Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Rebecca & Bo

Rebecca contacted us at the end of her second trimester to ask about our studio and specific COVID precautions. After speaking with us, knew she wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session, and we sent over the paperwork for her to complete and reserve her sessions! We handle EVERYTHING securely online in a very streamlined process. Our clients find the whole process super simple and love it. After Rebecca sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session and also sent over a short list of what to bring along with her to the fitting, and directions to our convienent studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline just down from Ponce City Market right by two.urban.licks. We have a free parking lot available (and street parking if our lot happens to be full).

Have you watched the 90 second video on our website? If you haven’t, you should - click here to see it. Watching it will give you a great overview of what it’s like to work with me and what my philosophy behind photographs is. Almost all of my clients who have watched it have told me that they didn’t feel like I was a stranger when they met me for the first time, and that I’m very “what you see is what you get.” As a note, this was filmed 5 years ago in our old (much smaller) original Grant Park studio, but still all holds 100% true today!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Rebecca and her husband, Bo had demanding work from home jobs and a weekend was the only time that would work for them for their maternity session. Booking your outdoor session early is key to weekend availability! While weekends are popular and are snapped up super fast (as of this blog post, we are already completely booked for weekend dates in October 2021), we also shoot on weeknights which have plenty of their own perks! Weeknights: lots more flexibility in scheduling, often less traffic, and way less crowded at the locations.

Many of our clients choose to take a half day from work or just leave a couple of hours early to schedule a weekday evening session depending on what time the sun is setting on their session date. ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset. If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time! There are also some months that we offer sunrise sessions - typically in September when the sun comes up around 7:30 AM so we aren’t all stumbling around trying to get ready at 5:30 AM. ;)

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to make sure you have enough time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby shouldn’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and want to choose it, we’ll go ahead and have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore when we get to your session date. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Our clients can choose up to two looks. As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not required but about 95% of our clients do choose to borrow from it! Even if you don’t, it’s great for inspiration and to see what looks great on you! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting. If able, I strongly encourage clients who are planning to wear their own clothing to come in with that clothing for me to see beforehand and so that we are able to meet each other as well. Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Rebecca came in for her fitting, she was pleasantly surprised by the number of options available to her in the wardrobe. She had been concerned we wouldn’t have options for her as she’s petite. I have dressed women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16 - so there is no need to worry because we likely do have something that will fit you! While Rebecca was trying on pieces, Bo and I chatted and got to know each other. He had lots of questions for me about what he should wear, as well as what to expect, and I answered all of them. You do NOT have to bring your partner to your fitting, but I recommend it if you’re able and they’re willing to! It gives me a chance to get to know them and break the ice in advance of your session and often makes guys a lot more comfortable as well. If they’re unable to attend, you’ll snap cell photos of your favorite options to share with them later if you want their input on your final selection!

Don’t worry, you will not have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing. You do need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This allows me to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices before you in the same week. Most of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms, so a lot of our clients also find their preferred dress for their newborn session while they’re here too! After looking at all her options and showing her husband, Rebecca decided on a breezy moss off the shoulder gown and what is probably our most popular studio dress paired with a sheer white kimono wrap.

SESSION EFFICIENCY

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 2 hours. In Atlanta summers, this is especially important because it’s hot and humid.

We will not be dragging your session out unnecessarily. Instead, I lead you through the entire experience and will literally tell (and show!) you what to do and when to do it. Don’t worry, I’m not at all bossy - I’m very gentle and direct and clients absolutely love it. So many clients have expressed relief that they wouldn’t be left to figure things out on their own and hope it looked good.

My primary focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects. The interaction you see between couples in my photographs is 100% authentic and real. However, because I believe in transparency, most of my couples can’t quite get there on their own because people tend to freeze up a little bit in the presence of a camera. I do the work of getting couples positioned just where where they need to be, tweak hair and clothing if necessary and THEN give an easy to follow prompt that ignites that natural interaction. THAT is when the magic and beauty unfold.

So, please don’t worry about not knowing what to do. Don’t think to yourself, “We are never look like those couples because my husband isn’t going to do that.” The truth is: you don’t have to look like anyone else. Your dynamic with your partner is unique to the two of you. It SHOULDN’T look like any one elses’ session. What it WILL look like is the two of you loving each other in your own way, while highlighting the excitement and anticipation for this brand new baby that you’re welcoming into your family. Oh, and you’ll also look absolutely beautiful. ;) 

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t ridiculously long. I allot an hour for outdoor sessions. Remember: some of this time is going to be changing into your outfit, taking a break if needed, and walking to other spots. Once the sun is gone, we’re done. Pro tip: be on time to your session. While I can shoot efficiently and very quickly in a pinch (ie: there was a horrible wreck on the way that made you 20 minutes late), I cannot make the sunset slow down.

When we first get started with your session, you’re likely going to feel a little nervous and a bit awkward. This is 100% normal. I’ve got you. I regularly shoot 20+ maternity sessions per month (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 7 years now. You’re in very experienced hands!

Most of my couples start hitting their stride in roughly 10 minutes or less if it’s their first session with me. If it’s not your first session, you already know the drill and we’re already friends, so none of this really applies. ;)

I have pregnant moms move around as little as possible in each spot in the location that we go to - especially during hot summer months! You’re pregnant, you’re probably sweating, your back and feet might be aching… there’s just absolutely no need to drag you all the place and make you feel like you went to an Orange Theory class by the time you’re done. Instead, your partner gets to do all the work. They will be the one jumping in and out of the frame as directed. We’ll also take breaks as needed for you to hydrate or rest, and pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

SESSION DAY FOR REBECCA & BO

We met at the field location on a very humid and warm Atlanta summer night. It was actually NOT as hot as it could have been (about 15 degrees cooler than the norm for July!), and the sky was overcast, which also cooled it down a bit too. Overcast days are just as beautiful as bright and sunny ones, and actually give us a lot more flexibility in placement since we don’t have to worry about squinty eyes or crazy sun flare.

