Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Alexander is seven months!!!

Katie contacted the studio to book a family/sitting milestone session in the studio for her son, Alexander. She had come to us for her first son’s newborn session, but COVID had hit right when her second son was born. Once she felt comfortable and things had settled down somewhat, she was ready to schedule!

MAKING YOUR LIFE EASIER WITH WARDROBE STYLING ASSISTANCE

After Katie picked an available date on our calendar, our studio manager sent her the session paperwork. Once it was remitted, Katie’s session was locked into the calendar! We sent our studio style guide for her to refer to when choosing what to dress the family in. My studio style guide clearly outlines the best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combos and is a short and sweet read. I know you’re a busy mama juggling all the things, so I keep everything concise and to the point! If you need more assistance with styling, I am happy to schedule an in person or virtual appointment!

In Katie’s case, she emailed and asked me for some extra help in sourcing outfits. I emailed her a few links of things to look at to get her pointed in the right direction, and she took it from there. H&M is what ended up being the winner for the outfit Katie bought for Alexander and it was PERFECT.

Once you are booked for a session with me, I am here to help you with styling if you need it! I am a mom of three kids, and believe me… I know all too well that the process of planning family photos can feel daunting. It doesn’t have to be that way! I am here to help take as much of that stress off of your shoulders as possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR MILESTONE SESSION

We will discuss your priorities for your baby’s milestone session before we get started. For milestone sessions, most clients want the focus to be on their baby, with family and parent images mixed in throughout. Young babies don’t have a super long attention span and tend to tire out quickly. There’s a lot of excitement and stimulation going on in a brand new environment! ALL my milestone sessions are efficient and guided by your baby’s mood and interest.

Most babies need some time to warm up to new people. This is why I almost always begin my milestone sessions with parents involved. Doing this ensures that your baby feels safe and secure in your arms. Once they start showing interest in me and no longer seem concerned, that’s when I start interacting with them and getting closer to them.

PRO TIP: If you arrive to my studio and your baby is not adjusting right away, don’t stress. I have an infinite supply of patience and empathy. We’ll work together to get them comfortable and adjusted! Come in ready to have fun and be open to trying some “weird” things (example: snorting like a pig) to get your baby’s giggles going, and it will all work out in the end!

My biggest priority in the studio is baby safety! Alexander was sitting solidly on his own, but quick to roll and crawl, so his parents were right outside of the frame when he was on the bed ready to come to the rescue if needed. If your baby isn’t sitting up alone for very long yet at their milestone session, no worries! There are SO many other adorable positions for your baby, and your gallery will still have plenty of variety.

THE SESSION

When the family arrived at the studio, Katie looked through what I had pulled from the studio wardrobe and chose a pink lace dress for herself to wear. She’d also brought an armful of options for her husband, Jason for me to pick from. Katie had opted not to come in beforehand because she knew I would have something for her just like at her newborn session with her first son, Jackson. Speaking of Jackson - it was a bit mind blowing to see him all grown up! I love watching clients grow over the years, and it never ceases to amaze me how MUCH and how fast children grow up.

After getting Jackson dressed, Katie changed Alexander into the perfect soft neutral outfit from H&M, and I chose the best look from Jason’s options that worked with the rest of the family’s outfits, and we got started!

Katie had requested that the gallery be mostly a mix of family/parent/sibling images with a few solo of Alexander, so I got started with the family images right away. Both boys were so happy and fun, and there was a lot of laughter and hilarity that ensued. Jackson couldn’t quite hold on to his wiggle worm brother for some brothers only images on the floor, and it was so funny watching Alexander continually escape from his grip. To be fair, Jackson has been taught to be very gentle with his baby brother, so holding on tightly was not something he felt ok with doing!

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Alexander’s sitting milestone session with his whole family! You’ll see in the gallery that I utilized lots of my studio furniture throughout where it made sense.

If you want to learn more a milestone session for your baby, we would love to chat with you about what we offer and answer any questions you may have! It is NEVER too early to get on the calendar - so even if your baby is only a few weeks old right now, NOW is actually a perfect time to connect. My weekend dates typically book up 3-6 months in advance, so plan ahead and connect with us to get more information!

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

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Lucy is six months!

In-home family and milestone sessions here in Atlanta are one of my favorite session types to shoot. Due to the ongoing pandemic they have been suspended until I am able to receive the COVID vaccine at the very earliest. Therefore, I am not going into great detail about what to expect during an in-home session in. Studio session and on location outdoor sessions are available to book, so if you’re interested in one of those please contact us to chat!

*All final session images are delivered in both color and black and white versions to clients. I am sharing the black and white versions of images from this six month milestone/family session. I’ll let the images speak for themselves rather than write a longer post about it today!

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 & Family Photographer | Charlie is six months!

I first worked with Laura for her maternity session in the park and then again for her daughter Charlie’s newborn session. You can view the images from their maternity session by clicking here, and the images from Charlie’s newborn session by clicking here.

Laura is one of our First Year Collection members (newborn sitting milestone, and First Birthday are included in this), so we reached out to her to schedule her daughter Charlie’s six month session well in advance (when Charlie was two months!). For babies whose milestone sessions will fall in our most popular months, we’ve been known to go ahead and reserve their milestone session dates in the calendar as soon as they’re born so they’re all set and locked in. First Year Collection members never have to worry about whether they’ll be able to get a preferred weekend date or about remembering to schedule their sessions, because we take care of it all for you! There are lots of other bonus perks for members, so if you want to document your baby’s entire first year, definitely ask about enrolling and if there is still room left! We limit the number of enrollees by birth month to ensure that all members are served well.

THE STYLING ASSISTANCE WE OFFER TO CLIENTS

The biggest stress factor with sessions for most of my clients is what the heck to wear! Laura has never had to worry about this because she utilizes our studio wardrobe for every session she does with us. She has a list of her favorite dresses from each session she’s had with us and already has a pretty good idea of what she’ll wear for her next one.

When it comes to dressing Charlie and her husband, she refers to our style guide and to our recommended stores to shop at for adorable and timeless baby clothing. We do have a limited baby wardrobe for those who want to borrow from that, but we’ve found that our mamas really enjoy shopping for their little ones and dressing them in something that has been purchased just for them. Our style guide concisely goes over the best practices for dressing your entire family and covers recommended color and pattern combos. If you want more hands on assistance with styling your family, you are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult at the studio or to send over quick phone photos of what you’re considering. Once you are booked for your session, I am here to help you in any way I can! I know from personal experience as a mom that the session planning process can feel overwhelming, and I want to take as much of that stress off of you as possible.

SIX MONTH MILESTONE SESSION FLOW

I will discuss your priorities for your baby’s milestone session with you in advance of your session and run you through what to expect. Milestone sessions typically focus on your baby, with family and parent images intermixed throughout. Six month olds do not have a long attention span and ten to tire out quickly with everything going on, so I keep my session flow very baby-led and efficient!

