Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.
Analy came into the studio in the middle of her third trimester for a fine art maternity shoot. Analy is a really special client - I first worked with her when she was pregnant with her first baby, Julia. Shortly after Julia was born, she was diagnosed with biliary artresia and was placed on the liver transplant wait list. During the waiting process, Analy discovered she could donate a portion of her liver to her daughter, and was ready to do so. They held out for as long as they could in hopes another liver would come through with Analy being Plan B, but when Julia’s liver deteriorated to the point they could no longer wait, Analy and Julia were taken into surgery for the transplant. You’ll notice the surgery scar on Analy’s belly from donating part of her liver to her daughter. I think this is such a powerful testimony to the love of a mother, and that editing out would have been absolutely ridiculous to do. The scar is beautiful because of the incredible story behind it, and Analy was gracious enough to share with all of us!
ANALY’S STORY (IN HER OWN WORDS)
Our daughter, Julia, was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver condition that occurs in infants. The bile ducts inside and outside of the liver are scarred and blocked; the bile cannot drain into the intestine and builds up, leading to liver damage. Inevitably, babies born with BA will need a liver transplant at some point in their lives.
This means that they end up on the liver transplant waiting list and if a donor liver does become available or a perfect match is not found, then little can be done to save their lives. We happened to be at one of the best locations not only for Biliary Atresia treatment, thanks to the amazing Hepatology team at CHOA Egleston, but also at one of the few locations in the country that offered the option of living donor transplants. CHOA and Emory University Hospital partnered up and gave us the option for a living liver donor. After two full days of expedited testing, they gave us the most wonderful news: I was a perfect match for Julia!
As parents we know we would do anything for our children because our love for them is beyond unconditional. Julia already had my full love and heart, why not give her a portion of my liver too?
I was officially her plan B and quickly became her plan A when a donor liver never came. Her condition took a turn for the worst in the blink of an eye and we couldn’t wait any longer. At only 7 months old, Julia underwent a lifesaving transplant and received a portion of my liver and a second chance at life. How amazing is it that research, medical advances and the loving medical professionals at CHOA & Emory allowed us to save her life?
Julia is now 3 years old. She loves astronomy, dancing, painting and always has a smile on her face. We know our story is a happy one because we have her with us but, unfortunately, that is not always the case with other Biliary Atresia families. A lot of babies never receive their gift of life so it’s important to not only be aware of the fact that there are babies out there whose life depends on organ donation but also become one of those incredible & selfless individuals who are willing to save them by becoming an organ donor.
Life is fragile, this we’ve learned firsthand, but one of the most beautiful things about it is that we have it within us to give others a second chance.
Little is known about Biliary Atresia; we don’t know what causes it, how to prevent it, and there is no cure for this horrible disease that has claimed the lives of so many babies. Our family has set up a fund at CHOA Egleston to help fund their Biliary Atresia Research Program. They are one of the only centers in the country with a dedicated research program for BA and they’re making great strides in learning more about this disease. If you find it in your hearts to make a donation and help us give other BA babies worldwide a second chance at life, please make a contribution to the BA Hero Fund at CHOA to help fund BA Research. You can follow our family’s journey on Instagram at mighty_julia_ba and find the direct fund link here.
THE BOOKING PROCESS
Our fine art maternity sessions are shot in the studio with studio lighting only over a 90 minute-2 hour period to allow for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Because we shoot with studio lighting, session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can start in the later evening hours after you’re off of work as long as you know you won’t be overly tired at that time of day. As a reminder, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so don’t wait until the last minute to book!
Once you have contacted us and selected a date for your session, it’s all handled online through our secure and streamlined process. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her to the session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).
PRE SESSION CONSULTATION
We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a limited wardrobe of bodysuits, bodycon dresses, bodycon crop tops, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have a small collection of mostly neutral colors of Italian silk chiffon fabrics for draping and tossing! If you elect for an in person consult, you will have the opportunity to try on our pieces as well as bring your own for me to go through, and we’ll create a session roadmap together!
During our consult, we will speak at length about your vision for the session. Our clients are all over the map when it comes to the types of images they want to create during out time together. Some want fine art nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time. Some want to have a few with fabric tossing, and others don’t. We will also talk about your preference for the studio temperature during your session. Many of our clients choose to be the only participant in our fine art sessions, but your partner is more than welcome as well. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. We’ll discuss all of these things at length (I’ll be taking notes throughout!), and you’ll have the opportunity to ask me any questions you have!
****The most IMPORTANT reason that we require a pre-session meeting is this: Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! This especially proves true for sessions where you’ll be wearing next to nothing for part of it. ***
FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION FLOW
I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 7 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;) When you arrive to the studio, we’ll get started. I will walk you through everything the entire time - from where and how to stand, to how much to bend your elbow, etc. I’ll also coach you on your facial expression. If I can’t verbally coach you through expressions, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my face for demonstration! :)
It can feel a bit intimidating at first standing under a giant light modifier that flashes with every frame, but you’ll soon start to have fun with it! You will hit your stride, and you will look absolutely stunning. You may also decide that being a supermodel is way too much work and they deserve every penny they earn. ;)
Most of the the images that I take at the very beginning of your session are just for the warm up to get you comfortable (and to adjust the lighting settings as needed!) We will take breaks if you need them for water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a minute. If you need something, all you need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!
Analy was definitely nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a fine art session like this. She joked that she didn’t remember how to wear heels because she never wears them anymore due to being at home all the time. We had a lot of fun cracking jokes and using the hair fan for some beautiful movement in her hair. Analy refers to the hair fan images as her “Kim K moment”. The hair fan looks super intimidating because it’s on the larger side. Don’t worry, I promise not to blast you with the tornado speed setting. ;)
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION
Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Analy saw her images she was blown away and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. While I personally believe that fine art editorial photography is the most powerful in black and white imagery, your selected images will have both color and black and white versions! The majority of our clients choose their favorite image for a piece of wall art or put their favorites into a beautiful heirloom album to pass down to their child.
If you’re sitting here reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child. I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer allllll the questions you might have.
Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this amazing mama’s maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely stunning?!
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.
