FAMILY
Every year we take a step back from administrative tasks to enjoy the holidays fully, and blogging is one of them! The studio is open for limited hours and we still have a couple of last minute spots remaining for sessions. Just contact us if that’s what you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to fit you in!
See you again on the blog in 2019!
I was SO excited for this session with this sweet family of seven! I LOVE working with families who have older children - I don’t just photograph babies and toddlers. Older children are so much fun to work with and it’s definitely a change in pace. My strategies are also somewhat different with tweens and elementary aged children, but one thing remains the same: respect and consideration for your child and their comfort is paramount. I want them to walk away from their session feeling that I saw them for who they were. I want YOU to walk away from your session with beautiful photographs of your children and family that show your love for each other. I want you to smile whenever you see them and think “Yep, this is completely us.”
Mom and I coordinated things beforehand and she arranged to borrow dresses for all the girls and herself from the studio wardrobe. We even had a grey hoodie and navy blue shirt for one of her sons on hand too. When she told me he lived in sweatpants and t-shirts, I knew that would be a perfect match for his personality and comfy tastes while also photographing well!
I could sit here and type a novel about how I approach sessions with multiple children, but I won’t. Just know that it’s somewhat of an organized chaos, and I run through the session in such a way that participants who need a break get one while others are being photographed. Family sessions are about playing together, and NOT necessarily looking at the camera. While it’s wonderful to get that “perfect” family portrait with everyone smiling and looking for the Christmas card or for Grandma, that’s not the goal or the heart of my approach at all. So, what is? A photo is worth one thousand words… and there are quite a few below.
Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!
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.
Mandi was at a group gathering when one of her friends pulled out her phone to share images from a recent family session. Mandi looked at the photos, gasped, and asked who took them. It’s funny, because I am known more for my maternity and newborn work in these parts, but I absolutely LOVE photographing families and frequently do so!
That’s the story in a nutshell of how she came to contact me! I really love when friends of clients see their images and decide that they’d also like to work with me. It usually feels like I already know them when we work together.
Mandi and her husband live in the Peachtree City area and have two sweet little boys. I sent over the style guide and wardrobe inspiration board to her so she could look through it. We provide as much or as little assistance with styling your family as you need. Some of my clients could open their own fashion boutiques and need zero help from me, while others want the assurance of knowing what they’re choosing to wear will work well for their session. Whatever category you may fall into: know that I’m here to take care of you!
The evening of their “fall” session in October was a toasty 89 degrees. When we met at the mountain location, Mandi sheepishly said that she knew it was going to be hot but that since she was using the images for her Christmas cards she didn’t want to be in summery clothes. Fall and winter in the South can be so off the wall! I reassured her that it was fine, and we would roll with it! I checked on everyone multiple times during the session to make sure nobody was overheating and that they were drinking enough water. Aside from dad sweating a little bit through the back of his shirt, it was no big deal!
Family sessions are full of fun and play. I ask parents to leave expectations in their car, and to be willing to play games and follow my prompts for things I ask them to do. It’s so easy to become frustrated when you feel like your family session isn’t going well. I know how much planning and effort goes into it - I’m a mom of three kids myself, so I REALLY get it. When my clients trust me and go with the flow, they are always pleasantly surprised by the resulting gallery even if they felt like the entire session was chaos. If your children are a bit wild and running around, that’s perfectly ok! Usually that also means they’re full of joy, and we’re going to get images where that sheer happiness is clearly evident. I also like to remind parents during sessions that all I need is 1/1000th of a second to get those sweet and quiet moments. Sometimes it may not seem like those moments are happening, but they definitely are!
The mountain location is a favorite for families because kids have a lot of fun exploring, and the scenery is different than the norm. There are lots of areas to photograph in, and we keep moving constantly to keep the interest of your children. It’s about a mile hike from our meeting place to the top, and my little boy hiked it successfully by himself with no assistance from me when he was twenty months old. So, it’s definitely on the easier side for families and pregnant women, but there is definitely some physical effort involved.
I love images taken on the mountaintop - and we all enjoy watching the gorgeous sunset together. When’s the last time you climbed a mountain and watched the sun set? Come do it with me in the near future, and you’ll have some gorgeous photos to show for it! ;)
Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s session!
