Atlanta Baby Photographer | LaMiya is ONE!

Bernadette contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, LaMiya with her older son included as well. She was really excited because it would be the first time that her children would be professionally photographed. We sent Bernadette our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet.

The day of their session, when the family arrived I introduced myself to everyone and was taken with how cute LaMiya was! Bernadette pulled out the cutest little outfit that she had bought for LaMiya from an Etsy boutique and outfit options that she had brought for LaMont to wear. I went through them and pulled the best choice for LaMont that worked well with LaMiya’s romper and headpiece.

Lots of my client mamas source Etsy for one of a kind pieces, but please be aware you’ll usually need to order several weeks in advance and sometimes the sizing can be off! If time is scarce, Amazon has been a surprisingly great source for some of the cutest First Birthday outfits I’ve seen come into the studio. Bernadette asked if she could take a a look at our studio tutus as well and we put together a second outfit from the studio wardrobe with a grey camisole and cream/tan/grey ombre tutu. My studio wardrobe for little ones is limited as I’ve found that most mamas prefer to dress their little one, but we can dress many of our clients in a pinch with what we have!

Bernadette brought along a dainty pink rosette cake with buttercream icing for LaMiya. If you choose to include a cake in your baby’s First Birthday session (nope, it isn’t required!) we have a list of resources for you in the Atlanta area if you don’t want to make it yourself! Our recommended baker is super talented and can accommodate egg and diary food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She does NOT create sugar free cakes though, so be aware of that! She can also drop the cake off at the studio before your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about on the day of. Using our recommended baker’s services is not required! It doesn’t matter where the cake comes from - we will walk you through what to choose for icing texture and colors, etc, if you plan to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session!

LaMiya was friendly and curious, so we started the session with just her and big brother LaMont. She had started walking at a very young age, so I made sure to photograph her doing that during the course of her solo portraits. I have found that about half of my one year olds are not walking by their First Birthday. If your baby isn’t walking, don’t worry - there are so many other things that they ARE doing that we will photograph! After we finished with LaMiya’s solo images, I took a few of LaMont also at Bernadette’s request. He was such a giggly and fun little boy, and reminded me a lot of my own son!

I brought out the studio’s antique high chair and photographed LaMiya playing with some of our studio toys in it. It helps babies get used to sitting in it, and if we find that they hate it, we can move to plan B for the cake smash. Not every baby enjoys sitting in a high chair, and we’ll work around their preferences so that they are comfortable!

We removed the tutu right before bringing the cake out as our studio tutus are not used during cake smashes due to it being impossible to get icing out of them. (I speak from experience! ) Bernadette presented her with her birthday cake with help from big brother LaMont. I LOVE when big siblings are in attendance for First Birthday sessions and “help” their little brother or sister because it makes for some of the cutest images! Sometimes a baby is suspicious of the cake but when they see that their big brother or sister is all about it, they throw their caution to the wind and jump right in!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this sweet baby girl’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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Theo is ONE!

I first worked with Jessica and Justin when they brought baby Theo in for his newborn session. You can view those images by clicking here. I saw Jessica again when she brought Theo in to meet Santa during our Santa event, and then again at our Motherhood event. She called Caroline (our studio manager) to schedule a First Birthday session for Theo and asked to do it outdoors in late November. She also asked to add on hair and makeup services as well since she loves working with our artists and has done so for all her past sessions.

Caroline sent over the style guide and Pinterest inspiration boards, and Jessica asked to come into the studio because she thought she might want to wear a studio dress. Caroline scheduled an appointment for her, and when Jessica came in we talked about her vision for the shoot. I reminded her that it might be cold, and that there was absolutely nothing wrong with taking the jeans, boots, and sweater approach. She ultimately decided that a more casual look was the direction she wanted to go in, and I loved what she chose for the whole family. Layering in the fall can also be so helpful if the temperature is not what we hope for!

Fall weather in the south can be… well, crazy. There have been Halloweens where my kids were in shorts and t-shirts because their costumes were too hot, and others where they were in their costumes covered with coats, scarves, and mittens and STILL cold. This particular day in November was… FREEZING. Jessica really wanted to try to go ahead and do it outdoors, so we went for it. You can’t tell how cold it was from the images because the evening light was so golden and so warm.

Despite the cold temperatures, Theo was a happy little guy for the first part of it and stayed snuggled up to his mom and dad for quite a bit. I loved the outfits that Jessica had chosen for the entire family! Theo’s knitted blue sweater was a perfect choice for him since it brought out his big blue eyes. I loved seeing Jessica and Michael interact with him. It’s so much fun to see parents throughout their baby’s first year of life. At newborn sessions, most parents are still figuring things out and by the first birthday, they’re settled and confident in their roles!

We took blanket warm up breaks as needed throughout the session to keep everyone as comfortable as possible. I always shoot efficiently during first birthday sessions since one year olds don’t have a long attention span, but I put the efficiency into hyperdrive because I knew Theo wouldn’t be able to handle the cold weather for long. By the time we were ready for the cake portion, Theo was starting to become a bit uncomfortable and was not that interested in his cake. He looked at it, started towards it, and then sat back down and started shivering. He just wanted to be wrapped up and warm, and who can blame him? I could see Jessica was feeling a bit disappointed, as she had made his cake for him all by herself. Theo has some food allergies, so making the cake was quite an involved feat, and I wanted to honor all the love and care she had put into it for him.