Six month old babies usually need some time to warm up when they’re getting used to being in a new place and to me. This is why I pretty much always begin milestone sessions with parent and family images unless your baby is the life of the party and completely unbothered. Your little one will feel safe and secure in your arms and I’ll be able to start the process of gaining their trust. Once they start willingly interacting with me, that’s when I will start getting closer in proximity to them. Charlie was a cheerful little lady and it didn’t take her long to warm up to me, so I started the session with images of just her on the bed. Once I had gotten those, I quickly moved into the parent and family portraits while Charlie was still grinning and having fun. Fun fact about this session: many of Charlie’s big smiles are the result of yours truly snorting like a pig which she found absolutely hilarious. Please, try snorting like a pig with your mask on and you will be amazed at the effort it takes - but it was all 100% worth it for the smiles!

Important: If you arrive to the studio for your session and your little one is having a hard time adjusting at first, there is no need to stress. I have limitless patience and empathy for your baby and how they are feeling. It’s such an interesting time for babies because due to the ongoingpandemic, they aren’t getting the exposure to the outside world and to strangers that they normally would. So, being in a new place with someone they’ve never met can be a bit of a shock. Sometimes this means that I put my camera down and sit quietly on the floor in their view until your baby settles and decides that everything is okay with this new lady. Regardless of how your baby reacts, I will meet them where they are at. My studio is a zero pressure and calm environment. We will work together as a collaborative team to get them comfortable and having fun! All I ask is that you come in ready to play with your baby and be willing to do some “unorthodox” things to get their giggles going, and it will all work out - I promise!

Your baby’s safety is my ultimate consideration during sessions with me. Charlie was still a bit wobbly when sitting up alone, so her dad was right outside of the frame ready to catch her if needed. If your baby isn’t quite sitting up unassisted at six months of age, that’s not a problem at all! I have SO many other positions for your baby and your gallery will still have lots of variety and tons of cuteness.

SHOULD MY BABY WEAR ONE OR TWO OUTFITS?

Laura had brought two ADORABLE outfits along for Charlie and asked if we could make both of them work. Having two outfits for your little one in a session is welcomed, but know that the second outfit might not happen. This ultimately depends on your baby and how they’re doing!

If you bring two outfits, we will start the session with baby dressed in your favorite one FIRST to ensure you have images of your baby in it! Some little ones simply hate being changed, and others tire out before we have a chance to change. Know that I will do my best to accommodate a second outfit within the session. If needed, we will utilize some of my successful distraction methods to minimize the protesting during changing and can also try a short bottle/nursing break in between for a “reset”.

Laura started Charlie in the most adorable peach colored romper, and changed her into white bloomers with a denim top for the second half of the session. I used a couple of our studio chairs, our chaise lounge, the floor, and her parent’s arms for the rest of her session. We had so much fun during this session, and it was wonderful to see Laura and David so confident in their role as Charlie’s parents. One of my favorite things is watching couples from the maternity session through the First Birthday and how they change as people and as a couple. It’s such a beautiful process to observe, and I’m so honored to be invited to witness it as a photographer!

Enjoy some of my favorite images from Charlie’s six month milestone session. I can’t wait to share images from her First Birthday.

If you’re interested in learning more about scheduling a milestone session for your baby or pregnant and interested in enrolling in our First Year Collection, we would love to talk with you! It is NEVER too early to reserve your session on the calendar - so even if your baby won’t be 6-8 months for a while, NOW is the best time to reach out for more the most date options to choose from. Our weekend dates routinely fill up 3+ months in advance, so go ahead and connect with us to chat!

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

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Audrey is three months!

Melinda contacted us to book a newborn session when she was in her second trimester and was SO excited for it…. and then the pandemic hit. We had quite a few “newborns” come in for sessions when they were much older due to the mandated shutdown, and their sessions are just as beautiful! 2020 was truly a year that stretched us all, forced me to think outside of the box, and that taught us that sometimes things end up being even better when they don’t happen quite as planned.

While wrapping them up into curly poses is often not possible as they pass the 4-6 week mark, we can still photograph your baby when they’re 2-3 months old! I want you to know that your baby does NOT have to be a newborn to capture this special time in your life as a new family.

If you hesitated to book a newborn session and are now regretting it, please reach out to see if we have availability to photograph your baby so you can always remember every little detail about them just as they are right now. When you call us, we’ll discuss all the professional AND personal COVID-safety precautions we’re taking to keep everyone safe.

SCHEDULING RECOMMENDATIONS

Don’t put off reserving your session once you know you want to book! We routinely fill our calendar several months in advance. Because of this, most of our clients reach out to schedule at least two months in advance of when they’re hoping to schedule their session. Our First Year Collection members have the added benefit of not having to remember to reach out to us because we handle that for them! If you’re pregnant and considering documenting your baby’s first year (newborn, sitting milestone, first birthday milestone), definitely ask us about becoming a First Year Collection member.

For those who are late to the game and reading this with a newborn or milestone already here, please be aware that we might have availability - but you’ll never know unless you ask! Contact us today if that’s you, and we may be able to fit you in on our schedule.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR MILESTONE SESSION

For a three month old milestone, we don’t have a lot of time (30ish minutes) before baby is all tuckered out due to how little they are. If it’s your first and only baby, your session will be focused on baby, baby with each parent, and the whole family together.

For Audrey’s session, it was a bit different! Since the whole family (big brother included!) was participating, I asked Melinda what her top priorities for images were. I wanted to be sure that the top wishes were taken at the beginning of my session flow. She also asked me to photograph Audrey’s little details as much as I could, and made sure that I knew Audrey’s red mark on her nose was a birthmark and not a scratch.

AUDREY’S SESSION DAY

Melinda had asked to add on hair and makeup to her session, so she arrived at the studio in advance of the rest of the family to be prepped. She chose a gorgeous blue dress from the studio wardrobe to wear, and absolutely loved the stress free experience of getting ready for her photos.

When the rest of the family arrived, they were all dressed and ready to go. We started with family and sibling images first, and I also took the opportunity photograph Audrey alone.

Audrey was a bright eyed and curious little girl. She stayed awake for a while and then started melting down, so I suggested that Melinda nurse her for a bit and we would see what happened. I had a pretty strong suspicion that Audrey would fall asleep, and I was praying I would be right.

I WAS RIGHT!

I knew that Melinda was still sad about not having true newborn images, and I REALLY wanted to be able to make some images happen for her that were very newborn like - but having Audrey sound asleep was the only way for that to happen! Audrey falling asleep allowed me the opportunity to photograph her peaceful sleeping countenance and gorgeous long eyelashes, as well as her little toes and her fingers wrapped around her mother’s. We were even able to get Audrey snuggled up on her parent’s shoulders, and capture the closeness and intimacy of their family. I was so happy that I was able to make this session happen for the family, and they LOVED their images. After reviewing her proof gallery, Melinda sent me this:

“The photos are fantastic!! You did a great job of capturing our family dynamics and personalities. You managed to give me some great newborn style photos, which is pretty amazing considering her age. And I love all of the smiling photos we were able to get.”

