I first photographed worked with Graces’ parents, Justin & Abby, for their maternity session at the park location! You can see the images from that session by clicking here.
I met Grace when she came in for our annual Santa event and saw her again at our annual Mother’s Day event. Her mom emailed and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her, and I was thrilled to be able to see them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed. Grace has definitely kept so many of her features from when she was tiny. Her parents are in the hospitality industry, and the chef at one of their hotels was so excited to create her birthday cake for the session! I loved the swiss dot design that he created for her.
On the morning of their session, the family arrived all dressed and ready to go. Abby always picks the SWEETEST little outfits for Grace with the most adorable details, and she did it again with her floral romper with criss cross back straps. If you don’t have anything, we do have a small selection of clothing available for babies and children for sessions as we’ve found that most mamas want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a helpful style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well. Making your session with us fun and stress-free is a huge priority for us and our clients report that we are very successful in that area! :)
Grace was friendly and curious, so we started with some solo portraits of her on the bed, and then moved her mom and dad in as well for a mix. She was such a happy and sweet little baby, but started to get tired (which is normal). After a little snack and an outfit change to a custom birthday onesie that her mom had brought along, Grace was ready for some cake!
They weren’t really sure how she would do with the cake, but it’s really a toss up. Babies are full of surprises! When the cake was presented to Grace, she immediately started exploring it and even ate some. I always encourage parents to get in on the fun, and babies LOVE to “share” cake with their parents. It makes for some of the funniest moments and sweetest memories.
Every baby will react differently to their cake. You should know that many babies do not react well at a party, and that’s often not how they will be in my studio. Parties are a lot of sensory overload for one year olds, and by the time the cake is served, they’re often tired and D-O-N-E. Plus, being stared at by a bunch of people can add a lot of pressure to the situation as well. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun! (and it doesn’t have to be cake… it could be donuts, pie, etc…the list goes on!)
Here are a few images from this little cutie’s celebration in the studio!
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.