I spent some time photographing Rebecca solo and pulling Bo in for some images throughout. We had a lot of fun, and they warmed up quickly. The coolest part of the session that night was all of the deer that showed up in the field as dusk approached! Rebecca and Bo had never been that close to deer, and enjoyed seeing them prancing around with their little baby fawns.

At the end of their maternity session, we chatted for a bit about what they could expect next and said our goodbyes. The following week, I sent over their proof gallery. They LOVED their images and chose quite a few of them, expressing their excitement for their upcoming newborn session in a couple of months once their son arrived.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, a big congrats to you!!! This is such an incredibly beautiful time in your life. It is such an honor to be trusted to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and how we can serve you.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Rebecca & Bo’s field maternity session below!

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

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

Atlanta Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Kali

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Kali came in to the studio for a Modern Maternity session at the beginning of her third trimester. She added on makeup services, which we strongly encourage for the ultimate luxury experience and for the best photos!

Makeup for this type of session is best applied by a skilled professional who has an understanding of studio light and editorial work. Please don’t go to a retail makeup counter or ask a friend who is “pretty good at make up”, or try to recreate a look with a YouTube video lesson.

If there was ever a time to invest in having your hair and/or makeup done, this is it. Our HMUA team is incredible and made up of amazing women with vast experience working on production/commercial sets, and they are skilled with all skin tones - including women of color.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art modern maternity sessions are photographed in our intown Atlanta studio with studio lighting. Natural light is not used, and sessions are scheduled over a 90 minute-2 hour block. In contrast, our natural light (non newborn) portrait sessions are scheduled for a one hour block.

The additional time for modern maternity is to allow ample time for adjusting the lighting set up and for our mamas to change between looks. Since we are not reliant on natural light, our fine art session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can schedule for evening hours after you’re off of work if that works better for you!

It’s important to only schedule a late session as long as you won’t be tired in the evening from your day!

Currently, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols. Please don’t put scheduling off until the last minute as we may not have availability for you. The majority of our clients reach out to us when they’re right at the end of their first trimester/abeginning of their second trimester to schedule their session to take place between 26-32 weeks of pregnancy. We want you to have a round belly but still be able to move well before you become physically limited by it - especially because you’ll be moving a LOT during this type of session!

Once you have selected a session date from our availability, everything is handled online in a secure and streamlined process. We’ll send over a short list of what you should bring along with you to your session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks. We’re just down from Ponce City Market, and our studio is SUPER easy to get to! There is a free lot parking available as well as street parking if the lot is full.

WHAT’S NEXT: THE PRE-SESSION CONSULTATION

Why do we schedule a pre-session meeting? Because over the past 8 years we have found that clients who have spent some time with me (face to face or virtually!) before stepping in front of my camera are much more comfortable right out of the gate on their session day because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This is definitely the case for fine art maternity where you may be wearing next to nothing for part or most of it.

We will schedule a time to meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. I will be fully protected with the Pfizer vaccine effective April 12th, and I wear an N95 mask for all client appointments and sessions regardless of client vaccination status. (ie: it doesn't matter if a client and I are both fully vaccinated, I am still wearing a mask regardless)

Many of our clients that drive to us from quite the distance (90+ minutes) and sometimes from the neighboring states of Florida, the Carolinas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, so an in person meeting isn’t always possible! Many clients bring along a bag full of their own things to wear, and our studio has a limited wardrobe of bodycon dresses and crop tops, bodysuits that can accommodate a pregnant belly, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have some beautiful Italian silk chiffon fabrics for draping and tossing (in mostly neutral colors) should you choose to incorporate that, as well as some stunning Victoria’s Secret inspired blush pink feather angel wings.

Usage of the studio wardrobe is complimentary to our booked clients! If you choose to schedule an in person meeting with me, you’ll be able to see and try on our pieces. If you’re planning on wearing anything of your own, you’ll bring that along with you as well, and we’ll design your session flow together based on the chosen looks.

During our meeting, we will discuss your vision for your maternity session. My clients vary in their preferences and desires when it comes to the images they want. I have some that are drawn to fine art nudes/implied nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others want to be clothed the entire time with just their belly showing. Some clients really love the look of fabric draping and want to incorporate a few of those, and others don’t. The choice is ultimately yours!

I’ll also ask your preference for the studio temperature during your session since that also varies between clients as well. My top priority is that you are comfortable and well taken care of in every aspect while you are here!

CAN MY HUSBAND/CHILDREN PARTICIPATE?

While the majority of our clients choose to be the only participant for their fine art maternity sessions, your partner is more than welcome. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for the entire session. Most families who want a family focused maternity session find our natural light sessions to be a better fit.

YOUR FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION: WHAT TO EXPECT

I’ve been photographing pregnant women for over 8 years now and truly LOVE it. When you arrive to the studio for your session, you’ll change into a robe that you’ve brought with you and you’ll be prepped by one of our amazing HMUA’s if you’ve chosen to add on services like Kali did. Everything in the studio will already be set up and ready to go, so we’ll get started as soon as you’re finished by getting changed into your first outfit. All your outfits will be lined up and ready to go with the roadmap that we created during your pre session consult so there’s no wondering what to put on or wasted time.

If you’re feeling a bit nervous, please don’t stress! I will walk you through everything during your session - from how and where to stand, to how much to tilt your head, and I’ll also coach you on your facial expressions! Our modern maternity/fine art sessions lean towards what I like to call “power” posing. You will look confident, strong, graceful, and beautiful. Mothers are a force to be reckoned with, and these images are going to combine that strength with the beauty and femininity of your pregnancy. If you’re having difficulty being verbally coached with facial expressions, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my entire face for demonstration purposes! I promise that you will never be left to awkwardly figure out what to do next.

In total transparency: if you’ve never had a session with studio lighting, it will most likely feel intimidating at first. My lighting is on wheeled stands with large modifiers on boom arms. Once you’ve gotten used to it all, it won’t take you long to start having fun and you’ll start feeling like a model! After the first lighting set, you’ll find that you’ll get into your groove and you’ll have learned what to do from my prompts or adjustments.