CONNECT WITH US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Are you expecting and interested in learning about working with our studio for your baby’s newborn or upcoming milestone session? We’d LOVE to speak with you about the client experience we offer and how we can serve your growing family. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone and chat!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Audrey’s newborn turned 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 Baby & Family Photographer | Alex is six months!

Stephanie contacted the studio to book a family/six month milestone session in the studio for her son, Alexander. She has two older children, but wanted this session to focus on just her son with some parent images as well. She first worked with us for Alexander’s newborn session and was excited to work with us again! You can view Alexander’s newborn session images by clicking here.

OUR STYLE GUIDE AND ASSISTANCE WE OFFER

After Stephanie chose a date from what we had available on our calendar, we sent over her session paperwork. Once it was remitted, she was locked into our calendar, and we sent over our style guide for her to look through, which she had seen before and was already familiar with - but it’s always good to have a refresher just in case! Our style guide succinctly outlines the best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combos. If you want more assistance with styling, you are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult at the studio or to send over quick phone photos of what you’re considering!

In Stephanie’s case, she requested to come to the studio and look through what we had available because she absolutely loves our studio wardrobe and the convienence of not needing to shop for herself beforehand. When she came in, she fell in love with one of our white lace overlay dresses. We discussed in detail what Alex and her husband should wear that would coordinate well with her dress choice.

Once you are booked for your session, I am here to help you in any way that I can! I know firsthand as a mom of three that planning a portrait session can feel overwhelming, and I want to take as much of that stress away as possible.

MILESTONE SESSION FLOW

I will discuss your priorities for your baby’s milestone session with you beforehand. The majority of my clients want the focus on their baby, with family and parent images mixed in throughout. Six month olds don’t have an extended attention span and will tire out quickly with all the stimulation of everything going on, so my sessions are efficient and guided by your baby’s flow.

Most six month olds need a little bit of time to warm up when they’re getting used to everything. This is why I almost always begin milestone sessions with parent and family images. Your baby will feel safe and secure in your arms, and once they start interacting with me, that’s when I will start getting closer. Alex was such a happy little guy and it didn’t take him long at all to warm up so I started the session with images of just him. Once I had gotten those, I quickly moved into the parent and family portraits while Alex was still grinning and having fun.

Important info: If you arrive to the studio and your baby is fussy or unhappy, please don’t stress. I have endless patience and empathy. We will work together and do whatever it takes to win them over. All I ask is that you come in ready to have fun and possibly try some “weird” things (example: growling like a tiger) to get the giggles going, and the rest will naturally work itself out!

Baby safety is the TOP priority in the studio. Alex was still a teensy bit wobbly when sitting up alone, so his dad was right outside of the frame ready to swoop in if needed. If your baby isn’t quite sitting up alone, that’s totally ok! I have SO many other positions for you to put your baby in and your gallery will still have plenty of variety.

OUTFIT CHANGE: YEA OR NAY?

Stephanie had brought two ADORABLE neutral outfits along for Alex. I think two outfits for your little one in a session is just fine, but with acceptance that the second outfit might not happen. Whether it happens ultimately depends on your baby!

If you bring two outfits for your baby, we will start the session with your favorite one FIRST. This ensures that you have images of your baby in that outfit! Some babies hate being changed, and others just get tired out before we have a chance to change - but I will do our best to accommodate a second outfit within the session. If needed, we will utilize some of my successful distraction methods to minimize the protesting during changing!

Stephanie changed Alex into the most adorable romper with suspenders, and we picked right back up with the session. I used a couple of our studio chairs, the floor, and his mama’s arms for the rest of his session.

Enjoy some of my favorite images from Alex’s milestone session. I can’t wait to share images from his First Birthday session coming up soon!

If you’re interested in learning more about scheduling a milestone session for your baby, we would love to chat with you! It is NEVER too early to get on the calendar - so even if your baby won’t be 6-8 months for a while, NOW is the perfect time to reach out. Our weekend dates routinely fill up 3+ months in advance, so go ahead and connect with us to talk more!

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

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Jacob is three months!

I first worked with this sweet family when their daughter Jovie came in for her six month milestone session! I was so excited to hear from Senhit again to let me know they’d welcomed a baby boy into their family and wanted to schedule a milestone session to include the family and both grandmothers.

SCHEDULING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR MILESTONE SESSION

Don’t put off reserving your milestone session! We routinely fill our calendar several months in advance. Because of this, most of our clients reach out to schedule at least two months in advance of when they’re hoping to schedule their session. Our First Year Collection members have the benefit of not having to worry about remembering to reach out to us since we handle it for them and call them to get everything set up and they also have weekend availability priority! If you’re pregnant and considering documenting your baby’s first year (newborn, sitting milestone, first birthday milestone), definitely ask us about becoming a First Year Collection member.

For those who are late to the game and reading this with a milestone already here, know that we might still have last minute availability - you’ll never know unless you ask! Contact us today if that’s you, and we may be able to fit you in on our schedule.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR MILESTONE SESSION

For a three month old milestone, we don’t have a lot of time (30ish minutes) before baby is all tuckered out due to how little they are. If it’s your first and only baby, your session will be focused on baby, baby with each parent, and the whole family together.

For Jacob’s session, it was a bit different! Since the whole family with big sister and grandmas were participating, I asked Senhit what her top priorities for images were. I wanted to be sure that the top wishes were scheduled to be taken right away in my session flow. In this family’s case, sibling images and grandma images took precedence, so we took care of those first.

JACOB’S SESSION DAY

When the family arrived, they were all dressed and ready to go. We started with sibling images first, and then moved to each grandma, wrapping up with family and parent images.

Jacob was the SWEETEST little guy. He was happy and curious, and very tolerant of his exuberant big sis. He stayed awake for a while and then started melting down, so Senhit took him to nurse while I used the opportunity to photograph Jovie alone and with her dad. I never “waste” time during sessions - if someone can be photographed (like a big sibling) and is in the mood, I’ll get them in front of the camera!

When Jacob finished nursing, Senhit informed me that he was sound asleep. This is actually pretty normal for three month olds during their sessions, and I RUN with it. It is NOT a bad thing!

