I first worked with Angela & Sven when they welcomed their first baby for his newborn session at our old studio location, and was thrilled to hear from them again requesting to book another newborn session for their second baby boy! Angela had added on hair and makeup services for her first newborn session with us and let us know she wanted to add that on again for this one as well!
WHEN SHOULD I RESERVE OUR NEWBORN SESSION?
Simply put: It is NEVER too early to book!
I know when you’re pregnant, you’re so busy with reading the books, registering, and other prep tasks, but it’s REALLY important to not put off reserving your newborn session!
IMPORTANT: Reserving your session is NOT scheduling your actual session date, since it’s not possible to accurately predict your baby’s actual birth date in advance. When you reserve your newborn session, you are guaranteeing a spot on my calendar! So do NOT wait until your baby is born to reach out if you know you want to work with me. Get it checked off your list!
I am only able to accept a limited number of newborns due in each month. This limited number is so that I am able deliver my unparalleled level of service to each one of my clients. Airlines may overbook, but I do not. Once I reach my newborn cap, it’s possible that there will not be a last minute opening, so don’t bank on that being a surety.
Please don’t stress if you’re reading this and baby is already here! Our reserved newborns often arrive earlier or later than their estimated due dates, so there are some months I have the ability to take on a last minute newborn session although this is not always the case. . Contact us right away to see if we can squeeze you in!
NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH AN OLDER SIBLING
When big sibs are participating in your baby’s newborn session, we ask what their nap schedule is so we can plan accordingly! We want them to be well rested and happy.
I start newborn sessions in the morning between 9 and 10ish AM, with the first 90 minutes of session time devoted to photographing your baby alone. This is the perfect time for you to take advantage of our add on hair and makeup services since you’ll be sitting on the couch doing nothing anyway while I photograph your baby. So, you might as well treat yourself to some pampering like Angela did!
Older siblings and partners arrive about 90ish minutes after I’ve gotten started with baby only, which allows your partner and older child(rent) to relax at home before heading over. You’ll get 90 minutes of peace and quiet with nobody asking you for anything! ;)
When mom and baby arrived, I took Silas out of his carseat and got started with him right away while Angela got settled into the hair and makeup chair for her beauty services. I had a few dresses for her to look through that I had pulled from the wardrobe prior to her arrival because I have worked with her a couple of times and knew her general size, style preferences, and the colors that would look best with her skin tone.
Silas was the most handsome little guy, and such a great sleeper! He looked similar to his big brother as a newborn, but not as chunky! Want to see for yourself and compare? Click here to head over to Sven’s newborn session.
NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY
When I was finished photographing Silas, the rest of the family arrived. Angela was finished being prepped, and had looked through the dress options and chosen her favorite. After everyone was dressed, we moved into sibling and family images.
Your newborn’s safety is the TOP priority during sessions. I will not place your baby near their older sibling if I don’t think it’s safe to. Every big sib is different when it comes to how well they listen, how calm they are, and how they are feeling about the addition of the new baby to their family. Therefore every session will look different. I’ll assess how your older child is doing with your newborn when making decisions on which types of pictures are safe to do. Sven was ok with being near his baby brother, so we were able to photograph the two boys together. What you can’t see in the photographs is that their parents were mere inches from them ready to swoop in if needed. From there, we moved to family images, which Sven was more than happy to participate in. I like to make my sessions fun for my little participants, so you can expect to play games with your child at my direction so that we can capture natural interaction between the whole family. Once we had finished with all the images including Sven, his parents gave him an activity to do to keep him busy. I wrapped the session up with individual parent images and both mom and dad with Silas. Your first baby has images with just you two, and your subsequent babies deserve to have some of those too!
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTERWARDS
Our clients find our process super simple, which they love! About a week after their session, Angela & Sven viewed their proof gallery and chose the collection that best fit their needs.
When their final images were completed, they chose which ones they wanted for their printed artwork, and once it was completed, they came and picked it up!
THE FRAMED ARTWORK PROCESS
Many of our families love the framed artwork that we offer. Framed artwork is typically ready within 4 weeks as long as there aren’t any shipping delays due to the pandemic. Sometimes a particular moulding will be on backorder, but you’ll be informed of that before the order is placed! After you choose your favorite image(s) to be framed, we’ll discuss the best size(s) for where you plan to hang in your home.
Once you finalize your image size(s), the print(s) is ordered! After the order arrives at the studio, you’ll them choose your moulding (frame). I will offer suggestions and input on the best frame options for your image and home decor/ style preferences. You’ll also decide on the mat width - I’m a fan of 3-5” inch mats depending on the size of the print and the moulding width.
The larger the print size is, the larger the mat should be so it’s balanced aesthetically - you can also choose a very thick frame and go a bit smaller on the mat size. Once the mat and frame decisions are made, I then order the moulding, mat, and GORGEOUS museum glass. Museum glass is absolutely stunning and will make your framed artwork that much more beautiful. You can barely see the glass in the frame when looking at it because of how crystal clear it is, and I love the 99% UV protection it gives the printed artwork. If you’ve never seen museum glass, no worries - our framed prints here at the studio all have it for you to see for yourself when you’re here! PS: I love it so much that I replaced at the glass in my framed artwork hanging in my home with it.
When everything arrives at my studio (typically within 4 weeks of ordering!), I mat the print, and assemble the entire piece. The last step is to finish the back of the frame with paper and hanging hardware. Then, all you have to do is hang it up on your wall and then enjoy it!
If you order framed art from us that contains a 16x20 or larger print size, we deliver your finished artwork right to their front doorstep within a 20 mile radius of the studio. If you don’t have large framed artwork as part of your order, you’ll come to the studio and pick up your order when it’s ready. Every week I send an email to clients who have orders ready for pickup. This email includes a scheduling link that lists the designated pickup days for the week ahead (I only send pickup availability out one week at a time) 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 chat on the phone. We can’t wait to hear 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.
