Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Baby Anjali is NINE months!

Anjali and her sweet family are some of my very favorite people. She’s the youngest of three, and I’m a mom of three kids myself. There’s a certain sort of organized chaos that always exists when you have three kids, and Nilam and I both understand (and love) it well. I first photographed Anjali at three months (click here) and then again at six months, and was excited to see her again for her nine month milestone.

If you’re wondering: most families schedule milestone sessions after the newborn session in one of two ways: 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, First Birthday OR 4 months, 8 months, First Birthday.

Nilam had come to the studio the week before their session with armfuls of clothing. She really appreciates being able to go through options in person and have me pull everything together for her from what she brings. All clients have the opportunity to do this! If stopping by the studio isn’t feasible for your schedule, you can send over some phone photos and we’ll exchange emails until we have just the right mix for your family. We pulled a few pieces from the studio wardrobe for Nilam and she loved one of our simple twist strap dresses that was a perfect fit for her. Nilam left my studio that day with peace of mind that everyone was squared away for Anjali’s milestone session the following week!

On the day of Anjali’s session, the family showed up with grandma in tow. I welcome and encourage grandparents to participate as well! Her mom had brought along a few different clothing options since she wasn’t quite sure which would be best with the family’s planned outfits. I took one look and selected the winner. As a photographer, I know what colors work well together. All I ask is that you make sure the clothing fits the wearer well and is clean and ready to wear.

So, milestone sessions are supposed to be about the baby, right? Yep! The baby AND the people who love them. The vast majority of my clients choose to structure the milestone session as a family session with solo portraits mixed in also to commemorate the milestone. At the end of the day, you have a proof gallery to choose from - so if you decide you want all the photos to be of the whole family, you can choose those. I see a pretty even mix between family/parent and baby images chosen by my clients, with most opting to upgrade and keep the entire gallery of photos. By this point, Nilam and Mitch jokingly told me not to bother sending a proof gallery because they already knew they’d want them all just like the last two sessions.

I started with just Anjali who is such a happy and smiley little girl. We added in her siblings, and then gave her a break to photograph some images of Grandma with her older grandchildren. We rotated in and out between groupings, giving kids breaks where needed, and we wrapped up the session in about 45 minutes including the snack breaks and diaper changes that occurred.

I never rush my sessions. But I don’t dilly dally either. Working quickly and efficiently is important in order to keep my little clients engaged and happy - and parents are thankful that sessions don’t drag on for two hours ending with very cranky little ones on the verge or beginning of an epic meltdown. Milestone and family sessions are laid back and fun, but they’re also clearly directed with intention so we can get the most out of our time together!

Before I end this, I want to tell you about Mitch and his amazing pediatric dental practice, Peachtree Hills Pediatric Dentistry in the Peachtree Hills area of Buckhead. Ever wish your pediatric dentist had weekend appointments?! HE DOES! He’s also dad to these three cuties, and one of the most loving and hands on dads I’ve ever met. Clients who have been to him report that he was wonderful with their kids. So, if you’re looking for a board certified pediatric dentist that has flexible hours to work with your schedule, definitely check out Dr. Vaughan (and tell him I sent you!)

And now…. enjoy this family’s fun session! Be on the lookout for Anjali’s First Birthday session at the gardens location soon - it’s a fun one!

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 and Family Photographer | Baby Hank is eight months!

I first photographed Hank as a newborn, and again for a milestone session when he was four months old. You can see his newborn images by clicking here, and his four month session by clicking here. The sitting milestone was the next up, and his parents chose 8 months for this one!

Since this was a third time in my studio, Melanie already knew how to dress everyone and the general routine. She requested to add on hair and makeup services again since she loved working with our artists the first two times. Brielle was her artist this time around and is always fun to work with. I always enjoy seeing what our makeup artists create for her each time! If you’re worried that you won’t look like yourself, don’t be! Our artist specialize in natural beauty which enhances what’s already there and will take your preferences and comfort level into consideration while applying your makeup. You are very much a part of the process and your feedback is welcomed and encouraged. Take it from a girl who doesn’t even own makeup (that would be me) - adding on professional hair and makeup services to your portrait session is always worth it. I always make sure to have mine done by a member of my team for my own photographs.

When I arrived at the studio, Brielle was just finishing up with Melanie’s hair. I was so excited to see them all again and couldn’t believe how big Hank had gotten in the four months since I’d last seen him! He was such a happy and friendly baby with the cutest two bottom teeth and chocolate brown eyes. Full of smiles and curiosity, and just a total doll! Melanie showed me the outfits that she had brought along for him and I offered my input on each. She chose the cutest blue knit two piece, and we got started. Hank was an easy little guy to work with since he was interested in my camera and thought my silly faces and noises were hilarious. We moved very quickly through the session, as I always do with this age. Babies have very short attention spans and get overstimulated and tired quickly. My average sitter session takes 30-45 minutes and my parents often report that their baby slept HARD for their nap afterwards. We keep moving the entire time and your baby is engaged and active. It’s a lot for them to take in!

Typically I will start sessions with family images to get babies warmed up, but Hank wasn’t in need of that due to his outgoing personality. So I shot in a flow that took that into consideration and had his parents jump in and out of images as needed. At the very end of the session, we removed his shirt so we could show off his cute baby rolls and I pulled out our white Eames chair. I love using this chair in milestone sessions since it really offers perspective on how much your baby has grown since their last session 4-6 months prior. It’s wild to see visual proof of it, even though your brain knows they’re a whole lot bigger!

We ended with lots of family snuggles, and the last image in this gallery is my favorite of the whole session. I just love how it shows baby Hank encircled by his loving parents. Enjoy a few of my favorites from Hank’s sitting 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 | Baby Cameron

Kelly contacted the studio in her second trimester to schedule a newborn session for her second baby on the way. The number one question we are asked about newborn sessions is: “How do I schedule a newborn session in advance when I don’t know when my baby will arrive?” When you schedule a newborn session with us, you are reserving a guaranteed spot on our calendar, not penciling in a specific date. Once your baby has arrived, you’ll let us know and we’ll schedule the date from there based on information you give us about your baby’s weight, date of birth in relation to their expected due date, and any complications we should know about!

