Atlanta Family Photographer | A Family Session in the Gardens

I was SO excited for this session with this fun family of five! I LOVE working with families who have older children - I know we get lots of the little ones, but I don’t just photograph babies and toddlers. Older children are really cool to photograph by themselves and with their families, so it’s a welcome change of pace.

My flow is somewhat different with tweens and elementary aged children, but one thing remains the same: my respect and consideration for your child and their autonomy is paramount. I want them to walk away from their session feeling that I saw them for who they were and they had a say. I want YOU to have beautiful photographs of your children and family together that show your relationship and how much you love each other. I want you to smile whenever you see them and think “This is us.”

I could sit here and type a book with multiple chapters about my approach to family sessions with multiple children, but I’ll spare you. In a nutshell: it’s basically very organized chaos! I flow through our time together in so that participants who need a break get one while others are being photographed so we aren’t standing around doing nothing. SOMEONE is being photographed at any given time.

Family sessions are about playing together, and NOT necessarily looking at the camera. While it’s great to get the “perfect” family picture with everyone smiling for Grandma, that’s is not the goal or the heart of my approach to photographing your family at all. So, what is? Love. Giggles. Security. Family. I could go on. You know the saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words”….. let’s let this family’s photos speak for themselves.

Kelly and Daniel had never had a professional family portrait session before and weren’t really sure what to expect. They were blown away by how we helped with every step of the process. We had sent Kelly our style guide ahead of time, and she found it very helpful! She was a little bit nervous about choosing outfits entirely on her own. When I checked in to see if she needed any assistance pulling them together, she was so grateful to be able to email us images of the outfits she was thinking about. After reviewing what she had put together, I emailed her a suggestion to make one simple change in her oldest son’s shirt choice and it solidified the whole look perfectly. I want your family to dress comfortably and everyone to feel great in what they’re wearing. I also want the outfits to complement each other so that there isn’t a reaction of “one of these things is not like the other” when viewing your images.

The evening of our session, we met at the gardens location and it was such a beautiful night! The temperatures were perfect, and we moved quickly through the session. I always start with the whole family first while everyone is fresh and still willing to be photographed. You never know how younger kids and babies will be, so I like to play it safe. From there, we cycled in and out with different combinations of family members, and had a great time doing it. Rueben and his sisters, Zoe & Thea were such great kids, and so much fun to work with! Rueben is such an incredible big brother to his sisters, and I loved watching their interactions together. At the end of our time together, both Kelly and Daniel commented on how much fun the whole session was and how they couldn’t wait to book their next session. After viewing their proof gallery, Kelly had a hard time narrowing the images down. She chose to print the second image in this blog post as a larger wall portrait for their home as it was her very favorite photo from the session.

I SO look forward to working with this family again next year!

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.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Brooke is ONE!

When Kea emailed me to schedule a family session with some focus on her youngest daughter’s first birthday, I was so excited! I’ve been working with them since Kea was pregnant with their second child and have loved every session with them. They’re such a loving and fun family, and their kids all have so much personality! Because I’m also a mom of three, I really enjoy photographing big kids and larger families - a little bit of chaos never scares me! ;) (and who are we kidding, sometimes it’s a LOT of chaos!)

We sent over the style guide and Pinterest board to Kea and she came up with two different outfit collections and sent me photos. Both options she had come up with were wonderful, but I was a bit concerned about one due to the very summery nature (sleeveless dresses, sandals, and shorts) and the forecast being a bit on the colder side for spring. She hadn’t considered that factor, and it helped her make her decision immediately! Cold children can be more difficult to distract. When wearing clothing for a session that might be on the colder side, you can never go wrong with layers. That way pieces can be removed if anyone finds themselves too warm as the session goes on. I’m here to help with your wardrobe styling if you desire! While most of my clients find the resources we send them perfectly adequate, others want to run their choices by me, and I welcome that. I know it can be stressful to pull together the look for everyone, and I’m here to help ease that for you as much as possible.

Because we were celebrating Brooke’s first birthday, Kea wanted a lot of the focus during the session to be on her, but she wanted the entire family photographed also. That’s the great thing about First Birthday sessions! We can customize the focus to whatever you desire.

During family sessions, you can be assured that not every child will want to participate at the same time, and that’s perfectly ok! I look for who is interested and willing amongst the kids, and I come up with fun games to engage your children. I ask parents to go with the flow no matter what’s happening, and the rest will work itself out. When Kea viewed her gallery, she emailed me to let me know how much she loved the images and how her gallery perfectly showed who each of her children were.

As I photographed the family during their session, I kept laughing at each of the children’s very distinct personalities. You can see for yourself in the images exactly what their personalities are, and I absolutely love it! At the very end, Kea pulled out a cake pop for Brooke to enjoy. She had decided that Brooke had eaten enough sugar that week with all the birthday celebrations, and that she wanted to keep it super simple but still have SOMETHING. The cake pop was the perfect solution! I’ve had clients choose to present their one year old with cupcakes, cakes, pies, and donuts - there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate a birthday!

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.

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Hank is four months!

Adam & Melanie first worked with me when they brought their sweet little boy, Hank, to my studio for his newborn session. You can view those images by clicking here. Melanie contacted us soon after his newborn session to get on the calendar for milestone sessions. She chose to schedule for 4 months, 8 months, and 1 year. Scheduling in advance is recommended so that you can reserve the dates that you want! Melanie wanted to have the dates on the calendar so she could plan Hank’s vaccinations to take place after each one just in case he was fussy for a couple of days after getting them.

