Atlanta Baby Photographer | DJ is ONE!

DJ is one of my spunkiest and happiest little clients. I absolutely love seeing him and his beautiful mother in the studio! Senika booked a one year session with him, and brought along a banner and little outfit for him to include in the cake smash portion.

Senika opted to borrow a dress from the studio wardrobe, and sent over ideas of what she was considering for DJ's outfits. I think the outfit she chose for him is just darling, and completely timeless too! We always start our sessions with family and parent images to get your baby comfortable with me and the sound of the camera. When they're in your arms they feel safe and secure and naturally open up to me as we progress through the session. We then move to baby only portraits, and then end with the cake smash. Senika had actually forgotten her cake, so a quick run to Kroger solved that problem. I always strongly recommend a small and simple cake... and as we learned from this session - best to skip the edible chocolate candles lest your baby be most interested in eating that instead of their cake! :) 

Enjoy the cuteness of this little guy's session ... I can't help but smile every time I see his mischievous little grin and that little twinkle in his eye. 

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Baby Photography | Isabella is ONE!

Isabell's first birthday session is the culmination of over a year of sessions!

• View her mother's studio maternity session by clicking here
• View Isabella's newborn session by clicking here
• Viewing Isabella's sitting up milestone session by clicking here

I was so excited to have these two lovely ladies back in front of my camera to celebrate Isabella's first birthday. Clarissa borrowed a dress from the studio wardrobe that she fell in love with, and brought special outfits with her for Isabella. We started the session with Clarissa holding Isabella, and this is how we typically begin all sessions with young babies and children. It gives them a chance to get used to me and the sound of the camera while feeling safe in the arms of their parents. As they become comfortable, we transition to solo portraits. For first birthday sessions, we end with the cake. Babies tire out easily and don't have super long attention spans, so we move quickly and keep things interesting! 

Enjoy the images of this little cutie! 

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Peyton is ONE!

Peyton is such a little ham with big brown eyes and adorable dimples, and the whole family is lots of fun. 

For this First Birthday session, it was really important to Peyton's daddy to make his birthday cake for him. I thought this was just about the sweetest thing I've ever heard. His wife made fun of it (just a little!) but said that even though it wasn't the most beautifully artistic cake, the meaning behind it made it special. I think even the Cake Boss would agree. 

We started our session with family and parent images, which is how I typically begin sessions with little ones. It allows them to get used to the click of the shutter and to me approaching them while feeling safe in your arms. Once they're comfortable with me, we move on to solo portraits... and then the cake smashing fun begins. I always encourage parents to participate. I love capturing the look of anticipation on your baby's face as you present them with their cake. I've found that babies really like to share their cake with their parents - so I tell everyone to jump in near the end! Parents, you are part of your baby's story. Be in the images with them. We all make the very best decisions we can for our children, and want nothing but the best for them. Someday we aren't going to be with our children anymore, but they will forever have the images that we chose to create with them and always be able to SEE how much we loved them. Make being in the images a priority. Your child will be so glad you did. 

Here are just a few of my favorite images from Peyton's 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Everett is ONE!!!

Everett came to the studio for his one year session, and I was so excited to see him and his wonderful parents, Jessica and Daniel. I first worked with Jessica and Daniel for their last minute maternity session in the field location, which can be viewed by clicking here. After their maternity session, I photographed them again for Everett's newborn session and he was just the cutest little baby (not much changed!). You can view his newborn session by clicking here.

Jessica and I discussed outfit options for their studio session and I sent her a list of suggested places for little boy clothing and an inspirational .pdf of outfits. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to do an indoor or outdoor session, but ended up opting for indoor due to the summer heat and how late outdoor summer sessions start. Some babies are very much in need of their routine and regular bedtime, while others can flex without any ill effects. Everett is a little guy that likes to go to bed at his regular bedtime! It's important for your baby to be well rested and well fed, so we'll schedule your session at a time and place that makes the most sense for your baby and their needs.  

Jessica and Daniel also opted for a blue cake from my baker that I work with. It's one less thing for parents to worry about, and will be waiting at the studio for you upon arrival should you choose to work with her for your baby's cake. Some parents elect to bake their own cake, use a cupcake, or order a cake from their own preferred vendor. No matter which option you choose, I'll give you specific recommendations for size, texture, and color for the most successful photographs! 

