Ethel contacted the studio to inquire about newborn sessions and talk through some concerns. She and her husband hadn't had the most wonderful wedding photography experience, and felt that their photographer didn't capture them well or in the most flattering way. She was not alone, as I hear this from many of my clients. After explaining that I direct parents in my newborn sessions and have an arsenal of techniques (specific lens selection, guided direction for what to do, angles) to achieve gorgeous images of my subjects, Ethel was reassured that we'd accomplish what she was hoping for. Her husband? Not so much. He essentially agreed to go along with it out of love for his wife, which is honestly what many men do!
A few weeks later, Ethel let us know that baby Matthew had arrived! She also asked to add on hair and makeup services because she knew she would be too tired the morning of. When she arrived at the studio, she had both grandmas with her along with her husband and Matthew. Grandparents are welcome in our studio! We ask that they only be present when it's their turn to participate as a quiet studio is essential for newborn sessions. Ethel chose a dress from the studio wardrobe, and I noticed that the grandmothers weren't really wearing clothing that would work well in photographs. So, I called them into the wardrobe room and we chose several options for them to try on. They were thrilled to be able to borrow from it, and both looked fantastic in what they chose!
Ethel settled into the hair and makeup chair, and I took Matthew into the newborn shooting room. He was a chunky little guy at over 8.5 lbs, but such a good sleeper! He even flashed a few sweet grins, opened his eyes, and yawned. I love when I'm able to photograph these things. Every baby is different: sometimes babies don't wake up during their sessions, and smiling is 50/50.
After I finished with Matthew's images, we moved on to parent and family images. It was so special to be able to include both grandmas! Matthew truly has some amazing women in his life, and is so incredibly loved by his family.
Joe was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing because of their previous bad experience, but I reassured him that things would be just fine. I've found with dads: they really just want to know what to expect and be told exactly what to do. Joe is a pretty stoic guy to begin with, but by the time we were finished, he was genuinely having a good time and laughing. When Ethel emailed me after the session to tell me that he admitted that it was fun and he was glad that he had done it, I knew I'd done my job. Enjoy some of my favorite images from this 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.