On the morning of Hank’s milestone session, the family arrived. Melanie had chosen to add on hair and makeup services, and had been paired with Margaret this time. She had previously worked with Brielle for Hank’s newborn session, and will be working with Brielle again later this month for Hank’s eight month session! All of our HMUA’s are incredibly talented! If you really love the one you work with, you can always specifically request them. However, we cannot guarantee a specific person’s availability will coincide with mine. We take care of coordinating your HMUA so you don’t have yet another thing to schedule. Our studio experience has been designed to be super easy and streamlined so it’s as low stress as possible for you!

I loved the navy floral dress that Melanie had chosen to wear fro her own closet! Adam had brought along a few shirts because he wasn’t sure which one would work best. I looked at what he had brought and immediately pointed at the best choice for what Melanie and Hank were wearing, which was a pink and white striped seersucker button down. Most dads will bring a few options to choose from, so don’t be afraid to do that to! I’m here to help and am a quick decision maker. I know what will photograph well and have an eye for the best colors to suit an individual’s skin tone AND complement what everyone else is wearing. So, no need to worry about it: I’ve got you covered. Melanie had brought a light blue sleeveless romper and another white romper with a Peter Pan collar. Since they’re from Alabama, she loves the southern style! :)

We started Hank’s session with interaction between him and mommy . Four month olds are limited in what they can physically do on their own since they cannot sit up unassisted, and will need to be held by other session participants for a portion of the session. Getting them warmed up for the camera is as simple as playing and snuggling. Your baby LOVES to interact with you, and this is where we will get those beautiful images of your baby looking at you with nothing but pure love. We added daddy in for a few, and Hank started getting fussy. Melanie and Adam were apologetic, and I told them not to worry about it!

Being a photographer with a focus on babies and children is not for the faint of heart. It requires endless patience, a loving heart, and adaptability for a constantly changing situation. Anyone who has a baby knows how they can get fussy for some inexplicable reason. Us adults are trying to figure it out, and no matter what we do, sometimes they get even more upset! I totally understand because I’ve been there - with my own children, and with my clients! So if your session feels like a runaway train because your baby isn’t “cooperating” like you had dreamed about, don’t stress about it. Seriously, just relax, and we’ll go with the flow.

In Hank’s case, he needed a bottle and a power nap. During his power nap I was able to get some of the sweetest and most snuggly images. When he woke up, he was back to his happy self and we wrapped up the session with lots of family and solo images.

I so love this wonderful family and can’t wait to see them again at the end of this month and see how much Hank has grown!

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.

Atlanta Couples Photographer | Marc & Brielle

Even if you don’t have children, you’re still a family who chose each other. Marc & Brielle chose each other ten years ago, and I was SO excited to photograph them for their outdoor fall session! Many of you may know Brielle since she works with a TON of our clients as a member of our HMUA team. Needless to say, Brielle did her own hair and makeup for their couples session!

We scheduled their session to take place at the park location in November. The leaves had started changing and the park was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was warm and golden, and the colors are so rich as a result. Atlanta is so hard to predict when it comes to fall foliage since so many factors are at play: rain, temperature, etc. We schedule tons of sessions in November, but one thing to be aware of is that it could be cold, or it could be warm. Ah, Atlanta. I love you, but you are so unpredictable.

I love couples sessions because we just walk around and explore, and the two of you cozy up and snuggle. Yep, that’s pretty much all my couples really have to do… pretend you’re on a date night and I’m not there. ;) In all seriousness though, my main goal of a couples session is to capture your unique relationship and how you feel about each other. I’ll give you some guidance for how I want you to interact, and I’ll also intervene if I see either of you are giving yourself a self inflicted double chin. Your photos will be the best of both worlds: natural interaction, but also a bit directed so you look every bit as beautiful as you are. Sometimes my prompts will make you laugh because you feel ridiculous - but guess what? It’s a real laugh! I want genuine emotions and true connection between the two of you, and I have ways to help that happen if you’re freezing up in front of the camera a bit.

These two were so fun to work with. I’m smiling as I look through the images because I can literally hear Brielle and Marc laughing and teasing each other throughout. They used several of their images for their Christmas card, and I was lucky enough to be on that mailing list!

As of this blog being published, we only have a few November weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights. If you can make a weeknight work and dip out of work a bit early, you’ll have far less people to contend with wherever we shoot. Weekends are more crowded since tons of people are out and about. Just some food for thought!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this awesome couples’ fall 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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | An Adair Park Lifestyle Session

Sometimes I go to my clients’ houses! If you didn’t know that, now you do. :) I always deliver client sessions in both color and black and white, but I’ve chosen to share only black and white images from this session.

An in home family lifestyle session is perfect for many families - especially those who really want their home to be the background for the photos. Jaqai and Mandi have the COOLEST old home in Adair Park that they have lovingly restored over the last few years. The house gets incredible natural light, and we had so much fun during our time together. This was not the first time I had worked with this family - I last worked with them when they were expecting Zax for their studio maternity session! Want to see those images from that maternity session? Just click here!

Lifestyle sessions capture your family as you are, where you are. I’ll send over some instructions beforehand, with suggestions of what to wear and how to prep your home beforehand. They’re straightforward and simple. We’ll discuss what you do as a family and have a couple of activities in mind. The timing of in home sessions also depends on a few factors - the most important of which are (a) when is your child well rested and at their happiest? and (b) when do the rooms you hope to be photographed in get the best light? We’ll work together to determine the best time and go from there when we schedule your session!