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.
I first worked with Jessica & Danny when they were expecting their son, Everett. They booked their maternity and newborn sessions at the very last minute, and we were thankfully able to fit them in. You can view their field maternity session images by clicking here, Everett’s newborn session images by clicking here, and Everett’s First Birthday by clicking here.
This time around? Jessica texted me in her first trimester to tell me they were expecting baby #2! I squealed in my kitchen when I read the message, and was just so excited for them! A few weeks later she let me know that baby #2 was a GIRL! I really love getting to know my clients, and hearing about events in their lives and how they’re doing even if we haven’t seen each other in a while. Jessica let me know she wanted to be sure to get on the books for maternity and newborn so she didn’t put it off. Booking in the second trimester is definitely recommended to ensure our availability and that you have the best chance of booking the date and location you’re hoping for!
A couple of weeks before their maternity session, Jessica came to the studio to look through dresses. I had just added a couple of new pieces from Free People and had bought one of them specifically with her in mind because I knew she would look amazing in it. I was right, and she fell in love with it also - it was made for her! Jessica is also one of my petite clients - she stands at 5’3”. So rest assured that whether you’re tall or short, we have something for you in the studio wardrobe should you wish to borrow from it!
Jessica also elected to add on hair and makeup services and worked with Margaret, who is our lead HMUA so she could relax and enjoy herself beforehand! The day of our session, I was up in the studio working on a few things when they all arrived. Jessica worriedly informed me that it was currently POURING outside, and asked what we were going to do. There had been absolutely ZERO indication of potential rain in the forecast. That’s Atlanta weather sometimes! I suggested that they get dressed and we’d see if the rain would pass. Often Atlanta will have random pop up storms that pass through as quickly as they started. Fortunately for us, about 15 minutes later it was clear again outside so we headed down the street.
So what about those fifteen minutes we “missed out on”? Here’s the thing: sessions with me aren’t about how much time we spend together. It’s about how we spend that time. I’m super efficient with how I work, and in this particular case we had a toddler involved. With toddlers, we don’t have any choice but to work fast and keep it exciting for them. They don’t have a long attention span, and we might only get fifteen minutes out of them before they’re over it. When we arrived, we got straight to it, and they had the same gallery that they would have without those fifteen minutes we spent waiting for the rain to pass.
I absolutely love this family and their gallery - I wish I could share them all, but then you’d be scrolling for hours! Aren’t Jessica’s dresses just absolutely perfect for her? I adore the beautiful half updo with the fishtail braid that Margaret created for her too. Enjoy scrolling - and check back tomorrow to view their beautiful baby girl’s newborn session!
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.
Jessica contacted the studio requesting to schedule a family session. Her family had just moved here from Germany, and she wanted some photos in Atlanta to remember their time here. She also wanted some photos for their annual Christmas card!
The family requested to come to the studio in advance of their session to meet with me, and I was happy to. We talked about wardrobe, and Jessica asked if it was okay to wear Converse tennis shoes. I laughed and said, “OF COURSE!” While many of my families opt to wear clothing that looks “dreamier” and involves a neutral palette and long dresses, this is absolutely NOT the only look that looks great for a family session. It all comes down to your preference. I love colors in clothing too, and will help you coordinate your colors and patterns in your clothing choices for a look that is cohesive. Please, be true to who you are. If wearing a long dress isn’t your thing, then don’t wear one! Wear jeans and duck boots with a puffy vest if that’s what you love and feel cute in. We are here to personally help you pull everything together for your family - all you have to do is ask.
This particular family session was unlike any other I have ever photographed because while Jessica and Sascha spoke English, their three year old son, Justus, did not. I have worked with many clients who brought in family members who did not speak English, but they were all adults. I didn’t worry about this too much because my family sessions are honestly about families having fun and interacting together. When young children are involved, I typically give guidance to the parents, and not to the kids.
When we arrived at the park location, we all had a good laugh about the weather! Germany is quite different than Atlanta in the fall… and this particular fall day was literally in the high 80’s. Jessica couldn’t believe how hot it was in early November, and I told her that it’s pretty normal for the south. We got started with our session, and Justus was quite the ball of energy. He wanted to run everywhere and sitting still was not on his agenda. That’s par for the course with young children, and it’s my job to keep up with them. I used some of my favorite tricks for family portraits and just absolutely love what we created. It is such an accurate representation of their fun and laid back approach to life. I also loved their outfits and the hats that dad tied in as well.
