Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Ava is six months!

I first worked with Heather & Jason when they were expecting their daughter, Ava, and again at Ava’s newborn session. You can see their maternity images at the field location by clicking here and Ava’s newborn images by clicking here. I’ll be seeing them again this spring for Ava’s First Birthday - I adore working with clients for all the special milestones over the first year!

I was so excited to see them for Ava’s six month session! Heather had asked to add on hair and makeup services again, and had requested the park location for this session. One of the fun things for my clients about repeatedly working with me is that they become more and more confident with each session. They’ve learned all the basic “rules” I have for flattering posing and don’t need very much direction from me. We also have a relationship at this point and they trust me to photograph their family and KNOW that they’re going to walk away with gorgeous images that they love. I’ve had clients come for a session and have one of their children have a full on meltdown. They don’t get frazzled or stressed, because they’ve learned from their previous sessions with me that we’ll work around it and that I’ll spend the extra time help their child calm or settle however I can - whether that is me engaging with their child or stepping away to let mom and dad do it.

In Ava’s case, she’s the happiest baby on the planet. There was no fussing or needing to settle - she was so happy to be outside with her parents. We did have one outfit mishap when Ava spit up all over her goldenrod romper that she was wearing. Heather had heeded our advice to have a backup outfit on hand, so a quick outfit change to a gorgeous cream bodysuit took care of that with no problem! Plus, who doesn’t love chubby baby legs?! The outfit change showed those off well!

I don’t have a set session flow for babies and families and change it up for each individual client based on what the baby needs. Since Ava was so friendly and happy, it didn’t matter how I structured it. We moved through the whole family together, Ava with each of her parents, and some with Ava by herself. Ava was a pretty strong sitter, but her daddy was hovering just out of the frame to catch her if she tipped over. Safety first!

How cute is this little gal and her family!? I can’t wait to see them all in April to smash some cake and celebrate Ava being ONE!!!

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 G Family in the studio

Leila contacted the studio to book a family/milestone session in the studio with her husband and daughter, Raine. We sent over the style guide to her and set a session date. Our style guide is a helpful one page document that guides you through best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combinations. If you want more detailed feedback, you are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult at the studio or to send over quick phone photos of what you’re considering!

A couple of days before their scheduled session, Leila reached out to let us know that the whole family was sick with an upper respiratory infection. We know that life is unpredictable with little ones, so if this happens to you - don’t stress. We want everyone to be happy and healthy at their session! We looked through the studio calendar and rescheduled for a couple weeks out on a date that worked for both of us.

A funny story …. on the reschedule date, guess who woke up with NO voice. Yep, yours truly. I had zero warning that this was about to happen, and just woke up that way. I wasn’t sick with anything, but literally just did not have a voice. Never in my life have I had that happen, and to this day, I still don’t know why it did.

Because of how I run my sessions, having a voice is absolutely essential. I talk to babies, give direction to parents, and NEED my voice. My studio manager, Caroline, had to call Leila and let her know that I couldn’t speak and we needed to reschedule again. Leila understood completely, and was glad that I was erring on the side of caution just in case losing my voice was the precursor to actually being sick with something. Turns out that it really was just me losing my voice for no reason. I’m not kidding when I tell you that I was silent for three entire days until it came back. It was very, very strange to not be able to talk or communicate verbally… but my husband and kids seemed to love it! ;) My voice did return after that, and when Leila came in for her session she mentioned that when we had rescheduled she didn’t fully understand why I needed to be able to talk but that she 100% understood why afterwards! :)

Raine was a shy baby, so we began our session with family images and in parent arms. It took a lot of goofing around and trying different things, but I figured out that if Raine’s parents “dropped” her by bending their knees quickly and tilting her backwards she had a BIG smile and was laughing. So… guess what her parents did for the entire session? Yep. Your workout class is included free with sessions. ;)

After all the fun, Raine was feeling a lot more comfortable with me and the studio and we were able to sit her alone on a chair for some solo portraits. If you arrive and your little one is not feeling it, don’t stress. I have TONS of patience, and I’ll do whatever is help to your child feel comfortable. Come in ready to play and with a willingness to try unorthodox things to get the giggles going, and everything else will work itself out!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s session!

Want to capture your family just as you are now before the 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!

Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Family Photographer | Baby Lulu

Thomas called the studio to learn about milestone and family sessions, and asked to book a session to take place in that next month. He requested to add on hair and makeup for his wife, Noi, and scheduled a complimentary studio visit as well to take place a week before their session. We sent over the style guide for his review, and an overview of what to expect.