For this family, I arrived in the morning hours. Jaqai and Mandi asked what we should do first, and I asked what they would normally be doing at this time of day. We started on their front porch while they played and had fun. I think they realized about five minutes in that this was not going to be as awkward as they thought, and they visibly relaxed. When Zax asked to go inside to play, I followed them as they all sat on the floor to play. Lifestyle sessions are led by the little ones in your family! We go with their moods and interests, and get lots of amazing images that really capture your child’s personality and expressions along the way.

After playing with trucks, the family headed to read a book on the couch, and enjoyed a tickle fight and some snuggles. Zax lost interest for a bit, so I took the opportunity to photograph just Jaqai and Mandi together for a few. Of course, when Zax realized we were having fun without him, he jumped back into the fray and we wrapped up the session in the living room and front entrance door before I said my goodbyes.

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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | Logan is TWO!!!

I first worked with this family when they were expecting their son for their maternity session in the studio, and again for his newborn and First Birthday sessions. Adrienne and Dave are some of the most loving parents I’ve met, and that’s very evident when I’m around them.

Adrienne emailed to ask if we could schedule a family session for Logan’s second birthday. He’s an October baby! My birthday is in October, and so are the birthdays of my two younger children. While we’re on the subject of October… we are almost fully booked for weekend dates in October. We still have a handful of weeknights open at this time. If you’re hoping to have an outdoor session, please don’t delay in contacting us to get on the calendar. November is also starting to fill up with just a couple weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights as well.

Adrienne has worked with our HMUA team for her previous sessions, and this time was no exception. Our lead artist, Margaret, worked with her and we met at the field location that evening. Logan had fallen asleep on the way… so he was a little bit disoriented and shy at first. He also had a death grip on … a toothbrush. Definitely one of the most unusual objects that I have ever seen in a session!

As a mom of three, I know how stressful it can feel to plan your session and then have it seemingly go sideways if your child (or children!) are in a less than stellar mood. I always tell my clients to come into their sessions with a laid back and relaxed attitude. Children know when their parents are stressing out, and it can sometimes make it worse if they decide it would be fun to push a few of your buttons. Putting pressure on children almost always backfires. Here’s the deal: you cannot FORCE a toddler to smile and look happy, and why would you want to? Every time you look at your images you would see that the smile wasn’t real and you would remember how miserable everyone was that day. Instead, I give my little clients the time and space to warm up to me. If they want to snuggle with you, we go with that. Once they’re more comfortable, I’ll quietly give you some prompts of things to do with your child. I also step pretty far back and let things unfold naturally to capture your unique family dynamic in the most authentic way possible.

As for that toothbrush… well, Adrienne asked me to leave it as it was. Editing it out would not have been realistically possible with many of the image, but she told me that she knew she would laugh about it someday, and that it was a great story to share with him when he was older. That being said: if you don’t want your child to have an interesting object, bring neutral wooden toys if you think they’ll need something to hold. Whatever you bring for them: you need to be okay with it being in the images. Some children won’t give it up. :) In Logan’s case, we were eventually able to get him to trade his toothbrush for a lollipop towards the very end. And as you can see…. the sugar definitely transformed his mood and made him into a little camera ham!

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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | John is TWO!

I first worked with Myra and John for their maternity session at the field when they were pregnant with John. You can see their maternity photos by clicking here. I saw them again the next to photograph John’s First Birthday Session (click here to view those images). Myra contacted us to schedule a family session for John’s second birthday this year and opted for the park location again. Whenever I have families repeat the park location, I switch up where I shoot in the park! The park is really big, so I could easily photograph a family here several years in a row and it would look different each time. Myra also asked to add on makeup services with one of our hair and makeup artists, and we paired her with Brielle.

We sent Myra our style guide and Pinterest inspiration board for her to look through. Since she had worked with us a few times before, she was pretty confident in her choices. The day of her session she did bring two options for herself because she wanted my opinion on which would work better with the outfits she had chosen for her son and husband. I took one look and pointed at the option that worked best. I am MORE than happy to give input to clients for their sessions - and we can do this with a scheduled style consult beforehand at the studio, via email, or even the day of from an armful of options that you bring. If you choose the day of, you just need to ensure that the clothing fits well and is ready to wear for the session. Myra chose to have John wear suspenders… I absolutely love suspenders on little boys and think they are just about the cutest thing ever. Too bad my own three year old son refuses to wear them!

During their session, we had a lot of fun laughing, tickling, and being silly. John is such a sweet little boy and his parents are wonderful! Photographing their family session for his second birthday was so much fun, and the happiness and love are so evident in their images. Here are 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Rylan's Sitting Session

I first worked with Sindi and Erroll for their maternity session with their first daughter (Haylen) in the studio. I went on to photograph Haylen for her sitting milestone and First Birthday sessions! You can see where it all began with their first maternity session by clicking here. Sindi emailed me to let me know they had added another little girl, Rylan, to their family and wanted to schedule her sitting milestone images!

I sent Sindi the style guide and Pinterest inspiration board just so she’d have them, but she’s worked with us SO many time at this point that I knew she wouldn’t need them. Sindi is definitely one of my most fashionable clients - she loves peplum tops, and looks amazing in them. The dresses she chose for Haylen and Rylan were also absolutely adorable, and everyone looked great together, as you’ll see below!

