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.