Please note that my First Birthday sessions typically take place indoors OR outdoors - and they are not combined. The light in the studio is best for morning through early afternoon hours, and not at sunset. I only shoot outdoor sessions at sunrise or sunset… so you can see the problem! :) However, because we finished outdoors early due to needing to shoot so quickly because of the cold, I asked if they’d like to try a few shots in the studio. I made no guarantees that the light would look like it normally does for my First Birthday sessions. Jessica and Michael jumped at the opportunity, and we headed back up to my studio. It was a success for sure, but we also had the added bonus of many of the trees having lost most of their leaves already, which allowed for enough light to come in the windows. Theo was definitely more interested in his cake now that he was warmer, and dug right in, much to the delight of his parents.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Theo’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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Brennan is ONE!

Brennan’s grandmother called the studio asking to schedule a First Birthday session in the studio for him as a gift to his parents. They were going to be visiting Brennan over the holidays from California, and were so excited to find our website. We’ve had quite a few grandparents gift sessions around here, and we always think it’s so special!

After discussing potential dates, they chose one, and we sent over a few things. All clients receive our style guide and links to our Pinterest inspiration boards. First Birthday clients who are choosing to incorporate a cake into their session get a cake tips sheet! Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose is important - so we make sure you know what to use. We have a preferred baker (she can even deliver the cake to the studio!) that we highly recommend, but Publix also does a pretty good job if you’re looking for something super simple. The studio has a Publix located very close by, so we provide our clients with the bakery phone number. Picking up from that Publix means you’re spending less time in the car trying to keep a cake from sliding around, and that you don’t forget your cake. (yep, it’s happened more than once!) If you’re not in to the idea of including a cake, no worries! Plenty of our clients opt to not include anything while others pick something non-traditional like a pie or donuts.

The day of Brennan’s session, the family arrived and we spent a little bit of time chatting and getting to know each other. Brennan was a cute little thing with a head of curly hair, and giant blue eyes. The family is a fan of plaid, and wanted their images to include that, so dad and Brennan were both in plaid shirts for the family portion. Brennan was such a happy little guy, and I had lots of fun photographing him alone and with his loving parents.

After we finished up with family and solo portraits, it was cake time! Most clients will either strip their baby down to a diaper with a cover or a onesie, and some will have a second outfit. Again, it’s a matter of personal preference! If your baby hates to be wiped down, choosing to have them wear clothes will definitely eliminate some of the surface area that will have to be wiped afterwards. ;) Just something to think about when deciding! In Brennan’s case, his family changed him to a cute long sleeved baseball T with the number “1” on it.

Brennan was immediately interested in the cake and needed no help or encouragement to explore it. He made some of the BEST expressions in reaction to how it tasted!!!

If your baby is apprehensive when it comes to their cake, don’t worry! I have a bag of tricks up my sleeve to help encourage them in a non-stressful way. I ask parents to be prepared to offer a taste of icing to them and eat some themselves. Even if your baby turns out to hate cake, their First Birthday session is NOT a “failure”. Someday you will look at the images and you will laugh! The whole point of the cake portion is to see how your baby reacts. You just can’t get a one year old to fake anything, and why would you want to? You’ll get to watch all the funny expressions and moments without being worried about documenting it, and it’s just as special regardless of whether they dive into the cake or huffily fling it off to the side. No matter how it goes , you’ll have authentic images that tell the real story of how everything unfolded that day!

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 | Amara is ONE!

Makeiva contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Amara. The family was all very excited since it would also be their first time being professionally photographed. We sent Makeiva our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet.

When the family arrived, Makeiva let me know that she wasn’t too sure about the options she had brought for Amara, and asked if she could take a a look at our studio dresses. I pulled out an off white lace dress that the whole family loved the second they saw it on her. My studio wardrobe for little ones is limited as I’ve found that most mamas prefer to dress their babies, but we have dressed many of our little clients with what we have! She had brought a cute pink tutu and custom onesie with gold writing for the cake smash portion, so we were all set!

Makeiva brought a colorful punk buttercream cake for Amara to smash. If you choose to include a cake (nope, it’s not required!) we have a list of great options for you in the Atlanta area if you want to outsource that part. Our baker is such a talented person and can accommodate many food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She’ll drop the cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of. Using her services is not required - regardless of where the cake comes from, we will walk you through best practices for icing type, cake flavor, texture, and colors, if you choose to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session!

Amara was friendly and curious, so we started the session with just her. First Birthday sessions almost always double as a family session too! After we finished with Amara’s solo images, we moved into the family and parent portion of our session. By this time, most one year olds are ready to call it a day. Their attention spans aren’t very long at this age and it’s for this exact reason that we save the cake for last.

I brought out our antique high chair and Amara dug right in! Some babies aren’t big fans of the high chair, and if that ends up being your baby, that’s ok! We have alternatives available and will work with what makes your baby happy and comfortable. Each baby has their own preferences, so we’ll tailor your session experience to their needs and comfort.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this beautiful and happy baby girl’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 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 Baby Photographer | Liam is ONE!!!

I first worked with Liam when he was a tiny newborn, and you can view the images by clicking here. I was so excited when his mom, Jennifer, emailed asking to schedule a First Birthday session in the studio for him!

After discussing potential dates, they chose one, and we sent over a few things. All clients receive our easy to read style guide and links to our Pinterest inspiration board. First Birthday clients who are choosing to incorporate a cake into their session get a cake tips sheet! Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose is important. We have a preferred baker (she can even deliver the cake to the studio!) that we highly recommend, but Publix also does a pretty good job if you’re looking for something super simple. The studio has a Publix located very close by, so we provide our clients with the bakery phone number. Picking up from that Publix means you’re spending less time in the car trying to balance a cake on your lap, and that you don’t forget your cake. (yep, it’s happened more than once!) If you’re not loving the idea of including a cake, no worries! Plenty of clients opt to not include anything while others pick something less traditional like a pie or donuts.

