I first photographed Cori when she was one for some First Birthday portraits. Her parents had chosen not to be in the session with her for that session, but when Rebecca called to schedule portraits for Cori’s second birthday she let us know that they wanted to be in the photos this time for a milestone/family session. They were so excited about it, and I was too! I really love when parents participate in the session because I believe it’s such a gift to give to your children. They will look at those images for the rest of their lives, even when you’re not there with them anymore - and they will see how much you loved them. I like to call photographs “tangible memories”. It’s incredible how much emotion a simple picture can evoke. Looking at a photo of myself holding my daughter as a tiny newborn in your arms instantly transports me back to those days the memories all come flooding back - from the weight of her in my arms to the sweet scent of her newborn baby head.
We sent Rebecca our style guide which she appreciated, and she let us know it was super helpful. It’s a short and sweet rule with suggested guidelines for the best practices in dressing your family. If you’re still feeling stuck or not quite sure, you can schedule a time to stop by the studio for a complimentary style consult, or we can exchange emails! Moms simply snap a few photos of their outfit combinations, email them to me, and I’ll respond with input and feedback. Super easy! If you opt for an in person consult, you simply bring what you’re considering, and we’ll sit down together and go over it. We’re here to help planning for your session be as EASY and stress free as possible and are more than happy to serve you in this way!
When the family arrived Rebecca let me know that Cori was FULL of personality and might be difficult to wrangle. Pretty much every client tells me this - and I say, “bring it!” I LOVE lively children, and I have three of my own who are chock full of personality themselves. If you have a spirited child, we are going to have the best time playing and interacting - and they will be full of those cute expressions unique to them that you know and love. Just saying that is making my brain flash through all the expressions my children make on a daily basis when reacting to certain things! I want you to always remember the fun personality of your child, and portrait sessions are such a great way to do this!
“My child is really, really shy.” - that might be what you’re thinking right now. That’s okay! When you come in for your session, you won’t see my camera out for a little bit. I’m going to give your child a LOT of space and start playing by myself with toys. Yep, you heard right. When they show interest, often times they’ll come over to see what’s happening. I tend to ignore my littlest clients until they show interest in me - and I meet them where they’re at. The last thing a shy child needs is an overly peppy photographer getting in their face because that’s just not going to build their trust and win them over. If it’s taking them a little longer to warm up, we’ll start the session with family images in your arms. We have lots of fun techniques that we use to warm kids up, and as long as you’re laid back and go along with my prompts - we will work together to create some magic!
Since Cori wasn’t shy, she hopped right up onto one of my studio chairs and proceeded to show me all her expressions. We brought her parents in one by one and together, and just had lots of fun playing and running around. I want you to know that this session was VERY high energy, and mom and dad were a little out of breath at the end. When they saw their gallery they LOVED the photos of their family together and all of the images of Cori as well - from the funny, to silly, to happy, to serious. I can’t wait to see them again next year!
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.
