Emily contacted us to schedule an outdoor maternity session. She wasn't sure which location she wanted, but after viewing images on our website for the gardens location, she fell in love with it. She also asked to add on hair and makeup services with Margaret, so we set that up for her as well. We scheduled a time for her to come by during the week for her maternity fitting, and she brought along her mom to help her decide. Her mom told me that Emily brought her along for prom dress and wedding dress decisions too!
Emily expressed some concern that her bump was on the smaller side. Part of that reason why is because she's a personal trainer and has an incredible set of abs! When you have abdominal muscles that strong, you tend to have a smaller baby belly as a result. I reassured her that she wasn't too small, and that she would look noticeably pregnant in her images. I will direct you throughout your time with me for the best hand placement, angles, etc. I've got you covered - all you have to do is show up! The dresses that Emily chose also highlighted her bump well, and looked absolutely beautiful on her.
Emily's husband, Dustin, was unable to come to the fitting, so we talked about options of what he should wear. I always ask about your husband's personality and style preferences. If your husband is a casual kind of guy, there is no sense in asking him to wear a suit. I want your portraits to be authentic to who you are as individuals and as a couple, and for the experience to be a fun and relaxing one for both of you. Let's be honest: the majority of men don't love participating in photo sessions and agree to it because they love their wives. I'm married to such a man myself.
However, I do believe that the photographer and the experience that your husband has with them shapes how they feel about photos in general. I can't tell you how many times I've heard grumblings about how long an an engagement session lasted and how many outfit changes there were. I've also heard horror stories about wedding photographers driving dads crazy. It's for this reason that I let dads know exactly what to expect at the beginning of a session and keep things moving efficiently. I've been high fived many a time at the end of a session by the dad, who admitted that he might actually have had a little bit of fun. So if you're married to a guy who hates having his photo taken, I promise to make it easy on him.
The day of the session, we met at the gardens and Emily changed into her first dress. The sun was behind clouds for a bit and then broke through as it lowered in the sky. We had lots of fun walking around the gardens, and the two of them were just so cute together! They've been together since high school, and got married when they were just 18 and 20. It's been quite a few years since then, and during that time they've built their own business together, and were so excited to welcome their baby boy!
Here are a few of my favorites from their gorgeous maternity session!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.