guy! He is the perfect mix of his parents and has such beautiful deep brown eyes. When I arrived at their home, I did a walk through to see what I had to work with, and decided to photograph in 2 of the rooms there as well as on the covered front porch. Each home is unique in terms of layout and lighting, and because I work with the available natural light, each session will look different, too. When we plan your in home lifestyle session, you’ll send over some phone shots of some rooms in your home at a couple of different times during the day. We’ll look at those and then determine the best time to schedule your session (and know ahead of time which rooms we’ll be photographing in)! The two rooms I chose had lots of windows and tons of light. We did spent a little time rearranging some things (mainly clearing off the coffee table and moving some toys) so they wouldn’t be distracting in the photos.

We started in the living room, and then headed upstairs to Suman’s adorable nursery. Lifestyle sessions are all about having fun together as a family. You will play, you’ll tickle, you’ll snuggle together. Suman really enjoyed playing peek a boo, and gave me some really big smiles. Chitra was shocked because Suman has stranger anxiety and she wasn’t sure how he would do with me.

I can’t wait to see him again and how much he’s grown in the fall when I photograph them next! In the meantime, enjoy a few of my favorite images from their session.

Are you interested in learning more about an in home session? Contact us to discuss your vision and we’ll get to planning! Travel fees may apply for homes located more than 30 minutes from 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 Lucia

I last worked with Saidie, Daniel, and big sister Zoe for their family maternity session at the gardens location. You can view those images by clicking here. I was SO excited to hear from Saidie that baby Lucia had arrived! When Lucia was born, she was a little itty bitty thing at just over 5 pounds. Her session was scheduled for when she was almost three weeks old because of her weight and to give Zoe a little bit of time to acclimate and adjust. You just never know how your older children will react to having a new baby in the house. I’ve found that the majority of kids in the 18 month through late 2’s range need some time, so I tend to schedule those sessions around the 2-3 week mark. It also gives mom and dad some time to adjust to having another member of the family too! :) The way that I work with and photograph newborns does NOT require them to be under 10 days old like many other photographers. So if you’ve heard that before, ignore it when it comes to me. It’s just not the case here! And if you’re reading this while holding your three week old newborn, regretting not booking a newborn session, and thinking you missed the window….think again. Give us a call and we’ll see if we can fit you in on the schedule!

Saidie and Lucia arrived at the studio on the morning of their session, and I got started photographing just Lucia while Saidie took some time for herself to relax. She already knew exactly which dress she wanted to wear because of her maternity fitting, so her dress was already steamed and ready for her.

Lucia was wide awake when I took her out of her carseat, but very calm. I immediately wrapped her up to take advantage of her alertness as photographs of newborns with eyes open and looking at the camera can be difficult (and sometimes impossible!) to get. I’d estimate that about half of my newborn clients are asleep for their entire session and won’t open their eyes, or are angry when awake, which doesn’t make for a good open eye portrait. Lucia didn’t want to sleep at all, so when Daniel arrived with Zoe, we moved right into the family and parent portraits. Zoe was interested in her baby sister and we played a few games to encourage natural and gentle interaction with her. I always hear from parents at how amazed they are by some of the techniques that I use to get images… the truth is, they’re pretty easy as long as the older child is interested in playing that particular game. If they’re not, we pivot to something else. We’ll eventually find something to engage them!

As we were finishing up with family photos, Lucia fell asleep, so I was able to get some family images with her both awake and asleep. Zoe and Daniel left to head back home, and I photographed Lucia’s solo portraits. Usually it’s the other way around, but babies run the show… so that’s how it was for this session! Saidie had brought the family rosary passed down from generations before them. Such a special family heirloom that I was honored to incorporate for them! She also brought a beautiful linen Mexican dress with a matching blanket that we saved for the very end that Zoe had also been photographed in. Lucia woke up as we were dressing her in it, but remained calm, so I was able to get a few quick images before she decided to announce very loudly that she was hungry again. ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Lucia’s newborn session! You made me work hard, sweet girl, but it’s always worth it in the end!

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 | Saidie, Daniel & Zoe in the Gardens

Saidie contacted us pretty late in her third trimester to inquire about booking a maternity and newborn session. Because she had moved here from California after the birth of her first daughter, she didn’t know of any photographers in the Atlanta area. Saidie looked around online, looked through my website, and fell in love with my maternity sessions in our gardens location, and proceeded with booking her sessions with us. Please note that the gardens are not available on weekend evenings, so if you want your session to take place there, you will need to arrange for your schedule to accommodate a weeknight.

When Saidie came in for her maternity fitting at the studio, I instantly loved her warm and bubbly personality. She is one of those people who is incredibly caring and kind to anyone she interacts with, and so genuine. She told me about her daughter Zoe, and her husband Daniel, and we started looking through dresses. Saidie’s problem wasn’t that she couldn’t find a dress… she loved so many of them that she had such a hard time narrowing them down! I reminded her that she could choose to wear one for her newborn session, and that made her feel better. ;) She chose a sleeveless lace overlay gown and a blush off the shoulder flowy gown. The vast majority of our dresses can be worn for both! Many of our pieces aren’t even maternity specific but accommodate growing bellies. Booked clients are welcome to borrow from the wardrobe as a perk, but not required. We looked through some of our little girl dresses as well and she chose one for Zoe to wear that worked perfectly with her own dress choices.

Their session was scheduled to take place in a couple of weeks, but Atlanta experienced a cold snap… and the weather was breezy and in the mid 70’s. I happened to have a weeknight open, so I emailed Saidie to ask if she’d like to move it up because of how perfect the weather was. She wasted no time in replying, “Yes, let’s do it!”

On the evening of their session, we met at the gardens, and the weather was AMAZING. Saidie had brought along a flower crown and asked what I thought about her wearing it. I’m all for flower crowns if my clients want to wear them, and suggested she wear it with the bohemian dress as it was a better fit for that look. She agreed, and the family all got dressed and ready.