The day of Liam’s session, the family arrived and we spent a little bit of time chatting about how the past year had gone for them with parenting! I couldn’t believe how big Liam was compared to the first time I’d met him, and how beautiful his giant blue eyes were. (And just in case you’re wondering, his eyes are not edited in any way - they actually look just like that!) I loved the adorable gingham checked romper and moccs that Jennifer had dressed him in for his solo portraits. Since Liam was pretty comfortable with me right off the bat, we started with just him and then worked mom and dad in and out for a variety. I loved all of Liam’s expressions and smiles and his ADORABLE two little bottom teeth! He also had the most unique way of sitting with his ankles perfectly crossed. I’ve never seen a baby do this before, and I’ve photographed a LOT of babies. During milestone sessions with babies, I’m always looking for the special and unique things that they do because I want their mom and dad to be able to remember them always. I like to imagine that twenty years from now, there will be conversation about how Liam used to sit with his ankles crossed just so…. and out comes the photograph to see exactly how it looked.

After we finished up with that part, it was cake time! Most clients will either strip their baby down to a diaper with a cover or a onesie, and some will have a second outfit. Again, it’s a matter of personal preference! If your baby hates to be wiped down, choosing to have them wear clothes will definitely eliminate some of the surface area that will have to be wiped afterwards. ;) Just something to think about when deciding!

Liam was immediately interested in his cake and needed no help or encouragement to explore it. If your baby is hesitant, don’t worry! I have a bag of tricks up my sleeve to help encourage them in non stressful way. Be prepared to offer a taste of icing to them if they’re slow to warm up! I also like to point out that even if your baby hates cake, their First Birthday session is NOT a “failure”. The whole point of the cake portion is to see how your baby reacts. You get to watch all the funny expressions and moments without being worried about capturing it, and it’s just as special regardless of whether they dive into the cake or fling it off to the side. Either way, you’ll have beautiful and authentic images of how everything organically unfolded and a story to tell your child someday!

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 | Alexandra is ONE!

Tiffanni lives in Woodstock, Georgia and was looking for the perfect photographer for her daughter’s first birthday. She wasn’t able to find any photographers that she loved close to her, so she expanded her search to Atlanta.  She loved what she saw because she felt our work was classic and timeless and felt we would be a perfect fit for her vision. So, she called the studio and chatted with Caroline, our studio manager. She had lots of questions, and Caroline spent some time with her on the phone answering her questions and discussing her vision for her daughter’s first birthday session.

One of the big questions was whether to photograph the session indoors or outdoors.  The answer to this question is different for every client! There are multiple factors to consider when deciding and we will go over these with you in depth so you can make a fully informed decision that is best for your family.  Ultimately, Tiffanni chose the park location for her outdoor session and we gave her a few dates to choose from.

Tiffanni also wanted to know whether she could include a birthday balloon and Alexandra’s rocking lamb in her session. Balloons can pose a challenge, especially outdoors, but we are always willing to give it a shot!  Fortunately, the wind cooperated with us that evening, and you’ll see how we included the lamb and balloon in Alexandra’s session in the gallery below. Although we don’t provide props, we can definitely work to incorporate them in your shoot!  We understand some items add a meaningful connection for the family. As a note, our studio antique high chair is not for outdoor use - so if you’ve seen other sessions with that high chair in use, please know that bringing it outdoors is not an option.

Tiffanni was unsure whether her own outfits would work for the shoot, and asked if we could provide any insight.  We’re here to help with that! We have a style guide, studio wardrobe, and a Pinterest board as resources for our clients. Clients are ALWAYS welcome to schedule an appointment at the studio as well to go over outfit choices and browse through our studio wardrobe. Tiffanni jumped at the chance to schedule a consult, so we put a date in the calendar for her. About a week before her session, Tiffanni brought Alexandra and her husband Myron to the studio. We discussed the outfits for Alexandra that Tiffanni had purchased from Etsy boutiques for Alexandra, and I made specific color recommendations based on Alexandra’s outfits. Tiffanni checked out the studio wardrobe and loved many of the pieces! She chose one of our lace dresses to have as a backup option if what she had from her own wardrobe didn’t work out and left feeling confident that she would look and feel great for her session either way. While Tiffanni was trying on pieces, I enjoyed chatting with Myron and playing peek-a-boo with Alexandra. Bonus for you if you come in beforehand: It’s always nice to meet the person photographing you before you actually step in front of the camera! 

After our studio visit, Caroline emailed our style guide to Tiffanni and directed her to our Pinterest Board.  Our style guide is simple, easy to read, and straightforward!  Clients find these resources incredibly helpful. Please know that we are always here to answer questions and guide you in your selections and will provide as little or as much help and input as you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance - we are here to serve.

We met the evening of the session at the park location.  I LOVED the outfits that the family had put together! Tiffanni wore her own pale chiffon skirt with a satin band and a white cap sleeved shirt, Myron wore linen pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, and Alexandra wore an adorable long-sleeved lace ballerina tutu dress with coral details and a sleeveless all white lace dress. Tiffanni had purchased both from sweet Etsy boutiques.  Most parents bring two different outfits for their child and we change halfway through the session.