When Thomas and his family arrived for their style consult, I welcomed them into the studio and we spent a bit of time getting to know each other. They wanted to look through the studio wardrobe and potentially borrow from it, but were coming more for inspiration and to meet me in advance. Noi and I went through lots of different options available, and looked through the limited baby wardrobe as well. I’ve found that the majority of my clients prefer to use their own clothing for their babies - but we do have a limited wardrobe for babies 1 year and under if you’re in a pinch! I welcome and encourage my booked clients to come in to the studio beforehand for a style consult to go through what we have and talk, so if you can make the time - please do! :) The family left feeling confident about how to proceed with their wardrobe and excited about our session in the coming week.

On the day of their session, Noi arrived and settled into the hair and makeup chair. Thomas and Lulu came a bit later, and I started photographing just Lulu since she was curious and friendly. If babies are a bit shy, I’ll have them in your arms instead until they warm up. Lulu was 5 months old at the time of their session, so not quite sitting unassisted, but had great head control! She was such a smiley little thing… and then she fell asleep!

I LOVE when my milestone babies fall asleep during sessions, so if this happens to you, do NOT stress. It’s cause for celebration! This is a wonderful opportunity to photograph their sweet sleeping faces and their lush eyelashes. I even joked that we’d get a few “newborn-esque” images since she was sleeping SO deeply for her short nap!

Thomas and Noi are such doting parents to little Lulu, and the whole family was just so sweet together! When I have a younger baby that can’t sit unassisted, I shoot these sessions with baby in the arms of their parent(s) for the majority of the time. If a parent just wants to document the milestone and doesn't want to be in the images at all, we'll work around it by shooting from above while on the floor, or have a parent hold their baby and not photograph the parents' face. I strongly encourage parents to participate though! You will love having these images of yourself with your baby when they fly from the nest someday (and that will happen sooner than you think). I can't keep them little for you forever, but I CAN freeze time in a tangible way with portraits of them at this stage. 

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 | The A Family at the studio

Jessi called the studio to learn about our process and asked to book a family session. She had never experienced professional photography with her entire family together, and she was very excited to find a studio that was in line with what she was looking for. Because she wanted to schedule her session for December, she didn’t want to try for an outdoor session with the risk of it being too cold outside. You just never know what you’ll get in Atlanta - sometimes we have 75 degree December days and other times we have 21 degree days. Studio sessions happen no matter what the weather is outside, so if you can’t be flexible to reschedule to the next available open date due to weather conditions, the studio is the best choice.

We sent over the style guide to Jessi for her to review as she planned what everyone would wear. On the phone, she expressed that her family loved to wear color, and we told her we love color too! Our studio is a very neutral setting and as long as families dress in color combinations that don’t involve neon or certain colors with heavy color casts, it’s all good! Our style guide is super helpful when it comes to deciding what to wear, and we are more than happy to have you come in for a complimentary style consult as well. We’re here to make this experience as easy and stress free as possible - so if you need some extra help or guidance, all you have to do is ask.

We set a date, and Jessi asked to add on hair and makeup services. We paired her with Olivia, who Jessi absolutely loved. She e-mailed us after her session just to tell us that Olivia was the best hair and makeup person she’d ever had in her life so far. Pretty high (and well deserved!) praise! Our hair and makeup team is absolutely fantastic, and our clients love working with them. It’s not unusual for clients to decide to never step in front of my camera again without utilizing the services of our team! You’ll feel like you’re chatting with a good friend the entire time you’re in the chair.

When the family arrived the afternoon of their session, I introduced myself to the kids. My approach with children is to give them space and let them approach me. I believe that kids are people too, and they deserve as much respect and consideration as adults do. Getting into a child’s face with a peppy cheerleader voice is not my style, nor does it tend to go over well from what I’ve observed. Sometimes my littlest clients are outgoing and friendly from the start, and other times they need to take a little time to familiarize themselves with the surroundings and warm up to me. This is exactly why I structure my family sessions the way that I do! We will almost always start with the whole family together and then move into parent/child images. This helps your child feel safe and secure with you while I gain their trust. By mid session, we’re usually exchanging high fives and playing games and that’s when we go for sibling and individual child portraits. There is no 100% set session flow that I refuse to deviate from. I’ll switch it up depending on the needs of your family and who is willing to participate at any given time.

Sadie & Zeke were just absolutely adorable! I love their big blue eyes and grins - and Sadie’s curly hair is just gorgeous. She had the best personality, and I spent a few minutes with just her in a chair photographing her expressions as we talked about her favorite things.

We had an absolute BLAST - the kids were running and jumping by the end and having a ball. Once I could see the kids were over being photographed, I pulled Sean and Jessi aside for a few parent only images. Most of the time with first time clients, the last time they’ve been photographed professionally as a couple was at their wedding! With my sessions, I always pull mom and dad aside for a few of just the two of them. After all, it was just the two of you once - and someday when the kids leave home, it’ll be just the two of you again.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this family’s studio 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 | A Brookhaven in-home session with Madeleine, Tyson & Parker

I’ve worked with Madeline & Tyson before for their maternity session at the gardens location when they were expecting their son, Parker - and then again for his newborn session and First Birthday session! They are such a fun couple to work with and I’ve enjoyed the time I have spent with them.

