I feel you, mama
Chances are, if you had a baby anytime in March or April, you’ve had a tough postpartum experience. It’s definitely not what you expected. Your birth experience was not what you expected. You didn’t get to have the labor support that you’d planned on. You didn’t get to have excited grandparents and other close friends and family come visit you in the hospital to celebrate with you. Maybe your grandma still hasn’t met her great grandchild yet (only through a glass window) because they can’t risk exposure from anyone. And now you’re sad because you weren’t able to book a newborn session due to the shelter in place order. Photographs and FaceTime are pretty much the only way to really be able to share your baby with your family and friends while we’re socially distancing.
These are unusual times (is anyone else sick of the word “unprecendented”?), but I want to reassure you that all is not lost. Our studio is scheduling older newborns to come in once the state shelter in place is lifted, and we have strict protocols in place for the protection of everyone. We’ll discuss those protocols with you on the phone when you contact us, so that you’re aware of all the measures being taken and what will be expected of you.
But my baby isn’t two weeks old anymore, so it’s too late for newborn photos
FALSE. We love and welcome older newborns up to 7 weeks of age here in the studio, especially when circumstances didn’t allow for you to be here sooner. Before the age of coronavirus, we had babies come in later for a whole host of reasons. Postpartum complications for mama and/or baby, a deployed spouse overseas that wasn’t able to return until later, a bad initial newborn session experience with a different photographer that resulted in horrible photos, or regret of not booking a newborn session and deciding to go for it.
The Proof is In the Pudding
Below, you’ll see a few of our older newborns who were 12+ pounds and between 6-7 weeks of age. Yes, your session may take on the longer end of the time allocated, and will require patience and skill (both of which are in abundant supply at the studio), but we can still make it happen for you and create beautiful images of your newborn to have and cherish for a lifetime. Don’t buy into the widely purported misbelief that your baby has to be 8 days or less for a newborn session to work out. If I’m honest, when I first started photographing newborns 7 years ago I believed that lie. I’d heard it from other photographers and just thought that it had to be true.
It’s not. While it CAN be easier to photograph an 8 day old (they tend to be more bendy and sleepy when they’re young), that’s just not always the case. Some of my older newborns have been deeper sleepers than my 10 day old newborns. Every baby is different and unique, and I’ve learned a lot about how to work with older babies along the way.
Want to book a newborn session? Bring your baby to me, and lets collaborate together to create images that will take your breath away and instantly transport you back to when your baby was tiny when you look at them twenty years from now.
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.