I always start with family and child images just in case they decide they’re over the session and don’t want to participate anymore later on. Zoe was tired and a bit emotional, so we worked around her mood. She did such a great job participating but would lose interest quickly. That’s never a problem! I’ll just photograph mom alone or parents together until the interest picks back up. Trying to “force” a toddler to participate is not possible. It’s best to approach them with a laid back attitude and invite them to join in when they’re ready. Removing pressure and creating a no-stress environment is the best way to engage positively with my little clients, so that’s what I strive for!

There’s lots of variety to be had in the garden setting with tons of areas to shoot in. Backlit photos with the setting sun are not always possible due to tree foliage. We will often be working around other photographers and their clients, so if you’re hoping for seclusion and privacy during your session, this is likely not the best location choice for you. I can assure you that nobody is paying any attention to anyone else as we’re all there for our own sessions!

Daniel, Saidie, and Zoe enjoyed walking around the gardens and playing together. As we walked, we chatted about all sorts of things. One of my favorite parts about being a photographer that works with so many families is getting to know my clients and listening to their stories. I am constantly reminded of what a small world we live in and how much we can have in common with others from my conversations with them.

I LOVED working with this awesome family of three (soon to be four!) and can’t wait to share images of their new daughter’s newborn session later this week! In the meantime, enjoy a few from their 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 Child & Family Photographer | Kendall is FOUR!

Milestone sessions aren’t just for babies! We have lots of mamas contact us to schedule portrait sessions for their big kids too around their birthdays. I love this, as I do it with my own children. There’s something so cool about being able to look back and see what your child looked like each year and how much they changed between the years.

Chrysten contacted us to schedule a session for her daughter, Kendall to celebrate her fourth birthday! We sent over the style guide for Chrysten to look through to pull clothing from their closets. I know how it is to be a busy working mom, so I am happy to provide assistance through emailed photos of clothing options if stopping by the studio just isn’t an option for you and your schedule. Please note that if you’re planning to borrow anything from the wardrobe, you will need to arrange to come to the studio for a visit beforehand though!

On the day of Kendall’s session, she arrived at the studio with her little brother Finley, and her dad, Nick. Nick is such a cool guy, but doesn’t enjoy being in photos unless it’s absolutely necessary. I did end up asking him to sit in for a bit because it was the only way to keep the two kids next to each other! :)

Nick had brought along a bouquet of flowers and a gold #4 balloon to use during the session. He also brought a bag of clothes for me to go through for each of them and I pulled together the best options and combos. Once I had that squared away, I began to photograph Kendall.

Kendall has a BIG personality, and an even bigger smile with the biggest blue eyes. She loves flowers and really wanted to take her picture with the bouquet that her dad had brought along. I was all for it - birthday sessions are meant to be fun and allow personalities to shine. Sitting primly and properly for the entire session just isn’t going to happen with kids, and that would honestly be pretty boring. Kendall broke out her “model” poses and did lots of jumping and running around. There were lots of giggles during our time together, and it truly was so much fun. By the end of our session, the kids were both bouncing off the walls, so I pulled Nick in for a few images as well.

When Chrysten saw Kendall’s gallery, she absolutely loved it and let us know that we had captured her daughter’s true personality perfectly. She added on several more images to her collection since she couldn’t manage to narrow them down to what it included. She then emailed to schedule Finley’s second birthday session, and opted to be in some of the photos with him this time! (yay!)

I’m looking forward to sharing the images from Finley’s second birthday session soon! In the meantime, enjoy some of my favorites of little miss Kendall!

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 Theo

Greer contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a newborn session. She had a lot of questions about the process and what to expect, so Caroline (our full time studio manager) gave her a call to answer all of her questions in depth. Caroline is lots of fun to talk to and super responsive. Our clients love chatting with her, and you will too! Greer emailed us the next week to let us know she was ready to proceed with getting on our calendar.

Let me address the MOST often asked question when it comes to newborn sessions. “How can I schedule my baby’s newborn session when I don’t know when they will actually be born?”

The answer: We have a limited number of spots each month for newborn clients in order to maintain the best level of service to our clients. When you reserve your newborn session, you are taking one of those spots that we have set aside. Once they’re full, they’re full. If you’re reading this right now and have already had your baby, please call the studio to see if we can accommodate you. When babies arrive earlier or later than their estimated due date, we are often able to fit in last minute requests depending on our schedule!

A couple of months went by, and Greer let us know that baby Theo had arrived! She also requested to add on hair and makeup services to her newborn session as well. When you add on hair and makeup, you don’t need to worry about finding dates that will work for our schedule. We handle all the coordination in house to make the process as easy as possible for you. Our HMUA team is absolutely wonderful and skilled at working with all skin types and tones. They’re caring, and kind, and specialize in natural beauty which is exactly what most of our newborn moms want. Should you want to kick it up a notch, simply discuss your preferences with them while you’re sitting in the chair, and they’ll create a beautiful look for you based on your vision that will also photograph well. I also want to mention that adding on services does not lengthen the amount of time that you are in the studio. You’re going to be sitting and waiting regardless while I photograph your newborn alone for the first portion. Might as well treat yourself and not worry about getting ready! PS: our HMUA artists are MAGIC when it comes to undereye circles from newborn induced sleep deprivation.

We settled on a date that worked for Greer, and sent over our newborn prep packet for her to review. It’s a short read and goes over best practices for the smoothest newborn session experience. We also cover what to wear if you’re bringing your own clothing from home, and we’re available to answer any questions you might have in the time leading up to your time in the studio!

When the new family of three arrived at the studio the morning of their session, Greer settled into the hair and makeup chair with Ellis at the helm. I took Theo back to the newborn shooting room. He was such a sweet and cuddly little guy and slept like a champ. As a newborn photographer, I’ve worked with all sorts of babies. Some babies need some extra help to get into a super sleepy state, and I have a bag of tricks up my sleeve that I’ve picked up over the past six years of photographing newborns. Because Theo was such a deep sleeper. I was able to move through the solo portraits pretty quickly.