There are few opportunities outside of a newborn session that I have the opportunity to photograph your baby’s peaceful sleeping countenance and gorgeous lashes. It’s not likely to happen at their six month session (and actually never has in my 9 years of business with that age!). Since Jacob was completely asleep, I had his mom and dad snuggle up for some “baby sandwich” images. I love the closeness and intimacy that the images convey, and I’m always looking for these moments throughout your session. Jacob woke up after about 10 minutes, and gave us a few more minutes before he was completely over it and let us know that he was ready for a real nap NOW.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Are you expecting and interested in learning about working with our studio for your baby’s newborn or upcoming milestone session? We’d LOVE to speak with you about the client experience we offer and how we can serve your growing family. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone and chat!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Jacob’s 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 Baby & Family Photographer | Sabastian & Penelope are SIX months!

Marc & Scott have been our clients since the birth of their fraternal twins last year! ! Documenting milestones is very important to these dads, so they were sure to book, newborn, six months, and one year sessions for their babies. We LOVE our “frequent flyers” and we have a First Year Collection with lots of perks available to those interested in making sure their baby’s first year is photographed. You can get in touch with the studio to learn more about the sessions we offer!

We have lots of experience working with twins, and we include the entire family in the session too. Our milestone sessions are NOT limited to just your little one(s), and we welcome and encourage parents and older siblings to participate too!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

When the twins were about four months old, their dads got in touch to ask about our COVID precautions and if we were still seeing clients. After we let them know all the protocols that our studio takes and that yes, we were still accepting clients, they were ready to book a date! We sent over some date options and once they had decided on one, we sent over everything they needed to secure their session. Everything is handled online and is a simple and streamlined process.

Once they remitted the electronic paperwork for the twins’ milestone session, we sent over our styling guide and resources for them to review. Even though they had already worked with us for their newborn session, we still send it over again to make sure they have it. Our style guide is a short and sweet e-mail that outlines the best practices for wardrobe selection, and helps our clients easily dress the whole family for their session in a cohesive way.

For clients who would like additional assistance with wardrobe selection, we’re available to help! Once you have booked your session, you can schedule a complimentary appointment at the studio and bring along your options, and I’ll assist you in putting it all together. We do this with your clothing and sometimes a mix of your clothing and studio clothing. For clients who cannot make an in person consult work for their schedule or would prefer virtual, they simply send over photos of what they’re considering via email and I respond with feedback and relevant suggestions.

Wardrobe assistance is just part of the comprehensive service experience that we offer to those who have chosen to work with us. We want your session experience to be as stress free and as easy as possible, because your portrait process should be enjoyable AND actually fun!

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SIX MONTH MILESTONE SESSIONS

Our sessions with any baby are photographed very efficiently, and some clients are surprised by how quickly I am able to shoot. There’s a really good reason why: and that is that most babies don’t give us much time! This is an added challenge with twins, since I need to photography both babies before they tire out.

Most babies under the age of one get tired out quickly from being overstimulated with all the action happening during their session. This means efficiency with my flow is essential in order to make the most of our time together. I block off an hour for non-newborn portrait sessions, but that’s just to ensure we have enough time if baby needs a diaper change or a feeding break. I work hard to get everything I need in the first 20-30 minutes of a session and then play the rest by ear depending on how your baby is doing. With twins, parents are a huge part of the team. We’ll switch out babies depending on how they’re each doing. One may need a break, and the other may be happy - only to switch places two minutes later! This is why I start with full family images first when we need BOTH to be happy at the same time.

Some babies will happily handle 45 minutes of total shooting time, but this is not the norm. Going for that long is often because of an intermission snack break after the initial 20-30 minutes of a session that gives them that last burst of energy! ;)

If they’re happy and doing well, we keep going. If they are OVER.IT. then we stop as long as I feel we have what we need. Don’t worry though - if your baby melts down at 15 minutes into the session and I don’t feel like I have enough for a great gallery, we’ll take some time to see if we can soothe them back to happiness again. Sometimes that means I put down my camera and play peek a boo, or they take a nursing/snuggle break, or we look out the window or in the mirror. The most important thing you can do to help is to remain calm (tone of voice, relaxed body, slow movement) no matter what. Doing this will help your baby feel safe and secure even when they’re unsettled or unsure.

HOW IT WENT

When the family arrived at the studio, everyone got dressed after I looked through the options they had brought with them. Even if you already know what you’re wearing, it’s best to change on arrival. Doing so eliminates the possibility of an outfit being unusable if a mishap with food/drink or spit up happens on the way to the studio. It also negates the risk of terribly wrinkled clothing from seatbelt straps for both kids AND parents!

I started with photographing just the twins together and separately, which was super quick since each dad handled a twin and then switched off as directed. Because we had already worked together for their newborn session, we were able to dive right into it since once you’ve worked with me for any type of session, you pretty much know the deal for all future ones in terms of how I work!

After finishing up with the twins on the bed, I moved right into entire family shots on the bed, moved the bed out of the way, and continued with standing and the floor for a variety - and the family pet even joined in for a few as well! :) Neither twin was shy, and they were happy and smiley.

Six month old babies are so much fun to photograph because their personalities are blossoming and they have the best expressions. Sabastian & Penelope gave me lots of grins and were generally very happy and interactive. Every baby is different when it comes to how much they smile during portrait sessions, as some little ones are naturally more reserved. Know that no matter what, I will be photographing your baby (or babies!) as they are right NOW at this moment in time.

the big question: SHOULD WE PLAN for ONE OUTFIT OR TWO?

For twin sessions, I recommend just one outfit for the entire session because of the fact that we are pulling double duty. Marc & Scott really wanted to try for two, so we started with the most important outfits first. I always discuss with parents what their desired “must have” images are in order of priority and go from there. For Marc & Scott, they definitely wanted family images in the more muted and casual outfit, so that’s what we started in. Starting with the most important outfits is an insurance policy just in case your babies won’t tolerate being changed into a second outfit and are done being photographed before you get a chance to change.

Fact: babies are unpredictable. Their moods can change like the wind. We just don’t know how long they’re going to give us going in or if they will tolerate being changed again well. You know your baby best, so you can be the judge of whether trying for a second outfit is a good idea, or if you’d rather play it safe with one outfit! :)

Once we had the twins changed, they didn’t last long! They took turns fussing, so I just photographed the non fussing one and then switched as needed. We wrapped up the session with a few of Marc & Scott’s first baby. ;)

Enjoy some of my favorite images from Sabastian & Penelope’s six month milestone session!

Remember that it is NEVER too early to get on the calendar for milestone sessions especially if you want a weekend date since those fill months in advance. If your baby is a newborn right now and you’re thinking about their First Birthday session, nope - you’re not crazy to contact us and get on the calendar almost a year in advance. Our First Year Collection members have scheduling priority and we take care of reaching out to schedule when it’s time to - one less thing to worry about in the whirlwind of your baby’s First Year.

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 & Family Photographer | Sara & her boys

Sara is a loooooong time multiple repeat client who was sent to me by another long term repeat client! I first worked with her when she was expecting her oldest son, and have proceeded to photograph her growing family over the past few years. One of my favorite parts of what I do is being able to develop long lasting relationships with my clients who return year after year for all their important moments. I deeply appreciate the trust families place in me when chosen to be their photographer and do not take it lightly.

