Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Harper

Allison contacted the studio to reserve a newborn session for her daughter, and at the time she was living overseas due to her husband’s job. I remember thinking that she must be having a really hard time sleeping while pregnant since she was emailing at crazy hours of the night until I learned she was across the world in a different time zone!

When Harper arrived, Allison emailed us to let us know, and we scheduled her session. She asked to add on makeup services as well. Adding on hair and makeup services is super easy. You simply let us know you want it, and we’ll check with our team to see who is available for you and connect the two of you. You don’t need to worry about trying to coordinate different calendars and schedules - you have enough to worry about with a brand new baby! Our artists are all incredible and very experienced. They’ll work with you to create the look you want - most of our newborn moms ask for fresh and clean beauty. Others want a little more drama with the eye. Save a few photos of looks you like on your phone and show them to your artist, and they’ll work with you to create a look that enhances your features and is amazing. Even if you don’t wear makeup (ahem, that would be me), know that they do such a great job of not making you look overdone or not like yourself. I don’t even OWN any makeup (unless you count Chapstick) and I always tap one of my artists when I have my own photos taken. Some clients are worried that adding on hair and makeup will make their session last even longer - but that’s not the case. I’m going to be photographing your baby alone for the first 90 minutes regardless. So… you can sit on the couch or you can sit in the hair and makeup chair and be pampered until it’s time for the parent and family portion!

We also sent over our newborn prep packet for Allison to review. In it you’ll find best practices for the morning of, a short list of what to bring from home, and styling recommendations if you’re dressing anyone from home. Allison opted to bring her own comfortable dress from home, and styled DJ perfectly as well!

When the family of three arrived with Grandma in tow, Allison settled into the chair and I started with Harper’s solo portraits. Harper was a sleepy little thing and just so beautiful with a full head of black hair. Because she was such a good little sleeper, we moved through the solo portraits pretty quickly. When I brought her out, Alison was finishing up and I handed Harper over for a diaper change and a feeding. Once Harper was clean and dry with a full belly, she fell right back to sleep and we moved into the family and parent portion.

I don’t have a set flow for my sessions - they are very baby led. If baby is comfortable in one position, I’ll work with that and we go from there. We’ll segue and transition through different placements of parents, and I’ll guide you both through everything - I will literally tell you exactly where to look. I promise you won’t be left standing there feeling awkward and wondering just what the heck you’re supposed to do next. The emotions during my session are very real: but I do set up my clients where I need them to be, give them direction for what to do next, and then step back and let their interaction unfold naturally. At the end of the day, your job is to admire and love your baby… and by the time you’re at my studio, you’ve usually been doing that 24/7 for at least a week straight. So, you’re already an expert at it!

One last thing about this session that I want to mention… when Allison was holding Harper while sitting on the chair I noticed that she was in a lighter sleep pattern and was responding to high pitched voices. I called in Grandma to see if we could evoke a smile… and Grandma said a lot of things but guess what she said that got the REALLY big smile? “We’re gonna go shopping!!!!!!” Daddy, you might be in trouble.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Harper’s newborn 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby River

Jessica emailed me to let me know that her second baby BOY, River had arrived! I was so excited for their family and we confirmed their newborn session date. We’d actually reserved a date for their newborn session based on her scheduled c-section date and history of being “overdue” because of her husband’s travel schedule. Typically we will not schedule a firm date until babies have actually arrived, but because of those extenuating circumstances, that’s how we handled it! The reason why is because babies don’t tend to arrive when we expect. If your baby came two weeks earlier, the date we had scheduled based on their due date would likely be later than needed. If they came a week later than expected, we would have to push the date out. However, since the weekday we scheduled was the ONLY date that would work for their family, we knew going in that it would be the day regardless of whether baby came earlier than expected. We like to schedule our newborns to come in between 8-21 days of age. There are a few important factors that we take into consideration when scheduling: the size of your baby, when they arrived relative to their expected due date, and how the both of you are recovering.

The morning of River’s newborn session, Jessica and her mom arrived at the studio with River in tow. Big brother Griffin and daddy stayed at home to play! We have big kids and dads arrive about 90 minutes after I get started with baby. This allows moms to have some quiet, and in Jessica’s case: pampering in the hair and makeup chair as she’d elected to add on those services!