When I came out of the newborn shooting room with Theo, he was hungry and needed a diaper change. Perfect timing! Daddy attended to Theo while Ellis put the finishing touches on Greer’s makeup. Greer had brought a few options from her home closet, and I loved what she’d brought. She was most comfortable wearing casual jeans and a blouse, and I thought it was perfect! While we have a large selection of studio dresses available to clients, it is NOT a requirement. I strongly encourage clients to choose clothing that they feel comfortable and beautiful in. If that’s a floor length maxi from my wardrobe or your favorite broken in Levi’s with a v-neck tee - either works! These are your images from one of the most important times of your life, and I want you to look at them and feel like you’re seeing yourself. One is not “better” than the other, it simply comes down to individual client taste and aesthetic preferences. The only thing I am concerned with is colors and patterns working well for the session type, which is why I’ll happily provide any assistance and guidance you need!

After Theo was changed and had a full tummy, we moved into the family portion of the session. New parents are often still getting used to holding and handling their newborn. Most new moms have been sitting down while holding them at home! My clients comment a lot about how amazed they are by how I make it look so effortless when handling their newborns. You’ll get the hang of it too and be a pro in no time!

I’m constantly watching my mamas to make sure they’re doing well and not getting dizzy. An 8 pound baby can start to feel like a 50 pound baby after 15 minutes of standing holding them, trust me. If you or baby need to take a break, we take one! The safety and comfort of my clients is my top priority in the studio, and I over communicate with my parents when we are moving baby from person to person to make sure the receiving person has baby securely in their grasp before removing my hands.

Another concern often expressed is, “We don’t know what we’re supposed to do.” The good news? You actually already do. ;) Your job is to hold your baby and admire them, and I’m pretty sure you’ve been (or will be!) doing that from the moment of their birth. I’ll take care of the rest with gentle guidance and demonstration. I explain things verbally as we go and make gentle adjustments as needed. My goal is for all of you to feel comfortable and relaxed, and I’ll help you get there! Nobody is left hanging in my studio wondering what they’re supposed to do next - I promise.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Theo’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 Maternity Photographer | Charmaine & Company

Charmaine’s husband, Sean, called the studio to ask about booking a maternity session as a surprise for his wife. He had looked through several websites and really loved what he saw on ours. He knew that we’d be the perfect fit for his family and his wife’s tastes. I always love when dads schedule a session as a surprise gift, and we’ve had many clients do this in the past few years. If you plan it far enough in advance, we can whip up a gift certificate to present to your partner.

Sean wanted his wife to dictate the location and actual session date, so he booked the session with us and told her he had a surprise for her. Caroline called Charmaine to go through the location options and talk about dates. After viewing the different locations, Charmaine fell in love with the field and was thrilled to hear that the location was just minutes from where they lived! Caroline scheduled a maternity fitting date with me at the studio for a couple of weeks before their scheduled date. We don’t schedule maternity fittings further than two weeks out because we want to ensure that there isn’t a really big growth spurt between the fitting and session. If a client chooses a dress that I’m concerned MIGHT not fit in two weeks, we have a backup option to that choice just in case. I’ve never had to default to that backup option, but you just never know.

Charmaine showed up for her maternity fitting, and I instantly liked her straightforward personality and cool South African accent. She and I both had a few things in common: we’re both business owners, we each have two daughters (who look very different from each other!) and we both choose to wait to find out what we are having until birth. If she has a boy as her third child, that’ll be another thing we have in common! After trying on several dresses, Charmaine opted for a blush pink lace off the shoulder dress with embroidery and a floral quarter length sleeved dress. Since her daughters did not attend the fitting with her, I showed her a few things we had in the studio for little girls and she eyeballed the size. I made a note of which dresses were possibilities to bring along with me to their session. Caroline also sent her our studio style guide to review when choosing her husband’s outfit, and we were all set! All clients receive our studio style guide which is short and easy to read. It’s super helpful when planning what to wear for the members of your family not utilizing the wardrobe. We’re here to provide as much assistance as you need with that if you want to run some options by us beforehand.

The evening of their session was absolutely gorgeous, and we were some of the only people there. It’s pretty rare for that to happen at this particular location, but you won’t hear me complaining. Charmaine asked if we could incorporate a family heirloom into their session and showed me this lovely lace parasol she had brought with her. I was thrilled to include it, and thought it was so perfect with what she had chosen to wear and the gorgeous sunlight in the background.

There is no set flow for a maternity session including a family. Kids sometimes lose interest for a bit, and I just work around who is up for participating. I definitely take advantage of fresh and ready to go kids right at the beginning. That way, if they lose all interest and just want to play, we’ve already gotten those family images. These little girls loved being with their parents and enjoyed walking and playing in the field together. The girls reminded me of my own, personality wise - my oldest is quite the camera ham and enjoys being photographed, while my middle daughter is more reserved and serious. We explored many areas of the field together, and had a lot of fun doing so.

When Charmaine looked through her proof gallery, she emailed saying how much she loved the images and how they had captured their family perfectly. She was amazed at how it truly looked like their family, and at how much fun the whole experience had been. So… she requested to book a newborn session for when baby #3 arrived! ;) Most clients book both their maternity and newborn sessions at the same time so they can be assured of a date when their baby arrives. We take a limited number of newborns each month to ensure the best level of service for our clients. Booking a newborn session in advance does not mean that we set an exact date for it. Babies are so unpredictable! I’ve had some of my clients deliver at 37 weeks and others at 42. When you book your newborn session, you are simply reserving one of our reserved spots. Once your baby arrives, you just let us know and we’ll get you on the studio calendar for your exact date after learning a bit about your baby’s stats and how you’re recovering. Typically, we schedule clients to come in between their baby’s first 8-16 days of life, but we’ve had plenty of newborns in the three week range too.

I can’t WAIT to find out if Charmaine and Sean have a boy or a girl and to see their awesome family again soon. In the meantime, enjoy a few of my favorites from their 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 | The A Family

Courtney contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a family session. A good friend of hers had recently worked with us and had recommended she consider us for her photography needs. Courtney was pregnant with her second child, but she wanted the focus of her session to be family rather than maternity. Not sure of the difference between a family session vs. a maternity session? We’ll happily explain that to you when you give us a call! :) After looking through the locations, Courtney chose the park location for their session. The park is a great location choice for our intown clients to avoid traffic around the Atlanta interstates, especially on weeknights!

