I first worked with Giselle and her family for their maternity session at the mountain location. I adore working with clients for both maternity AND newborn sessions because we are able to get to know each other and establish a relationship. I was so excited to get an email from Giselle letting us know that baby Rowan had arrived. She let me know that she wanted to add on HMUA services and we got her session date scheduled.
WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE MY MATERNITY AND/OR NEWBORN SESSION?
Now! :) I know you’re probably busy with all the baby prep checklist, but do yourself a favor and don’t put this off! The majority of our clients contact us early in their second trimester to guarantee getting on our calendar. We can only take a certain number of newborns due in each month. We do this to ensure we are able deliver our unparalleled level of service that you deserve. Once we reach the monthly cap, we are full for that month and maintain a wait list. Reserving your newborn session does NOT mean you are booking an exact date for your session. This would be impossible since babies are unpredictable when it comes to their birthdays! Instead, you are on our calendar and guaranteed a session for your baby - you simply let us know when they have arrived and we go from there with scheduling the actual date for your newborn photos.
Baby already here? All is NOT necessarily lost. Our booked newborns tend to arrive earlier or later than their estimated due dates, so there are some months that we DO have the ability to take on a last minute newborn session. Get in touch with us right away, and we might be able to fit you in!
NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH A TODDLER INVOLVED
When toddlers are involved with your baby’s newborn session, we will ask you what their schedule is so we can ensure they’re happy and well rested. Studio newborn sessions are usually in the morning between 9 and 10 AM. The first hour and a half of session time is devoted to photographing your baby alone, which makes it the perfect time for you to take advantage of our add on hair and makeup services! You’ll be sitting on the couch doing nothing anyway, so you might as well treat yourself! Adding on our HMUA services does NOT extend your total session length as I’m actively photographing baby only while you’re being prepped.
We plan for big kid(s) and dad to arrive about 90 minutes after I’ve gotten started with photographing baby only. I am usually finished photographing your newborn’s solo photos right around the time mama is done in hair and makeup. Once everyone is dressed and ready, we move right to the sibling and entire family photos! When your toddler is finished participating in the photographs they’re in, they are free to play quietly until we’re finished with dad/baby and baby/parent images. At this point, dad and big kid(s) tend to depart the studio and I finish up with any mama/baby images that are left.
I do not change up my typical session flow of starting with the newborn solo images. I do not photograph family images first. What tends to happen is that your newborn becomes overstimulated and fussy from all the commotion and movement, and never quite settles as well if had we started with just their solo images in a quiet studio.
When Giselle and Rowan arrived, I took him out of his carseat and got started right away while Giselle got settled into the hair and makeup chair. She had already decided on her dress when I sent her a few photos of options after Rowan’s birth that would work well with Scarlett’s outfit, which is also from our studio wardrobe. She absolutely loved that she didn’t have to worry about shopping and figuring out what to wear for either of them.
Rowan was a sleepy and curly little guy, and slept like a rock for most of his session. As I was finishing up with his solo images, dad and big sister Scarlett arrived. Scarlett remembered me from their maternity session, and was comfortable with me right away. After everyone was dressed, we transitioned right into the sibling images…and Rowan decided to wake up!
NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY
Awake babies are not a problem as long as they’re calm! I actually love when babies wake up because it allows me the opportunity photograph them with camera eye contact. It’s amazing how different newborns can look when they’re asleep vs. awake!
I started photographing just Scarlett and Rowan together. As long as it’s safe to, I always start with the sibling photos because these tend to be the highest priority for families. In most cases, your toddler will be at their most cooperative as soon as they arrive to the studio - not 30 minutes later. So, I work as efficiently as possible to photograph siblings, each parent with their children, and whole family before their patience runs out!
The FIRST priority here in the studio is baby safety. I will not position babies near older siblings if they are not calm and still. Every toddler is different, and I’ll assess how they’re doing from their behavior and body language when deciding which images are safe to do. Since Scarlett was loving and sweet to her brother, as well as able to sit still without jumping on top of him, I was able to place Rowan her her. What you can’t see is that her dad was inches away from her ready to intervene if needed.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION
We make it super simple for our clients! About a week after their session, Giselle viewed Rowan’s proof gallery and chose her collection. When the images were completed, she chose which ones she wanted for artwork. The digital files of chosen collection images are also included as well. After printed artwork is ordered, it takes about 1-2 weeks (longer for heirloom albums due to their handcrafted construction) for everything to be ready to go at the studio. We have a beautiful line of frame moulding and often mat and frame artwork for clients here at the studio as well. Ask about our design mockup service when choosing to purchase frames from us - we are here to make your decision making simple and easy!
THE PROCESS FOR FRAMING YOUR ARTWORK AT THE STUDIO
Our framed artwork is typically ready in about 2 weeks (as long as there are no supply issues due to the pandemic). Sometimes a particular moulding will be on backorder due to shipping delays, but you’ll be informed of that before the order is placed!
No frame shops are involved with your order production - I handle the entire process from print to framing!
Once images selections have been finalized, we order your print(s)! After it comes in, we then “dress” the print(s) together with the best moulding (frame). We’ll choose the best frame from our line for your image and home decor/personal style preferences. We’ll also decide on the mat width - I’m a fan of 3-5” inch mats depending on the size of the print.
The larger the print, the larger the mat width will be to visually balance it. After this, the frame, mat, and GORGEOUS museum glass are ordered unless you’ve opted for museum acrylic. I am obsessed with museum glass! It seems strange to describe glass as being beautiful, but it really is. You can hardly see the glass in the frame looking at it because of how crystal clear it is, and I love the UV protection that it provides for the printed artwork. If you don’t know what museum glass looks like, you will - all of our studio sample artwork on the main wall has museum glass installed. I
When the components for your framed artwork arrive at my studio ( typically within a week of ordering!), I mat the print, and assemble the entire piece. My last step is finishing the back of your frame with paper and wire hanging hardware.
Once it’s in your hands, ALL you have to do is hang it up on your wall and then enjoy looking at it for decades. You will find yourself standing in front of your images on the wall and be instantly transported back to the time from when they were taken. Your little ones will love looking at them also.
How do I know this? From personal experience: I have a gallery wall of family photographs in my own home, and I often find myself standing in front of them taking them in. I am always amazed at how quickly they have grown since the photos were taken, even though it feels like it was just YESTERDAY. I also constantly see my husband standing in front of them too, usually at nighttime after he’s tucked them into their beds. Our children really enjoy looking at them too, and have told us that they feel loved by us when they look at the portraits of us all together.
If you choose to order framed artwork from us that has a 16x20 or larger print, we’ll deliver the finished artwork right to your front doorstep within a 20 mile radius of the studio. (If you’re out of the radius, you’ll need to arrange to pick up yourself). Every week we send out an email to clients who have orders ready to be picked up. The email outlines the designated pickup days and time windows throughout the week and pickup is safe and contactless.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
Are you expecting and interested in reserving a session with us for your baby's newborn session? We would absolutely LOVE to chat with you about your family, what we offer, and how we can best serve you. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!
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.