When Cameron was born, Kelly let us know she had arrived and that baby Cameron was NINE pounds with lots of rolls! She asked to add on hair and makeup services to her newborn session because she knew she didn’t want to have to worry about getting ready while wrangling a newborn and toddler. You don’t need to decide whether you want these add on services until you contact us to let us know your baby is here. We’ll take care of checking on artist availability and give you dates that you’ll have their assistance. One less thing for you to worry about - we take care of the coordination for you! After we looked through our calendar and checked with our HMUA team, we gave Kelly a couple of dates to choose from. Please note that weekend newborn sessions are sometimes available, but cannot be guaranteed. She chose a date for the family to come in for her newborn session and we sent over the easy to follow newborn session prep packet for her to review.

On the morning of their session, Kelly arrived first with Cameron, and we looked through the studio wardrobe together for her older daughter and herself. We found the perfect options for each of them, and Kelly got herself settled into the hair and makeup chair.

I started with just Cameron for her solo portraits in the newborn area and she was sound asleep. She started waking up a bit, but so was calm and content. I always take the opportunity to photograph calm and awake babies to get those pretty eyes. A lot of my clients request that I photograph their newborn looking at the camera. While I wish I could promise this to everyone, whether this is possible is totally dependent on your baby. There are some babies who come in and they never open their eyes the entire time. Other babies will wake up but they’re not happy or calm while awake and start screaming. Because every single baby in my studio is unique, their resulting gallery images will also be one of a kind too!

Big babies (as a general rule) are pretty deep sleepers, and Cameron was no exception. When babies are truly conked out, the more pliable and flexible their bodies are. I will never force a baby into a position and prefer to arrange the wrap around their body in whatever position they naturally assume. My goal for newborn solo images is for their parents to be able to look at them and remember every detail about their baby. Memories fade, but photographs don’t.

As I finished up Cameron’s solo images, Kelly’s husband and older daughter arrived. We have other session participants arrive later on for a good reason! Toddlers and dads are much happier not waiting around in the studio, and it gives moms a chance to really relax. Kelly and her daughter got dressed and we moved right into the family portion of our session, which was a lot of fun. As we chatted during the session, I learned that they were my neighbors - just a few blocks away! It’s always so much fun to realize what a small world we live in. I’ve had so many neighbors in the studio this past year as clients and always find out at their sessions with me. Since our session together, I’ve seen them around the neighborhood a few times, which is always fun.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this sweet 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 | Benicio is ONE!

This little guy is one of my favorite babies! His parents are some of my favorite humans too. I first met and worked with Erised and Dan for their maternity session in the gardens, and then photographed Benicio when he was a not so tiny newborn. I then saw him during our 2019 Santa Event (sold out, but you can get on the waiting list! ) and then again for his six month session. I was so excited to celebrate his turning one with a First Birthday session!

Erised always chooses the cutest clothes for Benicio’s milestone sessions, and this one was no exception. She dressed him in an adorable chambray romper with tan suede straps, and brought second linen romper with removable suspenders as well. (Have I mentioned how much I love suspenders on little boys?) Benicio is one of the friendliest and happiest babies I have ever worked with, so no warming up was necessary. Every baby is different, and I follow their cues to determine the best flow of the session. Sometimes that means we start with family images, but for this session we started with just him and then added in his parents for whole family photos and some with each of his parents. I move pretty quickly during sessions involving little ones because they do not have the attention span or patience to last long. My average session involving babies this age is 30-45 minutes even though I allot an hour just in case we need to take a break for a diaper change or a snack!

As we moved through the session, Benicio gave me the BIGGEST grins, showing off his two bottom middle teeth. I love that toothy grin so much, and it’s just about the cutest thing ever. My girls both had those two bottom teeth come in first… but then my son decide to reverse it and his two top middle teeth came in first instead. After parent and family photos, he let us know he didn’t want to be held anymore, so I suggested letting him do his own thing. I really love to capture all the cute things that babies do all on their own, so I’ll often give them one of the studio wooden toys to play with and wait to see what happens. After he was done playing, I pulled out our white Eames chair which is a popular favorite in the studio. When babies come see me throughout their first year, I like to photograph them in this chair because it really gives you perspective to look back and see how much they’ve grown! Erised changed his outfit after a few images in the chair, and as soon as we put him back in, he stood right up and was SO proud of himself. Don’t worry - dad was standing just outside of the frame ready to catch if needed. Safety is a top priority here!

Benicio was pretty much over the session, and that’s when we pull out the cake, if you’ve chosen to include one. Cake is a great distraction and something new for them to explore. Erised had brought along a fun balloon to include, and the cake was designed by our preferred baker, She Takes the Cake. Many of our clients love using her services, and she’s located in the Summerhill area. You can either pick up your cake from her before your session, or she does offer an add on delivery service to the studio as well where it will be here waiting for you when you arrive. If you just want to stick with simple, we have a Publix and a Kroger less than a mile away from our Poncey-Highlands studio, and we’ll give you a cake tips sheet for best practices. (Believe it or not, the type of icing on the cake is important stuff!) If you want to do something different, feel free! We’ve had cakes, pies, donuts, even a bowl full of whipped cream. Remember, including something for your baby to smash is optional - we have plenty of clients who skip that part entirely. The choice is yours!

Benicio loved his cake and went right for it. Check out that little tongue of his! I absolutely love photographing the natural interactions that happen with the first birthday cakes! Parents also really enjoy being able to watch it all and take it all in instead of worrying about documenting it for posterity. Watching something through a camera lens is not the same as being fully present in the moment, trust me. I learned this the hard way from personal experience - and now when I’m watching something momentous that one of my kids is doing, I ask a friend to do the documenting so I can be 100% all there.

I can’t wait to see this Benicio again at 18 months for fall family photos in November, and to see him again with Santa this year!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this session! If you’re considering a First Birthday session for your little one, I would LOVE to hear from you to see if we’re the perfect fit for what you’re looking for. We schedule our milestone sessions around naptimes so your baby is as well rested as possible.

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jai in the studio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Brannon

Sydney contacted the studio to inquire about booking a newborn session. She let us know that she and her two year old daughter would be using the studio wardrobe and that she was a little bit nervous about her daughter not cooperating. Caroline (our studio manager) reassured her that we have a lot of experience with toddlers. While we cannot make a toddler cooperate, we do have a bag of tricks to implement to help it happen in a fun way for them! As a note, when toddlers are involved with newborn sessions, we have them arriver later with daddy or a grandparent/caregiver. They will be so much happier at home for that first part and there won’t be any waiting around when they arrive. We will also take their nap schedule into consideration when planning your session so we can have the best possible time scheduled in the morning for them to arrive.