Madeleine contacted me to schedule an in-home lifestyle milestone session at their gorgeous home in Brookhaven that also included some professional headshots for a print campaign for her (which I won’t show in the gallery below). I love in-home sessions when babies are older because you can photograph them actually enjoying and interacting with all the aspects of their nurseries. The vast majority of our newborn clients choose to book a studio session over in home and plan an in home session for the sitting or First Birthday milestone.

We scheduled the session around Parker’s nap times and at the best time for the best light in the rooms they wanted to photograph within their home. I do carry lighting equipment with me just in case we need it, but it’s pretty rare. I tend to embrace the light in a client’s home - so if it’s not as well lit, the photos will just have a darker and more moody feel to them that reflects that. If it’s too dark for the images to meet my quality standards, that’s when I will make the decision to augment with my lighting equipment. So, how do you know when the best light of day will be in? You probably have the answer right on your iPhone! Go into the room you want to photograph and open the compass application. North facing windows are pretty great all day long (and what I have in my studio). East facing windows can be too bright and harsh in the morning and it’s better to wait until the sun has risen up a bit closer to noon. South facing windows are often the most difficult to work with as it’s just super harsh light, and West facing windows are great from noon until right before the sun lowers so much that it’s shining directly in the windows. This will also be affected by whether you have trees outside your windows and the time of year. Spring and summer tree foliage block out a lot more light than fall and winter when the leaves have dropped. There are lots of factors at play - and we’re here to assist you in determining the best time of day light wise!

When I arrived at their home, Madeline and I headed down the street to a local park for her headshot portion. Parker was due to be up from his nap at any moment and would be eating afterwards, so that’s why we planned it this way. When we returned from the park, he was ready to be dressed. Madeleine showed me a few outfit options and I pulled out the best combos. We headed to the backyard first before the sun rose too high for some outdoor images with their pups, and then went back indoors for some images in their formal living room. After an outfit change, we headed upstairs to Parker’s gorgeous nursery. I loved the blue and white scheme and the stuffed llama was just the cutest! Madeleine has an affinity for traditional Southern clothing, and never misses an opportunity to dress Parker up. True to form, she put him in a sweet romper and handed him his silver cup and spoon that had been a baby gift from a special person in their lives. He had the best time banging and playing with them, and we wrapped up the session with family and parent images in the nursery.

As of this writing, I’ve photographed Madeleine’s second maternity session and we’re waiting the birth of the newest addition to the family later this spring!

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 | Cori is TWO!

I first photographed Cori when she was one for some First Birthday portraits. Her parents had chosen not to be in the session with her for that session, but when Rebecca called to schedule portraits for Cori’s second birthday she let us know that they wanted to be in the photos this time for a milestone/family session. They were so excited about it, and I was too! I really love when parents participate in the session because I believe it’s such a gift to give to your children. They will look at those images for the rest of their lives, even when you’re not there with them anymore - and they will see how much you loved them. I like to call photographs “tangible memories”. It’s incredible how much emotion a simple picture can evoke. Looking at a photo of myself holding my daughter as a tiny newborn in your arms instantly transports me back to those days the memories all come flooding back - from the weight of her in my arms to the sweet scent of her newborn baby head.

We sent Rebecca our style guide which she appreciated, and she let us know it was super helpful. It’s a short and sweet rule with suggested guidelines for the best practices in dressing your family. If you’re still feeling stuck or not quite sure, you can schedule a time to stop by the studio for a complimentary style consult, or we can exchange emails! Moms simply snap a few photos of their outfit combinations, email them to me, and I’ll respond with input and feedback. Super easy! If you opt for an in person consult, you simply bring what you’re considering, and we’ll sit down together and go over it. We’re here to help planning for your session be as EASY and stress free as possible and are more than happy to serve you in this way!

When the family arrived Rebecca let me know that Cori was FULL of personality and might be difficult to wrangle. Pretty much every client tells me this - and I say, “bring it!” I LOVE lively children, and I have three of my own who are chock full of personality themselves. If you have a spirited child, we are going to have the best time playing and interacting - and they will be full of those cute expressions unique to them that you know and love. Just saying that is making my brain flash through all the expressions my children make on a daily basis when reacting to certain things! I want you to always remember the fun personality of your child, and portrait sessions are such a great way to do this!