At the end of our session, Jessica and Sascha were exhausted from chasing Justus around! Jessica was a little worried about whether I had been able to get any good family images. This is a common question from parents, because it’s often so crazy and chaotic for them that it feels like we can’t possibly be getting anything that’s frame or Christmas card worthy. I assured her that we most certainly had and that I knew she would be pleased with her proof gallery. She emailed me later that evening thanking me for the fun session and expressing how excited she was to see their proofs later that week.
When they viewed their proof gallery, she emailed saying how amazed she was at all of the images and that they would have such a difficult time choosing their images for their final gallery. They actually chose to add in a few extra images which is always an option if you can’t quite narrow it down.
Here are a few of my favorite images from this November family session! We currently have just a few remaining dates for November sessions. If you’re hoping for a fall session, contact us to discuss details and get on our calendar! I can’t wait to meet 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Abby scheduled a studio mommy and me session for her son Liam’s three month milestone. Three months is such a fun age, and the baby smiles and expressions are absolutely adorable! At three months, babies don’t have a lot of range of motion or motor skills, so mommy and me sessions are perfect for this age! With your baby in your arms, you’re able to support their neck and head, and we’re able to get all sorts of expressions from your baby and the sweet interactions between the two of you. Three month olds know exactly who mommy is and love to look at you! They also are interested in the world around them and will give me direct eye contact with the camera.
When Abby booked her session, we sent her our Pinterest inspiration board of ideas for what to wear, as well as our style guide. She knocked it out of the park with a gorgeous grey tulle maxi skirt and an ivory crepe top. What you choose to wear is totally up to you! If you’re more of a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal, that’s great. That will photograph beautifully as well. What matters most is that you feel both comfortable and beautiful. We’re more than happy to assist you with what to wear by going over what you’re considering either in an email exchange or quick studio visit. Clients are also more than welcome to borrow from the studio wardrobe should they wish to utilize it.
Abby had her makeup done by Margaret of our HMUA team. Add on services are available for every type of session, and are highly recommended! We have such an incredibly talented team of hair and makeup artists, and they’ll work with you and your preferences for a look that is natural, polished, and enhances your best features within your comfort level.
When Abby walked in, we got started right away. Liam was very interested in me and such a smiley baby. He thought my funny noises and peek-a-boos were just hilarious. Abby is such a loving mama, and had no problems snuggling her little boy as directed. Liam became a little fussy midway through our time together, so I suggested a quick snack break. Once he’d polished off a bottle, he was ready to go again. Babies run the show here at the studio! If your baby needs a little break for a snack or some snuggles, please don’t stress about it. You are not wasting time or ruining your session by attending to your baby’s needs and comfort. We’ll pick right back up where we left off as soon as your baby is ready to go again.
All clients receive their final gallery images in both color and back and white. I loved Abby and Liam’s session images in black and white, so have chosen to share some of my favorites below!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Tonya contacted the studio to ask about booking a maternity and newborn session for their little surprise second baby! She explained that their first child had arrived prematurely, so she had put off scheduling sessions in case it happened again. She’s not the only one we have heard this from! You can book your sessions confidently and know that if your baby unexpectedly arrives before your maternity session takes place that what you have paid will transfer to your newborn session. We scheduled a time for Tonya to come in and try on dresses from the studio wardrobe that same week.
The day before our maternity fitting was scheduled, Tonya let us know that she was in the hospital for complications and unsure of when she would be released. We told her to keep in touch with us and that we would determine next steps when she knew what was going on. Her husband, Lance was able to convince the staff to let her go home for a few days with close monitoring the day before our scheduled maternity session. So instead of a separate fitting, we just planned for her to arrive earlier than our scheduled session time to choose her dresses! This actually happens regularly because we have so many out of state maternity clients who travel to Atlanta for their sessions. We have yet to have a situation in which we weren’t able to dress a client in something that they loved. Our wardrobe has a wide variety of styles to suit every taste, and can accommodate sizes 0-14(16). We also send a stye guide to all of our clients to help them with choosing pieces from their own closets for the entire family.