I took River for his solo portraits while Jess settled into the hair and makeup chair. River was smaller than his brother was at birth, and it was quite a different experience photographing him since he was much easier to wrap and work with. Griffin had rolls on rolls which made it a little more complicated! ;) If you want to see Griffin’s newborn session, just click here to see those images! River was a little sweetheart and flashed a few grins for me. When babies smile in their sleep, I know we are approaching wake up time. Every baby is different: some wake up and are immediately angry and hungry, while others slowly rouse and take in their surroundings.

River was totally calm while awake and gave me some very quizzical expressions. I love when newborns are awake and calm as it gives me an opportunity to photograph those open eye and eye contact with the camera shots. Once I finished with those, I took him back to Jessica and she nursed him while I pulled out options from the studio wardrobe for her. I had an off the shoulder cream lace dress in mind for her that I knew she would look beautiful in, and was pretty sure she would love it. My instincts were on the mark, and she kept commenting on how much she loved the dress and how pretty she felt in it.

Daddy and Griffin arrived shortly after, and we started with family and parent images. Griffin was such a sweet big brother and was interested in participating at times and other times not so much. This is never a problem - I just let toddlers do their own thing. Griffin would drift over to his grandma and then jump back in to join us, and it all worked out perfectly. I have parents ask big siblings to do things like “Show me baby’s toes” or “Can you give baby a kiss?” and am right there to photograph whatever naturally happens. Sometimes they’ll say no or run away, and that’s ok! The most important thing we can do is to have patience and not try to force a child to do anything. (A) Forcing toddlers to do anything almost always backfires and (b) it’s not fun to be forced to do things. I have all sorts of techniques in my bag of “tricks” from the past six years of photographing newborns and my own three children - so come relaxed and ready to play a few games, and we’ll get beautiful images of your children interacting naturally with the newest family member!

Enjoy a few of my favorites - I can’t wait to see River again when he comes to meet Santa next month! (PS: we are totally sold out and have been for a couple of months, but you can hop on the waiting list and cross your fingers!)

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Claire

I first worked with Sean, Charmaine, and their beautiful daughters for their field maternity session. You can see those images by clicking here. They wait until birth to find out what they’re having - and I was so excited to hear from Charmaine that their third little GIRL had arrived!!!! Fact about me: I also waited with each of my pregnancies to find out what I was having. We have two daughters, and we thought we would have a third for the perfect little trifecta of sisters… but instead we had a little boy who completed our family of five.

We scheduled a time for them to come in for Claire’s newborn session when she was 10 days old and sent over the newborn prep packet for them to review before their session. It’s a short and easy read, and covers best practices for the morning of the session, what to bring with you, and what to wear from your own closets if you aren’t utilizing the studio wardrobe.

We are often asked how we schedule newborn sessions. When you reserve your newborn session with us, you are getting a guaranteed spot on our calendar. We only take a certain number due in each month to make sure that we have enough time to dedicate to each of our clients. If your baby arrives earlier or later than their schedule due date and end up being born in a different month than their “due” month, that’s totally ok too! We’ve planned for that as it tends to happen for at least one or two babies on our calendar each month. ;) Once your baby has arrived, you let us know within 48 hours of their birth. I tend to schedule newborn sessions to take place between 8-16 days of age but have photographed babies up to 26 days old. When you contact us to let us know your baby has arrived, we’ll ask a couple of questions about their weight and how you’re both recovering from the birth and schedule the date from there!

Charmaine arrived at the studio first with Claire. When older siblings are involved, we have dad or a grandparent bring them in later. It’s much easier and stress free for the whole family for older kids to only be there when being photographed! Being told to sit still and be quiet isn’t fun for anyone, and for the first portion of the session the studio needs to be a very quiet environment as I am photographing baby only. I got started with Claire’s solo portraits while Charmaine looked through the wardrobe to see what was available for her to wear. She loves lace, so quickly settled on a pretty cream lace dress with lots of detail and texture.

Claire was a sweetheart and slept well for her portion of the session. She did need a short break to nurse, so while Charmaine was tending to her, I pulled a few of our studio dresses for little girls to go through with Charmaine. We settled on a white dress from the studio wardrobe for her older daughter, and decided to put her middle daughter in a dress she had brought from home. All of their dresses were now in the same tonal color palette but different enough to contrast well and flattered each individual’s skin tone!

Sean and the girls arrived as I was finishing up with Claire, and we moved right into the family portraits. The girls were just so excited about their new baby sister and eager to hold her and participate in the session. At 5 and 3 years old, they were definitely quite easy to work with and direct! Sarah (3) was a little hesitant at first, but because she already knew me from our time together at the family’s maternity session she relaxed quickly and had a lot of fun. We wrapped up with a few parent only images and then the family went on their way home.