“My child is really, really shy.” - that might be what you’re thinking right now. That’s okay! When you come in for your session, you won’t see my camera out for a little bit. I’m going to give your child a LOT of space and start playing by myself with toys. Yep, you heard right. When they show interest, often times they’ll come over to see what’s happening. I tend to ignore my littlest clients until they show interest in me - and I meet them where they’re at. The last thing a shy child needs is an overly peppy photographer getting in their face because that’s just not going to build their trust and win them over. If it’s taking them a little longer to warm up, we’ll start the session with family images in your arms. We have lots of fun techniques that we use to warm kids up, and as long as you’re laid back and go along with my prompts - we will work together to create some magic!

Since Cori wasn’t shy, she hopped right up onto one of my studio chairs and proceeded to show me all her expressions. We brought her parents in one by one and together, and just had lots of fun playing and running around. I want you to know that this session was VERY high energy, and mom and dad were a little out of breath at the end. When they saw their gallery they LOVED the photos of their family together and all of the images of Cori as well - from the funny, to silly, to happy, to serious. I can’t wait to see them 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 | The S Family at the Field

I first photographed this family when Hannah was just a tiny newborn! She’s one of the babies I’ve had that looked EXACTLY like one of her parents. You can click here to see images from their newborn session a few years ago!

When Samantha reached out asking to schedule updated family portraits at our field location, I was SO excited. It’s such an honor to be chosen by families to photograph them, and I SO love getting to work with families again and again. My longest client has been working with me for seven years now, and getting to watch their family and children grow over their years has been such an honor. I consider it a privilege to help my clients with their photography needs, and my goal is to serve them well. We sincerely want our clients to walk away feeling well cared for throughout their experience and know how much we appreciate them.

We sent over the style guide for Samantha to look through and when we followed up to ask if she had any questions or needed any help, she told us it was the perfect resource and was super helpful so she was all set. If you DO need more assistance in planning what to wear, we are here to help as much as you need with that. We can communicate via emailed photos with input and feedback or schedule an in person consult here at the studio if your schedule allows for that. Consults are complimentary to our booked clients, and we are more than happy to spend some time with you to help you pull together the look for your family.

Samantha worked with our HMUA team for her previous session, and she asked to do so again. Hope met her at the studio before her session, and I met the family at the field location that evening. I was so excited to see Hannah again and was shocked at how much she had grown… and at how much she still looked the same from her newborn images! It’s so cool to see how some babies retain all their features while others look like a totally different person. Hannah was happy and excited to be out in the field with her parents,

As a mom of three, I know how overwhelming it can be to plan your session and then have it seemingly go sideways if your child (or children…or partner!) are in a less than stellar mood. My best advice is this: come to your session with a laid back and relaxed attitude. Children FEEL when their parents are stressing out, and guess what happens? They decide it would be fun to push a few of your buttons to see what happens. Putting pressure on young children almost always backfires. Take it from a mom and seasoned photographer: you simply can’t force a toddler to smile and look genuinely happy. 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 because of all the stress that didn’t need to be there in the first place.

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 back and let things unfold naturally to capture your unique family dynamic in the most authentic way possible. I can’t tell you the number of clients who leave a session wondering if things went okay and if I even managed to get anything who then see the gallery and email me with tears in their eyes because they can’t believe it’s really their family and that those sweet moments really happened during. As I like to remind people: I only need 1/800th of a second to create an image. So let them be themselves, follow my prompts, play and have fun…. the rest works itself out. :)

Hannah had a lot of fun during the session hanging out with her parents but there were definitely a few moments where she lost interest and didn’t want to participate anymore. When this happens, sometimes I put the camera down and we play. Other times I call out to mom and dad that we’re going to go explore and let their child lead the way. So many awesome family images are created simply by letting your child be who they are and go where they want to go - and getting yourselves on their level and into the frame. I talk about how my sessions with newborns and babies are very baby led - family sessions are also very child led especially when it comes to the younger ones. I think this gallery will give you a fantastic overview of what to expect during a family session. Lots of FUN, love, and personality. ;)

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 | The O Family at the park

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE when my clients return as their children grow? No? Well, I do! I’m so lucky that the last majority of my clients work with me several times over their baby’s first year to document all the special milestones and then return yearly after that for annual family portraits.

When Whitney contacted us to schedule a family session, I was so thrilled to be seeing them again! I first worked with them for their daughter’s newborn session, and couldn’t wait to see how much the kids had all grown in the three years since then! Whitney and Matt are also some of the coolest parents, and so laid back and go with the flow. Their kids are wonderful also, and I couldn’t wait for our time together!