Tonya, Lance, and Briana all arrived at the studio and big sister Briana expressed interest in wearing something from the wardrobe as well! I pulled a few dresses for her and she really liked a blush lace one that we had. Briana is 12, so we simply pinned one of our adult dresses to fit her! Tonya loved a blue off the shoulder dress and opted for an open belly sand dress as well. We have a few dresses in the wardrobe that have the ability to show your belly off if this is something that you want to incorporate into your session. If you’re worried about stretch marks or pregnancy acne on your body, please don’t be. These are things that we can take care of and your skin will look like it did pre-pregnancy in your final images!
After the ladies had chosen their dresses, we moved right into photographing. They were such a fun and easy family to work with, and we all had a great time. I pulled Briana and her daddy into a few photos with just the two of them as well to include in their proof gallery. I’m so close to my own father, and really value our father-daughter relationship, so when I can document that for others, I always do.
Here are a few of my favorites from this family’s studio maternity session! Check back tomorrow to see their adorable new addition!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Miles’ mom contacted the studio to schedule a session for his nine month milestone. I photographed their family just a few months prior in the fall when Miles was six months old at our outdoor park location. (You can view that session by clicking here) They had such a great experience the first time that they knew wanted to work with me again. I love watching my little clients grow as they return over and over again for sessions. At his six month session Miles wasn’t quite sitting completely unassisted for long periods of time, but at THIS session he was almost walking! It’s so crazy how fast babies can develop, isn’t it?
We sent over our Pinterest style inspiration board as well as our style guide for Miles’ mom to look over. I just about DIED when she walked into the studio and opted to have Miles go shirtless to show off his chubby baby belly. He had white suspenders and the most adorable shorts too. Mama wore a simple navy blue shift dress that contrasted while with Miles’ lighter palette.
If you’re feeling stressed about the idea of planning what to wear for your session, please don’t! We work with every client closely and offer our assistance every step of the way. Our studio wardrobe is available to borrow from as well, and we’re happy to schedule time for you to come in and go over what you’re thinking of wearing. If you don’t have the time in your week to do that, we’ll conduct it by email exchange instead! We want your portrait session with us to be fun and something to look forward to!
Every parent schedules their baby’s milestone sessions at different times. Some prefer to document the typical newborn, 6 (or sitting unassisted), and 12 month dates. Others like the every three months option with newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Each session is be tailored to your baby’s age and developmental abilities to have a great variety of images that capture your baby just as that are in that stage. As a reminder, if you have very specific dates that you are hoping for, it’s best to contact us to schedule now rather than waiting to ensure we have availability for you! Our calendar fills up FAST.
During our time together, I asked Miles’ mama to do her best to hold him close. He was a wiggly little thing and very interested in exploring the studio. I love his smiles and scrunched up nose - he is such a happy little boy! When I photograph babies with their parents, I focus on real moments. I’ll give you some guided direction for what to do to capture the best images of the two of you together. Patience and willingness to try different things is key to a successful session. A little baby distraction if they get fussy goes a long way.
Here are just a handful of my favorites from Miles’s session!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
I have worked with this sweet mama since her maternity session, and love seeing her multiple times per year for sessions! She contacted me to set up a fall family session at the park location with the intention of using the images to document her sons's six month milestone AND have Christmas cards! She also elected to work with Margaret again for add on hair and makeup services.
We booked her session, and sent over our style guide to Jessica. She (as usual) knocked it out of the park with a gorgeous tulle skirt and lace top. Griffin look spiffy in his outfit from Janie & Jack and sweet little moccs from Freshly Picked.
The evening of their session, it was the perfect temperature outside. I love fall in Atlanta because it tends to be on the warmer side so nobody is freezing cold during sessions! Of course, this can change, but for the most part fall sessions are pretty comfortable for everyone. Since Griffin wasn't quite sitting up confidently on his own just yet, we started with mommy and me images. Jessica had brought along his baby blanket, and we had him on his belly for a few of those. If your baby can sit up for a few seconds at a time, we have a few tricks to get some images of them sitting up alone as well! If your baby can't sit up at all, no worries! There are so many other things that we can do and you'll have a beautiful and varied gallery regardless. We have many mamas who want a true six month session when their baby is six months old and just as many who want to schedule a milestone session for when their baby is sitting unassisted. It's totally up to you, and either will capture your baby in all their cuteness just as they are at that point in time.