When the family arrived at the studio for Rylan’s session, I was so excited to see them! I couldn’t believe how big Haylen had gotten since her first birthday. Sindi and Erroll warned me that Haylen was full of energy and were worried about her “crashing” the session, but I told them not to worry. I’m a mom of three kids all two years apart give or take a few weeks. At one point I had three children under the age of 4… trust me, I can handle all the energy your children lob my way, and we’ll have a fun time too! At two years old, Haylen definitely had her own opinions and vacillated between wanting to participate and wanting nothing to do with it. That’s normal and expected! I simply work around it and create my flow based on who’s happy and wants to be photographed. Your job as a parent is to try not to stress (I know, easier said than done!) and smile no matter what. Kids know when you’re stressed and most kids enjoy pushing their parents’ buttons. Don’t give them any buttons to push, and you’ll be surprised!

I typically start my milestone sessions with the entire family if the baby is experiencing shyness or stranger anxiety. Since Rylan wasn’t shy AT all, we started with solo portraits and then added parents and family into the mix. I am very efficient when photographing sessions involving older babies and young children. Babies get tired out easily from stimulation, and toddlers lose patience, so I work quickly to make sure we have a varied gallery full of options!

Rylan is such a sweet little girl, and SO cute. I was amazed at how different she looked from her big sister! Genetics are such a crazy thing. It’s so fun to see whose features each baby has and to hear who they look the most like as a baby. It changes with age too - I’ve had parents tell me their newborn looks EXACTLY like dad, only to tell me at six months they look just like mom.

I really love to use our white Eames chair for a few images in each milestone session so that you can see how much your child has grown in between their sessions. Sindi also requested that we be sure to use it because Haylen’s sessions had included it also. It’s really an amazing thing to watch the progression of growth and have one object that’s exactly the same to really compare and contrast! If the modern style isn’t your peference, we have some classic linen options too. We’ll discuss your preferences when you arrive!

Real quick mention: when you see photographs of babies (and even younger kids!) in chairs and on the bed in my studio, mom or dad is right there next to them, just out of the frame. Baby safety is PARAMOUNT around here, and I have measures in place with every session to ensure it!

Isn’t Rylan just the most adorable baby girl?! I cannot wait to see her next month for her First Birthday 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.

Atlanta Baby & Child Photographer | Twice the fun!

Every year we host our annual Motherhood Experience special edition sessions, and they’re usually held in mid to late April. Our HMUA is there to pamper mamas with light makeup application, and it’s such a fun time for all! I love welcoming mamas and their little ones to the studio and photographing them.

This particular mama has been bringing her fraternal twins to me since they were newborns, and I’ve photographed many full milestone and family sessions for them since. These images are from last year’s event, but I’m just now getting around to posting them! Janell comes every year for our Motherhood Experience and Santa sessions, which are the only two volume events the studio has annually.

The Motherhood Experience sessions last about 10-15 minutes, which is all the time we need. The focus is the emotional connection you share with your babies, and lots of snuggles are involved. I quietly direct mamas with simple suggestions to prompt natural interaction and document what unfolds. There are so many sweet and quiet moments - and some crazy and chaotic ones too! Here are a few from Janell’s session with the twins!

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.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Caroline, Blair & Slade

I LOVE when I get an email from a client telling me that they’re expecting their second baby! I first worked with Caroline and Blair when they were expecting their daughter, Slade, more than two years ago. You can view their field maternity images by clicking here, and you can view Slade’s studio newborn session by clicking here.

When Caroline emailed, she let me know they were having a boy this time and they wanted to schedule their maternity session in the field again. Their first session took place at the height of summer, so the field looked very different in April as opposed to August. Because they lived in north Alpharetta, I suggested a different field location that was closer to them to make it easier for Slade since the session time was close to her bedtime. They were totally on board with that suggestion, so we scheduled their date.

Caroline knew she wanted to borrow from the wardrobe again, and because I had worked with her before I had a pretty good idea of which dresses would work well for her. When she arrived, my assumptions were confirmed after seeing her belly shape. The shape of your belly will affect which dresses I recommend for you! No two bellies are the same, and every woman will look different in the same dress. We’ll chat about if there are any parts of your body that you would rather have covered. Some women don’t want a sleeveless or strapless dress, and that is totally fine. Others prefer solids over florals. My main consideration is whether the dress works for your skin tone, followed by how it fits. Above all, you should feel beautiful and comfortable in the dress - and if those four things are checked off, we have a winner!

Caroline loved what I pulled for her, and chose two of the dresses. Once she had chosen her options, I pulled out dresses for Slade for her to consider. I wanted to make sure that Slade’s dresses coordinated well with her choices, so that’s why I waited until Caroline’s dress decisions were made. She absolutely loved one of our toddler dresses for Slade that is a peachy pleated dress. It’s so comfortable and actually fits a wide variety of toddler body shapes because of the cut and style. Since I had not seen Slade since her newborn session, I also pulled a backup dress just in case the first choice wasn’t the best color for her skin tone.

Caroline had worked with our lead HMUA, Margaret, for her previous sessions and it was a no brainer for her when it came to whether to add on hair and makeup services again. She absolutely loves working with Margaret, and this time Margaret designed a gorgeous updo for her that showed off her beautiful features and kept her hair up and out of the way. When you’re handling a toddler, or if you get hot easily, an updo can be the perfect solution! Our HMUA’s will discuss your preferences and style in great detail with you and craft a look for you that enhances your best features but keeps you looking like you. We want our clients to recognize themselves in their photographs!