We sent over our style guide to Courtney, which is short and super easy to read. So many of our clients have told us that it’s been incredibly helpful to them when planning what to wear. If you get stuck, or you want more feedback, we’re here to help with that too! Our studio wardrobe is also available to borrow from as well, although the majority of family session clients dress themselves. We find that the majority of our newborn and maternity clients opt to use the wardrobe!

When Courtney and her family showed up at the studio parking lot, we chatted for a couple of minutes and then they followed me by car to the location just a couple of minutes away. I loved the dress that Courtney had chosen - I have this same dress in a few different colors in my own studio wardrobe. It’s such a comfortable dress and very flattering whether you’re pregnant or not. She had coordinated her daughter’s lace dress to match the pink embroidery on her own dress and it was the perfect combo. Dad looked great in his light blue button down and khakis. If your guy isn’t a khakis guy, don’t put him in them. Have him wear jeans instead if that’s his thing. I want your family to be comfortable and feel like themselves for your images! While our style guide does have some specific guidelines for what to avoid, it’s to ensure that your images are cohesive and there’s not an element that sticks out and is distracting. I’ve had clients who opted for a glammed up look complete with tuxedos and tulle, and others who went with a monochromatic look topped with motorcycle boots and jackets. That’s who they were, and their resulting images captured them perfectly because they chose to be themselves. Don’t let what’s most popular on Pinterest or what you think you “should” wear for family photos dictate your final choices. Be YOU.

We got started with our session by playing some games…. which involved me being quite the goof. I am not a super peppy personality that gets into your child’s face, because I’ve found that often just backfires. Instead, I’m pretty quiet and slowly approach your child until I can see that they’re feeling comfortable. I match the energy level of your child throughout the session and let them lead the way. I want them to have a fun time too, not be freaked out by this person they don’t know!

My family sessions are very much about playing together and being a family. The goal is not necessarily for everyone to be looking at the camera. While it’s wonderful to get that “perfect” family photo with everyone smiling and looking for the Christmas card or for Grandma, that’s is not my ultimate goal or the heart of my approach at all. So, what is? Love. Connection. Photos that show how much your family loves each other and how much your children adore you. The kind of photos that are captured when you’re being who you truly are and have forgotten a camera is there. The kind of photos that give you a perspective of your family that you cannot see yourself. That’s what I’m after.

If you want to capture your family just as you are now before time slips through your fingers, 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! I can’t wait to meet you!

In the meantime, enjoy a few of my favorites from this 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 Baby Photographer | Theo is ONE!

I first worked with Jessica and Justin when they brought baby Theo in for his newborn session. You can view those images by clicking here. I saw Jessica again when she brought Theo in to meet Santa during our Santa event, and then again at our Motherhood event. She called Caroline (our studio manager) to schedule a First Birthday session for Theo and asked to do it outdoors in late November. She also asked to add on hair and makeup services as well since she loves working with our artists and has done so for all her past sessions.

Caroline sent over the style guide and Pinterest inspiration boards, and Jessica asked to come into the studio because she thought she might want to wear a studio dress. Caroline scheduled an appointment for her, and when Jessica came in we talked about her vision for the shoot. I reminded her that it might be cold, and that there was absolutely nothing wrong with taking the jeans, boots, and sweater approach. She ultimately decided that a more casual look was the direction she wanted to go in, and I loved what she chose for the whole family. Layering in the fall can also be so helpful if the temperature is not what we hope for!

Fall weather in the south can be… well, crazy. There have been Halloweens where my kids were in shorts and t-shirts because their costumes were too hot, and others where they were in their costumes covered with coats, scarves, and mittens and STILL cold. This particular day in November was… FREEZING. Jessica really wanted to try to go ahead and do it outdoors, so we went for it. You can’t tell how cold it was from the images because the evening light was so golden and so warm.

Despite the cold temperatures, Theo was a happy little guy for the first part of it and stayed snuggled up to his mom and dad for quite a bit. I loved the outfits that Jessica had chosen for the entire family! Theo’s knitted blue sweater was a perfect choice for him since it brought out his big blue eyes. I loved seeing Jessica and Michael interact with him. It’s so much fun to see parents throughout their baby’s first year of life. At newborn sessions, most parents are still figuring things out and by the first birthday, they’re settled and confident in their roles!

We took blanket warm up breaks as needed throughout the session to keep everyone as comfortable as possible. I always shoot efficiently during first birthday sessions since one year olds don’t have a long attention span, but I put the efficiency into hyperdrive because I knew Theo wouldn’t be able to handle the cold weather for long. By the time we were ready for the cake portion, Theo was starting to become a bit uncomfortable and was not that interested in his cake. He looked at it, started towards it, and then sat back down and started shivering. He just wanted to be wrapped up and warm, and who can blame him? I could see Jessica was feeling a bit disappointed, as she had made his cake for him all by herself. Theo has some food allergies, so making the cake was quite an involved feat, and I wanted to honor all the love and care she had put into it for him.

Please note that my First Birthday sessions typically take place indoors OR outdoors - and they are not combined. The light in the studio is best for morning through early afternoon hours, and not at sunset. I only shoot outdoor sessions at sunrise or sunset… so you can see the problem! :) However, because we finished outdoors early due to needing to shoot so quickly because of the cold, I asked if they’d like to try a few shots in the studio. I made no guarantees that the light would look like it normally does for my First Birthday sessions. Jessica and Michael jumped at the opportunity, and we headed back up to my studio. It was a success for sure, but we also had the added bonus of many of the trees having lost most of their leaves already, which allowed for enough light to come in the windows. Theo was definitely more interested in his cake now that he was warmer, and dug right in, much to the delight of his parents.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Theo’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 Maternity Photographer | Olivia at the cliffs of Montauk

I’ve wanted to photograph a session at Montauk on Long Island for YEARS ever since I saw photographs of my sister with the cliffs in the background when she visited with friends.

So, when the chance presented itself, you better believe I took it! Olivia is a fellow photographer and she and I trust each other to photograph each of our families. As a photographer, it can be so hard to find a photographer that understands your vision and can capture your family the way that you want them to be captured. Some of my most favorite images of my own family are from when she photographed us all when our children were 4.5, 2.5, and 6 months old.