Whitney travels a ton for work, and with three kids life can get a little crazy. She was a little frazzled at the thought of planning outfits, but I sent over our style guide and inspiration board in advance of her session and once she looked over it she understood exactly how to put everything together. We hear that a lot from our clients: the style guide simplifies dressing your family and breaks it down in a way that’s easy to understand. If you’re still not sure about your choices or need additional guidance, we’re here to help! We can communicate via email if you have a busy schedule, or if you want to make an appointment to stop by the studio with an armful of clothes for me to pull together, we can do that too. We’ll do whatever works for your schedule and assist as much as you want us to. Family sessions should be FUN - and we’re here to help reduce (and hopefully eliminate!) as much stress as possible in the planning process.

The morning of their session day, Whitney texted me that one of her kids wasn’t feeling so great. I told her that I was happy to play it by ear. As the day went on, she let me know she wasn’t sure that it was going to happen, but at the last minute he rallied, and she said “Let’s do it!” We met at the park location and everyone looked perfect in what Whitney had chosen for them to wear.

Another note that I want to share about this session: it was incredibly dark and overcast outside. Can you tell? Didn’t think so! :) As a professional photographer, my equipment is pro level and can handle lower light situations with ease. As a last resort, I carry off camera flash with me if it’s needed, but it was not in this situation. Overcast days may seem a bit scary at first glance, but there are plenty of positives to them too! The biggest positive is soft, even, and diffused light. The runner up is flexibility in where we photograph. On a bright sunny evening, I can’t face my subjects towards the sun or they’ll be blinded and squinty eyed. On an overcast day, we can pretty much face any direction at any time and don’t have to take the sun placement into consideration. Rest assured that your images will be beautiful regardless of whether it’s sunny outside or not.

Back to the session: it was lots of fun and we spent our time playing and wrestling, and having a good time. I always start with the whole family together and then break up into different groupings as we go through. This allows people to have a break from being in front of the camera, and I’ll focus on whoever is interested at that time. Sometimes toddlers will check out midway through, but by the end they’ll be interested again. We keep things low pressure around here, which is KEY for toddler cooperation. Ever noticed how if you try to force a toddler to do something that your chances are about as high as snow in Atlanta in July? Yep, it’s like that. Keeping a laid back and go with the flow attitude will get us a lot further, and it’s a whole lot more fun for everyone involved!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from this awesome 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.

Atlanta Family Photographer | A sunrise session with the G family

I’ve worked with this fun family for their maternity session when they were expecting their little boy and then an in-home lifestyle session for his sitting milestone. Chitra requested to book an outdoor fall session, and we put a date on the calendar for October!

I always tell clients not to look at the weather, and to let me worry about it since it can be stressful, especially in the South! I can’t tell you how many times a forecast has shifted from 100% rain to no rain at all or the opposite.

In their case, it looked like it was going to rain on the evening of their session and as we approached their date, it was looking pretty definite. I schedule my outdoor sessions for an hour before sunset for the most part, but there’s an option out there for early risers! We can start at sunrise at a specific park location, and the gardens is often open at sunrise too. In the summer months it means you’ll be waking up earlier - BUT it will also be about 2-25 degrees cooler. If you have early risers in your family and you’re up for it, the sunrise time might be just perfect for you. Not sure what time your session will start? Simply google “Sunrise/Sunset time on X date in X year in Atlanta, Georgia” and you’ll have your answer. We will meet 10 minutes before sunset and 10 minutes before sunrise. I do not recommend sunrise sessions for the winter months as you’re looking at below freezing temperatures at times.

After speaking with Chitra about the impending rain, she agreed to move her session to sunrise that day instead when the forecast was showing no rain. We met at 7:45 AM at my park location for sunrise sessions, and it was such a gorgeous morning! It was nice and quiet outside as well, and Suman was cheerful and well rested. Sunrise light is soft and beautiful, and a bit “whiter” in terms of light color as sunsets tend to be more golden to orange in light.

We started off the session with lots of family images and exploring the park. When we finished, I asked if they’d like to step into the gardens location which was within a short walking distance from where we were, and they were all for it. If you’re hoping for a weekend session at the gardens, scheduling for sunrise is the best bet as it’s usually reserved for events in the evenings - especially during peak wedding season. We had a great time, and Chitra expressed that shooting sunrise was way easier than she initially thought it would be - and she was glad they now had the entire day ahead of them and didn’t have to worry about Suman taking a good afternoon nap to be ready for an evening session.

Here’s a few of my favorite images from this family session at sunrise!

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 A Family at the Park

I first worked with this sweet family for their son’s newborn session, which you can view by clicking here. Susanna contacted us about booking a family session several months in advance of the fall season to ensure that she could get on the calendar for a weekend date. Our weekend dates fill FAST for September-early December, so if you’re contemplating booking a fall session, it’s not too early. October 2020 weekend dates for outdoor sessions are already 40% booked as of this post. If you can make a weeknight work with your schedule, you will have more options to choose from as far as dates to. Bonus to weeknight sessions: very few other people are around compared to weekends!