Tiffanni brought Alexandra’s birthday cake from her favorite bakery in Woodstock for the cake smash portion. You decide whether to include a cake at the end of your session.  Some clients choose to have a cake, some choose to have donuts, some choose to have a pie, and some choose not to have anything.  Should you choose to include something, we suggest bringing a towel, lots of baby wipes, a jug of water, and wash cloths for outdoor sessions.  If you don’t want to deal with transporting a cake to your session at the studio or park location on top of everything else, you can order one through our preferred baker and she’ll take care of delivering it to the studio. Bonus: She can accommodate allergies and vegans!

We began with family photos of Myron and Tiffanni loving on Alexandra. I loved the open-mouthed kiss Alexandra gave her mom and the piggy back ride on Daddy’s shoulders! Tiffanni and Myron’s love for their daughter shined through every image. If you’re worried about freezing up in front of the camera, there is no need to. I’ll give you directed guidance for things you naturally do with your child.  I then step back and capture you in your element. 

We interspersed solo portraits of Alexandra throughout the family photos. I follow your child’s lead, so there is no one set flow, other than ending with the cake smash. We had fun playing games while I photographed Alexandra riding the rocking lamb, plucking flowers off her birthday cake, and with her pink birthday balloon.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Alexandra’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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Elijah is ONE!

I first worked with Elijah’s parents for their maternity session in the gardens, which you can view by clicking here. So many of my clients choose to work with me for 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!

Briana scheduled Elijah’s First Birthday session to be held in the studio. First Birthday sessions almost always include parents too unless they opt to not be in them. I strongly encourage parents to participate because these photos are a gift to your child. They will look at them someday and see the love of their parents that enfolded them. We are not JUST celebrating your baby’s first birthday - we are celebrating the fact that you made it through your baby’s first year. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, so let’s honor that!

You might wonder where the cake is …. there wasn’t one. Not all our clients choose to include a cake. It’s entirely a matter of your personal preference. Some clients choose not to give their babies any sugar for a few years, while others just don’t really like cake. Some clients get creative and include something different like a pie or pile of donuts. If you do decide to use a cake (or something creative!), 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 like the plague. It’s SO difficult to wipe off of skin and makes the floor slicker than an ice skating rink. Take it from me: I went sliding across the floor after my one and only experience with it… never again! :)

We sent over our style guide to Briana to help her in choosing what they should all wear. It’s super helpful and clients report that it takes so much stress out of figuring out what to wear. 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 and starts to lean out, you will miss their babyhood chunkiness terribly… and reliving the cuteness will simply be a photo away.

Elijah was a curious little guy and pretty serious. 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 photograph your baby just as they were at this age. I want you to look at the photos and remember their personality, their funny expressions, and the little details you love. Trust me, someday you will compare their baby photos to what they look like now. Maybe it’ll be the day after you drop your son off at college. We can’t stop time, but we can freeze a small portion of it in photographs so we never lose the memory. Photographs are my way of making memories tangible, and why I love my job so much. It’s so bittersweet to watch my own children grow up.

Because Elijah was a bit shy, we rotated through family, solo, and parent images and then ended with an outfit change and more solo portraits. Important note: Eli’s dad was standing very closely next to the chair just out of the frame ready to catch during his solo pictures. The safety of my little clients is the top priority during sessions, and a parent is always right there to spot.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Mr. Eli’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 Baby Photographer | Viola is ONE!

I first photographed Viola as a tiny little newborn! Not every session I shoot is blogged because of the sheer number. I only blog three times per week, but shoot 20-30 sessions per month. So… you can see how the math doesn’t allow for it.

I saw Viola again at our annual Santa event when she was around 6 months old, and just loved getting to see her family. Right before her first birthday, her mom emailed us. She confessed that she hadn’t thought she needed a First Birthday session, but now that Viola was almost one, she was feeling very nostalgic and realizing that she couldn’t keep Viola little. She didn’t want to forget all the little details of what Viola was like at one, and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her. Photographs of your baby are (unfortunately) the only way to freeze time. I look at my seven year old biggest girl… and I’m still not sure how it happened so fast! It’s hard for me to remember what she was like as a baby by my memory alone, but fortunately for me - I have countless photographs of her and all the little details I never want to forget.

The family was on vacation the next week and had one day open that I fortunately also had open on my calendar since my weekend was already totally booked. I was thrilled to be able to see and photograph them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed since their newborn session. Viola definitely kept so many of her features from when she was a newborn. Her parents also opted to work with our baker for her smash cake, and chose a pretty pastel pink rosette design. The cakes from our preferred baker are DELICIOUS, and she’ll even deliver to the studio right before your session time. That’s one less thing to worry about, and less stress. If you haven’t tried driving to the studio with a cake in a box balanced precariously on your knees or the floorboard…you haven’t lived dangerously Haha. Oh, and if you have dairy/egg allergies or are vegan, she can accommodate that too! Just ask us for her information when booking and we’ll gladly provide it to you! Whether you opt to use our preferred baker or not, we’ll provide you with a cake tip sheet. Believe it or not, the type of icing you use matters - and the tip sheet will get you all squared away!

On the morning of their session, the family arrived and had brought a pink crocheted dress for Viola that her mom wore as a baby! Lisa didn’t have any bows for her, and asked if we had any on hand. I grabbed a few from our collection and found one that worked perfectly for her dress.

We do have a small selection of clothing available for babies and children as we’ve found that most moms celebrating first birthdays want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a great style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well either in person or by email. Making your entire experience fun and stress-free is important to us!