Enjoy the images from Jessica and Griffin's session! I can't get enough of those suspenders and that bow tie!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
I first met Myra & John when they contacted us last year for a very last minute maternity session in the field. You can view those images by clicking here. Myra called us again to ask if we had availability for an outdoor session for her son's First Birthday session! I absolutely LOVE working with my clients as their little ones grow, and was so excited to meet John and see his parents again. Seeing maternity clients a year later as parents is really something special. Going from seeing them loving a baby they haven't held quite yet to seeing them as parents who made it through that first year ... I can't really describe it, but you can see what I mean by looking at the images. If you're a parent coming up on your child's first birthday, can I just say CONGRATS!? That first year is absolutely amazing and wonderful, and also incredibly challenging too. Sometimes I think the cake should be for mom and dad! ;) Speaking of cake - this First Birthday session doesn't have one! Choosing whether to include a smash cake as part of the session is entirely client preference.
We sent over our style guide to Myra, and she asked to add on hair and makeup services with Megan again. I came to the studio a bit early to go through what Myra had brought for baby John as options. I loved everything she brought along, and she settled on this adorable white sweater with jeans and white tennis shoes. (In a few of the images, you'll see his sweater popped up to show his little baby belly which I absolutely LOVE)
We headed down the street to the park location and got started! John wasn't walking on his own just yet, so Myra and John played the "pass the baby" game. You know, the one where your baby decides he wants the other parent to hold him every ten seconds? Yep, that one. Every baby loves to play this game... so if it happens during our time together, don't stress! We'll still get what we need!
We had such a fun time together, and I switched things up often to keep John's attention. Most one year olds will give us about 30ish minutes for a session, and I keep that in mind going in. Once your baby is done, they're done - and they will let us know! Your job is to have fun with your baby, snuggle with them and each other, and I'll take care of the rest.
To see how much fun we all had, have a look at a few of my favorites!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Ashley contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a family maternity session at the field location. She was excited to be expecting baby #3, a girl after two boys! We let her know we had a couple of dates available and then scheduled her maternity fitting appointment at the studio.
Ashley let us know that she was pretty tall (5'11" to be exact) and that she was concerned we wouldn't have anything that would fit her. I'm a member of the tall girls club at exactly six feet with no shoes, so I TOTALLY understood her worry! I hate when dresses that are supposed to be floor length look like a midi dress on me and when sleeves that should be wrist length barely make it to 3/4 of my arm. Our wardrobe has been personally curated by me and fits a wide variety of heights and weights fitting size 0-14/ some 16. Our most petite female client was 4'10", and our tallest was 6'2". They all found something they loved and that worked well for their shape and tastes. If you prefer to wear your own clothing, that's totally ok! The wardrobe is not by any means a requirement. It's simply there as a perk to you should you wish to use it. We'll send our style guide to you to help with choosing the best clothing from your own closets and provide input should you want some. We love helping our clients look and feel their best in whatever way we can.
The evening of their session, we met at the field location! Her boys were the cutest, and her husband wasn't really excited about photos. I asked him to give me 15 minutes of his time and then I'd cut him loose. He agreed, and was glad that most of our time together was simply him being a dad and husband. The vast majority of my dad clients don't really love having their photos taken. While I can't promise I'll convert them to loving it, i CAN promise that I'll make it as easy as possible on them. Just with a positive attitude and willingness to have fun, and the rest will take care of itself!
During our session, it was SO hot outside, but we were fortunate that a breeze swept through a few times. I love movement in images, so I took full advantage of how it was moving Ashley's dress and captured some of my favorite maternity photos that I've ever taken with the wind and a dress. Ashley chose those for her final gallery, so it's safe to say she loved them as well! Here are just a few of my favorite images of this family's session!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
I first worked with this mama when I photographed a family session when they were just a family of three. They booked their family session as a birthday gift to their son, Gus - because she wanted him to have documentation of their love for him for the rest of his life. How sweet is that?! You can see their family session images by clicking here.