When Sydney and Brannon arrived at the studio that morning, we looked through the studio wardrobe options and she quickly selected a pretty blush dress with floral embroidery that she loved. She mentioned how helpful it was to have access to the wardrobe since it would have been stressful trying to find something she liked with a newborn in tow. I pulled a few options for her daughter, and set them aside for when she arrived. I got started with Brannon and Sydney enjoyed relaxing on the couch.

Brannon was a a big boy, and very sleepy with a head of brown hair. He also had the most delicious cheeks! Because he was such a good sleeper, we got through his solo portraits very quickly and he didn’t wake up durig that portion. Sydney changed his diaper and fed him when I was done, and it was perfect timing as the rest of the family arrived right then.

Sydney showed her daughter the dresses we had pulled, and they settled on one. Once they were dressed had told me she wasn’t sure how she was going to be for the session and that she was crossing her fingers that she would “cooperate”. Expecting a two year old to sit perfectly still is pretty unrealistic. The best thing you can do is just stay back and give them space to do things on their terms. Telling your older child to “say cheese” or becoming noticeably irritated with them will pressure on them and almost always backfires. When we approach the session as fun and play some games, it’s WAY more enjoyable for everyone involved. I know the feeling of wanting everything to go perfectly when you’ve invested so much time into planning your session. I have three kids of my own and am armed with a lot of patience and professional experience. While we may not be able to get the image that you envisioned in your head of your toddler sweetly cradling their baby brother or sister (safety first!) we will still get beautiful and organic images that capture their special relationship.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from this family’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 | Srividya & Raghu, a studio maternity session

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Charlie & Annie, identical twin girls!

Alana called the studio to see if we had any availability for her twin girls to come in for a newborn session. We sent her the information and then didn’t hear back for a while…. until a week before the twins’ due date when she was on hospital bed rest. Things had gotten a little crazy, so she had simply forgotten to get back in touch to confirm her session with us. Fortunately, we still had availability and were able to schedule a session based on her nearing induction date.

I typically have a few sets of twins every year and I love it! As a note, twin sessions CAN take a bit longer than a single newborn, but that's not always the case. It really just entirely depends on the set of twins. I knew that even though these two girls were identical, there was a 1 pound difference between the two. The biggest visual difference was in their head size as you’ll see in the images shared! We also chose different colors for each of the girls as well to further eliminate any potential confusion on which was which, especially for the up close and individual images.

When she booked, Alana asked to work with our HMUA team and added on hair and makeup services. She also borrowed a dress from the studio wardrobe, because hello... nobody has time to try and go find something to wear with one baby, let alone two!

While Alana was in the hair and makeup chair with Brielle, I was photographing the girls. I don't use an assistant for twin sessions, but I do often use dad's help. Dad was absolutely amazing in bringing me each baby as I photographed them individually and then together and we laughed about how Annie was being a bit finicky about where she wanted to be positioned and how. Photographing twins together is either really easy or really challenging - in this case, it was more on the challenge side because Charlie was not having it. She didn’t like being next to her sister at that moment, and kept trying to break free, which was disturbing Annie. So, I asked dad to take Charlie so I could focus on Annie’s solo images. When I finished up with Annie, Charlie was sound asleep and Annie was still sleeping, so I was then able to get the images of the two of them together! After those, I handed Annie to dad, and finished up with Charlie’s solo images.

Once I was finished with the twins, we moved on to sibling photos. Big brother was SUCH a sweetheart and such an amazing kid! For a three year old, he listened incredibly well and was gentle and patient. Dad still stood right next to him just out of the camera frame ready to swoop in if needed. After the sibling images, we moved into family and parents and it was a pretty smooth session conclusion as both babies slept like rocks.

I loved working with this sweet family, and can’t wait to see them at our annual Santa event and see how big they have gotten! As a note, our Santa event sold out within a few hours, but you can still get on the wait list in case a spot opens up.

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 | Rylan is ONE!

Sindi emailed me to set up a First Birthday portrait session for her younger daughter. I had last seen Rylan for her sitting milestone session, and you can see those images by clicking here. It has been so much fun getting to know her parents over the past few years since I started photographing them when they were expecting their first child, Rylan’s big sister!

Since Rylan’s last session had doubled as a family session too, Sindi opted to keep the focus totally on Rylan for this one. You’ll notice that a cake smash didn’t take place during this session! First Birthday sessions can incorporate a cake (or an alternative like donuts if that’s more your style!) or just be focused on your baby. There is no right or wrong way to plan it - it is whatever your preference is!

Sindi had bought along some of the most ADORABLE outfits for Rylan. The first striped seersucker dress was from a local store, and the second Spanish styled lace top with a denim flounce skirt was from Amazon, of all places! Amazon is actually such a great resource to shop for special outfits. In all honesty, the fabric quality of some items on Amazon is not that great, but they photograph beautifully. So if you only care about how an outfits looks in a photograph and not the durability over time, definitely consider browsing Amazon for your baby’s First Birthday outfit!

Rylan was such a sweet and happy baby and made the funniest expressions! Sindi and I kept laughing throughout the session at over how ridiculously cute she was. I used a variety of things in the studio to show off her pulling up skills. Since Rylan was not walking yet, I focused on her pulling up and crawling. Only about half of my one year old clients are walking at the First Birthday session, so don’t worry if your baby is not there yet! The point of a First Birthday session is to capture your baby exactly as they were at that milestone and document the skills that they do have. Crawling photos are just as cute as walking ones - and I promise that you will badly miss the days when they scurried towards you on the floor.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from Rylan’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 | Priyanka is six months!

I’ve worked with this family since their first child was born. They booked the Birth Session the DAY before he was born, and I literally met them for the first time when I showed up to the hospital. Over the past few years, I’ve enjoyed getting to know them and it’s always so much fun to have them in my studio!

I had last seen Priyanka at her newborn session, and was so looking forward to photographing her for her six month milestone session. You can see her newborn session images by clicking here. It’s always fascinating to see how babies have changed since their infancy, and to see whether or not they’ve retained their features. Priyanka definitely had, and she was such a joyful and bubbly little girl with lots of love for her big brother and parents. I loved all of her adorable expressions and her beautiful brown eyes.

Michelle had brought along an armful of clothes for me to look through. I had also pulled a few of my studio pieces for Michelle. When I work with clients for a long time, I get to know their tastes and preferences and I know what will work for their body type and skin tone. I was pretty sure that she would fall in love with one particular dress that I had just added, and I was right - she gasped when she saw it and it was the winner out of the few I had pulled aside. Once we had confirmed what Michelle would be wearing, I pulled from the options she’d brought for Priyanka & Henry and selected the best shirt for her husband Kaylan. TONS of my clients do this -so don’t be afraid to bring along multiple options if you’re not 100% sure on what to wear! We do send a helpful style guide over before the session, and we are here to assist however we can. If you’d like to email photos of what you’re considering, or set up a time to come by the studio in advance of your session for me to see the pieces in person we will gladly accommodate that. We want your experience with us to be fun and as stress free as possible, so please don’t hesitate to ask for anything you might need while we’re planning your session.