I needn’t have worried - when Slade walked up I was immediately mesmerized by her gorgeous green eyes and peaches and cream complexion. She was a bit shy, and a total daddy’s girl. In fact, so much of a daddy’s girl that she didn’t want to go to Caroline at all. We worked around that as best as we could. When I shoot a family maternity session, I save mom and dad images for the end. I want to make sure we get as many family and child images as we can and once they’re over it, we’ll hand them an activity to occupy them and photograph just the two of you. In this case, they handed her an iPhone with a quick show to watch and that did the trick perfectly. I do caution parents not to let their young children see their phones or to offer them as a reward or bribe because it almost always backfires terribly. I have lots of techniques and tricks, and as long as you’re willing to follow my guidance for natural interaction with your little one(s), we can often distract them and they start having lots of fun… which results in the sweetest and most natural images of your family truly being a family!

When Caroline viewed her proof gallery, she emailed to tell me she was so shocked at how many wonderful images I photographed of Slade. Slade was a typical toddler and running around non stop, so they were a bit concerned that she wasn’t cooperative enough. I hear this at almost every family session, and I reassure parents that everything is going just fine. I have worked with just about every personality type of child (and adults) and can handle just about anything that is thrown at me. And yes, I’ve had literal objects thrown at me (by toddlers mind you - no adults have done that yet!). Kids are small humans with big emotions, and I get it. I have three of my own! If you have a child that’s not into having their photograph taken, or is just having a rough day, don’t stress. I’ll give them the space they need, assess what’s working when it comes to engaging them, and make a plan from there. Just give them your love, patience, and support - and the session will work itself out.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Caroline’s maternity session! I can’t wait to share baby boy’s newborn session with you here on the blog. Check back to see those next week!

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.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Ethan is ONE!

I first worked with Ethan’s parents for their maternity session in the park, which you can view by clicking here. He came into the studio at six months old for his sitting milestone session, and you can see those images by clicking here. So many of my clients choose to work with me throughout their baby’s first year (and subsequent babies!) and then schedule annual family portraits after that. I absolutely love getting to watch my littlest clients grow over the years!

Keyianna scheduled Ethan’s First Birthday session in the studio. First Birthday sessions almost always include parents too unless they opt to not be in them. I HIGHLY encourage parents to participate because these photos are a gift to your child. They will look at them someday and see all the love and laughter that surrounded them. Plus, we’re also celebrating the fact that you made it through your baby’s first year. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, so I say we recognize it!

You won’t see a cake smash in these images because there wasn’t one. Not every client chooses to include a cake, and it’s entirely a matter of personal preference. Some clients don’t want to give their babies any sugar for a few years, others just don’t really love cake, and others like to do something a bit out of the box and use a cupcake or pile of donuts. If you do decide to use a cake, we’ll send you our cake tips sheet for best practices. Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose to use matters! Pro tip: avoid whipped icing - it’s by far the most difficult to get off of your child. Take it from me: I have seen it all!

We also sent over our style guide to Keyianna to help her in choosing what they should all wear. She found it super helpful and easy to read, and needed no additional help pulling their outfits together. Most parents celebrating a first birthday have two outfits for their baby. I always encourage parents to make sure one of the outfits shows off their baby’s toes, and chunky legs. When your baby is a full fledged toddler, you will miss these terribly. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone down the rabbit hole looking at photos of my own children as babies. They’re now 7, 5, and 3, and I still don’t know how the heck it happened so fast. I am so grateful that I was at least able to freeze those memories forever so I will never forget their chubby baby fingers and wispy hair.

Ethan was a curious little guy and not hesitant around me at all. My flow for these sessions varies and depends on your child. Some babies need to be in their parents’ arms for a bit and warm up to me. Others are ready to go as soon as they walk in. If your baby is walking, I’ll make sure to photograph them doing that! My main goal is to forever preserve your baby just as they were at the age of one. I want you to look at the photos and see their personality, how adorable they were, and their expressions. You will compare these photos to how they look as they grow and make note of what features they retained and which faded.

Because Ethan wasn’t shy, we rotated through family, solo, and parent images and then ended with an outfit change and more solo portraits. He immediately decided to stand up, and was SO PROUD of himself. I laugh every time I see his face. (it’s the very last image if you can’t wait to see it) Don’t worry - dad was standing right next to the chair out of the frame ready to catch him if needed. Safety is the highest priority during sessions, and a parent is always right there to spot.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Mr. Ethan’s session! I can’t wait to see him again next 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Family Photographer | DJ's Second Birthday!

I adore working with Senika and DJ, and I have had the honor of doing so since Senika was pregnant with him! Senika books a family session every year for DJ’s birthday, and comes to our Santa event every year also. I’ll be photographing DJ for his third birthday coming up in July, and I cannot wait. He is the happiest, smartest, most fun little guy - and his mama is just as amazing.

Senika asked to borrow a dress from the wardrobe for her session, and I pulled out one of our more relaxed pieces. Because DJ’s birthday is in July, it’s pretty hot outside in Atlanta, so I wanted her to be cool and comfortable. She LOVED it, and mentioned she had the perfect shoes to wear with it too. Because she had chosen a neutral dress, that left DJ’s outfit choice wide open. I like to call dresses that are solid neutral colors a “blank canvas” - because you can pair them with pretty much anything! She chose to dress him in lime green pants and a plaid shirt with some of the cutest little blue tennis shoes I have ever seen.