We will take breaks throughout for you to get some water, a snack, bathroom break, or just to rest for a minute. If you need anything, all you have to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up whenever you’re ready to resume!

Kali looked absolutely STUNNING with her hair and makeup, and was excited to get started. We created some absolutely gorgeous images with a mix of her pieces and studio wardrobe pieces. She brought her own non-maternity jeans and white crop top, along with some non maternity dresses and lingerie sets, and she was ALL about wearing the wings for a few images!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas).

It is my personal opinion that the modern maternity / fine art editorial photography style is most powerful in black and white imagery. However, your selected final images will come in both color and black and white versions for you!

The majority of our clients end up ordering their favorite image for a piece of wall art (metal and acrylic prints are a favorite for this type of photography) or put them all into a beautiful heirloom album.

If you’re considering a maternity session for yourself, YAY! Firstly, a HUGE congratulations to you!!! This is such an unbelievably special and sacred time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph mamas expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child. 

I would absolutely love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can chat about whether a fine art modern maternity session with studio lighting is the right fit for you vs. our natural light sessions, and answer any questions you have!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Kali’s modern maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely gorgeous?!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Celeste & Sam

Celeste contacted us at the end of her second trimester to ask about booking a studio maternity session. We filled her in on our studio COVID precautions and after speaking with us, and reviewing the information, she proceeded to book her maternity session.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Celeste and her husband were working from home, they were able to make a weekday work for their schedule. We had no more weekend availability left for the next couple of months since Celeste had waited until the last minute to book her maternity session.

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over all the session paperwork. Everything is securely handled online through a very efficient and simple process. After Celeste completed that, her date was was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session and sent over a directions and a short list of what she should bring along to the fitting, Our studio is located on the Beltline right next to two.urban.licks and Billy Boy. It’s just a short distance away from Ponce City Market, and is really easy to get to! We have free lot parking as well as street parking if our lot happens to be at capacity.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR MATERNITY FITTING

We schedule your maternity fitting to take place 1-2 weeks before your sessions! This ensures you have ample time to make your final decisions and to pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or other children. Your baby shouldn’t grow enough in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you fall in love with a dress that is tight, you will choose a backup option just in case it doesn’t fit when on your session date. Better to be safe than sorry! Our clients can choose up to two looks.

Using our studio wardrobe is absolutely not required. Roughly 95% of our clients choose to borrow from it as it’s a great way to minimize clothing purchases that you’ll probably only wear once. Even if you choose not to borrow from the wardrobe, looking through it can be great for inspiration. Bonus: the majority of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session.

Even if a client is planning to wear their own clothing, I still strongly encourage them to come in to the studio for a short visit and bring their options along for me to see beforehand. This allows us to meet each other and get to know each other a little bit! Clients who make the time for a studio visit and meet with me prior to getting in front of my camera are much more at ease from the beginning because I’m not a complete stranger.

When Celeste came in for her fitting, she was so excited to see the number of options available to her in the wardrobe. I asked about her preferences as far as color and style, and pulled several options for her to consider. If you’re on the shorter or taller side and are concerned we won’t have anything, you need to know that I have outfitted women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16. Celeste tried each of the options that I had pulled for her and her husband, Sam, snapped photos with his iPhone for her to look at later and narrow down her final choices. We also discussed what Sam should wear, and I let them know a general idea of what to expect at their upcoming session.

You don’t need to decide right away what you’ll be wearing at your fitting. You’ll email us photos of your final choices at least 4 business days before your session date. That way we can have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. Most of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After considering all her favorites, Celeste ultimately decided on a gorgeous cream v-neck dress with beautiful draping and a fitted blush off the shoulder ruffled gown.

EFFICIENCY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

A natural light couples or family maternity session should NOT take 4 hours. That’s a crazy length of time to be photographed and unfortunately I’ve heard that it happens a lot…. I’m looking at you engagement photographers. It’s why a lot of my expectant first time dads come in assuming they’re going to hate the entire experience.

Nope.

That’s not how I operate. I’m NOT going to drag this out and make your partner dwell in misery. While I can’t promise your guy is going to love the experience, I can promise you that he won’t hate me. During our time together, I’m going to direct you both and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. I’m going to let you know what’s happening next, and you’re never going to be left standing there awkwardly wondering what the heck is happening.

My primary focus and passion is capturing the emotional connection between my subjects. The interaction between my couples that you have seen on the website and social media is 100% genuine.

BUT. And there is a but.

I’m going to be 100% honest, because you deserve that. Most of my couples can’t quite get to that natural interaction with beautiful posing on their own. But never fear! I do all the work of putting you exactly where where you should to be, tweak hair and clothing where necessary . Then I step back and give a verbal prompt that will spark the natural interaction. This is when the magic unfolds.

So, please don’t be nervous. You don’t have to know what to do, or how to stand, or where to look - because I’m going to tell you. I will never leave you hanging. Your dynamic as a couple is not like any other. Your session SHOULDN’T look like any other maternity session, because what’s the point of cookie cutter photography sessions?

Your session images will beautifully capture your relationship and spotlight the love you have for your new baby on the way. Oh, and mamas? You’ll also look absolutely stunning.  

GENERAL FLOW OF A STUDIO MATERNITY SESSION

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t ridiculously long. I set aside an hour for natural light (non-newborn) portrait clients. I want you to know that when we first get started, you’re probably going to feel a little anxious and awkward even though you’ve already met me. You’ve invested the time and effort into this session, and you want it to go well.

So do I.

Know that I’ve got you. I regularly photograph 20+ pregnant mamas a month (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 8 years at this point. It’s pretty safe to say that you are with someone who is incredibly experienced with maternity portraiture and will take excellent care of you.

Most of my clients are good to go in 10 minutes or less. The very first little bit is just the warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction. Once you’re relaxing and having a good time, the real photographing begins.