Since Priyanka was such a friendly little girl, I started with solo photographs of just her, and we added big brother Henry in as well. Toddlers are often short on patience, so it’s always my goal to get those images with them included done as early as possible in the session and to give them breaks as needed. I also love to snap a few photographs of just your toddler with you as well - just because they’re not the current baby of the family anymore, they will always be your very first baby. We moved into the family and parent images and had so much fun. A few more solo portraits of Priyanka, and then she started getting tired, which is normal. It’s actually NOT a bad thing because it allows me to photograph real moments of true snuggles with your baby. If your baby sucks their thumb or twirls your hair when they’re getting sleepy, I make sure to photograph those little details as well. I want you to have photographs to look back on that capture exactly who your baby was at that point in their life. After all, that’s the entire point of a milestone session!

Enjoy some of my favorites from Priyanka’s six month session! I can’t wait to see this sweet family again in December for our Santa Event (sold out, but you get on the waiting list!) and to celebrate her upcoming First Birthday 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 Winnie

Let’s say….. you booked a session with a photographer for your newborn session months in advance of your baby’s arrival and you were looking forward to it. Let’s say you also kept in touch with the photographer throughout your pregnancy to keep them updated on how things were going. Let’s say your baby arrived later than expected (since most babies don’t tend to arrive on their “due” date). Let’s say when you contacted the photographer to let them know after months of keeping in touch, they let you know that they’d be unable to photograph your session after all, because they were on an extended vacation with their family.

::silence::

(That. Actually. Happened.)

When this sweet mama called our studio and explained her situation and what had happened, we immediately looked through our schedule to find a date and time that might work for them. Fortunately, we had ONE day open that week and they were able to make it work for their schedule as well!

Note: we take vacations too, but we are able to fit our schedule newborn clients in to the 8-21 day window that we have even if they’re born right before we leave or during our vacation. If we did have a vacation scheduled for longer than a week during a particular month, our clients would be made aware of this when requesting to book.

On the day of their newborn session, they arrived at the studio with baby Winnie. She was just the cutest little thing with some of the best hair ever. I love when newborns have hair that has a mind of its own. It’s a feature that you will remember with fondness in the future, and you’ll laugh when you talk about it. I never try to brush a baby’s hair down, because I want to photograph them as they naturally are to preserve them that way for you forever. Her parents loved her hair just as much as I did and asked that I keep her gallery very simple with no tiebacks used and mostly white with hints of blush pink. I love keeping the focus entirely on babies, and we typically only photograph with neutrals anyway - so that was not a problem. I always ask mamas for their preferences when it comes to whether they want headbands to be used. Some don’t want them at all, and some want a mix. The headbands I select for your baby are small and dainty, and proportionate to their head size. I am not a fan of Texas sized flowers around here!

Winnie slept like a rock during the solo portion of her session, and we were finished pretty quickly as a result. Her mama had brought a bow swaddle from the Beaufort Bonnet Company, so we incorporated it into the session as well. Fair warning: mamas tie the bows on these in my studio on the rare occasion that one is brought along. It’s harder than you would think to make these look good and stay that way!

Lots of people ask - “How long does a newborn session take?” I WISH that I could give an exact answer, but the truth is: it depends on your baby. If your baby is fussy or awake, we have to work around their needs. I can absolutely work with awake babies who are calm: but not awake babies who are angry or upset. So if your baby is having a rough time of it, it will take a little longer. Come prepared to hang out for a bit - up to 4 hours. The average session is 2.5-3, but if you plan for 4 and make sure you don’t have anywhere you need to be, you will be much happier. The studio is relaxing with comfy couches to sit on, and snacks. We are actually moving in a couple of weeks to a new and larger studio over in Poncey-Highlands very close to Ponce City Market, and there will also be coffee available for clients as well as internet access provided by Google Fiber if anyone needs to get some work done while not being photographed.

When I was finished with solo portraits, Winnie needed a diaper change and something to eat , so her parents tended to her while I set up for the parent and family portion. Once she was content again, we got started! The parent and family portion is easy and I’ll walk you through the entire process and explain exactly what I need as we go through. The safety and comfort of your baby is my #1 priority, so I over communicate when your baby is being moved from person to person. Basically, I don’t let go of your baby when handing them to you until we’ve made eye contact and you’ve verbally confirmed to me that you have them. And even then, I release my grip on your little one very slowly. ;) During this portion of the session, all you need to do is love and admire your baby. I’ll make sure you’re standing where you need to be in terms of light placement, and I’ll adjust anything necessary. Sometimes I’ll fix a twisted engagement ring, tuck a piece of hair, tuck in an errant clothing tag, or move a client’s head or hand ever so slightly. Whatever it takes to produce the most beautiful images! I truly love what I do and have years of experience doing it. It’s such an honor when a new family chooses me to document some of the most precious moments in their lives.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Winnie’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 | Melanie in the studio

Melanie contacted the studio to schedule a maternity session in the studio. She wanted to document her pregnancy and knew she just wanted a few images so she could show them to her baby someday and remember what she looked like pregnant.

While chatting on the phone with Caroline, Melanie was excited to hear that we have a studio wardrobe available for our clients to use, but said she wasn’t so sure we would have anything for her. Melanie went on to explain that she was quite petite, but Caroline quickly reassured her that we’ve had clients as short as 4’10” and that they have all found something that fit them perfectly and that they loved. After sending her everything she needed to book her session, Caroline scheduled a maternity fitting for her as well.

When Melanie came in a couple of weeks before her session date for maternity fitting, we talked about what she was hoping for in terms of a dress. She let me know that she wanted something that would show off her belly. If you’re not a person that is interested in that for your maternity pictures, don’t worry - we have plenty of dresses that don’t bare the bump! After looking through all of her options, she settled on a gorgeous pinkish beige dress that draped beautifully. As a note, all of our split front options can be worn closed too! We also chatted about what her husband could wear that would complement her dress choice and also stay true to his own style preferences and personality.