On the evening of their session, we met at the park location and Senika had brought along a fun balloon and a cupcake. DJ loves to run and play ball, and play with sticks, and Senika had also brought his favorite ball as well. Her goal with his birthday sessions is to capture his personality and the things that he loves to do. So, we incorporate those things into his sessions to make that happen! We had a lot of fun running around and playing, and of course….like most little boys, DJ found a stick. I went with it, and it ended up being one of Senika’s favorite pictures.

A quick note about balloons - I welcome them, but also remind my clients to bring their patience. Balloons have a mind of their own on a string indoors, and I can’t control the wind if we’re outdoors. We’ll do the best we can, but it may involve some creativity on our parts! Because of the breeze that evening, Senika had to hold the balloon so that the number would be the correct way, but we both loved how it worked out.

We ended the session with cupcake time… and all of a sudden as DJ was finishing up his cupcake, clouds rolled in. I had checked the forecast and there was no rain in it… but sure enough, those clouds ended up being a very fast moving summer thunderstorm! We ran to our cars just in time before the sky opened up. Fortunately, we were all finished with the session at that point so it was all just fine.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from DJ’s session. Such a big difference from his First Birthday Session! Oh, did you want to see those too? No problem - just click here!

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.

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Amelia's in home six month milestone session

Fact: I travel to homes too for lifestyle sessions. (but not if you have or had a cat in the home, because I will literally have to be taken to a hospital due to my severe allergies)

I first worked with Kristen and Dave for their maternity session at the field location with their two pups Riggs & Tink. You can view those images by clicking here. I was so excited to head to their home in Brookhaven and meet their daughter, Amelia!

Amelia is the most darling little thing! She is the perfect mix of her parents and has such beautiful blue eyes. When I arrived at the house, I looked around to see what kind of lighting I had to work with, and decided to photograph in 3 of the rooms there. Every home is unique, and because I work with the available natural light, every session will look different too. When we plan your in home session, you’ll send over some quick phone snaps of your home at a couple of different times during the day so we can determine the best time to schedule your session and know ahead of time which rooms we’ll be photographing in! I chose to photograph in one of their darker rooms in the house, and you’ll know instantly which two photographs in the below collage were taken in that particular room. Those photos prove that (a) you don’t have to have TONS of light and (b) emotional connection is what makes a beautiful photograph.

We started in the living room, headed to the master bedroom, and then upstairs to Amelia’s adorable nursery. Lifestyle sessions are all about having fun together as a family. You will play, you’ll tickle, you’ll snuggle in. Amelia particularly enjoyed playing peek a boo with Daddy on the couch, and he treated us to some singing as well which made Amelia so happy! (PS: I can’t carry a tune to save my life, so don’t worry if you can’t either - we’re in the same club) During our time together, I’ll make sure that you look great (no unflattering angles or self inflicted double chins) and give you simple guidance as needed. Your only job will be to have your home ready to go when I arrive (clutter cleared away, etc) and be ready to have fun!

Want to book an in home session? Contact us to discuss your vision and we’ll get to planning!

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.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | A mommy and me session with Dawn & Cady

I first worked with Dawn for her maternity session in the studio and you can view those images by clicking here. I was SO excited when she scheduled a mommy & me session because I so enjoyed working with her, and couldn’t WAIT to meet her baby girl!

Dawn has such a joyful and bubbly personality, and her baby girl, Cady, is such a sweetheart with the biggest brown eyes. Dawn and Cady showed up in a navy and white color scheme, and I loved the floor length gown. It was so wonderful to spend time with the two of them and see how Dawn has settled into her role of Cady’s mama.

Complimentary matching black and white images are provided to my clients to match the color images they select for their collections, and I chose to only share the black and white versions here since I love them so much. Enjoy! I’m looking forward to seeing this mother and daughter duo again for another mommy and me session this coming weekend!

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.

Atlanta In Home Family Photographer | Myka & Harris

Fun fact about Myka and I: we were pregnant at the same time, and our sons are 27 days apart! We have yet to schedule a playdate with our boys though since when we meet up it’s adults only. I enjoy every second I spend with Myka - she has such a creative and free spirit, and is an saavy entrepreneur herself. (Follow her over at highbrowhippie on Instagram!)

Many people are surprised to learn that I photograph in home sessions. It’s true, I do…and I love them. If you’re not sure if an in home session is right for you, just give us a call. We’ll talk about your vision, your home, and give you our professional input and suggestions!

When I arrived at the house for this session, Harris said hi, and I commented to Myka on how calm and quiet he was. Myka shot me a look, which I wasn’t really sure how to interpret. Harris disappeared and seconds later, came roaring back into the room with his Tonka Truck. I immediately took my words back, and quickly realized Harris was just like my son…. energetic, full of zest for life…and not so quiet.

Myka’s gorgeous home is filled with beautiful natural light, and I loved the architecture throughout. After a quick walk through, I decided to shoot on the stairs and downstairs and we got started. In home lifestyle sessions are fun and relaxed. I encourage you to go about activities that you would do even if I weren’t there, and I mix in some directed natural posing as well. Anyone who has a two year old boy knows that they don’t sit still, which is why I call it “directed natural posing”. If you’re not sure what that is, it’s basically me giving you a prompt of what to do with your child and photographing what unfolds. Super easy! :) Harris loves playing games and giving high fives, so engaging him was no problem. We got lots of beautiful images of the two of them snuggling and interacting just like they would if I weren’t there to document it. That’s what I strive for with in home sessions. We will talk about the areas of your home that are most meaningful to you, the things about your child and your relationship that you love and want to capture, and your favorite activities to do together as we plan your session.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and your watching your not so little boy get dressed for his senior prom? 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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | Lindsay, Matt & Peyton at the park

I was SO excited for this session with Lindsay, Matt, & Peyton. Lindsay wanted to schedule family photos before her husband Matt deployed for another tour of duty, and she chose the park location for their session.