When Ana had baby boy #2, she contacted the studio to schedule a mommy and me session. She worked with Margaret again for her HMUA services as she loved working with her so much the first time around. I was so excited to meet their new addition, Lincoln and squealed over how cute he was! He has the sweetest big brown eyes and is such a serious little guy. Big brother Gus is an incredible and loving big brother. I loved seeing how Ana and Gus' relationship had developed since the last time I had seen them too. I think that all of us moms wonder if our oldest child might feel a little less unloved or a little bit neglected when we have our second, but I think it's safe to say Gus is very secure in just how much his mama loves him!
Mommy and me sessions are a lot of fun. It's honestly you just coming in and loving your babies! I'll make sure that you're in the best positions and give you some guided direction for interaction if you need it. Most moms need no help when it comes to snuggling. A lot of moms worry that their children aren't going to sit still or are going to be too wild during a session. They might be running around and rambunctious, but guess what? That's normal! I always remind mamas we only need 1/800th of a second to get an image, and I have so many tricks and little games to play to get those sweet moments even if you have a wild one. I'm a mom of three, so trust me... I get it. My own home is organized chaos and the decibel level is off the charts sometimes. Nothing fazes me. I promise.
These two guys were FUN to photograph! I ended up holding baby Lincoln on a hip while photographing just Ana and Gus together. I think it's so important for mamas of multiple children to have individual images with each of their babies, as well as together. While I love to photograph just siblings together, Lincoln wasn't quite stable enough to sit alone, and Gus wasn't quite big enough to hold him alone so we settled with Ana holding them while they interacted.
All final galleries are delivered in both color and black and white to my clients so they have both versions. I absolutely adored the images from this session in black and white and am choosing to share only black and white images below. Enjoy looking through a few of my favorites!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, baby 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
I've known Melanie for a long time - we have daughters (our middle ones) born in the same month and year! I first met her before she was even married, and photographed a family session for them long before they had their third child. I was so excited when she contacted me asking to schedule a mommy and me session in the studio for herself and her girls.
Melanie wasn't sure of what to wear and expressed some concern about that. We sent her our studio style guide which is a short and sweet document that helps you pull together a cohesive look for your family. Don't think that you're limited to neutrals! We see plenty of color in our studio and on location sessions - the style guide covers the best palettes and mixing and matching colors/patterns too. If you're still a bit stuck after looking through the guide, or want to come to the studio for a style consultation - that's what we're here for! We have tons of mamas come to the studio to either borrow from the wardrobe or bring an armful of clothes for their family session. We'll sort through everything together and talk through it, and you'll leave fully confident in your choice. I'm a mom of three, so I know how busy life is with little ones! If you simply cannot get to the studio, we can chat via email instead with snapped phone photos of what you're considering. However you choose to enlist our help, we'll make it as easy and stress free for you as we possibly can!
Melanie is seriously one of the kindest people I have the pleasure of knowing, and is such a loving and warm mother. Her older daughters are a bit on the shy side with new people. I work with a lot of children who are shy or have severe separation anxiety! Please let us know in advance of your session if you think this might be an issue, and we'll talk through some ways to make it a bit easier for your child. Their comfort and security is my utmost priority, and I have so many workarounds for every situation that pops up. These gals warmed up quickly to me and we had lots of fun together!
When a mom has multiple children, I always photograph groups and individuals. Each of your children deserve to have a photo of themselves with their mama to have forever. Sometimes one child might not be feeling it for a group photo, and that's perfectly fine! I also love to grab a few of just your little ones. Our flow is determined by our little subjects. With patience and positivity, we'll get everyone participating and having a great time.
We played a few silly and goofy games to get the girls laughing and having fun. I always tell people not to judge me for whatever I have to do to get kids engaged and laughing. There have been instances of dancing, very off-key singing, jumping up and down, and making really weird noises that a baby finds hilarious for some unknown reason. Whatever it takes!
At the very end of our time together, we piled the girls up in a chair together. I just love the dynamic of these three sisters... and the progression of the images. Baby sister was ALL DONE with the snuggles and let us all know!
I can't wait to see these little ladies in the studio again for their second visit with Santa this year!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Oh baby Leo, you are the cutest!