I purposely have my pregnant clients move around as little as possible. I know that you’re pregnant, your balance is slightly off from your belly, and your feet and back are probably hurting a bit. I want to make it as physically easy for you as possible, and we will take breaks for you to drink some water or just rest for a minute if needed!

The session with Celeste and Sam was so much fun. Celeste was pretty much a natural from the get go in front of the camera, with Sam needing a little more time. Once they started having fun and laughing (which didn’t take long at all with my standup comedy jokes), we created the most beautiful images. You can really see the love and tenderness that Sam has for Celeste, and I just love that.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, CONGRATS!!! ::throws all the confetti:: This is such an amazing time in your life. I would love for you to contact us to chat about how we can serve you.

Enjoy a handful of my favorite images from Celeste & Sam’s studio maternity session below!

PS: Have you watched the video about me on our website? It’s just 90 seconds of your life. Bonus: no commercials. If you haven’t, you really should - click here to see it.  It’s on the older side - I was only a couple months postpartum with my now five year old son when it was created, but watching it will give you a really great overview of my philosophy and what I’m like!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Erised, Dan & Benicio awaiting the newest addition!

Erised texted me as soon as she found out she was pregnant with her second baby. She wanted to be on our calendar immediately because she knows how far in advance we book and didn’t want to take any chances.

This was quite the difference from when she was expecting her first child! She contacted us at the LAST minute to book her maternity and newborn sessions. We were fortunately able to squeeze her in, and she had the baby shortly after the maternity session took place! Erised already knew she wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session for her second baby. Because she had also booked a six month milestone and First Birthday session for her first baby, our First Year Collection was the perfect choice for her! Ask us about this when you contact us if you know you want to document your baby’s entire first year. We have limited availability for the Collection membership each month. The perks are many, and our members love the many benefits they enjoy. What are those benefits? Well, just to name the top two favorites: priority weekend booking, and the fact that you don’t have to do anything once you’re signed up - Caroline (our studio manager) will reach out and get you booked for each upcoming session. It’s a set it and forget it situation, and truly the perfect solution for our busy families!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Erised had contacted us very early on in her pregnancy, we were able to schedule a weekend date for her maternity session and she had a few options to choose from! We schedule maternity sessions to take place between 26-32 weeks, and will make suggestions for where in that timeframe would be best based on your height, if you’re having twins, and if this is not your first baby!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, our shooting calendar is typically full several months in advance. We have a LOT of repeat clients who reserve their fall family sessions for the following year so they’re on the calendar. Reserving your session early gives you more date options and flexibility!

If we are completely out of weekend dates, our clients just plan to leave work earlier on a weekday. To give you a really good example of what I mean, I’ll share that as of thing blog post, we are 70% booked for fall weekend evenings. There are quite a few advantages to scheduling on for a session during the week though! Sessions on weeknights are much less crowded! It’s important to know that ALL outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset. We do offer sunrise sessions at certain times of year (mostly in August/September) but not when sunrise is at 6 AM. You need a fully functioning photographer, and 6 AM is definitely not my best time, ha!

If you’re a planner and you want to know what time your session would start on any given date, run a Google search for “sunset time on X date in Atlanta, GA” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour from that time, and you have your general session start time. If you’re booking a sunrise session, we’ll meet about 5 minutes ahead of the sunrise!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Erised’s session paperwork to her. Booking your session is handled online, and your information is secure! Once that was submitted, Erised was locked into our calendar and good to go! We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! Free parking is available in the lot and on the street.

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Wardrobe fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before your maternity session! We want to make sure that you have ample time to make final decisions as well as coordinate the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your belly likely won’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your selections. If you fall in love with a dress that BARELY fits, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore at your session. Even if if doesn’t zip all the way, that’s not necessarily a problem. I always have fitting clips at the ready and can sometimes rig something to work even if it’s too small. After all, we’re not photographing you from behind when you’re pregnant, so nobody will ever know if your dress didn’t zip up all the way unless you go out of your way to tell them!

Using the studio wardrobe is not required. It’s simply here for you to use should you want to. 95% of our clients do borrow from it and love the convienence of not having to shop for something they’ll only wear once. If you’re planning to work with us past your maternity session, you’ll get a feel for everything we have available and know which dresses you love for future sessions! The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!).

I highly suggest all new clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other. Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time. Virtual meet and greet options are also available via Zoom or FaceTime.

Erised looked through the wardrobe and settled on one of our favorite dresses - an off the shoulder cream lace dress with a nude lining. She had purchased a blue dress of her own from a boutique and decided on that as her second option.

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH TODDLERS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions with an efficient flow. Outdoor couples or family maternity session should take NOT take 4 hours. When a young toddler is involved, it becomes even MORE important to not have a crazy long session because toddlers don’t have the attention span or the patience for that.

So…. we are going to knock out ALL the images with your toddler right off the bat so that we get those. The average toddler will be the most cooperative and interested for about the first five minutes before they’re over it. There are some toddlers who break the mold, but this is RARE.

When you show up, be ready to move quickly. I’m going to direct you and literally tell you what to do and when to do it with your toddler. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interactions that you see in my images is 100% authentic. Small children don’t follow direction well (or at all), so I just let them be themselves and have the parents be the ones working around their toddler. I’ll give you simple instructions and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is ZERO stiff and formal posing where everyone has to be perfectly still for twenty eternal seconds. Sitting still for that long is NOT possible (or realistic) with toddlers and I refuse to set my families up for “failure”.

YOU as parents have a huge impact on how your session goes. Come to your session ready to have fun and play with your little one. Have a willingness to try unorthodox things to distract and delight your toddler. Keep the expectations for your toddler at ZERO and never let them see you sweat. ;) A session with toddlers will feel frenetic and chaotic at times, but just keep going and trust that I’m getting gorgeous images regardless of how impossible that might feel in the moment.

Your dynamic with your family is unique, and we will capture images that showcase it!

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I plan for an hour for outdoor portraits - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. We aren’t actively shooting for that entire hour - some is taken up by changing to your second look, walking to our next spot, or just taking a short break to hydrate and take a breath. It’s important to be on time to your session. While I shoot efficiently, I cannot prevent sunset.