I first worked with Lindsay and Matt for their maternity session at the gardens when they were expecting Peyton. I ran into them when they leaving the hospital at the same time I was arriving to photograph a birth of another client. Fun fact: my client went into labor which pushed their induction, so they were leaving because of that! I photographed Peyton as a newborn right before his daddy deployed. I saw them again for Peyton’s First Birthday session, and then again for Mother’s Day and Santa. I LOVE this family, to say the least. They’re amazing, and such wonderful people!!!

I sent off the style guide to Lindsay, and we met up the evening of their session at the studio. I have clients follow me to the location we’re shooting at within the park so they don’t have to worry about getting lost or trying to find it. Just another way I keep my sessions as stress free as possible!

When they arrived, Matt was in uniform as he had come from work. Lindsay asked if we could take a few photos with him in uniform, and I was happy to do so. I know I speak for many when I say I’m so thankful for their service. It’s not just the men and women in our armed forces who serve, it’s their families too. Military families sacrifice so much to serve our country, and I am endlessly grateful to them.

Matt changed into his clothing for the session, and we started shooting. With toddler boys, I have found the best sessions are the ones in which we play! Wrestling, tickling, hide and go seek, running, walking, riding on daddy’s shoulders, you name it. Keeping them occupied and having fun is key, and we’ll get genuine smiles and laughter from it. I want your child’s personality to shine, and in order to do that, they need to feel 100% safe and comfortable. Play is the number one way to achieve that.

When Peyton was “over” the session and just wanted to collect sticks, I took the opportunity to photograph Lindsay and Matt as a couple. I try to do this during every family session. Before you had children, it was just the two of you. Someday your kids won’t be living with you anymore, and it’ll be just the two of you again. Your love deserves to be documented too, so let’s do that!

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and they’re prepping for the SAT’s? 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.

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Anjali is three months!

Nilam and Mitch are parents of three fun and amazing kids. As a mom of three myself, I know just what to expect with multiple children of different ages, and I absolutely love it.

This sweet family had worked with another photographer for several years - for newborn and milestone and family sessions for their older two children. That photographer was scaling back on photography work to focus on other areas of her life, and chose to send them my way. I’m always honored when another photographer sends a client to me, especially when it’s a client they’ve had for over five years!

On the morning of their three month milestone/family session for their youngest daughter, Anjali, Nilam arrived with her three children in tow. She was a bit flustered and let me know her husband was on his way. She had thrown a few possible outfits into a bag but wasn’t sure what everyone should wear, and I could tell she was feeling stressed out. She let me know that Mitch had handled the booking process, and that she hadn’t known she could come in beforehand for a style consult. I told her not to worry, and pulled out multiple outfits from my client wardrobe and we had all three children dressed in no time. She looked through the options I had pulled out for her and picked one that she loved. Mitch arrived shortly afterwards, and he was all set with what he had brought from home. They expressed amazement that I had been able to dress 4/5’s of the family.

While I can’t always do that since my wardrobe for children is limited, I am more than happy to assist you with styling your family! If you’re a busy mom who just can’t make the time to come by the studio, no worries. We can chat through email and text, and we’ll get you squared away. We have a super easy to follow style guide that we send to all our clients too, and are available to answer any questions you have throughout the entire process.

We started their session with solo images of Anjali. Three month olds are limited in what they can physically do on their own since they cannot sit up unassisted, and will need to be held by other session participants for a portion of the session.

The rest of the session was very much like a carousel of organized chaos. I have a shot list in mind that I mentally tick off, but so much is dependent on if your other children want to participate. Arjun and Lakshmi thought I was hilarious, and we enjoyed playing games throughout. Nilam and Mitch remarked on how they could see I was a mom of three because I understood the dynamics and rolled with whatever the children were giving me at that particular moment. Listen, being a photographer with a focus on babies and children is not for the faint of heart. It requires endless patience, a loving heart, and adaptability for a constantly changing situation. Anyone who has a toddler knows how they can decide to throw a temper tantrum at any random moment over something that we cannot figure out. Anyone who has a baby knows that sometimes they get fussy for some inexplicable reason. I get it, I’ve been there - with my own children, and with my clients! So if your session feels like a runaway train because your child isn’t “cooperating” like you had hoped, don’t worry about it. Seriously, just let it go. Relax, and let ME do the heavy lifting. :)

Since this session took place, they’ve been back for Anjali’s 6 month and 9 month sessions, and we’re in the process of planning her one year session outdoors. I so love this wonderful family and am looking forward to working with them for years to come!

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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | Clarissa & Isabella

Clarissa has been a client of mine since she was pregnant with Isabella, and it’s pretty safe to say I absolutely adore the two of them. From maternity to newborn to many milestones, I’ve photographed them many times! Getting to know Clarissa over the past couple of years and watch her grow into such a wonderful mother has been an honor and a privilege. Each client who chooses to work with me had a wide pool to consider - so when you choose to work with me and share some of the most special moments of your life with me… I don’t take it lightly at all.