I loved working with this family and can’t wait to see them again in the future! If you’re expecting a new little family member and interested in learning more about a Fresh 48 hospital or newborn session to document those first weeks as a newly expanded family, contact us to discuss your vision and learn more about what we offer!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Willoughby

I first worked with Katharine and Howard for their winter maternity session at the park location when they were expecting their first child. You can view those images by clicking here. To view his newborn images, click here. When they found out they were expecting another baby, they contacted me to schedule maternity and newborn again, and we had such a great time at the mountain location for their maternity session. You can view those gorgeous mountain images by clicking here.  Katharine chose to add on hair and makeup services again for both sessions and worked with Margaret each time.

FINALLY, baby Willoughby arrived! We scheduled her newborn session and sent over our easy to follow prep packet for the day of. Newborn sessions that involve big siblings are a bit different. We have dads and older children arrive later in the session so that they don’t have to be contained for 90 minutes. They’re much happier at home! We’ll work around your toddler’s nap schedule if that’s needed, so no worries there.

When Katharine and Willoughby arrived, she was fast asleep in her car seat. Katharine let me know she would be borrowing from the studio wardrobe and I told her I had a specific dress in mind for her that I was pretty sure she would love. I was right, and she chose it without hesitation. When I work with clients for a while, I know what colors and styles will look great on them, and I’m usually on the mark with my suggestions from the wardrobe! I began working with Willoughly for her solo photos while Katharine settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret. Willoughby was the sweetest little thing and so relaxed. I loved photographing all of her little details, and was amazed at how she curled up in my lap while I was wrapping her. I never force babies into poses, and just wrap them as they naturally position themselves. She was definitely an easy baby and a great sleeper.

After I finished with Willoughby’s solo portraits, Howard and Henry had arrived. I moved on parent and family images. Katharine is so in love with Howard and her children, and is just radiant and beaming. Howard is such a fun guy, and he's a wonderful dad. It’s so fun to watch my client families grow, and I have I loved getting to watch these guys grow!

The family portion is easy and a lot of fun. I never force toddlers to do anything they don’t want to do, and I approach each session differently. Some toddlers are more than capable of laying still next to their new baby brother or sister and others aren’t. Safety is paramount, and there is always a parent right there out of the frame spotting for any images like this. Sometimes it’s clear that it’s not going to happen, and we get images in other ways. Henry was SUCH a sweetheart with his baby sister and quite generous with the hugs. He has some of the most beautiful blue eyes, which I think Willoughby will also have. Only time will tell!

Here are some of my favorite images of sweet Willoughby and her amazing family! 

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Cameron

Kelly contacted the studio in her second trimester to schedule a newborn session for her second baby on the way. The number one question we are asked about newborn sessions is: “How do I schedule a newborn session in advance when I don’t know when my baby will arrive?” When you schedule a newborn session with us, you are reserving a guaranteed spot on our calendar, not penciling in a specific date. Once your baby has arrived, you’ll let us know and we’ll schedule the date from there based on information you give us about your baby’s weight, date of birth in relation to their expected due date, and any complications we should know about!

When Cameron was born, Kelly let us know she had arrived and that baby Cameron was NINE pounds with lots of rolls! She asked to add on hair and makeup services to her newborn session because she knew she didn’t want to have to worry about getting ready while wrangling a newborn and toddler. You don’t need to decide whether you want these add on services until you contact us to let us know your baby is here. We’ll take care of checking on artist availability and give you dates that you’ll have their assistance. One less thing for you to worry about - we take care of the coordination for you! After we looked through our calendar and checked with our HMUA team, we gave Kelly a couple of dates to choose from. Please note that weekend newborn sessions are sometimes available, but cannot be guaranteed. She chose a date for the family to come in for her newborn session and we sent over the easy to follow newborn session prep packet for her to review.

On the morning of their session, Kelly arrived first with Cameron, and we looked through the studio wardrobe together for her older daughter and herself. We found the perfect options for each of them, and Kelly got herself settled into the hair and makeup chair.