I first met Melissa when she scheduled maternity and newborn sessions while pregnant with Leo! She chose the park location for her maternity session, which you can see by clicking here and came in again for Leos' newborn session (click here). I photographed Leo again when he came in for our annual Santa event and was thrilled to have them come in again for a special mommy and grandma session!
Melissa followed our style guide recommendations and everyone was dressed so perfectly! I love the adorable romper she chose for Leo, and this session was honestly SUCH a blast. Leo was quite the wiggle worm, as are most nine month olds! I keep their interest by switching things up constantly and engaging them at their level. If your baby is shy, we'll meet them where they're at and quietly interact with them to draw our their personality. If your baby is rough and tumble and loves it loud, we'll amp it up a bit! Babies and kids run the show here at Lily Sophia Photography, and we love every second of it!
If you're looking for a gift for your mom and/or mother-in-law that they will appreciate so much, this is definitely one of the best options out there! You're also giving your child an incredible gift as well - the memory of how much their grandmother(s) loved them and that special relationship between them. We've even had some grandmas book sessions for themselves and their grandchildren! You can call us to talk through the different options that will work best for your family.
Enjoy a whole lot of love and snuggles in the images below!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, baby 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Senhit called the studio to ask if we could fit her in for a combined milestone and family session including a visiting cousin in a few images. We said, "Sure!" and fit them in for Friday morning that same week. Your chances of getting in for a week of session are usually much higher if you can make a weekday work. Weekend dates tend to be filled months in advance (but not always, so definitely check!).
When the family arrived at the studio, we started with just the cousins. There's just a three month difference! They only get to see each other a couple of times a year at most since Canada is pretty far from Atlanta!
Once we finished up with the cousins we took a few images of each baby alone and then moved on to just Jovette and her parents. She was such a smiley and happy three month old and lots of fun to photography. As most three month olds tend to do, she became sleepy and I asked her mom to hold her until she fell completely asleep which only took a few minutes. I really love capturing a few images of older babies sleeping whenever possible.
Three month old/100 Day sessions are some of my favorites to capture! Be aware that your baby won't be as strong as a six month old, so images of them sitting alone are not possible. Parents will need to participate by holding their baby so we can have a wide variety of images in your gallery! Three month olds make so many adorable expressions and we'll also have them lay on their backs and tummy for some as well if they're up for it and can hold their heads up well.
Here are a few of my favorites!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, baby 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
I first worked with Olive when she was pregnant with her first baby for her maternity, newborn, six and nine month milestones, and First Birthday sessions. I still remember getting her text one freezing cold February morning letting me know her baby had arrived and that it was a boy! I remember it so well because I let out a big "whoop!" and my husband thought I had lost my mind. I can't help it - I get so excited for my clients!
When she texted to let me know she was expecting her second baby and also waiting to find out, I was overjoyed for her family. She and her husband are such wonderful parents, and Olive LOVES being a mom. They're always fun to spend time with, and I couldn't wait to photograph them again. We scheduled their maternity session at the park and then I sat back and waited for the text. It came...and it was ANOTHER boy and they named him Chandler. We scheduled her newborn session to take place at 10 days, but the day before the session was to take place, Olive started having some postpartum complications that required some attention. Sometimes this happens and you just can't plan for it. We pushed out the session another week to ensure that Olive would be 100%. She was so worried that Chandler would be too big for newborn images, but as you can see (click here), that was not the case at all. It's also fun to look back at Chandler's newborn images to see the progression of his absolutely amazing hair!
Olive brought Chandler in for his six month session and picked a new dress from the studio wardrobe. She had him wear an outfit she brought with her and that had belonged to big brother. Six month sessions are so much fun, and a lot of times moms will opt to make it more focused on their baby with some mommy and me and let dad off the hook. However you want to structure it is completely up to you!
We had so much fun during their session - I seriously cannot get over his curls or his huge brown eyes. I absolutely adore every image taken from their session, but I'm sharing just a few below! Enjoy the Chandler cuteness!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Busola called the studio to ask about scheduling a maternity and newborn session for her second baby. She was in love with the field location and knew that's where she wanted to shoot. Busola expressed a bit of concern about scheduling a maternity session because her first child was born quite early, and she was a little gun shy about it possibly happening again. We assured her that if that happened, any funds paid towards maternity would be transferred to a newborn session. Sometimes life throws unexpected things your way!