When Olivia found out she was pregnant, she let me know that she wanted me to photograph her maternity and newborn sessions, and I was absolutely thrilled and honored to be chosen to do so! We set up a time for me to travel up to New York in April for her maternity shoot, and I blocked some time in the studio calendar to be able to travel back up to NYC in the summer after her baby’s arrival. Travel sessions are not something I do on a regular basis, but if you’re interested in having me travel to you, please do reach out and we’ll talk about details!

Please note that the first lace overlay dress is available in my studio, while the other two are not yet available but I’m thinking about adding them soon! :) I do have the second dress in ivory at this time, but not blush pink as shown. We pulled those dresses from Olivia’s client wardrobe as they were perfect for her in both fit and color.

What you can’t see in these photographs is how COLD the temperatures were that day. I couldn’t feel my fingers or my lips by the time we were done and we were only out there for about 30 minutes tops. Olivia toughed it out, and trusted me to work as fast as I possibly could without compromising the photographs. We took a few warm up breaks and incorporated a shawl into some of the images to help block the wind and make it a bit less cold. In the end, it was completely worth it all!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this bucket list shoot. Isn’t Olivia absolutely stunning? I can’t wait to share the images from her baby girls’ newborn session soon!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Miles

I first worked with Jazmine & Chander for their maternity session in the gardens, where we had so much fun! You can view some of the gorgeous images from their shoot by clicking here. I told the two of them that my guess was that their baby boy would have LOTS of hair, and they agreed. I was so looking forward to getting to meet baby Miles at their newborn session!

Jazmine let me know that baby Miles had arrived safely and asked to add on hair and makeup services again. She knew she didn’t want to have to handle getting herself ready for the session while sleep deprived, and had a pretty good idea of which dress she would wear from the studio wardrobe. This isn’t unusual! The vast majority of our newborn clients who work with us for maternity beforehand have a good idea of which dress they’re going to wear for their newborn session. Sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting to see what fits well if their bust grows a lot due to milk production. It’s different for every woman, but many of our dresses can accommodate a range of sizes do to their stretch and construction.

When the new family of three arrived at the studio, I peeked inside the carseat and squealed when I saw that Miles DID have tons of hair! He also had some of the plumpest little lips and cheeks I’ve seen, and was just absolutely adorable.

I took Miles out of his carseat and into the dedicated newborn shooting room. We keep it toasty warm and comfy for newborns, and there’s an observation window for parents to watch through if they so desire. Jazmine settled into the hair and makeup chair with Brielle to be prepped, and I set to work with Miles. He was a sleepy baby and very relaxed and flexible, which made for a pretty smooth session! I have endless patience, so if your baby is fussy or is fighting sleep, I’ll keep working with them and we’ll still get wonderful images even if they refuse to sleep. (yes, this has happened!) My style of photography is focused on your baby, so the colors I use are various shades of neutrals. I have carefully chosen colors that will work with a wide range of skin tones, and I select wraps after I see your baby and determine what would be the best for their skin. Every baby is different! I do have some clients who request an all white session in advance, and I’m happy to accommodate that as well. Unless I am specifically asked to photograph using all white, I usually use a mixture of beautiful colors and textures.

When I came out with Miles, Jazmine will still being prepped. Miles needed to eat, so it was perfect timing. He was also a quick eater, so when he finished up, Jazmine was done also. She slipped into the blush pink off the shoulder dress she had chosen to wear, and we got started with the last half of the session - which is parent and family images. I don’t have a set specific flow, but I keep the transitions for baby minimal and have mom and dad be the ones that move as needed. This part of the session is also very laid back and relaxed, and consists of you enjoying your new baby! Since Jazmine and Chander had previously worked with me for their maternity session, they were very comfortable from the start and already knew my basic “rules” for how to stand and where. If you’re coming in as a new client who has never worked with me before, no need to worry. I’ll direct you and give you all the guidance that you need, and you’ll be a pro in no time at all!

Enjoy some of my favorites from this absolutely joyful 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 | Baby Remington

Megan contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a milestone session for her five month old son, Remy. When she contacted us, we were all on Hilton Head Island getting ready for Caroline’s (our studio manager!) wedding and we had to tell her that she’d have to wait a couple of days until the festivities were over for us to be able to send all the information. She was a total sweetheart, congratulated us all and said she’d be waiting to hear from us the next week!

After the wedding was over and we were back home, we sent Megan all the information and Caroline spent some time chatting with her. At first, Megan didn’t really want to be in any of the photographs but when she let us know that Remy couldn’t sit unassisted yet, we strongly encouraged her to be in them. When your baby isn’t sitting alone, there are only so many things we can photograph for a larger variety in a gallery. Plus, we strongly believe that moms should be photographed too. It’s a decision that many moms make and are so thankful later that they did.

We sent over the style guide to Megan with suggestions of what she and Remy could wear for their session, and I asked her to come in a few minutes early if she wanted to go over wardrobe options. She chose to come in a bit early and was nervous about what she had brought with her not working, but I reassured her that her options were PERFECT! As we were chatting, I asked what her favorite features about Remy were. She didn’t hesitate: his rolls (and rolls!) and blue eyes. With that information in mind, I suggested stripping Remy down to just a diaper cover! She immediately loved the idea, and we did just that. While cute outfits are great, sometimes sticking with simplicity and bringing all the focus to your baby is the way to go. I showed Megan how to sit with him, where to look, and started photographing the two of them. Remy was very interested in what I was doing, and became very comfortable with me quickly. He flashed some big grins my way many times, and I had to keep from squealing over his cuteness!

When he started getting tired, I suggested Megan feed him and change him into his second oufit. While she was comforting him, I noticed how he was chewing on his fingers and took the opportunity to photograph that moment. While I do give direction for guided natural interaction as needed, most mamas become comfortable enough with me after a few minutes and start doing their mothering thing all on their own. Then I just wait for those beautiful moments when you are focusing on your baby and photograph what I see. I think moms are so, so beautiful when they are looking with love at their child. I wish every mom could see how beautiful she looks when she’s being a mom - and that’s one of my end goals when you come in for a session with your baby!

When Megan looked through her gallery, she let me know that she was so in love with the images. She was surprised at how much she loved them because she didn’t really expect to and had just viewed it as being a necessary “prop”. She ended up adding a few extra images to her collection, and was so happy she had opted to be in the photos despite her initial hesitation.