The day of her session, she arrived at the studio with her husband all ready to go. While she got dressed, I chatted with him and got to know him a bit. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t LOVE having his photo taken, but when I let him know that the session would be a snap and I’d show him exactly what to do the whole time, he was good to go. I think it’s completely normal to be a bit nervous going into a session. You’ve invested a lot of time into all the planning, and the last thing you want is to stand there awkwardly hoping that the way you’re standing looks good. Clients in my studio never have to deal with this because I literally guide them through the entire process. In the beginning, there’s a lot more direction and mid way through when my clients have relaxed, they start interacting naturally all on their own. From that point, I just make sure to watch out for things like a bra strap peeking out, stray hairs, etc. and slightly adjust bodies if needed for the most flattering positions. It’s EASY, I promise!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Melanie’s studio 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 | Sven is ONE!

I first photographed Sven when he was just a not so tiny newborn. You can see his adorable newborn session images by clicking here. It’s amazing how much he still looks the same!

When his mom, Angela, contacted the studio to ask to schedule a First Birthday session she let us know that this wouldn’t be the typical session with parents. Both sets of grandparents were going to be in town, and Angela wanted to schedule the session for when they were there as a gift to them to thank them and honor them. I was ALL for this and absolutely loved it.

I was so fortunate to have two wonderful sets of grandparents who were both heavily involved in my life, and I still have one set here with me today that I remain incredibly close to. The images with my grandparents are something that I cherish and show to my own children. To be able to facilitate in giving that gift to another family is amazing and such an honor for me!

Angela also asked to treat Sven’s grandmother’s to makeup services, so we set that up with Ellis who traveled to their home before they came to the studio. We sent along our style guide to Angela so she could coordinate with everyone on what to wear. When the group walked into my studio, I told Angela she’d nailed it and it was the perfect mix of colors, patterns, and texture while also keeping it true to everyone’s unique personalities and style preferences. Sven was a little bit stoic when he first arrived, but this is normal for his personality. I love serious images of babies just as much as I love happy ones. It shows a range of their expressions and a look into their personality that you wouldn’t get if every photo looked exactly the same.

We rotated through grandparent pairings and groupings and it was just SO cute to see Sven interacting with his grandparents. He is one very loved little boy! Once we were finished with all of the grandparent images, we moved on to Sven’s solo portraits.

By this point, Sven was comfortable with me and was starting to interact and smile. He made some of the CUTEST little faces and showed off his adorable dimples. I love watching how babies will arrange themselves when they sit in a chair, and Sven immediately went into the perfect little cross legged pose all on his own. Then he started grabbing his little toes… and well, if you know me, you know I don’t think there’s anything much cuter than a baby playing with their toes. Sven wasn’t walking alone just yet, but I enlisted one of his grandmas to come and give him a helping hand.

We then moved to the cake smash portion. This part is completely optional for clients, but it’s a lot of fun! Angela had brought a cute little cake from Publix which was simple and had fun sprinkles. As soon as Angela placed the smash cake in front of him, he dug right in and showed us a little glimpse of his two bottom teeth. I think he was pretty happy about it, don’t you?

I can’t wait to see this little guy again at our upcoming Santa event in December and see him running around. As a note, our Santa event is sold out, but you can still get on the wait list!

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 Carter

I first worked with Sara & Jay for a maternity and newborn session when they were expecting their first baby. You can see their maternity session images by clicking here, and big brother Ander’s newborn session by clicking here. When Sara emailed me a few months before her due date to let me know that they were expecting baby #2, I was SO excited for their family! Lots had changed for their family since the birth of their first baby: new jobs for both, and a move to a new house. Sara knew she wanted to add on hair and makeup services for her newborn session since she had loved having that service for her two previous sessions.

When Carter was born, Sara emailed me to let me know. Carter had been born a bit early at 35.5 weeks and would be spending some time in the NICU for his lungs to develop. Since he was on the smaller side at birth, so I suggested waiting until he was around 3 weeks old to give them a chance to get settled in at home after NICU discharge and for Carter to have a chance to fill out a bit. Sara was in complete agreement with my suggestion, so we set the date to be when he was just over 3 weeks old.

Sara and Carter arrived at the studio first that morning. I always have dads bring big siblings later on since there’s no need for them to be there in the beginning. I will be photographing your newborn alone for their solo portraits, and you’ll just be sitting and waiting. In Sara’s case, she was doing her sitting and waiting in the hair and makeup chair, and Ander & Jay were at home until it was time to join us.

Ander was a sleepy little thing, and quite easy to work with as a result. We flew through the newborn portion of the session, and the timing worked out perfectly since he needed a diaper change and a feeding when I was done. Sara attended to his feeding while in the makeup chair, while we discussed what she would wear. When I have worked with clients in the past, I often know exactly what will work for their skin tone and body shape without even having to see it on them. I knew that a gorgeous blush pink lace dress would work for her perfectly, and when I pulled it off the rack for her to look at, she fell in love with it. Even though it’s a lace dress, it’s understated and not “frilly”. She let me know that big brother Ander would be wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, and that she had also opted to have her husband in a short sleeved casual button down. With that in mind, I suggested we dress Carter in one of our studio onesies for the family images since it would look better with the outfits than having him wrapped in a blanket. I’m a fan of onesies for a more casual approach, and honestly… what’s more classic and timeless than a white onesie?! Holding and moving your baby is also much easier when we don't have a blanket to contend with. I leave the choice up to mom and dad and we’ll work with whatever your preference is.

Jay and Ander arrived, and we immediately got started with family images. Three year old boys are a wild card (trust me, I know this because I have one myself) and I always work as quickly as I can while I still have their attention and cooperation. Jay and Sara were great with rolling with whatever Ander was willing to give us in the moment and I photographed him whenever he was willing to be in the images. When he wanted a break, I simply switched to photographing Carter with just his parents. Photographing toddlers and young children is not for the faint of heart and requires flexibility, quick thinking, and patience. I have an abundance of all of those, so you’re in good hands! ;)

Enjoy some of my favorites from Carter’s session! I really loved working with this family again, and I can’t wait to see them and how big the boys have gotten when they visit the studio again for our upcoming Santa event in December!!! (We are sold out, but you can still get on our waiting list)

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 | Alina is eight months!

Tina contacted us to schedule a family session centered around celebrating her daughter, Alina’s, sitting milestone. She looked through our website and loved the garden setting, so we set a date for their session the next month. The gardens are typically only available on weeknights, so if you’re hoping for this location for your session, you’ll need to plan to be available on a weeknight evening.