If you’re a repeat client, you’re likely going to feel very comfortable right away and have zero warm up. If you’re a new client, it’ll take you a bit longer, which is 100% normal! Most of my new clients get there in 10 minutes or less. Remember: you will never be left hanging or wondering what to do next. I will be helping you every step of the way.

Most of what I take at the very beginning of a new client session gets tossed. The initial few minutes of every session is pretty much a warmup designed to get you used to being in front of my camera. You’ll also catch on to my direction for how to move and position your bodies throughout. Don’t worry, it’s all shockingly simple, and I’ll demonstrate and adjust as needed!

HOW IT WENT

On the day of the session, it was cloudy and overcast. This is never a problem at this particular field location because of how wide open it is and makes for some really pretty skies in photos. Unless it’s raining, we shoot sessions regardless of sun or clouds. Overcast skies have a different look than a sunny clear evening, and they’re both equally beautiful in their own way.

As predicted, Benicio was wiggly and active, and we started off with family images that included him. Once those were done, dad strapped him into his stroller with a snack so we could get some couples images. Bringing a stroller is not possible at our mountain location, but for the field and park locations it is. Having a safe place to keep your child from running off when they are not in the photographs is ideal - and for many families, a stroller is perfect.

After a few images of Erised alone and with Dan, Erised changed into her own blue dress and then we moved to another area of the field. Erised and Dan didn’t have high hopes for Benicio continuing to participate, but I did. I knew that playing some games and distracting him by putting him on daddy’s shoulders had a pretty good chance of drawing him back in, and I was right!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s field maternity session below - I can’t wait to share the images from baby boy #2’s newborn session!

PS: If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, a BIG congratulations!!! This is an incredibly important and special time in your life. I would love for you to contact us to discuss what we offer and how we can serve you!

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

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

Atlanta Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Alayna

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Alayna was referred to us by two of her good friends who have worked with us, and came into the studio for a very last minute fine art maternity shoot at 37 weeks pregnant! She added on hair and makeup services, which we highly recommend for the ultimate luxury experience and for the best photos!

Makeup for this type of session is best applied by a highly skilled professional who has an understanding of studio light and editorial work. Please do NOT go to the makeup counter at the mall or have a friend who is “pretty good” do it, or attempt to create a glam look that you’ve never done before with a YouTube tutorial. If there was ever a time to invest in having your hair and/or makeup done, this is it. Our HMUA team is comprised of amazing women with vast experience working on production/commercial sets, and they are skilled with all skin tones - including women of color.

Just as a note: we really don’t suggest waiting until 37 weeks to schedule your session since you never know when babies will decide to make their appearance, but in this case everything worked out and baby boy stayed inside!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art maternity sessions are photographed in our intown Atlanta studio with studio lighting. No natural light is used, and they are scheduled over a 90 minute-2 hour block. In contrast, our natural light (non newborn) portrait sessions are scheduled for a one hour block. The additional time is to allow plenty of time for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Since we are not reliant on natural light, our fine art session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can schedule for later evening hours after you’re off of work. It’s important to only schedule a late session as long as you know you won’t be tired in the evening from your day! Currently, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so please don’t wait until the last minute to try and book as we may not have availability for you. Most of our clients reach out to us when they’re at the beginning of their second trimester to get a session scheduled between 26-32 weeks of pregnancy. We want you to have a nice round belly but still be able to move well before you become encumbered by it.

Once you have connected with us and selected a date from what we have open, everything else is handled online in a secure and streamlined process. We’ll also send over a short list of what you should bring along with you to your session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks. We’re just down from Ponce City Market, and our studio is really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available as well as street parking if the lot happens to be full.

WHAT’S NEXT: YOUR PRE SESSION CONSULTATION

Why do we require a pre-session meeting? Because over the past 8 years we have found that clients who have spent some time with me (face to face or virtually!) before stepping in front of my camera are WAY more comfortable right out of the gate on their session day because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This is especially true for fine art maternity where you may be wearing next to nothing for part or most of it.

We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a lot of clients that drive to us from far away (90+ minutes) and sometimes from the neighboring states of Florida, the Carolinas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, so an in person meeting isn’t always possible! Many clients do bring a few of their own things to wear, and our studio has a limited wardrobe of bodycon dresses and crop tops, bodysuits that can accommodate a pregnant belly, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have beautiful Italian silk fabrics for draping and tossing in mostly neutral colors. Our studio wardrobe is complimentary to our booked clients, and is well loved. If you choose to schedule an in person meeting with me, you’ll be able to see and try on our pieces. If you’re planning on wearing anything of your own, you’ll bring that along with you as well, and we’ll design your session flow together!

During our meeting, we will discuss your vision for your maternity session. My clients have varying preferences and desires when it comes to the types of images they want. I have some that really want fine art nudes/implied nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time with just the belly showing. Some clients really love the look of fabric draping and want to incorporate a few of those, and others don’t. The choice is ultimately yours!

I’ll also ask your preference for the studio temperature during your session since that also varies between clients as well. I want you to be comfortable in every aspect while you are here!

CAN MY HUSBAND/CHILDREN PARTICIPATE?

While the majority of our clients choose to be the only participant for their fine art maternity sessions, your partner is more than welcome. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. Most families who want a family focused maternity session find our natural light sessions to be a better fit.

YOUR FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION: WHAT TO EXPECT

I’ve been photographing pregnant women for over 8 years now and truly LOVE it. When you arrive to the studio for your session, you’ll change into a robe that you’ve brought with you and you’ll be prepped by one of our amazing HMUA’s if you’ve chosen to add on services like Alayna. Everything in the studio will already be set up and ready to go when you’re finished with hair and makeup prep!

Once you’re finished, you’ll change into your first outfit. All your outfits will be lined up and ready to go based on the roadmap that we created during your pre session consult so there’s no wondering what to put on or wasting time.