I begin most First Birthday sessions with solo portraits of your baby and then the family together before moving on to the cake fun. This keeps your baby interested and engaged since most one year olds have very short attention spans. When the cake is presented, I encourage parents to join in on the fun too. Congrats guys, you made it through the whole first year of parenthood! That is definitely something that all of you should celebrate! The First Birthday session is about so much more than just your baby turning one.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Everett's first birthday session. How cute is that little dimpled grin of his?! 

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | Dudley is ONE!

Oh Dudley, you're the sweetest. Dudley is one of my long time clients, and he's actually much older now (as you'll see in tomorrow's post!) I've been working with his sweet family since his parents' maternity session and am just now getting around to posting images from his first birthday. 

Dudley's mom had great intentions and she baked him a cake all by herself. However, the cake didn't turn out the way she'd hoped and it fell apart the morning of. So, they reverted to plan B and grabbed a cupcake from a nearby bakery. I think it worked out just fine!

We opted to shoot Dudley's session on our paper backdrop. It's to clean up and contain the icing if babies go a little crazy - but mom and dad's job is to be a baby herder while I work. If your one year old is walking, they will often find the studio much more exciting than their cake and want to explore. This is why many of our First Birthday sessions take place in a high chair, but it's all a matter of your personal preference. And just because we get this question a lot: yes, we can also shoot a First Birthday session outdoors! Contact us today and we'll talk about your vision for your session. 

While Dudley showed initial interest in his cupcake, the container was far more fun. Some of the most hilarious moments that truly show Dudley's funny personality are included ... just scroll down and enjoy! 

PS - we work with an amazing baker located close to the studio. Her cakes are absolutely delicious and beautiful. If you'd like to remove that stress from your to do list, just ask for details when booking your baby's First Birthday Session. 

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 Baby Photographer | Julia is ONE!

I last photographed Julia at her newborn session (click here to view) and was so excited to see her and her sweet family again to celebrate her first birthday!

The family chose to bring along their dog to participate also. I welcome non-shedding dogs to the studio that are small and well behaved.  Snack Pack is an important member of their family too, and one of my favorite dogs on the planet. He's such an easy going boy, and he and Julia are wild about each other.

Her mom, Caroline, had stopped by the studio a few weeks before their session to look at different options from the wardrobe for Julia and herself. In between the time they stopped in and the session took place, I added a dress to the studio wardrobe that I just KNEW Caroline would love. I was right - she fell in love with it the second she saw it and chose to wear it for their session! 

Caroline also brought two of Julia's favorite stuffed loveys to incorporate into the session, and chose a sweet little white dress from the studio wardrobe for her to wear. She also chose one of our tutus but Julia wasn't much of a fan, so that didn't last long. Your child's comfort is my priority, so sometimes it requires flexibility to default to a backup plan. When Julia was presented with her cake, she didn't want to touch it and she hated the high chair. So, we put the cake on the floor and let her approach. She was happiest in the arms of mommy or daddy, so we simply shifted gears and went with what worked for her. Every baby is so different and will react differently. As long as everyone is relaxed and goes with the flow, the resulting images will be perfect and unique to your baby and their personality! 

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Cake Smash Photographer | Lachlan is ONE!

Kelly and Dustin last worked with me for their newborn session shortly after my own son was born. I was excited to have them come to the studio for Lachlan's first year portraits and cake smash. Kelly and Dustin pulled pieces from their own wardrobe following my styling suggestions, and came to the studio after Lachlan's nap. I always schedule these sessions for after your baby has napped and eaten. A well rested baby with a full tummy is always much happier... I guess I could say the same for adults! 

We started the session with family images. I love starting with family because it establishes a level of trust with your baby. They see that mom and dad are okay with the lady who has the camera, and they relax and show their true personality. Sometimes they're shy at first, and this is totally ok! It can make for some very sweet snuggling images. 

We then moved on to portraits of just Lachlan, and then I set up the paper backdrop for the cake smash. I also have a high chair in the studio for cake smashes, but each parent chooses what they want to do. Parents are assigned to be baby herders if the backdrop is chosen, since most babies will eventually move on from the cake and want to explore the studio. 

