Have you ever heard those stories about how a couple thought they were having a boy and then ended up NOT having a boy? Yeah? I have too. But I’ve never met anyone personally that this actually happened to…. until now. I personally waited to find out what I was having with all three of my children until they were born!
So, how is this mixup even possible?! Great question. In their case, they had the tech put the sex of their baby in an envelope and sent to the bakery for a gender reveal.
Except…. either the tech or the bakery got it wrong. We will never know which (but we’re guessing the bakery!) Baby came out, everyone was expecting a boy, and the doctor said “Oh my gosh, it’s a girl!” Good thing that baby Joie’s parents are very go with the flow and are still laughing about it. Plus, doesn’t it make the coolest story?! Another bit of good news is that a nursery hadn’t been decorated yet in their new home, so clothes were the biggest thing that needed to be replaced.
When Marcus and Jazmyn arrived for Joie’s newborn session, I couldn’t get over how perfect her little features were! Jazmyn and I looked through the wardrobe and she chose a simple blush pink dress to wear. She sat down in the makeup chair as she had added on makeup services for her time with us.
I took baby Joie to the newborn shooting room to get started while her mom was being prepped. She was also one of the most alert and awake newborns I have ever met - and she was SO smiley. This is actually very rare for newborns, so smiles and eye contact should not be expected. I photograph newborns on neutrals (mainly creams and whites with some beiges) and will add in blush pinks for baby girls if moms are okay with that. I want the focus to be entirely on your baby and not have lots of other elements competing for the eye of the viewer. When it comes to headbands and tiebacks, I keep them very dainty and proportionate to the size of each individual baby’s head. In my view, if the first thing you notice is the headband a newborn is wearing, there’s a problem with the photograph. Some parents request that nothing be used at all, and it’s totally up to you! Joie’s daddy was VERY excited about headbands, so it was made pretty clear to use as many as possible. ;)
Joie woke up towards the end of her solo portraits, so I took the opportunity for some open eye and awake shots. I then took her to her mama to nurse, and we did some parent images and then wrapped her up to get her back to sleep. I finished up the parent portion, and then took her back into the newborn room to finish her solo portraits with her in deep sleep. While I do have a typical flow of how the majority of my newborn sessions go, they are entirely baby led. We switch things up all the time so that we don’t waste any of our time in the studio and so that your baby stays happy and comfortable! Lots of expectant parents ask how long a newborn session will take - and we can’t really answer that question with an exact time. So much depends on how often your baby needs to eat, if they’re sensitive to being touched or moved, how deeply they are sleeping, and how many diaper changes they’ll need. We don’t rush sessions, and our average time spent at the studio is 2.5-3 hours. That’s time spent: not time actually being photographed! :) Newborns can take quite a few minutes to nurse! We have our studio set up to be a serene and comfortable environment so you can relax during the "waiting periods” that happen during sessions.
Enjoy a few of my favorites from little Miss Joie’s session!I can’t wait to see them again in 2019 for a 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.