I started with just Cameron for her solo portraits in the newborn area and she was sound asleep. She started waking up a bit, but so was calm and content. I always take the opportunity to photograph calm and awake babies to get those pretty eyes. A lot of my clients request that I photograph their newborn looking at the camera. While I wish I could promise this to everyone, whether this is possible is totally dependent on your baby. There are some babies who come in and they never open their eyes the entire time. Other babies will wake up but they’re not happy or calm while awake and start screaming. Because every single baby in my studio is unique, their resulting gallery images will also be one of a kind too!

Big babies (as a general rule) are pretty deep sleepers, and Cameron was no exception. When babies are truly conked out, the more pliable and flexible their bodies are. I will never force a baby into a position and prefer to arrange the wrap around their body in whatever position they naturally assume. My goal for newborn solo images is for their parents to be able to look at them and remember every detail about their baby. Memories fade, but photographs don’t.

As I finished up Cameron’s solo images, Kelly’s husband and older daughter arrived. We have other session participants arrive later on for a good reason! Toddlers and dads are much happier not waiting around in the studio, and it gives moms a chance to really relax. Kelly and her daughter got dressed and we moved right into the family portion of our session, which was a lot of fun. As we chatted during the session, I learned that they were my neighbors - just a few blocks away! It’s always so much fun to realize what a small world we live in. I’ve had so many neighbors in the studio this past year as clients and always find out at their sessions with me. Since our session together, I’ve seen them around the neighborhood a few times, which is always fun.

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

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Brannon

Sydney contacted the studio to inquire about booking a newborn session. She let us know that she and her two year old daughter would be using the studio wardrobe and that she was a little bit nervous about her daughter not cooperating. Caroline (our studio manager) reassured her that we have a lot of experience with toddlers. While we cannot make a toddler cooperate, we do have a bag of tricks to implement to help it happen in a fun way for them! As a note, when toddlers are involved with newborn sessions, we have them arriver later with daddy or a grandparent/caregiver. They will be so much happier at home for that first part and there won’t be any waiting around when they arrive. We will also take their nap schedule into consideration when planning your session so we can have the best possible time scheduled in the morning for them to arrive.

When Sydney and Brannon arrived at the studio that morning, we looked through the studio wardrobe options and she quickly selected a pretty blush dress with floral embroidery that she loved. She mentioned how helpful it was to have access to the wardrobe since it would have been stressful trying to find something she liked with a newborn in tow. I pulled a few options for her daughter, and set them aside for when she arrived. I got started with Brannon and Sydney enjoyed relaxing on the couch.

Brannon was a a big boy, and very sleepy with a head of brown hair. He also had the most delicious cheeks! Because he was such a good sleeper, we got through his solo portraits very quickly and he didn’t wake up durig that portion. Sydney changed his diaper and fed him when I was done, and it was perfect timing as the rest of the family arrived right then.

Sydney showed her daughter the dresses we had pulled, and they settled on one. Once they were dressed had told me she wasn’t sure how she was going to be for the session and that she was crossing her fingers that she would “cooperate”. Expecting a two year old to sit perfectly still is pretty unrealistic. The best thing you can do is just stay back and give them space to do things on their terms. Telling your older child to “say cheese” or becoming noticeably irritated with them will pressure on them and almost always backfires. When we approach the session as fun and play some games, it’s WAY more enjoyable for everyone involved. I know the feeling of wanting everything to go perfectly when you’ve invested so much time into planning your session. I have three kids of my own and am armed with a lot of patience and professional experience. While we may not be able to get the image that you envisioned in your head of your toddler sweetly cradling their baby brother or sister (safety first!) we will still get beautiful and organic images that capture their special relationship.

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from this family’s newborn 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 Newborn Photographer | Charlie & Annie, identical twin girls!

Alana called the studio to see if we had any availability for her twin girls to come in for a newborn session. We sent her the information and then didn’t hear back for a while…. until a week before the twins’ due date when she was on hospital bed rest. Things had gotten a little crazy, so she had simply forgotten to get back in touch to confirm her session with us. Fortunately, we still had availability and were able to schedule a session based on her nearing induction date.

I typically have a few sets of twins every year and I love it! As a note, twin sessions CAN take a bit longer than a single newborn, but that's not always the case. It really just entirely depends on the set of twins. I knew that even though these two girls were identical, there was a 1 pound difference between the two. The biggest visual difference was in their head size as you’ll see in the images shared! We also chose different colors for each of the girls as well to further eliminate any potential confusion on which was which, especially for the up close and individual images.

When she booked, Alana asked to work with our HMUA team and added on hair and makeup services. She also borrowed a dress from the studio wardrobe, because hello... nobody has time to try and go find something to wear with one baby, let alone two!