We started with just Viola for solo portraits, and she was such a happy little girl. She thought I was hilarious, and we got lots of smiles. During sessions I add in parents and don’t really have one set flow - I work with my littlest client and whatever mood they happen to be in! Sometimes a one year old will need a snack or a snuggle break, and we’ll take one. They run the show since they don’t exactly take direction. ;)

After we finished with the portraits, I asked if they wanted to change Viola into something else to smash the cake. They decided to keep her in her dress. Icing does wash out pretty easily, especially when it’s in a pastel color, but if you want to ensure that your child’s first birthday outfit stays pristine, it’s best to bring another option. You can dress them in a camisole (we have a few on hand) or strip them down to just a diaper/diaper cover or pants/shorts.

When the cake was presented to Viola, she immediately touched it. She wasn’t super interested in eating it until her parents came to have some fun with her. She was definitely more interested in poking the icing than eating it.

Clients should know that every baby reacts differently to cake and how they reacted at their party (if you had one) may not be how they react in the studio. Many babies do not “like” their cake at their party. Parties are a TON of sensory overload for young babies. At the end, when the cake is served, they’re often tired and totally over it all. Additionally, a bunch of people staring at you is not exactly a low pressure situation. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun!

When Viola’s mom viewed her images from the session, she emailed us with her image selections and this sweet note below:

“Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for these beautiful images. You managed to capture Viola's personality perfectly! I initially wasn't sure that I needed a first year photo shoot, but I am more than 100% thankful that we went ahead with it. We couldn't be happier! You are always so fun to work with. Thank you and Caroline for being so accommodating and just wonderful people all around.”

Here are a few images from this fun little girl’s birthday celebration in the studio!

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 | Grace is ONE!

I first photographed worked with Graces’ parents, Justin & Abby, for their maternity session at the park location! You can see the images from that session by clicking here.

I met Grace when she came in for our annual Santa event and saw her again at our annual Mother’s Day event. Her mom emailed and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her, and I was thrilled to be able to see them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed. Grace has definitely kept so many of her features from when she was tiny. Her parents are in the hospitality industry, and the chef at one of their hotels was so excited to create her birthday cake for the session! I loved the swiss dot design that he created for her.

On the morning of their session, the family arrived all dressed and ready to go. Abby always picks the SWEETEST little outfits for Grace with the most adorable details, and she did it again with her floral romper with criss cross back straps. If you don’t have anything, we do have a small selection of clothing available for babies and children for sessions as we’ve found that most mamas want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a helpful style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well. Making your session with us fun and stress-free is a huge priority for us and our clients report that we are very successful in that area! :)

Grace was friendly and curious, so we started with some solo portraits of her on the bed, and then moved her mom and dad in as well for a mix. She was such a happy and sweet little baby, but started to get tired (which is normal). After a little snack and an outfit change to a custom birthday onesie that her mom had brought along, Grace was ready for some cake!

They weren’t really sure how she would do with the cake, but it’s really a toss up. Babies are full of surprises! When the cake was presented to Grace, she immediately started exploring it and even ate some. I always encourage parents to get in on the fun, and babies LOVE to “share” cake with their parents. It makes for some of the funniest moments and sweetest memories.

Every baby will react differently to their cake. You should know that many babies do not react well at a party, and that’s often not how they will be in my studio. Parties are a lot of sensory overload for one year olds, and by the time the cake is served, they’re often tired and D-O-N-E. Plus, being stared at by a bunch of people can add a lot of pressure to the situation as well. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun! (and it doesn’t have to be cake… it could be donuts, pie, etc…the list goes on!)

Here are a few images from this little cutie’s celebration in the studio!

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 Baby Photographer | Folarin is ONE!

This sweet family booked a First Birthday session in the studio and informed me they would be wearing some of their Nigerian traditional dress. I said “Awesome!” I love when families want to celebrate their culture and traditions with me, and welcome it.

I didn’t know what they were planning to wear for the other part of their session, and I was so surprised (in a good way!) when they walked in dressed to the nines in tuxedos and a black formal evening gown. Folarin is officially the first baby to wear a tuxedo for his First Birthday session, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I hope he’s not the last.

I think you’ll see from the images that this family was just FUN. Full of genuine joy and just a wonderful and positive presence. Both mom and dad are doctors in the Atlanta area, and I’m sure their patients appreciate their warm and fun personalities!

After we finished up with the first part of our session, the family changed into their traditional Nigerian dress. I had no idea what the colors would be - and they ended up actually coordinating with the studio! Had they been another color, it would have been totally fine due to the neutral colors of the studio. For some really bright and vibrant colors, I will suggest an outdoor session rather than indoor in order to counterbalance that color with the environment and not have such a major contrast. At the end of the day, it’s up to the client what they want to do!

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 | Madeleine is ONE!

I first photographed Madeleine as an itty bitty newborn! You can see the images from her newborn session by clicking here. Her mom emailed and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her, and I was thrilled to be able to see them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed. Madeleine definitely kept so many of her features from when she was a newborn. Her parents also opted to work with our baker for her smash cake, and chose a pretty ombre design.

On the morning of their session, the family arrived and had brought an outfit for Madeleine, but asked to see what I had available in the wardrobe. I pulled out a sweet little lace dress and a matching bow tieback to match, and it was a perfect fit for her! It also looked absolutely lovely with her skin tone, and her parents LOVED it. We have a small selection available for babies and children as we’ve found that most mamas want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a helpful style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well. Making your portrait experience fun and stress-free is a huge priority for us!