Here are a few of my favorites from Remy’s milestone session! Isn’t this mother-son duo the sweetest?!

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 | Brennan is ONE!

Brennan’s grandmother called the studio asking to schedule a First Birthday session in the studio for him as a gift to his parents. They were going to be visiting Brennan over the holidays from California, and were so excited to find our website. We’ve had quite a few grandparents gift sessions around here, and we always think it’s so special!

After discussing potential dates, they chose one, and we sent over a few things. All clients receive our style guide and links to our Pinterest inspiration boards. 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 - so we make sure you know what to use. 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 keep a cake from sliding around, and that you don’t forget your cake. (yep, it’s happened more than once!) If you’re not in to the idea of including a cake, no worries! Plenty of our clients opt to not include anything while others pick something non-traditional like a pie or donuts.

The day of Brennan’s session, the family arrived and we spent a little bit of time chatting and getting to know each other. Brennan was a cute little thing with a head of curly hair, and giant blue eyes. The family is a fan of plaid, and wanted their images to include that, so dad and Brennan were both in plaid shirts for the family portion. Brennan was such a happy little guy, and I had lots of fun photographing him alone and with his loving parents.

After we finished up with family and solo portraits, 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! In Brennan’s case, his family changed him to a cute long sleeved baseball T with the number “1” on it.

Brennan was immediately interested in the cake and needed no help or encouragement to explore it. He made some of the BEST expressions in reaction to how it tasted!!!

If your baby is apprehensive when it comes to their cake, don’t worry! I have a bag of tricks up my sleeve to help encourage them in a non-stressful way. I ask parents to be prepared to offer a taste of icing to them and eat some themselves. Even if your baby turns out to hate cake, their First Birthday session is NOT a “failure”. Someday you will look at the images and you will laugh! The whole point of the cake portion is to see how your baby reacts. You just can’t get a one year old to fake anything, and why would you want to? You’ll get to watch all the funny expressions and moments without being worried about documenting it, and it’s just as special regardless of whether they dive into the cake or huffily fling it off to the side. No matter how it goes , you’ll have authentic images that tell the real story of how everything unfolded that day!

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 George

Dmitry contacted the studio to schedule a last minute newborn session for his son, George. He and his wife had come to the United States from their home country of Ukraine to deliver, and were returning in just a few weeks. After reviewing our information, they booked their session for a couple of days later on our only remaining available date, and Dmitry asked to add on hair and makeup for his wife as well.

The morning of their session, they drove from their home in Buckhead to the studio. We schedule newborn sessions for after the majority of traffic has passed for our clients who don't live intown. For those who do live intown, it's a quick trip as we're located less than a half mile off the Zoo Atlanta exit on I-20. We have a lot of clients who drive from far away - we've had newborn clients from Macon, Braselton, Hampton, and Carrollton. All you have to do is get here and we'll handle the rest! 

When the new family of three arrived, I pulled out a few options for his wife to look through. His wife did not speak any English, so Dmitry translated, and there was lots of pointing and smiles. She chose a beautiful floor length cream gown that was a perfect fit for her. She settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, and I took George into the newborn shooting room.

Their new baby boy, George was absolutely ADORABLE and had the cutest little expressions throughout his session. He woke up a couple of times during his session when he wanted a bottle, and I took advantage of his being awake and calm and took some photos. Not every newborn will open their eyes during a session, and sometimes they are not calm when awake. I can't always guarantee an image of your newborn with their eyes open making direct contact with the camera, but I definitely take advantage when presented with the opportunity!  

After I finished up with George’s solo portraits we moved on to the parent and family portion. It was so sweet seeing them with their son. I love watching new parents interact with their babies. The expressions of awe and wonder and ineffable joy are beautiful to observe and document. While I do help my clients get into the best positions for photographs, the emotion you see is all genuine and unforced. How can you not look at your beautiful baby and each other and smile? These are the moments I'm looking for as you interact with each other, and the reason why I love photographing newborns and their families so much. I want you to tangibly see how much you loved your little one from the very beginning. I want you to be able to show your child when they’re older so they can see it too. For me, that's the entire point of photography. It's the only way we can freeze time and revisit the moments that we will someday desperately miss. 

Enjoy a few of my favorites from George’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 Maternity Photographer | Ima

Ima contacted the studio to schedule a maternity session for the very next week. She had been pretty busy and then realized she was running out of time, and panicked a little bit! Fortunately, we had some last minute availability for studio sessions and were able to work her in to our schedule.

While chatting on the phone with Caroline, Ima was thrilled to hear that we had a studio wardrobe available for her since that was one less thing for her to worry about finding in time for her session, since it was so last minute. She expressed concern about her height since she is a petite woman, but we assured her that we have dressed clients as short as 4’10”, so she needn’t be concerned. Caroline scheduled a maternity fitting for her with me the very next day as that was our first mutual availability.

When Ima came in the next day for her maternity fitting, she informed me that she knew several of my clients! This seems to happen so often. We have so many clients book a session, and then peruse our website or Instagram and start recognizing friends. The client then texts or calls the friends, hears all about their experience with us, and then feels even more confident they made the right choice! It’s always fun being reminded of what a small world we really live in. After looking through all of her options, she settled on one of our most glam options that is restricted to in studio use only. It’s a gorgeous lace bodice with a split front tulle skirt. Ima knew she wanted to show off the belly, so the split front was something she loved. Not all of our clients are interested in showing their belly off! Split front gowns can also be worn closed, so no worries there!

The day of her session, she arrived at the studio all ready to go. Because Ima 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 our higher collections, this was the perfect fit for Ima 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 extra images to what was included. If you’re not sure what’s the best fit for you, we can help you decide that!

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 | The B Family at the Park

I first worked with Maria after they had just relocated to the Atlanta area. She had found us online but then her photographer from her hometown also referred her to me after the fact, so she knew she’d made the right choice in choosing her new family photographer.