While Alana was in the hair and makeup chair with Brielle, I was photographing the girls. I don't use an assistant for twin sessions, but I do often use dad's help. Dad was absolutely amazing in bringing me each baby as I photographed them individually and then together and we laughed about how Annie was being a bit finicky about where she wanted to be positioned and how. Photographing twins together is either really easy or really challenging - in this case, it was more on the challenge side because Charlie was not having it. She didn’t like being next to her sister at that moment, and kept trying to break free, which was disturbing Annie. So, I asked dad to take Charlie so I could focus on Annie’s solo images. When I finished up with Annie, Charlie was sound asleep and Annie was still sleeping, so I was then able to get the images of the two of them together! After those, I handed Annie to dad, and finished up with Charlie’s solo images.

Once I was finished with the twins, we moved on to sibling photos. Big brother was SUCH a sweetheart and such an amazing kid! For a three year old, he listened incredibly well and was gentle and patient. Dad still stood right next to him just out of the camera frame ready to swoop in if needed. After the sibling images, we moved into family and parents and it was a pretty smooth session conclusion as both babies slept like rocks.

I loved working with this sweet family, and can’t wait to see them at our annual Santa event and see how big they have gotten! As a note, our Santa event sold out within a few hours, but you can still get on the wait list in case a spot opens up.

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Winnie

Let’s say….. you booked a session with a photographer for your newborn session months in advance of your baby’s arrival and you were looking forward to it. Let’s say you also kept in touch with the photographer throughout your pregnancy to keep them updated on how things were going. Let’s say your baby arrived later than expected (since most babies don’t tend to arrive on their “due” date). Let’s say when you contacted the photographer to let them know after months of keeping in touch, they let you know that they’d be unable to photograph your session after all, because they were on an extended vacation with their family.

::silence::

(That. Actually. Happened.)

When this sweet mama called our studio and explained her situation and what had happened, we immediately looked through our schedule to find a date and time that might work for them. Fortunately, we had ONE day open that week and they were able to make it work for their schedule as well!

Note: we take vacations too, but we are able to fit our schedule newborn clients in to the 8-21 day window that we have even if they’re born right before we leave or during our vacation. If we did have a vacation scheduled for longer than a week during a particular month, our clients would be made aware of this when requesting to book.

On the day of their newborn session, they arrived at the studio with baby Winnie. She was just the cutest little thing with some of the best hair ever. I love when newborns have hair that has a mind of its own. It’s a feature that you will remember with fondness in the future, and you’ll laugh when you talk about it. I never try to brush a baby’s hair down, because I want to photograph them as they naturally are to preserve them that way for you forever. Her parents loved her hair just as much as I did and asked that I keep her gallery very simple with no tiebacks used and mostly white with hints of blush pink. I love keeping the focus entirely on babies, and we typically only photograph with neutrals anyway - so that was not a problem. I always ask mamas for their preferences when it comes to whether they want headbands to be used. Some don’t want them at all, and some want a mix. The headbands I select for your baby are small and dainty, and proportionate to their head size. I am not a fan of Texas sized flowers around here!

Winnie slept like a rock during the solo portion of her session, and we were finished pretty quickly as a result. Her mama had brought a bow swaddle from the Beaufort Bonnet Company, so we incorporated it into the session as well. Fair warning: mamas tie the bows on these in my studio on the rare occasion that one is brought along. It’s harder than you would think to make these look good and stay that way!

Lots of people ask - “How long does a newborn session take?” I WISH that I could give an exact answer, but the truth is: it depends on your baby. If your baby is fussy or awake, we have to work around their needs. I can absolutely work with awake babies who are calm: but not awake babies who are angry or upset. So if your baby is having a rough time of it, it will take a little longer. Come prepared to hang out for a bit - up to 4 hours. The average session is 2.5-3, but if you plan for 4 and make sure you don’t have anywhere you need to be, you will be much happier. The studio is relaxing with comfy couches to sit on, and snacks. We are actually moving in a couple of weeks to a new and larger studio over in Poncey-Highlands very close to Ponce City Market, and there will also be coffee available for clients as well as internet access provided by Google Fiber if anyone needs to get some work done while not being photographed.

