Jamie contacted the studio to book a newborn session. One of her neighbors had worked with us for their newborn session and she’d seen the images on her Facebook page. She fell in love with the emotive style that we are known for, and knew that we were her top choice for her son’s newborn session when he arrived.
A few months later, Jamie let us know that baby Brody had arrived! He was a chunky little guy at over 8 pounds, so we opted to have him come in on the earlier end of our scheduling window for newborns. Typically we like to have newborns come in between 8-21 days of life, but a lot of factors influence what we ultimately choose. We take your baby’s weight into consideration, whether they were born earlier than their due date, if there were any complications for you or baby, and how you’re recovering. Please do NOT stress if it’s better for you to come in at three weeks because you need that extra time to recover. Your baby will still look like a newborn, and we will still be able to capture gorgeous images. There is no hard and fast rule about the “perfect” age to come in for a newborn session.
Jamie requested to add on hair and makeup services and let us know she would be using the studio wardrobe. We sent her the newborn prep packet which included guidance on what her husband should wear from his own closet and how to best prep the morning of.
The morning of their session, Jamie and Justin arrived with Brody and Justin’s mom in tow. Justin’s mom wasn’t participating in the session, but was on her way back to Ohio that day and had a flight after the session was over. I welcome grandparents in the studio, so if you have family in town, they’re welcome to come along. It’s important to keep the studio peaceful and quiet, so if your family members aren’t the type to preserve that type of environment it is best to have them remain at home and only come in if they are being photographed for the period of time they are in front of the camera. We’ll chat about best practices should you choose to include other family members outside of your baby’s siblings.
Brody was nice and full when he arrived, and sound asleep, so we got started right away with his solo images. Jamie chose a pretty white off the shoulder dress with lace detailing that looked amazing with her blue eyes and blonde hair. She sat down in the hair and makeup chair while I photographed Brody. Adding on hair and makeup services doesn’t add time to your newborn session by the way! I will be photographing your baby alone either way, so you might as well pamper yourself while I’m at it! ;) In all seriousness though, our HMUA team is comprised of some of the most talented artists in Atlanta. Our clients truly love working with them and request them time and time again for subsequent sessions. Another fact: I have worked with them myself for my own sessions when it’s my turn to be in front of the camera. I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis (I don’t even own any!) but they do an amazing job of keeping it super natural for me. They will communicate with you in depth about your preferences and create a look tailored to you that accentuates your best features and is at a level that you are comfortable with and feel beautiful in! With our artists you can be confident that you will wear the makeup - the makeup will not wear you.
After I finished up with Brody (he was so sleepy that we flew through his solo images), Jamie was still having her hair worked on. I photographed Justin with his son for all the daddy and son images, and then it was time for Brody to eat. Perfect timing! Justin left to go and pick up their family pet. Shortly after he left, Jamie was ready and Brody had finished nursing. I began photographing Jamie and Brody together, and when Justin walked in with Sonic (some of the the cutest doggie ears EVER!!!!) and we immediately moved to family images and images that included Sonic. Dogs are allowed in the studio on a case by case basis. Be aware that your pet will only be permitted in the studio for the time they are being photographed. You will either need to arrange to have someone bring them and take them, or go and get them and take them home depending on how close you live to the studio.
Please understand that I love all breeds, but our building has restrictions on the type allowed in the building due to insurance. So, because of that, “aggressive” dog breeds (pit bulls, bull mastiffs, Cane Corsos) or heavy shedders are not permitted. We will talk about your pet’s temperament as well. If your pet excites easily, jumps everywhere, or is a barker then they will not be able to come in the building. Cats are not permitted at all… unless you want ME to die during out time together. (Yep, severe cat allergies over here!) Our studio undergoes a very thorough cleaning after a dog participates in a session that includes full washing of any material they come into contact with as well as a full vacuum and mop of the floors.
One last thing I want to mention: lots of clients with furbabies have a vision of what they think life will be like with their newborn and pet. Sometimes that vision doesn’t line up with reality. You may find that your pet isn’t warming up to your new baby like you had hoped. Baby safety is my first priority, so I will not place your sleeping baby propped up on your pet, no matter how cute that image would be. We have lots of safe variations of things that we can accomplish with some dog treats and a lot of patience. Each dog is unique, and we’ll work together to find the best solution to include your pet!
Jamie absolutely loved her newborn images and chose to order an album and a 16x20 framed wall print to hang in his nursery. I so enjoyed working with her and love her sweet personality! Imagine my surprise when I started attending Lagree fitness classes at Stellar Bodies Midtown and discovered she was an instructor! So now I get to see her on a regular basis while she puts me through the best workout I’ve ever done. On a tangent: the Lagree method is really amazing, so if you’re looking for a super challenging workout that will make you strong and won’t bore you over time, check it out!
Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Brody’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.