Susanna asked if she could come to the studio and look through the wardrobe for herself and her daughter. She wasn’t sure if she would borrow anything, and just wanted to look and discuss styling ideas. I LOVE when clients stop by to do this, and welcome it. If you’re booking a session, you are always welcome to schedule an appointment for a style consult! I want your session to be smooth and stress free, and this is just one of the many ways we make that happen for our clients.

When she came in, I showed her a few options for dresses that would complement her skin tone and also look great on her, and she fell in love with an embroidered goldenrod dress for herself. I pulled out some options for her daughter Lila, and she snapped a few photos to show her later. Involving your children in choosing their outfits for your family session gets them excited and makes them feel like the valued participant that they are. We talked about what the boys should wear that would coordinate well without being too matchy. We send a style guide to all our clients that is short and sweet, but very helpful for pulling everything together. We are always available by email if you want to send over some photos of your combinations for feedback and suggestions, and over 90% of our clients take advantage of my assistance. Lilah ended up choosing the cutest cream sweater dress paired with a faux fur vest, and Susanna completed her outfit with navy tights and an adorable goldenrod hairbow! The navy tights tied in perfectly with daddy’s sweater and little brother’s suspenders, and the hairbow coordinated perfectly with Susanna’s dress. You can see for yourself how it all looked by viewing their session images!

Susanna had loved working with our hair and makeup team for her newborn session and requested to add it on again. She isn’t much for makeup and rarely wears it, but loves the work that our team does. Our team is able to really enhance the beauty that is already there in a very natural way. For the moms that want a little more oomph and glam, they can do that too! They’ll work very closely with you to achieve the look that you want that best works for your unique features. I can’t recommend them enough (and neither can our clients!).

On the evening of their late November session, we had amazing and gorgeous weather, and the leaves were at the peak. In the South, it’s impossible to predict when the peak leaves will be as so many factors affect it (temperature, amount of rain, etc). I run my family sessions in a fun and playful way, and ask parents to be ready to participate in games, snuggles, and tickles. We always start out with the whole family so that children can become comfortable with me while feeling safe and secure with their parents. As they warm up to me, we’ll move towards photographing your children together without you and individually. The best thing parents can do is stand back and allow me to engage with their little ones. If you’re right behind me trying to encourage your child to smile, they will not look at me - because you’re the one they love the most. I’m no match for their favorite person in the world! Standing back and disappearing into the background allows me to play and interact with your child and get those beautiful images you’re hoping for. I work FAST with little ones because I never know when a toddler will decide they’re “all done” and refuse to participate any longer. I warned Susanna that I would be working quickly, and she responded “I trust you! This whole experience is so stress free and so much fun, so do your thing and we’ll do whatever you ask.” (PS: clients with that mentality have the best sessions) Come ready to have fun and go with the flow, and we’ll create tangible memories of your family to treasure for a lifetime.

Enjoy some of my favorites from this session 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Family Photographer | Erised, Dan & Benicio on the mountain

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 | 'Toya, Troy & Troi in the gardens

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 | The C Family

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 | The M Family at the Park

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 & Family Photographer | Sophia is Nine Months!

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 | Dudley is 9 months!

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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.

Atlanta Child & Family Photographer | Finley is TWO!

I first photographed Finley for his First Birthday session, and just he and his dad came to the studio for that session. A few months later, Chrysten scheduled a session for big sister Kendall’s fourth birthday, and brought her and Finley to the studio. You can see the fun images from her high energy session by clicking here!

Chrysten emailed us to schedule a portrait session for Finley’s second birthday and let us know she’d be participating too! YAY! I love when parents want to be in the photos also. I truly think that it’s one of the best gifts that we can give our children - tangible memories of how much we loved them that they can hold on to forever even when we’re no longer with them. I know that most moms are the ones documenting everyday life so most of the photos end up being of dad and the kids! Don’t be the family ghost in photographs and end up with regrets twenty years from now.

We scheduled the date and sent over our style guide for Chrysten to review. When she arrived at the studio she brought along an armful of options. If you want to plan out wardrobe for everyone in advance, we can do that via emailed photos or we can set up a quick style consult in the studio. If you have a busy schedule and can’t make the time to come in or send photos, you can show up the day of your session with options (make sure they fit and are ready to put on and wear) and we’ll figure it out! :) Honestly, the style guide is very concise and easy to understand - all of our clients have expressed that it’s been incredibly helpful to them when planning what to wear! We’re here to help if you need extra input after reading through it though, so don’t hesitate to ask.