Because Clarissa and I have worked together so many times now, she didn’t need any help with styling herself and Isabella. She fell in love with the field location, and I suggested we hike up to the mountaintop afterwards. Her session took place in late August, so she knew it would be hot but it was definitely worth it!

We met the evening of her session at the field. I absolutely loved the dresses she had chosen for them to wear and knew they would be absolutely gorgeous in the setting! Isabella is a friendly little girl but a little shy at first, so I took the opportunity to hang back with a longer focal length and have her interact with her mommy. Once she was used to my presence, I switched lenses to be closer up. Isn’t she absolutely darling?!

I could talk for an hour about I approach sessions with young children, but I won’t. In a nutshell: I navigate through the session at the pace of your child. My sessions are very much about playing snuggling together, and NOT necessarily looking at the camera. Telling a toddler to look at the camera and smile very often backfires in one of two ways. (1) Painfully forced smiles or (2) Refusal to look and smile. Let’s take the pressure to perform off, and let everything unfold totally naturally. I can’t tell you how many times parents have seen their gallery and expressed amazement at the images because they thought their session was going horribly. You can’t see what I see… and it only takes 1/800th of a second to capture an image that make you catch your breath every time you look at it.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re watching them walk down the aisle at their high school graduation? 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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | A Decatur in home family session

I was SO excited for this family session! I first worked with them at their maternity session (view the session by clicking here) and then again at their newborn session (view the session by clicking here). We switched it up this time and scheduled the session to take place in their home with casual dress. Believe it or not, I love jeans and a white t-shirt just as much as I love a pretty studio dress!

The time of day that I schedule your in home session is determined by the best light in your home and the schedule of your little one(s). Sometimes that will be in the morning, and other times in the afternoon. We want happy kids, so it’s best to schedule for right after a good nap and a meal! For this family, that was right around 11 AM.

When I arrived at the house, did a quick walk through to determine where we would be photographing the family. My priority is the best light! One I had determined the rooms we would be in (living room and master bedroom) I moved a few things with permission that would be distracting in the background. I want your images to be as true to life as possible, but I doubt you want to be staring at a neon colored bottle in the background of your images! :)

I spent the next hour with the family watching them interact and giving them suggestions of how to play with their children. I knew Busola practices yoga, and asked if she could do some fun things with her son, Ayo on the couch incorporating that. Ayo LOVED it, and the joy on his face was just so cute. I love images of families truly at play - especially with their mamas. How often do we get to see ourselves like this with our children? Your home is the safest place your child knows (next to your arms). After we finished up downstairs, we headed up to the bedroom, and I asked if Ayo could jump on the bed. I think Ayo thought I was the coolest photographer ever when his parents said he could! He worked some energy out, and then the family cuddled up on the bed together. It was at this point that little miss Liya spit up all over her outfit, requiring an outfit change. I asked them to hold off on redressing her because I saw the opportunity in front of me. The resulting images of her mama lovingly playing with her on the bed are some of my favorites from the session. Busola redressed her in the sweetest little knit pink romper, and we finished up all of the family images. I then asked Busola and her husband if they’d like a few images of just the two of them, and they were all for it! They handed their children over to their babysitter who was downstairs, and I took a few images of them together. I absolutely love how much fun the two of them have together. Their personalities are so different, but the common factor is how positive and joyful they both are. They are the type of people that make you have a great day just because you interacted with them.

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 needs!

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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | The Q Family

I first started working with Erised & Dan for their maternity session in the gardens location when they were expecting their son. You can see their maternity images by clicking here. I went on to photograph their son’s newborn session and six month milestone session (view by clicking here) in the studio. Erised wanted an outdoor fall session at the field for family Christmas cards and to further document Benicio’s growth. I’m so looking forward to photographing Benicio’s First Birthday session in a couple of weeks!

We sent over the studio style guide to Erised, and I encouraged her to have everyone wear color if she wanted that. She debated for a while on which direction she wanted to go for wardrobe, but ultimately decided on a more casual look for everyone. I absolutely LOVED the colors she chose! When they arrived at the field, she pulled out a couple of different options for Benicio because she wanted my opinion on which would be best with what she and Dan were wearing. Lots of families will bring along different options if they’re not 100% sure, and this is totally okay to do! I’m also available via email or a quick 15 minute studio appointment to go over your choices for everyone and offer my input and suggestions on anything to mix up or change. Your family portrait experience should be FUN and not stressful, and I’m here to help!

Benicio is pretty much one of the happiest little babies I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He loves his parents, and he loves people in general. I just love his cute little yellow moccasins that picked up the yellow from his mother’s dress. His little bottom tooth and bright blue eyes are just absolutely adorable. (His other bottom tooth broke through just days after our time together!)

Babies love being outdoors and are always interested in their surroundings. It’s very easy to keep them happy and distracted for outdoor sessions, and we always have a lot of fun. I direct parents as we go throughout our session, and the things I direct you to do are very likely things that you do with at home. SO much of a family session is play based, regardless of your child’s age. Sometimes families freeze up when a camera is on them and they’re just not sure what to do. So many parents express relief (and amazement!) that a session with me is as easy as it is! Show up ready to play and goof off with your kids, and we will get those real moments filled with laughter, real grins, and sparkling eyes. When you’re having fun, you relax, and your individual personalities shine through - which creates the optimal environment to capture your family’s unique and beautiful dynamic!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this lovely family’s family session at the field!

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.