After we finished with Madeleine’s portraits, we moved to the cake smash. I pulled out one of our studio camisoles in a pretty pink color, and her mom presented her with the cake. They weren’t really sure how she would do with the cake because she wasn’t a big fan at her birthday party. They had originally thought they would just take their own First Birthday photos at her party, but the sun was in her eyes, and the photos they took didn’t look like they had hoped. When the cake was presented to Madeleine, she immediately started exploring it and even ate some - much to the surprise (and delight!) of her parents! Every baby will react differently to their cake. You should know that many babies do not react well at a party, and that’s often not how they will be in my studio. Parties are a lot of sensory overload for one year olds, and by the time the cake is served, they’re often tired and D-O-N-E. Plus, being stared at by a bunch of people can add a lot of pressure to the situation as well. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun!

Here are a few images from this spunky little gal’s celebration in the studio!

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 | In Home First Birthday for Ryan!

I first met Lindsey and Jarod when they brought their son, Ryan, to the studio for a newborn session after he was born. You can view those images by clicking here. During his newborn session, Lindsey asked if I photographed in home sessions and was thrilled to find out that I did! She wanted to book Ryan’s First Birthday session and wanted it to be in their home. Lindsey had Ryan’s birthday party planned for the same weekend as their session, and was so excited to be able to include her parents and beloved golden retriever, Georgia, as well.

We sent over our style guide to Lindsey, and she shared it with her mother so that everyone could be coordinated. The style guide is a super easy and short read. It helps so many of our clients pull their look together. Lindsey initially considered wearing a dress but after a style consult with me, we determined that wearing a different outfit in her closet was much more suited to the overall feel that she wanted for her images and would also work well with everyone else and the decor of their home. If that all sounds overwhelming, don’t stress! I’m here to help walk you through it and my trained eye for color will immediately know which of your options are the best. I absolutely love helping clients and am here to hold your hand as much as you need it! I want your entire session experience to be fun and as stress free as possible, which includes the planning.

When I travel to homes for sessions, I do a walk through of your home when I arrive. You will have already sent me images of the rooms in your home beforehand. My goal is to schedule your session for when we have the best light that coordinates with your child’s best time of day. Lindsey’s gorgeous home had many rooms that were full of beautiful light. I stopped short when I saw their upstairs hall bathroom with the clawfoot tub because of how amazing it was! I immediately asked how they felt about doing a quick bath after the cake, and they loved the idea. Side note: it was SO much fun to see their wall gallery from their newborn session hanging throughout the house! As an artist, it’s always wonderful to see how my clients are enjoying their artwork on a daily basis in their homes.

We started downstairs with group images and took turns passing Ryan around between parents and grandparents. They wanted an outdoors image in their backyard, so we headed out back there since we had enough open shade. I am very honest with my clients: sometimes their vision or hopes for their session simply is not going to work if the light is too harsh or isn’t optimal. We also headed out to their front porch as well. When Lindsay started carrying Ryan up the stairs, I asked her if he knew how to climb them, She responded “Of course, he does it all the time!” and I asked if we could allow him to crawl up the stairs with her close behind him. When I am in your home, I want to photograph those moments that you do all the time, that don’t have a second thought. Someday you’re going to miss those days where you watched your baby navigate the steps. Someday those little feet won’t be so little anymore. Let’s preserve those memories for you so you have a way to hold on.

We headed to Ryan’s bedroom where we had determined was the best location for his birthday cake in terms of light and easy cleanup for Lindsey. My high chair is an antique and does not travel. You have a few options for cake smashes in home - if it’s warm enough we can certainly be outside! If it’s colder, we can be indoors. Lindsey’s kitchen was much too dark to photograph in during the time of day that I was there, so it was not an option. If you have a bright kitchen with lots of natural light pouring in, then it might make perfect sense for your child to sit at the island or in their own high chair. We’ll talk about the different options and come up with a plan!

Ryan wasn’t a huge fan of eating his cake, but did enjoy sticking his feet into it! It’s always so much fun watching each baby and seeing how differently they react to their cakes. No cake smashes ever look the same, and I love that!

After Ryan indicated that he was no longer interested in his cake, Lindsey and Jarod took him down the hall for a post cake bubble bath. The bathtub photo of Ryan is definitely in the favorites of photographs that I’ve created in my career. He is SO cute!

Interested in an in-home session for your baby’s upcoming milestone? Contact us today to discuss your vision and details!!!

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 | Niko is ONE!

Josie contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a First Birthday session. She wanted to schedule the session to take place before her son’s actual birthday party and use images for the invitation and party decor. Some clients come in sometime in the first month after their baby’s first birthday. It’s entirely up to you!

Josie also asked if including a cake was an absolutely necessity. I responded that it was not, and it was up to her whether she wanted to include one. While a lot of our clients love the experience, some prefer to skip it. The focus of the session is on your baby and capturing them how they are at this age - not on a birthday cake. So, if you don’t want to incorporate a cake, no worries at all!

When they walked in on the day of their session, I immediately recognized Josie’s handbag - the Market Day Tote from Everlane! If you haven’t heard of Everlane, you should definitely check them out. It’s a super cool company with some really great design. Josie was shocked that I recognized her bag and declared that nobody in her family appreciated her bag, and that it made her day that I knew where it was from. I’m a fan of understated simplicity paired with functionality in fashion, so Everlane is right up my alley!

Niko was a little bit shy, so I kept chatting with his parents. I have found that when a baby isn’t receptive to you, it’s best to win them over through their parents. When they see that their parents are talking to me, a small level of trust begins to build from there. As we were talking, I learned that they were both journalists and worked crazy hours sometimes to meet deadlines. Writing is a creative art that I have a lot of respect for since it’s not always possible to crank out a piece oh whatever topic. So when they explained that sometimes they’d stay up until 3 AM because inspiration had hit and they were furiously writing away, I completely understood.