Tina also asked to add on hair and makeup services, and we sent over our style guide to her to look over. Our style guide isn’t intimidating at all! It’s a short and sweet read, and it really helps our clients understand how to mix and match wardrobe pieces for all session participants to have a cohesive look. If you want more assistance, we are more than happy to look at iPhone snaps of whatever combos you’re considering, or we can have you stop by the studio for an in person style consult. You simply bring all the clothes you’re thinking of with you, and come by to spend 20-30 minutes with me. I love meeting my clients in advance of their sessions, or getting a chance to catch up with clients who have worked with me before!

The evening of the session, I met the Tina, Danny, and Alina at the gardens. It was a beautiful evening and the temperature was perfect for June! Tina had been worried the week before that it would rain on the day of our session. We reassured her that it was too early to make a weather prediction and that we would watch the weather closely and reschedule to a different time if it was a problem. Atlanta can be unpredictable when it comes to weather during the summer, so we often will make the call the day before or day of and then reschedule for a future date that works for us both. We also give our clients the option to move into the studio for a studio session if they don’t want to (or can’t) reschedule for another day in the future.

Alina was a curious and happy baby. I loved the dress Tina had chosen to wear, and the outfits she had brought for Alina were adorable. We started with family images to get Alina comfortable and used to the sound of the camera. I am very respectful of little ones and approach them slowly and quietly until they have indicated that they’re ok with me and feel safe. The best way for a baby to feel safe is in the arms of their parents - so that’s why I always start with that! Tina and Danny absolutely love their little girl, and they did such a great job snuggling her and following my verbal prompts for interaction with her.

After the family images, Alina was completely comfortable with me, so I moved into her solo portraits. Because she was sitting up by herself perfectly with no wobbling, I knew it was safe to have her sit on the stone pathway. After a few shots from there, Tina changed her into a second outfit, and I pulled out the sweet little quilt I had brought along.

At first, Tina and Danny were calling to Alina from behind me and trying to help. I always ask parents to stand off to the side and not to call to their child or wave like a windmill being my back. There’s a couple of reasons for this request. Firstly: your child knows and loves you. They’re going to look right at you, and not at my camera, and it will make getting those gorgeous images with eye contact to the camera very difficult, if not impossible. Secondly, your child is in a new place with a new person, and will easily become overstimulated. Overstimulated babies and children tend to do one of two things: (a) decide they’re done with it all and withdraw (b) feed off of all the energy and become super excited to the point where they are too busy running/rolling/wiggling to want to interact with me. That being said, if I feel that a little one would do better with a parent behind me after I’ve assessed how they’re doing, I will absolutely ask for some assistance. As soon as I explained this to them, they immediately stood off to the side and watched quietly, and voila: Alina decided she was interested in looking at me. I encouraged her to play with her feet by tickling her toes and putting her foot in one of her hands. I really love when babies grab their feet because it’s such a unique part of that particular stage in their life… and it’s just about the cutest thing ever!

After I finished up with solo images, I rounded up the family for a few more family shots, and then we were all finished. Both Tina and Danny mentioned how much fun the whole experience had been and that they had enjoyed themselves so much. I’m always happy to hear this from my clients, because I work hard to ensure that your time with me is fun and relaxing - not stressful. I know how much work and time you’ve put into your session on your end, so when you arrive, let me handle the rest. Even if you’re concerned that your little one isn’t “cooperating”, let me assure you that they are. All you need to do is follow my guided prompts and love each other, I promise.

Enjoy some of my favorites from Alina’s milestone/family session!

Do you want to capture your baby just as they are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their car for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your vision, your goals for your session, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your needs!

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 | Cirleen & Donnie in the studio

Cirleen contacted us to schedule a maternity session at the very last minute. She hadn’t planned to have maternity photos taken, but friends convinced her that she should and would regret not having them. After speaking with Caroline, our studio manager, she decided on the studio as her location. Caroline scheduled a maternity fitting for her a couple of days out and also scheduled her to work with Margaret for add on hair and makeup services. Cirleen had her own eyelash extensions already in place, so Margaret did not work on her lashes.

When Cirleen arrived at the studio, I was immediately struck with how tall she was! I am six feet tall, so when I meet other women who are taller like I am, I immediately notice their height. :) We spent some time chatting about her preferences, and started going through the wardrobe together. Cirleen had been concerned we wouldn’t have anything she’d like but she found herself with an armful of dresses that she loved. She left armed with photos of her options and emailed a couple of days later with her final choices after getting her husband’s input.

On the day of her session session, Cirleen arrived and I was absolutely in love with the updo that Margaret had created for her! Donnie arrived with some clothing options that I went through and I chose the best complement to what Cirleen had chosen and he went to get dressed and then came back. While Cirleen was getting dressed, I spent time chatting with Donnie and getting to know a bit about him since this was our first time meeting. He was a fun guy to talk to, and I could see how much he loved his wife.

Once Cirleen was ready, she came out in her first dress, which was a strapless split front ivory gown with a sweetheart neckline. We have a few split front gowns in our wardrobe that can be worn both open or closed. Cirleen wanted to wear hers open for some images, and this is completely up to each individual client. If you have some stretch marks or a belly button ring piercing hole that you’re worried about, we can absolutely make those go away in post processing (if that’s what you want!) so don’t let that be the reason you skip baring the belly. If you’re just not a belly baring kind of gal, no worries at all!

I could tell Cirleen was a bit nervous as we got started. She had previously mentioned during her fitting that I’d most likely have to tell her what to do since she didn’t know how to go about a maternity session. If this is a concern for you also, please don’t worry - I expect this! Unless you’re a professional maternity model, why would you know anything about how to stand or where to place your hands? It’s my job to get you comfortable and help you relax and have a good time. I’ll make sure there’s no lipstick on your teeth, ensure your hair isn’t out of place, and that you’re not accidentally self inflicting a double chin.

I always start off my sessions pretty slowly to get my clients comfortable in front of the camera and to get a grasp for the “rules”. I explain everything as we go along, so you will never be wondering what to do next. Once we’re on a roll, then I add in dads.

The vast majority of my clients talk about about how they really appreciate the love and connection they see between expectant couples on my website and then say, “But my husband would never do that… he’s just not that romantic.”

Guess what? They still ended up with those kinds of images! My “secret” is to save those super close and personal images for the end, when you’re both relaxed and comfortable and have almost forgotten that I’m there. Nothing is forced or contrived between my couples. I simply position two people in love (ie: the two of you!) close to each other and gently give verbal prompts that lead to unique and natural interaction. Voila. That’s when the magic happens - and my clients are just as much a part of creating that as I am! The looks that you see exchanged between couples in my images aren’t faked, they’re very real. I love being able to give that to my clients.