When I was finished with solo portraits, Winnie needed a diaper change and something to eat , so her parents tended to her while I set up for the parent and family portion. Once she was content again, we got started! The parent and family portion is easy and I’ll walk you through the entire process and explain exactly what I need as we go through. The safety and comfort of your baby is my #1 priority, so I over communicate when your baby is being moved from person to person. Basically, I don’t let go of your baby when handing them to you until we’ve made eye contact and you’ve verbally confirmed to me that you have them. And even then, I release my grip on your little one very slowly. ;) During this portion of the session, all you need to do is love and admire your baby. I’ll make sure you’re standing where you need to be in terms of light placement, and I’ll adjust anything necessary. Sometimes I’ll fix a twisted engagement ring, tuck a piece of hair, tuck in an errant clothing tag, or move a client’s head or hand ever so slightly. Whatever it takes to produce the most beautiful images! I truly love what I do and have years of experience doing it. It’s such an honor when a new family chooses me to document some of the most precious moments in their lives.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Winnie’s newborn 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Carter

I first worked with Sara & Jay for a maternity and newborn session when they were expecting their first baby. You can see their maternity session images by clicking here, and big brother Ander’s newborn session by clicking here. When Sara emailed me a few months before her due date to let me know that they were expecting baby #2, I was SO excited for their family! Lots had changed for their family since the birth of their first baby: new jobs for both, and a move to a new house. Sara knew she wanted to add on hair and makeup services for her newborn session since she had loved having that service for her two previous sessions.

When Carter was born, Sara emailed me to let me know. Carter had been born a bit early at 35.5 weeks and would be spending some time in the NICU for his lungs to develop. Since he was on the smaller side at birth, so I suggested waiting until he was around 3 weeks old to give them a chance to get settled in at home after NICU discharge and for Carter to have a chance to fill out a bit. Sara was in complete agreement with my suggestion, so we set the date to be when he was just over 3 weeks old.

Sara and Carter arrived at the studio first that morning. I always have dads bring big siblings later on since there’s no need for them to be there in the beginning. I will be photographing your newborn alone for their solo portraits, and you’ll just be sitting and waiting. In Sara’s case, she was doing her sitting and waiting in the hair and makeup chair, and Ander & Jay were at home until it was time to join us.

Ander was a sleepy little thing, and quite easy to work with as a result. We flew through the newborn portion of the session, and the timing worked out perfectly since he needed a diaper change and a feeding when I was done. Sara attended to his feeding while in the makeup chair, while we discussed what she would wear. When I have worked with clients in the past, I often know exactly what will work for their skin tone and body shape without even having to see it on them. I knew that a gorgeous blush pink lace dress would work for her perfectly, and when I pulled it off the rack for her to look at, she fell in love with it. Even though it’s a lace dress, it’s understated and not “frilly”. She let me know that big brother Ander would be wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, and that she had also opted to have her husband in a short sleeved casual button down. With that in mind, I suggested we dress Carter in one of our studio onesies for the family images since it would look better with the outfits than having him wrapped in a blanket. I’m a fan of onesies for a more casual approach, and honestly… what’s more classic and timeless than a white onesie?! Holding and moving your baby is also much easier when we don't have a blanket to contend with. I leave the choice up to mom and dad and we’ll work with whatever your preference is.

Jay and Ander arrived, and we immediately got started with family images. Three year old boys are a wild card (trust me, I know this because I have one myself) and I always work as quickly as I can while I still have their attention and cooperation. Jay and Sara were great with rolling with whatever Ander was willing to give us in the moment and I photographed him whenever he was willing to be in the images. When he wanted a break, I simply switched to photographing Carter with just his parents. Photographing toddlers and young children is not for the faint of heart and requires flexibility, quick thinking, and patience. I have an abundance of all of those, so you’re in good hands! ;)

Enjoy some of my favorites from Carter’s session! I really loved working with this family again, and I can’t wait to see them and how big the boys have gotten when they visit the studio again for our upcoming Santa event in December!!! (We are sold out, but you can still get on our waiting list)

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Natalie

I first worked with Bethany and John for their maternity session at the park location. You can view those images by clicking here. I had such a great time with them and their two pups during their maternity session, and was so looking forward to seeing them again when they welcomed their daughter!

That day finally came when I got the email from them announcing that their baby girl, Natalie, had arrived! Bethany knew she wanted to add on hair and makeup services again, and we scheduled their session for a couple weeks out.