We started the session as a family unit so Niko would feel safe and comfortable. He started smiling as we were all laughing and joking, and I slowly raised my pep level to match where he was. We continued on with parent images, and then things really started getting fun with tickle fights and peek a boo games. Niko loves his parents, and it was just so much fun to watch the three of them together. When Niko was totally warmed up to me, we moved quickly to the solo portraits. Josie had brought along Nik'o’s favorite stuffed animal. I love and welcome the usage of your child’s little “friends”! Incorporating them into your session will make it that much more meaningful years from now when their little lovie is long gone.

Niko needed a diaper change, so they took the opportunity to also quickly change his shirt as well for another look. By this point, he was totally comfortable with me and being in the studio and was all over the place exploring. I love when babies reach this point because then their personality really shines through… and that’s exactly what I strive to capture during sessions!

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 | Eden is ONE!

I first worked with Avis and Thomas for their maternity session in the studio, which can be viewed by clicking here. They welcomed Eden on Halloween, and I will never forget opening an email from Avis that day with the announcement that she was here and an attached photo of all of them wearing costumes in their hospital bed!

When Avis contacted us schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Eden, I was SO excited! Because of food sensitivities, Avis decided to work with our recommended baker to create a vegan cake. Our recommended baker is local to the studio and can deliver your cake directly to the studio so you don’t have to worry about picking it up or forgetting it. Smash cakes are NOT required for First Birthday sessions, but many clients do love including them as it’s a chance for their baby to have some fun without the pressure of being watched by lots of people. Parents also enjoy being able to watch and take in all the funny moments without trying to document it all themselves. If you choose to include a cake in your baby’s First Birthday session, we’ll go over our recommendations for cake type, icing type, color, design, etc. Our goal is to make everything as easy for you as we possibly can!

We also sent Avis our style guide so that she could plan her family’s wardrobe choices. She emailed over a few photos of outfits for me to look at, and I confirmed that her choices looked great! On the day of the session, I arrived at the studio to take delivery of the cake, and welcomed the family shortly thereafter. It was so wonderful to see Thomas & Avis again and to meet their beautiful little girl! She was a little bit reserved, but very curious to know who I was. Because she wasn’t frightened of me, we started the session off with a few images of just Eden. I loved the cream dress her mom had brought for her and accessorized with adorable burgundy shoes and a bow headband! Those accessories were tied together with daddy’s shirt color and mom’s shade of lipstick. They looked amazing, and did such a great job! Thomas was a much more willing participant for this session - I won him over during their maternity session. ;) I loved watching them with their daughter, and we all had so much fun.

After we finished our family and solo portraits portion, Avis dressed Eden in her special birthday outfit. I thought her tutu and pearls paired with a simple white onesie were absolutely adorable. Eden was already walking, so we spent some time playing together on the floor, and running around all over the place. Once we finished with that, I pulled out the high chair, and the cake fun began!

Eden was immediately interested in her cake, and mom and dad came over to join in as well. I will never forget Thomas taking a bite of the icing and the look of shock on his face. I asked him if everything was okay and he nodded. He said “I just can’t believe this cake is vegan! It’s really good!” Avis looked at him and tasted it and said, “Oh my gosh this is amazing!” Our baker really is incredible - her cakes always get taken home for enjoyment no matter how smashed up they get during the session. I order birthday cakes and special event cakes from her - nobody else in Atlanta comes close to the flavor and amazing design she creates.

Here are a handful of my favorite images from Eden’s first birthday celebration!

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 | Quinton is ONE!

I headed to the office one morning and when I checked my inbox, I started reading emails. The first email was from a client who needed to reschedule her session for the next evening due to being sick with a stomach virus. She had a prime October Saturday, and I let her know that I was more than happy to reschedule her session but that it would have to be a weeknight since I was completely booked through December for weekend outdoor dates. She was totally fine with that, and we moved her to a couple of weeks later on a Tuesday evening.

Then I came across an email from Sarah, asking if I had ANY availability at all for a Family/First Birthday session and if she could be put on the waitlist for a cancellation. Fate, kismet, whatever you want to call it! I was expecting a client, so I forwarded her email to Caroline (our studio manager) and Caroline took care of calling her. She was thrilled to hear that we had an opening that same evening and immediately snapped it up. We sent her our style guide to dress her family, as well as our cake tips.

I met the family in the studio parking lot the next evening, and we headed to the park location. It was pretty much the most perfect weather ever, and the light was gorgeous. I really loved what she had chosen for them to wear - Quinton’s little leather pants were to die for! A lot of clients wonder if they need to wear pastels and neutrals in order for their images to look amazing - the answer is no. When it comes to color - I love it! It’s just a matter of choosing the right colors and mixing the colors and patterns for the most cohesive and visually appealing look. Neon will never make a comeback or be a good choice for a session. ;)

Big brother Matthew was all over the place, and his parents were concerned that he wouldn’t cooperate for any family images. I reassured Sarah and Vincent it was normal for that age, and that we would win him over eventually. When a child doesn’t want to participate or needs a break, we give them one! Pressuring children or forcing them to do something they don’t want to is not my style. Gentle persuasion by the way of having lots of fun where a child decides they want to join in is more my speed. Vincent assumed responsibility for chasing Matthew around while I photographed Sarah and Quinton. Sure enough, Matthew eventually became interested in what was going on and wanted to play games with me too. We made it work! Let me make it clear that I am not a magician when it comes to young children. It requires a team effort between all the adults involved. I will meet your child exactly where they are at and tailor my response and engagement with them to that level. With lots of patience and love, we’ll hopefully get them laughing and having fun in no time if they’re a little bit shy or not into having their picture taken. A willingness on your part to be silly and laugh is absolutely essential. And please, do not judge me if I act crazy during our time together. I do lot of silly faces and voices to win the little ones over! :)

After we finished with the family portion, we ended with the cake part. Quinton didn’t want to touch his cake unless his mama was holding it, so that’s exactly what we did. Check out the image of his reaction to his first taste of sugar - too funny!