Lachlan enjoyed smashing his cake but wasn't too wild about eating it! Not every baby will stuff their mouth with cake and make a huge mess. Every baby is different, and the way they approach their cake smash is unique to them. Some babies just don't care for the taste or sugar or the way the icing feels, and that's ok! The point of First Birthday session is to create portraits of your baby at the age of one, and then to document their authentic reaction to the cake smash experience. 

If you're looking for a baby and family 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 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, family and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Oona is ONE!

We recently featured Oona's newborn, six month, and nine month sessions, as well as her parents' maternity session.

I was so excited for Oona's FIRST BIRTHDAY! It's been such a treasure to know Steve, Irene, and Oona and to watch them find their rhythm as a new family. I truly love watching babies and families grow and becoming a part of their lives. We have a family session scheduled for May for this sweet family, and you can bet I'll be sharing images from that session on the blog too.

When the family came in, Irene chose a cute sweater dress with a tulle skirt from the studio wardrobe. Oona explored the studio for a bit, and when she started getting braver and crawling everywhere, we moved to the antique high chair to keep her in one spot. She enjoyed playing with some of our studio toys that we keep on hand for babies to play with during sessions. Toys are always cleaned after usage, and they're gorgeous natural wood without chemical treatments! 

When it was time for the cake smashing fun, we changed Oona until a pink camisole from the studio wardrobe. We have a wide variety of sizes in case your baby is bigger or smaller than 12 month sizes and have the camisoles in white, gray, and pink. They're fabulous for cake smashes, and no laundry for you to worry about!

Oona's daddy handed her the cake, and she went to town. The comment I receive most often about cake smashes from parents is that they loved being able to watch their child and fully enjoy every funny moment without worrying about documenting it. That's MY job. There was a lot of laughter as we watched Oona study her cake and figure out just how to get as much of it into her mouth as possible. She was a smart cookie and figured out how to pick it up and take a big old bite. It was so much fun to document and be a part of! 

If your baby is turning one soon or in a few months and you'd like to document their First Birthday in a classic and timeless way, please contact us today to begin planning! It's never too soon to schedule (some of our newborn clients get on the calendar at their newborn session!) - and the further in advance you schedule, the better your date options are! 

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 Baby Photography | Abby turns ONE!

Abby came to the studio to celebrate turning ONE and was the very first baby to be photographed on the new studio floors! Her mama elected to borrow some pieces from the studio wardrobe for Abby's session. We started off with one of my favorite tutus which we put over a grey camisole and paired with one of the many tiebacks in my collection. These tiebacks are often worn during newborn sessions, and it's pretty special to use one of the same ones when your newborn turns one!  

After capturing Abby crawling around on the floor and playing with some of the studio toys, we decided to contain her a little bit using some of our studio chairs. The high chair is a genuine vintage high chair with the perfect amount of natural weathering, and is so perfect for crawling and walking babies! It keeps them contained for a little bit so their expressions and little details can more easily be captured, and is the perfect way to transition to the cake portion of one year sessions. 

I always have a parent place the cake on the tray so that I can capture the first reactions to cake. A lot of clients ask when they should schedule the one year session. The answer depends on your personal preferences! Some of my clients want the images to truly capture their baby's first exposure to cake. Others prefer for that moment to be at their first birthday party and schedule the one year session for the week afterwards. Either way you choose, babies with cake are adorable! All of my clients have told me afterwards that they LOVED being able to just stand and watch and take in every moment without worrying about taking pictures themselves. 

I think it's safe to say she loved her cake, don't you? It was so funny watching her navigate her cake and then deciding this would be the most efficient way to get as much as possible into her mouth. Smart girl! 

Chubby cheeks and long eyelashes...forever preserved to remember. Those cheeks will slowly disappear as she grows into a toddler and a little girl but her mama will always have these images to remember exactly what she looked like. 

After we cleaned Miss Abby up, her mama started getting her ready to go. When she pulled this dress out of her diaper bag, I immediately asked if we could take a few more images because it was just SO perfect. And sure enough, these last few images ended up being some of my favorite from Abby's one year session! 

If you would like to reserve your baby's first year session, it's never to early to do so! Many of my clients schedule their six month and first year sessions when they see me during their newborn session. I love documenting babies and young families as they grow, and I would love to work with you to create milestone 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.