If you’re feeling a bit nervous about not knowing what to do, don’t stress! I will walk you through everything during your session - from how and where to stand, to how much to tilt your head, and I’ll also coach you on your facial expressions! Our fine art sessions are much more geared towards what I like to call “power” posing. You will look strong, confident, and beautiful. Mothers are a force to be reckoned with, and these images are going to combine that strength with the beauty and femininity of your pregnancy. If you’re having difficulty being verbally coached, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my entire face for demonstration purposes! I promise that you will never be left handing and awkwardly trying to figure out what to do next.

In total honesty: if you’ve never had a session with studio lighting, it will most likely feel intimidating at first. Our lighting is on wheeled stands with large modifiers on boom arms. Once you’ve gotten used to it all, it won’t take you long to start having fun! After the first lighting set, you’ll find that you’ll get into your groove and you’ll have learned what to do from my prompts or adjustments.

We will take breaks throughout for you to get some water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a second. If you need anything, all you have to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up whenever you’re ready to resume!

Alayna was pretty nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a session like this. If that’s you too, don’t worry: that’s the case for almost all of our fine art/editorial maternity clients, so you’re in good company! She looked absolutely STUNNING with her hair and makeup, and was excited to get started. We created some absolutely gorgeous images with a mix of her pieces and studio wardrobe pieces. She brought her own non-maternity jeans and black lace bra/thong, and used our pieces for everything else in her gallery. Our HMUA stayed for a few minutes to assist with fabric tossing, which took a few attempts to create the perfect image!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Alayna saw her final images she absolutely loved them and was so excited to share them with her friends who sent her my way. Those friends also emailed me to express how amazingly beautiful they found the photos, and to thank me for taking good care of her.

It is my opinion that fine art editorial photography is most powerful in black and white. However, your selected final images will come in both color and black and white versions for you!

The majority of our clients end up ordering their favorite image for a piece of wall art (metal and acrylic prints are a favorite for this type of photography) or put them all into a beautiful heirloom album.

If you’re considering a maternity session for yourself, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child. 

I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session with studio lighting is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer any questions you have!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Alayna’s editorial maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely beautiful?!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | The S Family at the Park

Kyra contacted us at the beginning of her second trimester to ask about how we ran our studio (specifically, our COVID precautions since she was a higher risk pregnancy) and after speaking with us, knew she definitely wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Kyra had contacted us early on in her pregnancy, we were able to schedule a weekend date for her maternity session. We book MONTHS in advance, so the sooner the better when it comes to having date options to choose from. If we are out of weekend options, clients just plan to leave work earlier on a weekday. Weeknight sessions have their own perks: one of which is that our locations are much less crowded! As a note: ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset and sometimes we offer sunrise sessions at certain times of year (mostly in August/September). If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time! If you’re booking a sunrise session, we meet about 5 minutes before sunrise!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Kyra’s session paperwork to her. We handle our entire booking process securely online, and it’s all very streamlined. Our studio has been described by many as a “well oiled machine” and we are proud of that fact! After Kyra sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if the lot is full).

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to ensure you have ample time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby likely won’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and are in love with it, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore at your session. Our clients can choose up to two looks.

As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not at all required but about 95% of our clients do borrow from it! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting - as Kyra did! If able, I strongly recommend that all clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other. If you can’t make the time to come by the studio, virtual options are available via Zoom or FaceTime! Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Kyra came in for her fitting, she commented on how many dresses we had. It’s true - we have a LOT. Like many of our clients, she was a little worried that we might not have anything that fit her well that she loved. Our studio wardrobe has outfitted women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16. We talked about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I pulled options for her that I knew would work well with her skin tone. She also chose a dress from our little girls’ wardrobe for her daughter to wear as well.

You do NOT have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing, but you’ll need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead time allows us to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband the photos from her phone, Kyra decided on a moss green off the shoulder dress and a purple dress with a shawl to cover her arms.

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH KIDS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 4 hours. When a child is involved, it becomes even MORE important to not have an overly long session because they just can’t deal with it. Four hours is an insane length of time to shoot a standard natural light portrait session that isn’t a newborn session, and it’s why a lot of first time dads to be come in assuming they’re going to hate the entire experience and it’s something they have to grit their teeth to “get through”.. Nope. Dragging it out is not how I roll.

Instead, I’m going to lead you and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interactions that you see in my images is 100% authentic. In the interest of total transparency, most of my subjects can’t quite get there on their own unless they have worked with me before. So….I do initial work of getting you positioned juuuuuuuust so, adjust your hair and clothing if necessary, and THEN give you a simple action prompt that sparks that natural interaction. Little kids don’t follow direction well (or at all), so we just let them be themselves! I’ll give you simple instructions and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is no stiff and formal posing where everyone has to be perfectly still for twenty eternal seconds - that is NOT possible (or realistic) with small children!

Once you’re relaxed and in the zone, that is when the magic begins. There is no need to be nervous about not knowing what to do, because the truth is: you don’t have to when you’re with me. Your dynamic with your family is unique, and it SHOULDN’T look like every other session out there. I don’t do cookie cutter sessions. Instead your session will show all of you loving each other in your own way, and highlight the beauty of your pregnancy and the love you have for your new baby on the way.

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t needlessly long. I allot an hour for outdoor portraits - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. (Pro tip: be sure to be on time to your session). I shoot efficiently and can do so very quickly in a pinch when needed, but I don’t possess the superpower of being able to keep the sun from setting.

Fact: When we start your session, you’re going to be a tad nervous and probably feel a bit awkward for the first little bit. This is 100% normal. I regularly shoot 20+ maternity sessions per month (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 8 years now. I have seen it all.

I’d say that most of my subjects start relaxing in 10 minutes or less. As such, the photos I take at the very beginning often don’t make it into the final proof gallery. The very first little bit is intended to be a warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction for how to move and position your bodies. Once you’re relaxed and having fun, that is when we start getting those keepers for your proof gallery!

I like for moms move around as little as possible and structure my session flow around them. Pregnant moms are often sore, their feet and hips might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag them all over the place. Instead, partners are be the ones in and out of the frame as directed. Breaks are taken as needed for mamas to drink some water or just take a breather.