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 | Troi is ONE!

‘Toya contacted me to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Troi. I had first worked with her for Troi’s newborn session, and was so excited to see them again! Troi was a tiny preemie born at 26 weeks, but proved to be a mighty fighter who is a happy and healthy one year old today. You can read more details and see images on her newborn blog post by clicking here.

‘Toya brought a simple buttercream frosted cake with colorful pastel sprinkles. If you choose to include a cake (nope, it’s not required!) we have a list of great options for you in the Atlanta area if you want to outsource that part. Our baker is such a talented person and can accommodate many food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She’ll drop the cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of. Using her services is not required as your local grocery store can also make a gorgeous cake for your baby! Regardless of where the cake comes from, we will walk you though best practices for icing type, cake flavor, texture, and colors, if you choose to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session! The main goal is to keep the focus on your baby so the cake isn’t competing with them for attention when viewing the image.

I was SO excited to see Troi again! At first she was a little bit shy but that quickly dissipated with a game of peek a boo. First Birthday sessions double as a family session too! After we finished with Troi’s solo images, we moved into the family and parent portion of our session. By this time, most one year olds are ready to call it a day. Their attention spans aren’t very long! It’s for this reason that we save the cake for last!

‘Toya had bought a fun little outfit for the cake smash portion, so after an outfit change we moved into that. If your baby is fussy and getting tired, 9 times out of 10 their cake is the perfect distraction and pick me up. As you can see from the images, Troi was a fan of her cake and enjoyed the first taste of sugar she’d ever been permitted.

(While we typically use our antique high chair for cake smashes in the studio to make it less work for mom and dad, sometimes babies don’t like to sit, and that’s totally fine! We adapt to each baby’s unique personality and preferences and tailor the experience to their needs.)

Enjoy some of the images from this cutie’s session!

If you're getting ready to celebrate your baby’s First Birthday (congrats on almost a WHOLE year of parenting!!!), 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 | Luke turns ONE!

Ashley contacted the studio a couple of months before her son’s first birthday to book a First Birthday session and wanted it to be outdoors at our park location. She needed a weekend date due to their work schedules and had seen our recommendations about booking 3 months or so in advance for a guaranteed weekend date. While we can (and do) fit last minute inquiries in sometimes, there are also times that we cannot. We hate for anyone wanting to work with us to be disappointed, so if you’re able to: go ahead and reserve your spot on the calendar as soon as you know you want a session in the future especially if there is a specific date you’re hoping for.

We sent over our studio style guide to Ashley along with our cake tips sheet. She responded that she didn’t want to do a cake, and wanted to do a pumpkin pie… and would that be alright to do?

Okay, stop right there. PUMPKIN PIE?! I responded letting her know how excited I was about a pumpkin pie smash! I’m all about doing things differently and putting unique twists on things. My only suggestion was this: lots of whipped cream! I’m still waiting for the client who wants to incorporate a stack of donuts instead of a cake. (maybe that’s you?!)

Our style guide is SO simple, straightforward, and easy to read! Clients find them incredibly helpful, and we are here for any additional questions you may have. Should you want to utilize the studio wardrobe or input on what you’re thinking of wearing from home, that’s what we are here for! We are always available to help and more than happy to do so.

The afternoon of their session, the family of three arrived at the park . I typically begin with family images to let babies warm up, but Luke wasn’t a shy baby at all. I loved his bright blue eyes and sweet smile. I’m such a sucker for toothy baby smiles! We had fun playing games while I photographed him, and then we moved on to family and parent images. Family sessions with me are not difficult! I promise to coach you on what to do and make sure you’re in the right place. Then all you need to do is be the mom and dad your baby loves so much…. and the rest falls into place while I step back and photograph you in your element. After we finished with those, Ashley changed Luke into his second outfit and we began the pumpkin pie smashing.

Ashley had made the pumpkin pie herself and brought along a container of Cool Whip. She spooned out a big dollop of it, and commented that she wasn’t sure that he would like her pumpkin pie. Well…. he proved her wrong! He LOVED it - and it was so much fun to watch him dig in.

You may be wondering if you have to include a cake or a pie in your First Birthday session. Answer: Nope! Not every First Birthday session includes a cake and that’s totally okay. It’s up to you and what your preferences are. First Birthday sessions are about celebrating your baby and their first year - and YOU as parents for making it through! While a cake is often lots of fun and results in some super adorable images, it’s definitely not a absolute necessity. You decide what’s the best fit for your vision and we’ll make it happen!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this fall 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 Maternity, Newborn, and Family Photographer | Our Annual Blogging Break!

Every year we take a step back from administrative tasks to enjoy the holidays fully, and blogging is one of them! The studio is open for limited hours and we still have a couple of last minute spots remaining for sessions. Just contact us if that’s what you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to fit you in!

See you again on the blog in 2019!