I pulled the best options from the pile of clothes that worked well together, and we got started! Chrysten is such a fun mom, and it’s clear that she adores her kids. The feeling is definitely mutual! Sessions with me are often centered around play. Little ones do not tend to follow direction, so we set the scene and I watch for the moments. A lot of clients are really surprised because they were expecting to walk in and be posed super specifically based on what they’ve seen on the website. Make no mistake: I will place you where you need to be and give you guided direction for what to do (along with some what NOT to do’s) and the rest organically unfolds. Every child is different, and every relationship is unique. I want to capture that beautiful dynamic in an authentic way, and with children I’ve found that play is the best way to go about it! So when you work with me, come prepared to PLAY, tickle, snuggle, and just have fun. It’s a low pressure environment here, so check any stress at the door - you will enjoy your experience so much more as a result, and the resulting images will be absolutely beautiful, joyful and reflective of who you all really are.

Enjoy a few of my favorites! I can’t wait to see these guys in a few weeks for our sold out Santa event!

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 | Aya, Peter & Emilia in the gardens

First and foremost, I feel the need to make sure everyone knows that I am NOT a wedding photographer, and I have no intention of ever being one. No thank you! The images below are not from a wedding but are family portraits in bridal attire with a few bridal formals mixed in as well. I strongly believe in working with photographers who specialize in what your need is. You wouldn’t hire your landscaping company to come put a roof on your house, would you?

I’ve had quite a few clients come to me for a redo of their maternity, newborn, or family images after a disappointing experience with their wedding photographer… because more often than not, wedding photographers just don’t know how to work with or photograph newborns or families. They specialize in weddings & engagements, not tiny humans who don’t follow direction. ;) (Note: this is not ALWAYS true - I have a couple of out of state colleagues who do both weddings & newborns on a regular basis and are fantastic at both!)

That being said, if you need a wedding photographer and want a few recommendations, feel free to reach out to me because I have a short list of incredible ones in the Atlanta area.

I’ve worked with Aya and Peter before when they brought in their daughter for a newborn session, and then again for Santa each year and Emilia’s First Birthday session. I’ve loved getting to know their family over the past couple of years, and was so excited when Aya asked if we could do a session that was a bit out of the box. She and Peter wanted to have official bridal attire photos, and they wanted to have some images of Emilia at age two as well. I asked if she wouldn’t rather hire a wedding photographer, and she was firm that she wanted a family session with some emphasis on couples photos. “We want your style, and we’ll just happen to be in bridal attire.” Okay then! So, we decided to knock all the birds out with one stone! Because of the timing of Emilia’s birthday, the session was scheduled for July…which as the locals know - is not exactly the best month temperature wise to wear a wedding dress or tuxedo outdoors! We tossed around the idea of a sunrise session since those are often much cooler in the summer months, but waking up that early wasn’t a good fit for their family. If you’re thinking of a sunrise session: you will need to be AT the location about 5 minutes before the sun comes up. We’ve found that late September through October are great months for most families since that tends to be between 7:30-8ish AM. In the summer the sun rises in the 6 AM hour. If you have a baby that’s up before dawn every morning, that might be a perfect option for you! The other time of day that we schedule outdoor sessions is 90 minutes to an hour (depending on the location of your session) before the sun sets. When you contact us to discuss options for your outdoor session, we’ll talk about the different locations and times they’re available and you can make the best decision for your family! No matter what you choose, your session will be lots of fun!

Aya asked to add on hair and makeup services, and we paired her with Brielle who created a gorgeous updo and natural makeup look for her. That evening, we met at the gardens and we lucked out with a cooler July evening in the high 80’s with an overcast sky. While it was still pretty warm, it was much better than 100 degrees with blazing sun! Overcast skies are always welcome for my sessions because it creates beautiful, soft, and diffused light. It also offers more flexibility in terms of placement and where we can shoot. I can’t face my clients towards a setting sun and take a photo with everyone having squinty eyes. When it’s overcast, that’s not an issue, so I can shoot pretty much any direction we want to at any point. I love a gorgeous sunny day, but I love overcast days just as much. If you’re worried about your session day being too dark - don’t. I will be the first to let you know if I think the weather will be unfavorable to the final outcome, since I want the very best end result possible for my clients!

I photographed the family together right away while Emilia was still happy and interested. Toddlers are always a wild card during sessions, so I like to play it safe and get those family and parent images done right out of the gate. That way, if your toddler decides 20 minutes in that they are DONE - no stress! We’ve already got everything we need and I’ll focus on photographing the other members of your family while giving them a break. More often than not, when toddlers see the rest of us carrying on without them, they decide they don’t want to be left out and rejoin us. That’s pretty much exactly what happened with Emilia that evening too!

This session was so much fun. So if any of you out there would like to do a really fun session in bridal or formal attire to redo your wedding photos or celebrate an anniversary, I am 100% all for it! Let’s talk about your vision and get to planning!