The morning of their session, the new family of three arrived. I really love getting that first glimpse of their little face in their carseat and seeing which features they have from each parent. Little Natalie definitely favored her daddy in many ways, but I could see Bethany in her too. It’s amazing how fast babies change, though. When my first daughter was born EVERYONE made a point to let me know that she looked just like her dad. By the time she was six months old, that wasn’t the case anymore. She’s seven now, and she’s pretty much my twin (minus the hair color) - especially when you compare photos of us at the same age. It’s so much fun to see how they develop and change over time.

Bethany settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, our lead HMUA, and I got started with Natalie’s solo portraits. I keep my colors very neutral and simple and generally use ivory whites, creams, blushes, and some beiges depending on which look best with each individual baby that comes my way. I want the focus to be on your baby and their sweet features, not on a busy or loud backdrop. Some of my wraps and tiebacks have texture to add visual interest and layers, but my photography style is very clean, simple, and authentic to my subjects.

Natalie was a good sleeper for me, and I was able to move her around and wrap her pretty easily. Some babies are not, and I modify my wraps and how I place them to their preferences. No two newborns look the same because every baby is unique in their preferences and touch sensitivity. I absolutely will not force a baby into a position that they don’t want to be in, and have years of experience in knowing when a baby can be coaxed or when we should move on to the next thing. I always like to photograph the little baby details as well, such as toes, hands, eyelashes, noses, etc with my macro lens. These macro shots are the perfect way to capture your baby’s sweet little details forever, so I always include them in the proof gallery. They’re often chosen as favorites: especially the toes!

When I was finished photographing Natalie, she was in need of a diaper change and a feeding break. John changed her diaper and then handed her to Bethany who nursed her while Margaret put the finishing touches on her hair. Once Natalie was done, I had the studio set up for the parent and family portion. Most of my new parents are a little bit nervous about what to do, but since Bethany and John had worked with me for their maternity session, they knew they didn’t need to be nervous. No matter what type of session, I guide my clients through the entire thing. I make slight adjustments, smooth hair flyaways, straight shirts, tuck in bra straps, and give easy to follow direction. AND we’ll have fun during the session too! ;) Newborn sessions are really just about loving your baby and admiring them… and parents of newborns are pretty much experts at that straight out of the gate. I’ll take care of the rest and make sure you’re photo ready!

After going through a mix of John and baby, Bethany and baby, and the whole family together, we were finished with the session. Bethany changed back into her clothes and I went over what to expect from me next in terms of when they’d see their proof gallery. We exchanged hugs goodbye, and they set off for home while I started the cleaning up of the studio. All studio pieces worn and used during a session are laundered afterwards, and the floors are swept. Our studio changing table is disinfected and the changing table cover and pad is changed out for a fresh one for each new client. All door handles and surfaces are also disinfected after each client just to be on the safe side. We take cleanliness seriously around here with the tiny little immune systems that come through our doors.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Natalie’s newborn session. I cannot wait to see her and her parents again in December when Natalie meets Santa for the first time as a six month old!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Lucia

I last worked with Saidie, Daniel, and big sister Zoe for their family maternity session at the gardens location. You can view those images by clicking here. I was SO excited to hear from Saidie that baby Lucia had arrived! When Lucia was born, she was a little itty bitty thing at just over 5 pounds. Her session was scheduled for when she was almost three weeks old because of her weight and to give Zoe a little bit of time to acclimate and adjust. You just never know how your older children will react to having a new baby in the house. I’ve found that the majority of kids in the 18 month through late 2’s range need some time, so I tend to schedule those sessions around the 2-3 week mark. It also gives mom and dad some time to adjust to having another member of the family too! :) The way that I work with and photograph newborns does NOT require them to be under 10 days old like many other photographers. So if you’ve heard that before, ignore it when it comes to me. It’s just not the case here! And if you’re reading this while holding your three week old newborn, regretting not booking a newborn session, and thinking you missed the window….think again. Give us a call and we’ll see if we can fit you in on the schedule!

Saidie and Lucia arrived at the studio on the morning of their session, and I got started photographing just Lucia while Saidie took some time for herself to relax. She already knew exactly which dress she wanted to wear because of her maternity fitting, so her dress was already steamed and ready for her.