We started out our session in the most beautiful summer sunset light, and I spent some time photographing Kyra solo and pulling in the rest of the family for some images from time to time. Juniper was having a rough evening and wasn’t particularly into being in the photos, so we gave her plenty of space and then she eventually came around! One of the things that you’ll notice in this gallery is that Juniper is also in two outfits. This actually wasn’t the original plan, but Juniper let us know that she wanted to wear her own clothes. I believe in respecting children and letting them have input too. Once she was wearing her own outfit, her mood changed so much and she started having fun. I could see Kyra’s relief that Juniper was happy and participating - and her little outfit and boots are just adorable and worked well!

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, a BIG congratulations!!! This is such a special time in your life, and it’s truly an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat.

Have you watched the video on our website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, check it out - you can click here to see it. It’s a quick 90 second investment of your time, and will provide a general overview of what it’s like to work with me. Bonus: you’ll actually get to see my whole face in the video unlike when in the studio with me due to my mask! ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s park maternity session below… and come back in a few days to see the gorgeous newborn images of their second daughter!

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 Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Analy

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Analy came into the studio in the middle of her third trimester for a fine art maternity shoot. Analy is a really special client - I first worked with her when she was pregnant with her first baby, Julia. Shortly after Julia was born, she was diagnosed with biliary artresia and was placed on the liver transplant wait list. During the waiting process, Analy discovered she could donate a portion of her liver to her daughter, and was ready to do so. They held out for as long as they could in hopes another liver would come through with Analy being Plan B, but when Julia’s liver deteriorated to the point they could no longer wait, Analy and Julia were taken into surgery for the transplant. You’ll notice the surgery scar on Analy’s belly from donating part of her liver to her daughter. I think this is such a powerful testimony to the love of a mother, and that editing out would have been absolutely ridiculous to do. The scar is beautiful because of the incredible story behind it, and Analy was gracious enough to share with all of us!

ANALY’S STORY (IN HER OWN WORDS)

Our daughter, Julia, was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver condition that occurs in infants. The bile ducts inside and outside of the liver are scarred and blocked; the bile cannot drain into the intestine and builds up, leading to liver damage.  Inevitably, babies born with BA will need a liver transplant at some point in their lives.  

This means that they end up on the liver transplant waiting list and if a donor liver does become available or a perfect match is not found, then little can be done to save their lives.   We happened to be at one of the best locations not only for Biliary Atresia treatment, thanks to the amazing Hepatology team at CHOA Egleston, but also at one of the few locations in the country that offered the option of living donor transplants.  CHOA and Emory University Hospital partnered up and gave us the option for a living liver donor.  After two full days of expedited testing, they gave us the most wonderful news: I was a perfect match for Julia!

As parents we know we would do anything for our children because our love for them is beyond unconditional.  Julia already had my full love and heart, why not give her a portion of my liver too?  

I was officially her plan B and quickly became her plan A when a donor liver never came.  Her condition took a turn for the worst in the blink of an eye and we couldn’t wait any longer.  At only 7 months old, Julia underwent a lifesaving transplant and received a portion of my liver and a second chance at life.  How amazing is it that research, medical advances and the loving medical professionals at CHOA & Emory allowed us to save her life?

Julia is now 3 years old.  She loves astronomy, dancing, painting and always has a smile on her face.  We know our story is a happy one because we have her with us but, unfortunately, that is not always the case with other Biliary Atresia families.  A lot of babies never receive their gift of life so it’s important to not only be aware of the fact that there are babies out there whose life depends on organ donation but also become one of those incredible & selfless individuals who are willing to save them by becoming an organ donor.

Life is fragile, this we’ve learned firsthand, but one of the most beautiful things about it is that we have it within us to give others a second chance.

Little is known about Biliary Atresia; we don’t know what causes it, how to prevent it, and there is no cure for this horrible disease that has claimed the lives of so many babies.  Our family has set up a fund at CHOA Egleston to help fund their Biliary Atresia Research Program.  They are one of the only centers in the country with a dedicated research program for BA and they’re making great strides in learning more about this disease.  If you find it in your hearts to make a donation and help us give other BA babies worldwide a second chance at life, please make a contribution to the BA Hero Fund at CHOA to help fund BA Research.  You can follow our family’s journey on Instagram at mighty_julia_ba and find the direct fund link here.   

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art maternity sessions are shot in the studio with studio lighting only over a 90 minute-2 hour period to allow for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Because we shoot with studio lighting, session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can start in the later evening hours after you’re off of work as long as you know you won’t be overly tired at that time of day. As a reminder, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so don’t wait until the last minute to book!

Once you have contacted us and selected a date for your session, it’s all handled online through our secure and streamlined process. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her to the session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).

PRE SESSION CONSULTATION

We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a limited wardrobe of bodysuits, bodycon dresses, bodycon crop tops, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have a small collection of mostly neutral colors of Italian silk chiffon fabrics for draping and tossing! If you elect for an in person consult, you will have the opportunity to try on our pieces as well as bring your own for me to go through, and we’ll create a session roadmap together!

During our consult, we will speak at length about your vision for the session. Our clients are all over the map when it comes to the types of images they want to create during out time together. Some want fine art nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time. Some want to have a few with fabric tossing, and others don’t. We will also talk about your preference for the studio temperature during your session. Many of our clients choose to be the only participant in our fine art sessions, but your partner is more than welcome as well. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. We’ll discuss all of these things at length (I’ll be taking notes throughout!), and you’ll have the opportunity to ask me any questions you have!