WHAT TO WEAR: MY OWN CLOTHING OR THE STUDIO WARDROBE?

The choice is yours! We send all our clients a style guide and offer the use of our studio wardrobe, as well as my personal assistance in styling the family. We can set up an in person visit at the studio in advance of your session to go through our wardrobe options, and you can bring things along with you that you’re considering. I’ll go through all the choices with you and make suggestions after listening to your feedback and preferences. If you don’t have the time to come to the studio, or would simply prefer a virtual visit, we can do that as well. I’ve exchanged many an email with clients going over options!

In Sara’s case, she has worked with me so many times that she didn’t bother to schedule a studio visit or come in beforehand. She knew without a doubt that I’d have something she could wear even though she’s barely 5’1”. I’ve dressed mamas who are heights of 4’10” all the way up to 6’2” and have a wide range of options that can fit sizes 0-16 in our studio collection. When she arrived at the studio with her boys, I already had some neutral options pulled out that I knew would look great on her skin tone and that would fit her well. Sara looked through them, picked her favorite, tried it on, and boom - done.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR MOTHERHOOD SESSION

Motherhood sessions in the studio are centered around the relationship and loving bond that you have with your little one(s). You get to be their favorite person and break out the snuggles, tickles, and fun games. Sara is a long time repeat client! I first worked with her when she was expecting her oldest son, and have proceeded to photograph her growing family over the past few years. So many of our clients are long term repeats! One of my favorite parts of what I do is getting to develop long lasting relationships with my clients who return year after year for all their important moments.

If you have more than one child participating, we will be sure to have entire group photos as well as you with each child alone. There’s a big variety in galleries, and I have a tried and true workflow that is adjusted based on the personalities of your kids and how they’re responding to the session. All you’ll need to do is follow my directions for interaction with your children! I’ll also give you some tips on how to avoid the dreaded self inflicted double chin. ;)

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS SUPER HIGH ENERGY OR DOESN’T WANT TO COOPERATE?

There is something that I say to clients a lot around here and it’s this: “The more chaotic the session feels, the more amazing the end results are.” It’s the truth. Sometimes during a session, it can feel like your child is bouncing off the walls and that there is no possible way I’m getting anything from it. Let me reassure you with this fact: it takes 1/800th of a second for me to freeze a moment. All those little moments that happen so fast in between the craziness are where the magic happens and your gallery is created. We can often tone down the craziness too once they’ve gotten some energy out with some techniques that I use. Don’t worry, I promise that all you need to focus on is being in the moment with your little ones, and I’ll take care of the rest!

If you're considering a session for yourself and your children, I would LOVE for you to reach out to discuss your vision and we can get you taken care of.

Enjoy a handful of my favorites from this family session with Sara and her sweet boys!

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 & Family Photographer | David is six months!

Dana contacted the studio to book a family/six month milestone session in the studio with her husband and son, David. She had been sent to us by a colleague that has worked with us many times over the past couple of years. We love word of mouth referrals, and are so fortunate that so many of our clients are sent our way by these personal referrals from existing clients. All that being said, we love our new clients who find us on other avenues like Google searches and Instagram too! ;)

OUR STYLE GUIDE AND ASSISTANCE WE OFFER

After Dana chose a date from what we had available on our calendar, we sent over her session paperwork. Once it was remitted, she was locked into our calendar, and we sent over our style guide for her to look through. Our style guide is a helpful short and sweet .pdf that guides you through best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combinations. If you want more assistance with styling, you are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult at the studio or to send over quick phone photos of what you’re considering! Dana requested to come to the studio and look through what we had available. When she came in, she fell in love with one of our white lace dresses, and we discussed in detail what David and her husband could wear that would coordinate well. I am here to help in any way that I can! I know as a mom of three that planning a session can sometimes feel overwhelming, and I want to alleviate that as much as possible for you!

MILESTONE SESSION FLOW

We discuss your priorities for milestone sessions, and the majority of parents want the focus to be on their baby, with family and parent images mixed in. Little ones don’t have a long attention span and can tire out quickly with all the stimulation, so I work very efficiently with a natural baby led flow.

9 times out of 10, six month olds need a little time to warm up when they’re getting used to the sound of the camera and to me. This is why I almost always start out milestone sessions with the family and parent images. Being in your lap and arms makes your baby feel very safe and secure, and once they start showing interest with me and start to interact, that’s when I start getting closer. David was such a sweet little guy and it didn’t take him long at all to warm up to me and start smiling! Once we had gotten images of the three of them together, I quickly moved into the solo portraits because David was really comfortable and SUPER happy.

Important note: If you arrive to your session and your little one is not feeling it, don’t stress. I have endless patience and empathy, and we will do whatever it takes to get them comfy. All I ask is that you come in ready to play and have fun to get the giggles going, and the rest will naturally work out!

Baby safety is paramount in my studio. David was still a bit wobbly at sitting up alone, so his parents were right outside of the frame ready to catch him as needed. I have SO many positions to put your baby in (parents mostly do the positioning at my direction with help from me if needed) regardless of where they are gross motor skill wise. So if your little one isn’t quite sitting up alone, that’s ok! There are a ton of other things that we can do and your gallery will still have a wide variety of images.

OUTFIT CHANGE: YEA OR NAY?

Dana had brought two outfits along for David from Feltman Brothers and they were just SO CUTE. I think two outfits for your little one in a session is just fine, but with the understanding that it might not happen. It all depends on your baby! I ask that if you bring two outfits we start the session with your baby in your most favorite first. That way we are sure to get images in that outfit no matter what. Some babies hate being changed, and others just get tired too fast to change - but we definitely can do our best to accommodate a second outfit! We can also use some of my tried and true distraction methods to make changing as seamless as possible if your little one usually protests.

Dana changed David into the most adorable blue knit overalls with no issues, and we were able to pick right back up with photographing his session. I used one of our studio chairs and then placed him on his back for some of those AMAZING feet grabbing images. As a mama to three children, one of my absolute favorite things was when my babies discovered their feet. I think it’s just the cutest thing ever, and I strive to get one of these images for all my mama clients when it’s possible. Most babies will not just spontaneously do this while in studio: but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get them to grab on for the photos that almost always work to get the shot!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from David’s milestone session. If you’re interested in scheduling a milestone session for your baby, we would love to chat with you! It is NEVER too early to get on the calendar - so even if your baby won’t be 6-8 months for a while, that’s ok! Our weekend dates routinely fill up 3+ months in advance, so go ahead and reach out now to see if we’re the perfect fit for your family’s 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 Baby & Family Photographer | Meg & Isaac are six months!