Maria loves to schedule images for the fall to serve a dual purpose: (1) updated family photos and (2) the family holiday card. This is usually the case for all of my fall clients! At the time of this writing, October weekends are totally full with just a couple of weeknights remaining. November has just a couple of weekend dates remaining, with a handful of weeknights. If you’re hoping to book a fall family session, don’t delay in contacting us today to get on our calendar before we’re completely full. If we’re full at the time you contact us, you can ask to be placed on the waiting list. We reserve dates in our calendar to serve as backup dates for inclement weather, and if a date is not needed it is released on a first come first serve basis to those on the wait list.

We sent our style guide to Maria but knew she probably wouldn’t need it. She has a fun fashion style, and everyone always looks great. That being said, if you’re not so sure you can do it on your own, don’t worry! I’m here to provide as much or as a little help as you need in coordinating your family’s outfits. My goal is to make your entire session experience as fun and as low stress as possible.

On the evening of our session, we met in a different area of the park than we had been in the previous year to change things up a bit. Barrett had gotten so big, and was full of energy! Clayton and Maria keep up with him pretty well, and do such a great job of letting him be a kid and run all over the place with him. The best thing parents can do is arrive at their session relaxed and ready to play. We will get images of your child truly smiling with their eyes sparkling this way. I’m a mom of three kids myself, and I’ve seen it all. I promise - if you come in relaxed and ready with patience, we will create a zero pressure environment for your child(ren) and the rest will all unfold. There will be moments during your session when you will feel like things are chaotic and that the whole thing is a disaster, but just remember…. I only need 800th of a second to grab one moment.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from their fun family session! I can’t wait to see them again this fall!

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time eludes you and you’re packing their bags for their first apartment? 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 Baby Photographer | Amara is ONE!

Makeiva contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Amara. The family was all very excited since it would also be their first time being professionally photographed. We sent Makeiva our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet.

When the family arrived, Makeiva let me know that she wasn’t too sure about the options she had brought for Amara, and asked if she could take a a look at our studio dresses. I pulled out an off white lace dress that the whole family loved the second they saw it on her. My studio wardrobe for little ones is limited as I’ve found that most mamas prefer to dress their babies, but we have dressed many of our little clients with what we have! She had brought a cute pink tutu and custom onesie with gold writing for the cake smash portion, so we were all set!

Makeiva brought a colorful punk buttercream cake for Amara to smash. If you choose to include a cake (nope, it’s not required!) we have a list of great options for you in the Atlanta area if you want to outsource that part. Our baker is such a talented person and can accommodate many food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She’ll drop the cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of. Using her services is not required - regardless of where the cake comes from, we will walk you through best practices for icing type, cake flavor, texture, and colors, if you choose to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session!

Amara was friendly and curious, so we started the session with just her. First Birthday sessions almost always double as a family session too! After we finished with Amara’s solo images, we moved into the family and parent portion of our session. By this time, most one year olds are ready to call it a day. Their attention spans aren’t very long at this age and it’s for this exact reason that we save the cake for last.

I brought out our antique high chair and Amara dug right in! Some babies aren’t big fans of the high chair, and if that ends up being your baby, that’s ok! We have alternatives available and will work with what makes your baby happy and comfortable. Each baby has their own preferences, so we’ll tailor your session experience to their needs and comfort.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this beautiful and happy baby girl’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 Maternity Photographer | Bethany & John

Bethany and John contacted us to ask about booking a newborn and maternity session for their baby girl. They let us know that they wanted to include their two dogs in their maternity session, and we said “No problem!”

They loved the park location, and asked to add on hair and makeup services to both sessions as well. We scheduled a maternity fitting for them, and when they came in, we spent some time chatting. When I heard where Bethany worked, I asked if she knew another one of my clients that worked at the same place. She responded by telling me that she had seen that client on the website after they had booked their sessions with me, and had asked her about how it was working with us! That client reassured her that she couldn’t have picked a better studio, told her all about their experience, and Bethany and John felt even more confident in their choice. I love hearing this from clients - and it happens a lot!

At their maternity fitting, Bethany was overwhelmed by all of her choices. She told me “I hate off the shoulder and I hate florals” when I asked for her style preferences. She tried on so many different options, and then asked me to pick a wild card dress for her. I picked a floral off the shoulder dress and handed it to her. Haha…. and SHE PICKED IT! (and looks absolutely stunning in it) I will always respect your style preferences, but please know that sometimes how a dress looks on a hanger is not how it will look on you… and you just may fall in love with something you didn’t think you would! Keep those options open. ;)

The evening of the session, we met at the park, and I met their sweet pups, Nashville & Lincoln. They had dropped them off at a friends’ house prior to the session, so they were all tired out and calmer than usual. Pets are always welcome to be a part of outdoor sessions as participants. In studio sessions are on a case by case basis depending on size and training. You will need to bring along a helper to take care of your pets when they are not being photographed as they will not be in every image. I typically photograph clients with their pets for about 10 minutes during sessions, so it's not very long at all. 

Bethany and John were so affectionate towards one another, and I really loved working with them. These pictures make me smile because they take me back to that evening in the park with their quiet love for one another, the whispered secrets, and the laughter. It was such an beautiful session to photograph and made me so excited to meet their baby girl! Here are some of my favorite images from our time together. Doesn't Bethany look absolutely gorgeous? I love the beautiful and simple blowout that Margaret created for her.

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 | Ashley & Corey

Ashley wasn’t really sure that she wanted a maternity session, but her friends kept telling her she should have some photographs taken because she would regret it if she didn’t. When she found my website, she spent some time looking through it and picked up the phone to call the studio. Caroline, our studio manager, answered and spent time chatting with Ashley about the process and how it all works. Ashley was so excited to hear that she could borrow from the studio wardrobe as it was one less thing for her to worry about. She was a little concerned that we wouldn’t have anything that worked for her style preferences, but Caroline assured her that we had quite a few different style options! Caroline took care of scheduling her maternity session in the studio and also made an appointment for her to come into the studio for her maternity fitting the next week.

When Ashley walked in on the day of her fitting, she told me that she actually knew a few of my other clients! She had texted them after seeing some of their images on the website, and after hearing their rave reviews, felt confident she had chosen the right photographer. We discussed her style preferences and favorite colors (your least favorite is also good information to know!) and I pulled a few of the dress for her.