A couple of weeks before her session, Busola and her son came to the studio to look through the wardrobe and discuss different options of what to wear. She chose an open front gown from the wardrobe and let me know she was renting a blush gown from Rent the Runway that she loved as her other option. We exchanged emails a few times regarding her son and husband's wardrobe and were all set for their session!
We had absolutely beautiful weather on the evening of their session and headed out to the field. Busola's mother in law came along to be the handler for their family pet! If you are planning to include your pup(s) in your outdoor session, bringing along someone to be responsible for them is strongly recommended. Just let us know you're interested in bringing them along when you inquire, and well discuss their personalities and our recommendations for the best location based on that!
We had a lot of fun exploring the field, and they are such a loving family! Their interaction with each other was wonderful to observe, and you can see how much Ayo loves his parents. Their baby girl couldn't ask for a lovelier family!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Matney contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a milestone session for his son, Owen. We often have dads call to schedule sessions! They're either the person in the family responsible for choosing their family photographer, or they're surprising their partner. In this case, Matney told his wife that he wanted to remember Owen as a baby and showed her our website that he had found while searching for Atlanta photographers.
I actually met the family the weekend before their session when they came in for their Santa session! I knew they would be lots of fun to work with and was just dying over how cute Owen was. Jen looked through the wardrobe to see if there might be anything she wanted to wear, and we talked at length about what good options from her own closet would be. She ultimately did decide on wearing something new that she purchased for her session, which looked great on her!
I always suggest families bring along a special lovey for their six month and/or one year milestone sessions. It's such a neat way to show how your child is growing over time since their lovey stays the same size and they do not. They brought along an adorable stuffed elephant for him!
We started the session with family and parent images, moved to solo portraits, and then ended with a few more family and parent images. My clients receive their final gallery in both color and black and white. I've chosen to share this particular session in all black and white images since I love them so much!
Owen, you're adorable, and your parents are awesome!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, baby 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
The very first thing you should know about this session is that it wasn't photographed in Georgia! I sometimes travel to other states for sessions as my schedule allows, and often stick to the NYC area and Charlotte, North Carolina area for travel sessions. This particular family was located in northwest Arkansas. I've also traveled to South Carolina, Arizona, Florida, and Virginia for sessions.
Morgan asked me to come and shoot a family maternity session and I immediately accepted. I've known Morgan for a while as she is a fellow photographer! I know how difficult it is for photographers to find a photographer... if we could just clone ourselves, we would! Since that's not possible, I'm always happy when another photographer entrusts me with their images. It's a compliment I don't take lightly!
Morgan has the most beautiful family - a spunky little gal named Zooey and a heart breakingly handsome son with one of the coolest names ever...Beckham. Ian, her husband, is a wonderful father and absolutely adores his wife. Morgan's parents live with the family and I was thrilled that they were joining in as well. Fun fact: this was the first professional photography session that Morgan's parents had ever participated in! Her mom was so nervous about it, but quickly realized there was no reason to be and we all had a BLAST.
When we started shooting, the sky was cloudy and overcast but then the sun broke out at the end. I think this session is a perfect representation of how a session can look both ways - different, but equally gorgeous!
A couple of months after our time together, they welcomed a gorgeous little girl!
Here are just a FEW of my favorites... Morgan, your family is so wonderful and I'm so happy we were able to make this happen!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, baby 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Fiona first came to visit me as a newborn, and I loved photographing her then. I was so excited to hear she was coming in for a milestone session to celebrate six months AND that grandma was coming along!
I was incredibly close to both sets of my grandparents growing up, and am lucky enough to still have a grandmother here with me (I'm almost 38 years old for reference!). I cherish the photos I have of my grandparents and I together. For the set of grandparents that I lost to cancer seven years ago, the photos are some of the only tangible memories I have of them. Being able to share them with my children (two of whom weren't born when they passed away and one of whom was too little to remember) is so important to me. So - when I hear that a family wants to include a children's grandparent(s), I am ALL about it!
Grandma brought in her favorite book, and we took a few images of special grandma time. We then moved into some solo portraits of Miss Fiona (isn't she the CUTEST?!) and some with her mama. I absolutely loved shooting such a special session for this family!
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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