In the meantime, enjoy some of my absolute favorites from this beautiful trio’s family/bridal 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 Child & Family Photographer | DJ is THREE!

I LOVE working with Senika and DJ, and I have photographed them since Senika’s maternity session! Senika books a family session every year for DJ’s birthday, and comes to our Santa event every year also. Santa is currently sold out, but as of this blog posting, you can still get on the wait list for December 7th!

Senika loves our client wardrobe and let me know that she would be borrowing a dress for their session. We scheduled a time to come in the week beforehand, and she fell in love with a long purple dress with pretty ruching at the bust. We talked about complementary colors for purple, and she settled on yellow since it’s one of the colors that looks best with DJ’s skin tone and also matched her special hot air balloon idea. (keep reading!)

On the evening of their session, we met at the park . Senika had brought along a foil #3 balloon and a basket with a banner to emulate a hot air balloon! I loved her creativity, and we had a lot of fun setting it up. I will note that balloons are usually tricky: and that was definitely the case that evening due to wind gusts. While we were grateful for the wind providing cool air, it kept twisting and moving the balloon, but we did eventually get a few moments when it died down that we were able to shoot. I also ended up having DJ hold the balloon at the base rather than by the string so he had more control over it. It’s definitely different than last year when Senika ended up holding the ballon since he was only 2 and couldn’t quite master it!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from DJ’s and Senika’s session. Want to see his previous birthday sessions? No problem - click here for his second birthday, and click here for his First 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 Baby & Family Photographer | Baby Anjali is NINE months!

Anjali and her sweet family are some of my very favorite people. She’s the youngest of three, and I’m a mom of three kids myself. There’s a certain sort of organized chaos that always exists when you have three kids, and Nilam and I both understand (and love) it well. I first photographed Anjali at three months (click here) and then again at six months, and was excited to see her again for her nine month milestone.

If you’re wondering: most families schedule milestone sessions after the newborn session in one of two ways: 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, First Birthday OR 4 months, 8 months, First Birthday.

Nilam had come to the studio the week before their session with armfuls of clothing. She really appreciates being able to go through options in person and have me pull everything together for her from what she brings. All clients have the opportunity to do this! If stopping by the studio isn’t feasible for your schedule, you can send over some phone photos and we’ll exchange emails until we have just the right mix for your family. We pulled a few pieces from the studio wardrobe for Nilam and she loved one of our simple twist strap dresses that was a perfect fit for her. Nilam left my studio that day with peace of mind that everyone was squared away for Anjali’s milestone session the following week!

On the day of Anjali’s session, the family showed up with grandma in tow. I welcome and encourage grandparents to participate as well! Her mom had brought along a few different clothing options since she wasn’t quite sure which would be best with the family’s planned outfits. I took one look and selected the winner. As a photographer, I know what colors work well together. All I ask is that you make sure the clothing fits the wearer well and is clean and ready to wear.

So, milestone sessions are supposed to be about the baby, right? Yep! The baby AND the people who love them. The vast majority of my clients choose to structure the milestone session as a family session with solo portraits mixed in also to commemorate the milestone. At the end of the day, you have a proof gallery to choose from - so if you decide you want all the photos to be of the whole family, you can choose those. I see a pretty even mix between family/parent and baby images chosen by my clients, with most opting to upgrade and keep the entire gallery of photos. By this point, Nilam and Mitch jokingly told me not to bother sending a proof gallery because they already knew they’d want them all just like the last two sessions.

I started with just Anjali who is such a happy and smiley little girl. We added in her siblings, and then gave her a break to photograph some images of Grandma with her older grandchildren. We rotated in and out between groupings, giving kids breaks where needed, and we wrapped up the session in about 45 minutes including the snack breaks and diaper changes that occurred.

I never rush my sessions. But I don’t dilly dally either. Working quickly and efficiently is important in order to keep my little clients engaged and happy - and parents are thankful that sessions don’t drag on for two hours ending with very cranky little ones on the verge or beginning of an epic meltdown. Milestone and family sessions are laid back and fun, but they’re also clearly directed with intention so we can get the most out of our time together!

Before I end this, I want to tell you about Mitch and his amazing pediatric dental practice, Peachtree Hills Pediatric Dentistry in the Peachtree Hills area of Buckhead. Ever wish your pediatric dentist had weekend appointments?! HE DOES! He’s also dad to these three cuties, and one of the most loving and hands on dads I’ve ever met. Clients who have been to him report that he was wonderful with their kids. So, if you’re looking for a board certified pediatric dentist that has flexible hours to work with your schedule, definitely check out Dr. Vaughan (and tell him I sent you!)

And now…. enjoy this family’s fun session! Be on the lookout for Anjali’s First Birthday session at the gardens location soon - it’s a fun one!

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.