Can I just say how much fun I had with these two during their time with me? I really enjoyed getting to know Cirleen & Donnie, and loved their sense of humor and personalities. Enjoy some of my favorites from this wonderful couple’s maternity session! I’m looking forward to seeing them again in the future and meeting their little boy!

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | LaMiya is ONE!

Bernadette contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, LaMiya with her older son included as well. She was really excited because it would be the first time that her children would be professionally photographed. We sent Bernadette our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet.

The day of their session, when the family arrived I introduced myself to everyone and was taken with how cute LaMiya was! Bernadette pulled out the cutest little outfit that she had bought for LaMiya from an Etsy boutique and outfit options that she had brought for LaMont to wear. I went through them and pulled the best choice for LaMont that worked well with LaMiya’s romper and headpiece.

Lots of my client mamas source Etsy for one of a kind pieces, but please be aware you’ll usually need to order several weeks in advance and sometimes the sizing can be off! If time is scarce, Amazon has been a surprisingly great source for some of the cutest First Birthday outfits I’ve seen come into the studio. Bernadette asked if she could take a a look at our studio tutus as well and we put together a second outfit from the studio wardrobe with a grey camisole and cream/tan/grey ombre tutu. My studio wardrobe for little ones is limited as I’ve found that most mamas prefer to dress their little one, but we can dress many of our clients in a pinch with what we have!

Bernadette brought along a dainty pink rosette cake with buttercream icing for LaMiya. If you choose to include a cake in your baby’s First Birthday session (nope, it isn’t required!) we have a list of resources for you in the Atlanta area if you don’t want to make it yourself! Our recommended baker is super talented and can accommodate egg and diary food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She does NOT create sugar free cakes though, so be aware of that! She can also drop the cake off at the studio before your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about on the day of. Using our recommended baker’s services is not required! It doesn’t matter where the cake comes from - we will walk you through what to choose for icing texture and colors, etc, if you plan to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session!

LaMiya was friendly and curious, so we started the session with just her and big brother LaMont. She had started walking at a very young age, so I made sure to photograph her doing that during the course of her solo portraits. I have found that about half of my one year olds are not walking by their First Birthday. If your baby isn’t walking, don’t worry - there are so many other things that they ARE doing that we will photograph! After we finished with LaMiya’s solo images, I took a few of LaMont also at Bernadette’s request. He was such a giggly and fun little boy, and reminded me a lot of my own son!

I brought out the studio’s antique high chair and photographed LaMiya playing with some of our studio toys in it. It helps babies get used to sitting in it, and if we find that they hate it, we can move to plan B for the cake smash. Not every baby enjoys sitting in a high chair, and we’ll work around their preferences so that they are comfortable!

We removed the tutu right before bringing the cake out as our studio tutus are not used during cake smashes due to it being impossible to get icing out of them. (I speak from experience! ) Bernadette presented her with her birthday cake with help from big brother LaMont. I LOVE when big siblings are in attendance for First Birthday sessions and “help” their little brother or sister because it makes for some of the cutest images! Sometimes a baby is suspicious of the cake but when they see that their big brother or sister is all about it, they throw their caution to the wind and jump right in!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this sweet 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Natalie

I first worked with Bethany and John for their maternity session at the park location. You can view those images by clicking here. I had such a great time with them and their two pups during their maternity session, and was so looking forward to seeing them again when they welcomed their daughter!

That day finally came when I got the email from them announcing that their baby girl, Natalie, had arrived! Bethany knew she wanted to add on hair and makeup services again, and we scheduled their session for a couple weeks out.

The morning of their session, the new family of three arrived. I really love getting that first glimpse of their little face in their carseat and seeing which features they have from each parent. Little Natalie definitely favored her daddy in many ways, but I could see Bethany in her too. It’s amazing how fast babies change, though. When my first daughter was born EVERYONE made a point to let me know that she looked just like her dad. By the time she was six months old, that wasn’t the case anymore. She’s seven now, and she’s pretty much my twin (minus the hair color) - especially when you compare photos of us at the same age. It’s so much fun to see how they develop and change over time.

Bethany settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, our lead HMUA, and I got started with Natalie’s solo portraits. I keep my colors very neutral and simple and generally use ivory whites, creams, blushes, and some beiges depending on which look best with each individual baby that comes my way. I want the focus to be on your baby and their sweet features, not on a busy or loud backdrop. Some of my wraps and tiebacks have texture to add visual interest and layers, but my photography style is very clean, simple, and authentic to my subjects.

Natalie was a good sleeper for me, and I was able to move her around and wrap her pretty easily. Some babies are not, and I modify my wraps and how I place them to their preferences. No two newborns look the same because every baby is unique in their preferences and touch sensitivity. I absolutely will not force a baby into a position that they don’t want to be in, and have years of experience in knowing when a baby can be coaxed or when we should move on to the next thing. I always like to photograph the little baby details as well, such as toes, hands, eyelashes, noses, etc with my macro lens. These macro shots are the perfect way to capture your baby’s sweet little details forever, so I always include them in the proof gallery. They’re often chosen as favorites: especially the toes!

When I was finished photographing Natalie, she was in need of a diaper change and a feeding break. John changed her diaper and then handed her to Bethany who nursed her while Margaret put the finishing touches on her hair. Once Natalie was done, I had the studio set up for the parent and family portion. Most of my new parents are a little bit nervous about what to do, but since Bethany and John had worked with me for their maternity session, they knew they didn’t need to be nervous. No matter what type of session, I guide my clients through the entire thing. I make slight adjustments, smooth hair flyaways, straight shirts, tuck in bra straps, and give easy to follow direction. AND we’ll have fun during the session too! ;) Newborn sessions are really just about loving your baby and admiring them… and parents of newborns are pretty much experts at that straight out of the gate. I’ll take care of the rest and make sure you’re photo ready!

After going through a mix of John and baby, Bethany and baby, and the whole family together, we were finished with the session. Bethany changed back into her clothes and I went over what to expect from me next in terms of when they’d see their proof gallery. We exchanged hugs goodbye, and they set off for home while I started the cleaning up of the studio. All studio pieces worn and used during a session are laundered afterwards, and the floors are swept. Our studio changing table is disinfected and the changing table cover and pad is changed out for a fresh one for each new client. All door handles and surfaces are also disinfected after each client just to be on the safe side. We take cleanliness seriously around here with the tiny little immune systems that come through our doors.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Natalie’s newborn session. I cannot wait to see her and her parents again in December when Natalie meets Santa for the first time as a six month old!