****The most IMPORTANT reason that we require a pre-session meeting is this: Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This especially proves true for sessions where you’ll be wearing next to nothing for part of it. ***

FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 7 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;) When you arrive to the studio, we’ll get started. I will walk you through everything the entire time - from where and how to stand, to how much to bend your elbow, etc. I’ll also coach you on your facial expression. If I can’t verbally coach you through expressions, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my face for demonstration! :)

It can feel a bit intimidating at first standing under a giant light modifier that flashes with every frame, but you’ll soon start to have fun with it! You will hit your stride, and you will look absolutely stunning. You may also decide that being a supermodel is way too much work and they deserve every penny they earn. ;)

Most of the the images that I take at the very beginning of your session are just for the warm up to get you comfortable (and to adjust the lighting settings as needed!) We will take breaks if you need them for water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a minute. If you need something, all you need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

Analy was definitely nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a fine art session like this. She joked that she didn’t remember how to wear heels because she never wears them anymore due to being at home all the time. We had a lot of fun cracking jokes and using the hair fan for some beautiful movement in her hair. Analy refers to the hair fan images as her “Kim K moment”. The hair fan looks super intimidating because it’s on the larger side. Don’t worry, I promise not to blast you with the tornado speed setting. ;)

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Analy saw her images she was blown away and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. While I personally believe that fine art editorial photography is the most powerful in black and white imagery, your selected images will have both color and black and white versions! The majority of our clients choose their favorite image for a piece of wall art or put their favorites into a beautiful heirloom album to pass down to their child.

If you’re sitting here reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer allllll the questions you might have.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this amazing mama’s maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely stunning?!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Laurel & Eran

Laurel contacted us at the end of her second trimester to ask about how we ran our studio (specifically, our COVID precautions since she was a higher risk pregnancy) and after speaking with us, knew she definitely wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session.

Have you watched the video on our website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, you really should - click here to see it. It gives you a really good general overview of what it’s like to work with me and what my philosophy behind photographs is.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Laurel’s husband had a non-traditional work schedule, so she let us know that she would need a weekday evening for their session and chose the park location. We have more weeknights available than weekend dates, so she had more date options to choose from! Many of our clients choose to take a half day from work or just leave a couple of hours early to schedule a weekday evening session depending on what time the sun is setting on their session date. ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset. If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Laurel’s session paperwork. We handle EVERYTHING securely online in a very streamlined process. Our clients find the whole process super simple and love it. After Laurel sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to make sure you have enough time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby shouldn’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and want to choose it, we’ll go ahead and have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore when we get to your session date. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Our clients can choose up to two looks. As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not required but about 95% of our clients do choose to borrow from it! Even if you don’t, it’s great for inspiration and to see what looks great on you! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting. If able, I strongly encourage clients who are planning to wear their own clothing to come in with that clothing for me to see beforehand and so that we are able to meet each other as well. Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Laurel came in for her fitting, she was surprised by the number of options available to her in the wardrobe. She had been concerned we wouldn’t have options for her as she’s taller. I have dressed women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16 - so no need to worry because we likely do have something! We talked about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I started pulling options for her. She tried each of them on and I assisted by taking an iPhone photo of her in each one that she loved so that she could show her husband later.

You do NOT have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing, but you do need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead times allows us to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband, Laurel decided on a gorgeous blue gown that brought out her eyes and a gorgeous lace overlay dress.

SESSION EFFICIENCY

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 4 hours. That’s a crazy length of time to shoot a portrait session, and it’s why a lot of first time dads to be come in thinking they’re going to hate the entire experience. Nope. That’s not how I roll. We’re NOT going to drag this out. Instead, I’m going to guide you both through the entire experience and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interaction you see in my photographs is 100% authentic and real. In the interest of total transparency, most of my couples can’t quite get there on their own. So….I do the work of getting you positioned just where where you need to be, tweak hair and clothing where necessary and THEN give you an easy to follow prompt that spurs natural interaction. THAT, my friends, is when the magic happens. So, please don’t be nervous about not knowing what to do or think to yourself, “We will never look like those couples”, because the truth is: you don’t have to. Your dynamic with your partner is unique to the two of you, and it SHOULDN’T look like any other maternity session. What it WILL look like is the two of you loving each other the way you do best, as well as highlight the love you have for this brand new baby that you’re welcoming into your family and haven’t actually met yet. Oh, and you’ll also look absolutely gorgeous. ;) 

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t torturously long. I allot an hour - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. (Pro tip: be on time, because while I can shoot efficiently and very quickly in a pinch, I simply don’t have the power to make the sun stay up in the sky). When we first get started, you’re going to be a little nervous and feel awkward. This is 100% normal and par for the course. I’ve got you. There are months that I shoot 20+ maternity sessions (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for over 8 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;)

I’d say that most of couples start hitting their stride in roughly 10 minutes or less. Sometimes the photos I take at the very beginning will meet my standards and they’ll make it into your proof gallery, but most often not. The very first little bit is just the warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction. Once I can see you’re relaxing and starting to have fun, then we’re going to start getting some of those perfect keepers for your gallery!

I have moms move around as little as possible in each spot in the location that we go to. You’re pregnant, your feet might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag you all over creation and make you feel like you went to advanced step aerobics by the time you’re done. Instead, your partner will be the one jumping in and out of the frame as directed. I always remind my clients that if they ever need a break or to sit down, all they need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

We started out our session in the most beautiful fall lighting, and I spent some time photographing Laurel solo and pulling Eran in for some images from time to time. The two of them were just so cute together, and we had a lot of fun. Once they started having fun and laughing (which didn’t take long), I was able to get some of the most stunning images. We did eventually make our away over to a secondary spot that I like to shoot silhouette images at, as these are a popular request of clients (and I LOVE them).

At the end of their session, we said our goodbyes, and I sent over their proof gallery the next week. They LOVED their images and had such a hard time narrowing down what they wanted, because they were “all so beautiful”, as Laurel said.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Laurel & Eran’s park maternity session below!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Harini & Vinod

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Robin, Josalin & Keegan

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A Mountain Maternity 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 Photographer | Alison & Michael at the field

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Courtney & Jay

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Rachel

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Shariel & Eaton

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Vikas & Deepika

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Lindsay, Matt & Peyton

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 & Family Photographer | Jennifer, Jobe, and Jonah

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Whitney, Lane & Archer

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Andrea & Andrew at the Park

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.