Tiffany has been a client of ours for a couple of years, and welcomed fraternal twins into their family last year! Documenting milestones is very important to her, so she booked maternity, newborn, six months, and one year - we love our frequent flyers and have a First Year Collection available to those interested with lots of perks! You can contact the studio to learn more about the sessions we offer! We have quite a bit of experience photographing twins, and we include the whole family in the session too. We don’t limit our milestone sessions to just your baby, and strongly encourage parents and siblings to participate too. These are the photos that your children will reach for when they are older.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

When the twins were about four months old, we contacted Tiffany to set everything up for them. We sent some date options to choose from and then once she had decided on that, we sent over everything she needed to secure her date. Our booking process is handled entirely online and it’s a very simple and streamlined process.

Once Tiffany remitted her electronic paperwork, we sent over our styling guide and resources for her to review. Even though she’s worked with us for several sessions at this point, we always send it again just in case a client can’t find it in their email! It’s a short and sweet e-mail outlining best practices, and helps our clients dress the whole family for their session. Designing a beautiful and cohesive look for your session that also looks like YOU is easy when following our guidance. For clients who want more assistance with styling, we’re available to help! Clients can either schedule a complimentary short visit to the studio and bring all their options, and I’ll assist them in putting it all together with their clothing or a mix of their clothing and studio clothing. For those who cannot make an in person consult work for their schedule or would prefer virtual, they simply send over photos of what they’re considering and we go from there with an email exchange! Clients are constantly amazed at how quickly I can select from their options and put it all together. This is all part of the service we offer to those who have chosen to work with us. We work to make your session experience as stress free and as easy as possible, because your portrait session process should be enjoyable and fun!

SOME NOTES ABOUT milestone SESSIONS WITH SIX MONTH OLDS

Our sessions with any baby are photographed very efficiently, and some clients are surprised by how quickly I am able to shoot. There’s a really good reason why: and that is that most babies don’t give us much time! The majority of little ones under the age of one are easily tired out from being overstimulated, so moving quickly is essential in order to make the most of our time together. I block off an hour for non-newborn portrait sessions, but that’s just to ensure we have enough time if baby needs a diaper change or a feeding break. I work hard to get everything I need in the first 20-30 minutes of a session and then play the rest by ear depending on how your baby is doing. Some babies will give me 45 minutes of total shooting time, but that’s definitely not the norm and is often the result of an intermission snack break after the initial 20-30 minutes of a session! ;) If they’re happy and doing well, we keep going. If they are OVER.IT. then we stop as long as I feel we have what we need. . Don’t worry though - if your baby melts down at 15 minutes into the session and I don’t feel like I have enough for a great gallery, we’ll take some time to see if we can soothe them back to happiness again. Sometimes that means I put down my camera and play peek a boo, or they take a nursing/snuggle break, or we look out the window or in the mirror. The key is to remain calm no matter what so your child feels safe and secure even when they’re unsettled. I have lots of techniques and tricks up my sleeve when it comes to photographing little ones, and with collaborative teamwork we’ll figure it out together!

When Tiffany arrived at the studio, and she her husband changed and then set about dressing the kids in their outfits. We don’t recommend dressing your children for the car ride! Changing them when you arrive avoids the possibility of an outfit being unusable for the actual session if an accident with food or spit up happens on the way to the studio. It also eliminates the risk of badly wrinkled clothing from seatbelt straps for both kids AND adults.

I started with photographing just the twins. Meg had some stranger danger anxiety, and was more comfortable with mommy, so that’s what we did until she felt safe enough with me to be photographed alone! We also took the time to photograph the twins together and with big brother as well. What you cannot see in these images is that I had a parent on each side of the bed ready to intervene if they rolled over. It’s a queen sized bed, so it would take about two rolls to get completely off the bed from where I position babies - but we all know how fast babies can be when you least expect it, so we ALWAYS have a parent diligently spotting. Safety first!

Six month old babies are often just beginning to show their personalities and expressions. Meg & Issac were more serious babies who flashed grins at me every once in a while. Every baby is different when it comes to how much they smile during portrait sessions. No matter what, I will be photographing your baby (or babies!) just as they are right NOW at this moment in time.

After I finished photographing the twins together and individually, I moved on to photographing them with their individual parents and immediate family photos of all of them together. Big brother Abel was hamming it up for the camera, and we all had a lot of fun together during their session.

the big question: SHOULD WE PLAN for ONE OUTFIT OR TWO?

For twin sessions, I really recommend just one outfit for the entire session. If you want to try for two, we need to start with the most important outfit first. I always discuss with parents what their desired “must have” images are in order of priority and go from there. The MOST important outfit to you is the one that I will have you wear to start the session with, and then we’ll go from there! This is an insurance policy just in case your babies won’t tolerate being changed into a second outfit and are done being photographed before you get a chance to change. The truth is: babies are unpredictable little humans. We never know how long they’re going to give us with anything. Some little ones really don't enjoy being changed and it’s stressful for them and for you to change them into a second outfit. You know your baby best, so you can be the judge of whether trying for a second outfit is a good idea, or if you’d rather play it safe with one outfit! :)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Meg & Isaac’s six month milestone session! As a gentle reminder: it is NEVER too early to get on the calendar for milestone sessions especially if you want a weekend date since those fill months in advance. Our First Year Collection members have scheduling priority and we take care of reaching out to schedule when it’s time to - one less thing to worry about in the whirlwind of your baby’s First Year.

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 | Viola is TWO!

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 Family Photographer | A summer family field session

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 Baby Photographer | Elayna & Nadia

Aileen contacted the studio to learn more about milestone sessions. She was thrilled to hear that we had lots of experience photographing twins, and that the whole family could be included in the session. It’s true! We don’t limit our milestone sessions to just babies, and strongly encourage parents and siblings to participate too. Aileen was especially excited to learn that she could also have her parents come and participate for some generational photos as well.

The Booking Process

After we gave her a few of our available scheduling options, Aileen chose a date and time for her session. We sent over everything she needed to secure her date. We handle our booking process entirely online and it’s a very simple and streamlined process. Once Aileen remitted her electronic paperwork to secure her session, we sent over our styling guide and resources for her to review. This is a short and sweet e-mail outlining best practices, and helps our clients dress the whole family for their session. Crafting a beautiful and cohesive look is easy when following our guidance. For clients who might want more assistance, we’re available! Clients can either schedule a complimentary short visit to the studio and bring all their options, and I’ll assist them in putting it all together. For clients who aren’t able to make an in person consult work for their schedule, they’ll send over photos of what they’re considering and we’ll go from there! Clients are always amazed at how quickly I pick things and put them all together for them, and it’s all part of the service we offer to those who have chosen to work with us. Our ultimate goal is to make your session experience as stress free and as easy as possible, because we truly believe that your portrait session process should be enjoyable and fun!