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 | Katharine, Howard & Henry on the mountain

I first worked with Katharine & Howard for their maternity session when they were expecting their son, Henry. I went on to photograph Henry’s newborn and First Birthday sessions. They’re some of my favorite clients because they’re so much fun! Howard is absolutely hilarious and keeps us all laughing constantly. When Katharine emailed us to let us know she was expecting her second baby (a girl!) and wanted to book a maternity and newborn session, I was so excited for them and to get to see them again. I absolutely love photographing growing families! I’ve been photographing for a while now, and I’m seeing a LOT of second and third babies for my existing clients this coming year, which is so special for me.

Katharine also asked to add on hair and makeup services for both sessions, and we scheduled a time for her and Howard to pop into the studio for a maternity fitting. When they came in, I showed her a pretty blue lace dress that I thought would look amazing on her, and she and Howard loved it. She also chose a purple dress with pretty bust detailing paired with a sheer white shawl for arm coverage and we discussed options for Howard and Henry based on her choices. Your partner is not required to attend the maternity fitting with you, but they’re certainly welcome to! I enjoy chatting with my clients and getting to know them during that time together, so if they’re able (and willing) to come, bring them along!

The evening of their spring session in April was sunny and pleasant. One of the best things about living in Atlanta because for the most part I can shoot year round outdoors . It’s not common to have days that are so cold you can’t be outdoors for a shoot . If that happens, it tends to be mostly in December-February. But, it’s the south after all….I’ve had sessions in January where it was 71 degrees while I was shooting here and it reached 75 on another day in December one year. You just never know!

Maternity sessions that involve families are full of fun and play so the big kids have fun too! I ask parents to check their expectations at the car, and to be ready to play games and follow gentle prompts for guided interaction. Trust me, I know how easy it is to become frustrated when you feel like your session isn’t going well. I know how much time and planning goes into the entire event. I have three kids of my own, so I really do get it. I have found that when my clients trust me and go with the flow, they are often pleasantly surprised by the resulting gallery even if they felt like the session was chaotic at times. If your children are full of energy and running around, that’s TOTALLY ok! Embrace it! Usually this also means they’re full of joy and their personality is shining through. We’re going to get images where that sheer happiness is clearly evident and their eyes are sparkling. All I I need is 1/1000th of a second to get those sweet and quiet moments…which might literally only last half a second before they’re running around again….but again, I don’t even need that long.

Henry enjoyed walking along with his parents and seeing all sorts of sticks and rocks. We spent some time at the base of the mountain, went into a forested area, and then we headed up to the top after Katharine changed into her second dress.

At the top, Henry had lost interest in participating, so I photographed just Katharine and added Howard in for some couples photos. Most of the time toddlers will see their parents working with me and it suddenly dawns on them that we are doing something WITHOUT THEM! :::indignant gasp::: In most cases, they suddenly appear with renewed interest in participating for a few minutes, and we’re able to photograph some sweet mommy and me moments and whole family moments too. I work around your child’s needs and mood, so we’ll get what we need at some point!

The mountain location is a favorite because kids have a lot of fun exploring, and the scenery is different than the norm. There are a few different areas to photograph in as we make our way up to the top. The constant moving and changing scenery keeps kids engaged and interested. It’s about a mile hike from our meeting place to the top. My own little boy hiked it successfully by himself with no assistance from me when he was twenty months old, and we’ve had several maternity clients get up there with no issues. So, physically, it’s on the easier side for families and pregnant women, but there is some physical effort involved. In the summer and fall months it can be extremely hot since the mountain is an all rock surface with nowhere for the heat to go. I share these facts with you so you can make the best decision on whether it’s the right location for you and your abilities.

I love photographing at the mountain location since it’s such a unique place. When’s the last time you climbed a mountain and watched the sunset or surveyed land for as far you can see in all directions? Been a while? Come do it with me in the near future, and you’ll have some gorgeous photos to show for it too! ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this sweet family’s gorgeous 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 | Kirin is TWO!

I first worked with Suleka & Jesse for their maternity session at the field location when they were expecting their son, Kirin and went on to photograph his newborn session as well. You can see their maternity images by clicking here, and Kirin’s newborn session by clicking here.

I was thrilled to hear from Suleka when she contacted the studio to schedule a session for Kirin’s second birthday. She wanted an outdoor session and loved the gardens location. Because she had worked with Megan, one of our HMUA’s for her previous sessions, she knew she wanted to add on hair and makeup services with her again. Suleka also let us know that both sets of grandparents would be participating in the session as well! I was so excited because I think the grandparent relationship is SO special and important. I was incredibly fortunate to have two absolutely wonderful sets of grandparents that were very involved in my life growing up. One set still remains, and I can’t imagine a life without them in it. So anytime a family wants grandparents to be involved in their family session, I am 200% on board. What an incredibly beautiful gift to give to your child!

We also sent over our style guide to Suleka to help her in coordinating her family’s wardrobe since there were so many of them and let her know we were happy to assist further if she needed to run anything by us. She found the style guide easy to read and super helpful when it came to coordinating everyone’s outfits and did a wonderful job all on her own! If you need more assistance than she did, we’re here to help!

The family drove all the way from Cumming into Atlanta for their session. We had a mostly overcast evening with really nice spring weather. Overcast days are awesome because the light is really soft, even, and diffused and it affords a lot of flexibility in which direction I can place my subjects. When we have a clear day with sunlight, that’s also gorgeous - but I don’t face my subjects towards the sun because I don’t want them to be blinded and squinting in every image.

Kirin spends lots of time with his grandparents, and is a very loved little boy. His face lights up whenever he’s with the people he loves, and it was such a fun session to photograph. He enjoyed walking around the gardens and exploring, and the session was pretty much “pass Kirin around to everyone” and group images. I work REALLY fast with toddlers of this age when we have a larger family group because I want to make sure we get those whole family images checked off the shot list before my youngest subject(s) lose interest! Then we let loose, we play, and we keep moving to keep them active and engaged. The entire session took about 30ish minutes, because that’s all Kirin was interested in giving us… but as you’ll see, it was more than enough time - and the adults actually loved that it wasn’t a long and drawn out session. When we said our goodbyes, I was the only one that left since everyone else opted to stay and keep exploring and playing!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family session! I can’t wait to see these guys next year!

Would you like to capture your family just as you are now before you blink and they’re not so little anymore? 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!

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