Ashley wanted simple and not fussy, and we have several pieces that fit the bill! After trying on several, she narrowed it down to two gorgeous dresses - that were exactly what she had envisioned. She couldn’t believe how perfectly they meshed with her vision and her skin tone, and she felt (and looked!) absolutely beautiful in them.

Maternity fittings do take up some time in your week, but they’re pretty important. Not only are we pulling together your look, but we are also getting to know one another! I’ve found that clients come in for their session much more relaxed and ready to go when they’ve spent time with me first. When we have out of state clients who are unable to come in a week or two beforehand, we simply schedule the fitting to take place right before the session. This enables us to spend some time getting to know each other before I start photographing you.

On the day of her session, Ashley arrived at the studio and I had her dresses all ready to go. She looked absolutely gorgeous, and was excited to get started. She warned me that she wasn’t quite sure what to do and felt a little bit nervous, and I reassured her that everything would be just fine.I guide my clients through the entire experience from start to finish. Out of all the sessions we offer, maternity sessions are what we photograph the most of! At this point in my sixth year of business, I think it’s safe to claim expert status. ;) From leg to hand positioning, to gentle adjustments of your head angle, I’ve got you covered! I’ll also be on the lookout for a bra strap peeking out, errant stray hairs, etc. I’ll make sure you look your absolute best. Your job is simply to relax and have fun!

Ashley’s husband, Corey, was running a bit late but that was no problem. I simply started the session with just Ashley and when he arrived, I had him get changed and jump right in. Corey was lots of fun to work with and was also an amateur videographer, so we had fun talking shop during our time together! The two of them were adorable together and so much fun to work with.

Enjoy a few of my favorite portraits from Ashley and Corey’s maternity session! I can’t wait to see them again in the future!

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 | A Family Session in the Gardens

I was SO excited for this session with this fun family of five! I LOVE working with families who have older children - I know we get lots of the little ones, but I don’t just photograph babies and toddlers. Older children are really cool to photograph by themselves and with their families, so it’s a welcome change of pace.

My flow is somewhat different with tweens and elementary aged children, but one thing remains the same: my respect and consideration for your child and their autonomy is paramount. I want them to walk away from their session feeling that I saw them for who they were and they had a say. I want YOU to have beautiful photographs of your children and family together that show your relationship and how much you love each other. I want you to smile whenever you see them and think “This is us.”

I could sit here and type a book with multiple chapters about my approach to family sessions with multiple children, but I’ll spare you. In a nutshell: it’s basically very organized chaos! I flow through our time together in so that participants who need a break get one while others are being photographed so we aren’t standing around doing nothing. SOMEONE is being photographed at any given time.

Family sessions are about playing together, and NOT necessarily looking at the camera. While it’s great to get the “perfect” family picture with everyone smiling for Grandma, that’s is not the goal or the heart of my approach to photographing your family at all. So, what is? Love. Giggles. Security. Family. I could go on. You know the saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words”….. let’s let this family’s photos speak for themselves.

Kelly and Daniel had never had a professional family portrait session before and weren’t really sure what to expect. They were blown away by how we helped with every step of the process. We had sent Kelly our style guide ahead of time, and she found it very helpful! She was a little bit nervous about choosing outfits entirely on her own. When I checked in to see if she needed any assistance pulling them together, she was so grateful to be able to email us images of the outfits she was thinking about. After reviewing what she had put together, I emailed her a suggestion to make one simple change in her oldest son’s shirt choice and it solidified the whole look perfectly. I want your family to dress comfortably and everyone to feel great in what they’re wearing. I also want the outfits to complement each other so that there isn’t a reaction of “one of these things is not like the other” when viewing your images.

The evening of our session, we met at the gardens location and it was such a beautiful night! The temperatures were perfect, and we moved quickly through the session. I always start with the whole family first while everyone is fresh and still willing to be photographed. You never know how younger kids and babies will be, so I like to play it safe. From there, we cycled in and out with different combinations of family members, and had a great time doing it. Rueben and his sisters, Zoe & Thea were such great kids, and so much fun to work with! Rueben is such an incredible big brother to his sisters, and I loved watching their interactions together. At the end of our time together, both Kelly and Daniel commented on how much fun the whole session was and how they couldn’t wait to book their next session. After viewing their proof gallery, Kelly had a hard time narrowing the images down. She chose to print the second image in this blog post as a larger wall portrait for their home as it was her very favorite photo from the session.

I SO look forward to working with this family again next year!

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 Amanda

Viviana contacted us to book a newborn session at the studio after seeing the photos from a coworker's session. She and her husband had taken their own newborn photographs of their first child, and had decided that they wanted professional photographs for this go round. Viviana also asked to add on hair and makeup services to her session, as her sister had so enjoyed them as well.

The morning of their session, Viviana arrived with Amanda. She and I looked through the studio wardrobe and she chose a very simple white sleeveless dress that looked perfect with her skin tone. She commented on how comfortable it was, and it was also such a great fit for her personality! Her husband and toddler son were scheduled to arrive later. We minimize the time older siblings spend in the studio by having them arrive when baby’s solo portraits are done, and most dads also appreciate it as well! :) Amanda was the SWEETEST little chunk with a full head of hair and the LONGEST eyelashes. After I gushed a little bit over how adorable she was, I took her into the newborn shooting room while Viviana settled into the hair and makeup chair.

Amanda was one of the easiest newborns that I’ve had in my studio. She slept very soundly, and was very squishy. I moved through her solo portraits pretty quickly with only one nursing break needed. Every baby is different! I work with each baby and respect the unique individual that they are. If they don’t like being on their tummy or side, I will not force them into that position. My sessions are very baby led, and their safety and comfort are my top priority.

Viviana did eventually wake up a little bit, and made the cutest little nose scrunchy grins. Right about this time, Viviana was almost finished, and her husband and son arrived. He was SUCH a good big brother! He was a bit hesitant about me, but was was so sweet and gentle with her, and loved participating in the session. After we finished up with the family and parent portion of the session, we said our goodbyes and the family headed home.

Enjoy Amanda’s newborn session images! I still can’t get over how cute these two siblings are - the cheeks and the dimples!!! I’ve shared some of my favorites below.

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

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