Some notes about sessions with Three Month Olds

Sessions with any baby are handled very efficiently, and the reason why is that they don’t give us much time! Babies under the age of one are easily tired out, so moving quickly is essential in order to make the most of our time together. I block off an hour for non-newborn portrait sessions, but that’s to ensure we have enough time if baby needs a diaper change or a feeding break. I work hard to get everything I need in the first 20-30 minutes of a session and then play the rest by ear depending on how your baby is doing. And believe it or not… I’ve successfully managed to shoot sessions in less than 20 minutes with a baby that completely melted down at the 20 minute mark much to the amazement of their parents. Don’t worry though - if your baby melts down at 15 minutes into the session and I don’t feel like I have enough for a great gallery, we’ll take some time to see if we can calm them down and get them happy again. I have lots of techniques and tricks up my sleeve, and with collaboration we’ll figure it out together!

Some babies will give me 45 minutes of total shooting time, but that’s pretty rare and is often the result of an intermission snack break after that first 20-30 minutes! ;) Both babies were dealing with reflux, so Aileen waited to dress them until they arrived, which is our recommendation for all of our clients to begin with to avoid an outfit being unusable for the actual session if an accident with food or spit up happens on the way to the studio. It also prevents wrinkled clothing from seatbelt straps for both kids AND adults, so everyone wins.

I started with photographing just the twins. They were still working hard on developing their neck strength, and bobbled up and down, but with patience and a little help propping their little elbows up underneath the studio bed comforter, we were able to get what we needed! I had a parent on each side of the bed ready to intervene if they rolled over. Safety first!

Three month old babies are often just beginning to show their personalities and expressions. Nadia & Elayna were more serious babies who enjoyed taking in their surroundings with their pretty brown eyes. They responded to their parents and to me with very calm gazes, and occasionally just the hint of a smile. I’ve found that when parents delay photography milestones until 4 months, babies tend to be more smiley and responsive, but it just depends on the individual baby. No matter what, we’ll be photographing your baby (or babies!) just as they are right NOW in their first year.

After I finished photographing the twins together and individually, I moved on to photographing them with their individual parents and immediate family photos of all of them together. Aileen wanted two very different looks, and had planned to include the grandparents with the second outfit look, so we moved on to that. The girls both needed a bottle as they were starting to get fussy, and then they needed to be changed. Having the grandparents on hand was very helpful as it allowed mom and dad to get changed and then take the babies for grandma and grandpa to get changed… and then change the babies! Lots of changing going on during this session!

When I saw the outfits she had chosen for the second look I squealed - the little southern smocked dresses complete with bonnets were SO cute! And I love how this session shows that you can easily wear brighter colors or more muted pastels in the studio. It all comes down to your personal preference, and if you want two looks, you can totally do that. I would caution that if your goal is an album to keep the looks more cohesive in tones since an album with these particular two looks combined together would not flow well together from an aesthetic standpoint.

should we plan one outfit or two?

Because the girls were both getting pretty tired, I moved quickly to photograph them with their grandparents and then the entire family together. I always discuss with parents what their most important images are in order of priority and go from there. The MOST important ones are the ones that I am going photograph first, and then go from there just as an insurance policy.

Babies are unpredictable, and we never know how long they’re going to give us. It’s for this reason that I recommend only one outfit for milestone sessions that are not First Birthday sessions so that we don’t use up any of their “happy time” on an outfit change. Some babies hate being changed in general and it will instantly make them upset for a while. You know your baby best, so you can be the judge of whether trying for a second outfit is worth it or you’d rather play it safe with one outfit! :) If you decide on two outfits, plan to start with the one you REALLY want photos in just in case it doesn’t work out for the second.

We were very lucky that the twins lasted for as long as they did in this session especially given their age. As a note, we did inform Aileen of these recommendations when she first spoke to us before booking so she could make an informed decision. She was happy to take the chance and try for two outfits even while knowing that her girls might melt down and be done with it before we could get to the second outfit change. Taking the chance worked out in this instance, but it’s definitely not the norm.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images of these sweet little girls and their family!

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 | Lucia & Zoe

I first met Saidie when I photographed her maternity session for her second daughter and newborn session following delivery! You can see their maternity session by clicking here, and Lucia’s newborn session by clicking here.

Saidie highly values photography and makes it a priority to schedule sessions with me to capture the important moments of her family’s life as they grow. She emailed to ask me if she could schedule a “quick 15 minute session” for some Christmas decor photos. I emailed her back to tell her that we don’t offer that in our studio. The only abbreviated sessions we offer each year are our Santa and Motherhood events. Please note that these events are only open to our previous full session clients, and are not open to the public. So if you have not worked with us before for a full session, you will not be able to book one of those as it’s a special perk for our LSP community! Once you become a client and complete a session with us, you’ll be added to the private client only Facebook group. For those inwardly groaning at “another mom group” - no worries, because It’s not a social group, and it’s only used for posting booking information for those two annual events each year!

I explained to Saidie that with what she was hoping for, 15 minutes would not be enough time to allot for a session with the ages of her children. I also know her older daughter pretty well at this point, and she takes time to warm up - at least 15 minutes (usually longer). I told her that a full session (1 hour) was what I could offer, and that I would be happy to collaborate with her on the Christmas decor theme that she wanted to incorporate. I also suggested that we include images of the girls together and separately for portraits within the session in non-themed clothing. She emailed back thanking me for my insights and agreeing that a full session would be perfect, so we scheduled a date!

What you won’t see in this blog post are the Christmas images as I’ve chosen not to include these. Saidie brought along a cute little setup and Christmas PJ’s because she wanted to have that be one of their outfits. While she was dressing the girls in their PJ’s, I went through what she had brought with her (miniature Christmas trees and metal ornaments) and set it all up on a white faux fur rug that I had in the studio.

I don’t do themed decor for sessions, nor do I offer mini holiday themed sessions with an elaborate set. Even our Santa event set is very simple and focused on the natural interaction between children and Santa rather than perfect portraits with an elaborate Christmas background. Sometimes parents will bring along special decorations for a First Birthday session that we can incorporate in, but the focus will alway be on my subjects.

My priorities are for every session are (in this order): light, my subject(s), and emotional connection. Everything else is just background. Sessions with me are about who I am photographing - not about the props, however cute they may be.

We started the session with the Christmas setup images, and when we finished, Saidie remarked that she completely understood why I didn’t offer themed setups! Between the two girls knocking over the Christmas trees, flinging ornaments every which way, and Lucia chewing on whatever she could get into her mouth…it was definitely a bit chaotic. Lucia also decided she was hungry when we finished with that portion and spent about 15 minutes nursing. No matter - because we had allotted an hour of time, we still had PLENTY of time remaining.

Saidie had brought along two of the sweetest little Zara dresses for her daughters, and we changed the girls into those for the next part of our time together. I simply set up the sisters in a natural way on the studio bed to interact - and what you can’t see is their parents hovering just out of the camera frame ready to swoop in if needed. Lucia was a pretty solid sitter, but the risk of toppling over is always there. Since this session, we have upgraded our studio bed setup to a real one - we now have a full queen sized bed on casters, so there’s a lot more room for toppling over than there was with our previous bed setup, which is what you see here!

Lucia absolutely adores her big sister, and the feeling is (mostly) mutual. As a mom with two daughters that are 22.5 months apart, photographing these two took me back to when my own daughters were at these stages. I remember how my oldest would do anything to make her little sister laugh, and once the two of them got going with the giggles, it was the sweetest sound. Today, my girls are 8 and 6, but they are still close and they still try to make each other laugh and do special things for the other. The sister bond is such an incredible thing, and I’m so thankful that my girls are close and enjoy each others’ company. I hope it always continues!

Lucia was OVER it by the time we were done photographing just her and wanted to nurse and take a nap, but Zoe was just getting warmed up! So, we ended our time together with solo portraits of just Zoe. To give you some background: when Zoe first walked in the door that day, she wouldn’t make eye contact with me. It took her about 30ish minutes to be comfortable enough with me to look at me and give me high fives and engage with my camera. This is why allowing for a full session is so important - it allows me time to get to know your children and get them comfortable with me if they’re going to be photographed for solo portraits. Children are little wild cards - and we always plan for the unexpected.

Enjoy a few images of these sweet sisters!

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 Photographer | Troi is TWO!

I’ve photographed Troi since she was an itty bitty newborn, and just absolutely love her and her awesome parents! Troi can be a stoic toddler, but she loves to have fun so once tickles and crazy voices are introduced, the smiles and giggles start. ‘Toya initially just wanted this session to be of Troi alone since they had just done their fall family portraits, but quickly realized that Troi needed some help warming up. Since Troy (her daddy) was dressed in an outfit that worked for photos, he stepped in - and it did the trick. I let them know I could just leave out the images with him that we took in their final proof gallery, but some were just too good to not include. Apparently, ‘Toya thought so too since she chose a few to keep!

'Toya expressed how amazed she was at the patience that I had because Troi was pretty grumpy for most of her time in the studio. I pulled out all the stops, and her parents willingly helped when I asked them to. The funniest part of the session was when I asked Troy to “laugh with a deep rumbling laugh” and he did - and that was what got the biggest smiles. They were astounded that it worked because he felt a little silly doing it, but hey… whatever it takes, right? When you look at this gallery, you really have NO idea that she walked in, crossed her arms, and mean mugged us all for a while. That my friends, is the magic of photography married with patience, a bag of tricks to try, and a fast shutter speed. ;) Grumpy babies and toddlers don’t faze me.

When I photographed Troi’s First Birthday session (view those images by clicking here), ‘Toya had chosen NOT to include a cake and later came to wish that she had. Who says a smash cake has to be for First Birthdays? Around here, there aren’t any such rules…. so out came a cake for the end of Troi’s second birthday. It was pretty funny to watch because Troi doesn't like getting her hands messy and didn’t want to touch the cake when she discovered how sticky the icing was. So, I handed her a spoon from our studio kitchen, and that did the trick.

Enjoy a few images from Troi’s Second Birthday!

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

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

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Sophia is Nine Months!

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 & Child Photographer | Elias is five months!

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 | Finley is TWO!

I first photographed Finley for his First Birthday session, and just he and his dad came to the studio for that session. A few months later, Chrysten scheduled a session for big sister Kendall’s fourth birthday, and brought her and Finley to the studio. You can see the fun images from her high energy session by clicking here!

Chrysten emailed us to schedule a portrait session for Finley’s second birthday and let us know she’d be participating too! YAY! I love when parents want to be in the photos also. I truly think that it’s one of the best gifts that we can give our children - tangible memories of how much we loved them that they can hold on to forever even when we’re no longer with them. I know that most moms are the ones documenting everyday life so most of the photos end up being of dad and the kids! Don’t be the family ghost in photographs and end up with regrets twenty years from now.

We scheduled the date and sent over our style guide for Chrysten to review. When she arrived at the studio she brought along an armful of options. If you want to plan out wardrobe for everyone in advance, we can do that via emailed photos or we can set up a quick style consult in the studio. If you have a busy schedule and can’t make the time to come in or send photos, you can show up the day of your session with options (make sure they fit and are ready to put on and wear) and we’ll figure it out! :) Honestly, the style guide is very concise and easy to understand - all of our clients have expressed that it’s been incredibly helpful to them when planning what to wear! We’re here to help if you need extra input after reading through it though, so don’t hesitate to ask.

I pulled the best options from the pile of clothes that worked well together, and we got started! Chrysten is such a fun mom, and it’s clear that she adores her kids. The feeling is definitely mutual! Sessions with me are often centered around play. Little ones do not tend to follow direction, so we set the scene and I watch for the moments. A lot of clients are really surprised because they were expecting to walk in and be posed super specifically based on what they’ve seen on the website. Make no mistake: I will place you where you need to be and give you guided direction for what to do (along with some what NOT to do’s) and the rest organically unfolds. Every child is different, and every relationship is unique. I want to capture that beautiful dynamic in an authentic way, and with children I’ve found that play is the best way to go about it! So when you work with me, come prepared to PLAY, tickle, snuggle, and just have fun. It’s a low pressure environment here, so check any stress at the door - you will enjoy your experience so much more as a result, and the resulting images will be absolutely beautiful, joyful and reflective of who you all really are.

Enjoy a few of my favorites! I can’t wait to see these guys in a few weeks for our sold out Santa event!

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 | DJ is THREE!

I LOVE working with Senika and DJ, and I have photographed them since Senika’s maternity session! Senika books a family session every year for DJ’s birthday, and comes to our Santa event every year also. Santa is currently sold out, but as of this blog posting, you can still get on the wait list for December 7th!

Senika loves our client wardrobe and let me know that she would be borrowing a dress for their session. We scheduled a time to come in the week beforehand, and she fell in love with a long purple dress with pretty ruching at the bust. We talked about complementary colors for purple, and she settled on yellow since it’s one of the colors that looks best with DJ’s skin tone and also matched her special hot air balloon idea. (keep reading!)

On the evening of their session, we met at the park . Senika had brought along a foil #3 balloon and a basket with a banner to emulate a hot air balloon! I loved her creativity, and we had a lot of fun setting it up. I will note that balloons are usually tricky: and that was definitely the case that evening due to wind gusts. While we were grateful for the wind providing cool air, it kept twisting and moving the balloon, but we did eventually get a few moments when it died down that we were able to shoot. I also ended up having DJ hold the balloon at the base rather than by the string so he had more control over it. It’s definitely different than last year when Senika ended up holding the ballon since he was only 2 and couldn’t quite master it!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from DJ’s and Senika’s session. Want to see his previous birthday sessions? No problem - click here for his second birthday, and click here for his First Birthday!

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

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

Atlanta 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.