Lucia was wide awake when I took her out of her carseat, but very calm. I immediately wrapped her up to take advantage of her alertness as photographs of newborns with eyes open and looking at the camera can be difficult (and sometimes impossible!) to get. I’d estimate that about half of my newborn clients are asleep for their entire session and won’t open their eyes, or are angry when awake, which doesn’t make for a good open eye portrait. Lucia didn’t want to sleep at all, so when Daniel arrived with Zoe, we moved right into the family and parent portraits. Zoe was interested in her baby sister and we played a few games to encourage natural and gentle interaction with her. I always hear from parents at how amazed they are by some of the techniques that I use to get images… the truth is, they’re pretty easy as long as the older child is interested in playing that particular game. If they’re not, we pivot to something else. We’ll eventually find something to engage them!

As we were finishing up with family photos, Lucia fell asleep, so I was able to get some family images with her both awake and asleep. Zoe and Daniel left to head back home, and I photographed Lucia’s solo portraits. Usually it’s the other way around, but babies run the show… so that’s how it was for this session! Saidie had brought the family rosary passed down from generations before them. Such a special family heirloom that I was honored to incorporate for them! She also brought a beautiful linen Mexican dress with a matching blanket that we saved for the very end that Zoe had also been photographed in. Lucia woke up as we were dressing her in it, but remained calm, so I was able to get a few quick images before she decided to announce very loudly that she was hungry again. ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Lucia’s newborn session! You made me work hard, sweet girl, but it’s always worth it in the end!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Theo

Greer contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a newborn session. She had a lot of questions about the process and what to expect, so Caroline (our full time studio manager) gave her a call to answer all of her questions in depth. Caroline is lots of fun to talk to and super responsive. Our clients love chatting with her, and you will too! Greer emailed us the next week to let us know she was ready to proceed with getting on our calendar.

Let me address the MOST often asked question when it comes to newborn sessions. “How can I schedule my baby’s newborn session when I don’t know when they will actually be born?”

The answer: We have a limited number of spots each month for newborn clients in order to maintain the best level of service to our clients. When you reserve your newborn session, you are taking one of those spots that we have set aside. Once they’re full, they’re full. If you’re reading this right now and have already had your baby, please call the studio to see if we can accommodate you. When babies arrive earlier or later than their estimated due date, we are often able to fit in last minute requests depending on our schedule!

A couple of months went by, and Greer let us know that baby Theo had arrived! She also requested to add on hair and makeup services to her newborn session as well. When you add on hair and makeup, you don’t need to worry about finding dates that will work for our schedule. We handle all the coordination in house to make the process as easy as possible for you. Our HMUA team is absolutely wonderful and skilled at working with all skin types and tones. They’re caring, and kind, and specialize in natural beauty which is exactly what most of our newborn moms want. Should you want to kick it up a notch, simply discuss your preferences with them while you’re sitting in the chair, and they’ll create a beautiful look for you based on your vision that will also photograph well. I also want to mention that adding on services does not lengthen the amount of time that you are in the studio. You’re going to be sitting and waiting regardless while I photograph your newborn alone for the first portion. Might as well treat yourself and not worry about getting ready! PS: our HMUA artists are MAGIC when it comes to undereye circles from newborn induced sleep deprivation.

We settled on a date that worked for Greer, and sent over our newborn prep packet for her to review. It’s a short read and goes over best practices for the smoothest newborn session experience. We also cover what to wear if you’re bringing your own clothing from home, and we’re available to answer any questions you might have in the time leading up to your time in the studio!

When the new family of three arrived at the studio the morning of their session, Greer settled into the hair and makeup chair with Ellis at the helm. I took Theo back to the newborn shooting room. He was such a sweet and cuddly little guy and slept like a champ. As a newborn photographer, I’ve worked with all sorts of babies. Some babies need some extra help to get into a super sleepy state, and I have a bag of tricks up my sleeve that I’ve picked up over the past six years of photographing newborns. Because Theo was such a deep sleeper. I was able to move through the solo portraits pretty quickly.

When I came out of the newborn shooting room with Theo, he was hungry and needed a diaper change. Perfect timing! Daddy attended to Theo while Ellis put the finishing touches on Greer’s makeup. Greer had brought a few options from her home closet, and I loved what she’d brought. She was most comfortable wearing casual jeans and a blouse, and I thought it was perfect! While we have a large selection of studio dresses available to clients, it is NOT a requirement. I strongly encourage clients to choose clothing that they feel comfortable and beautiful in. If that’s a floor length maxi from my wardrobe or your favorite broken in Levi’s with a v-neck tee - either works! These are your images from one of the most important times of your life, and I want you to look at them and feel like you’re seeing yourself. One is not “better” than the other, it simply comes down to individual client taste and aesthetic preferences. The only thing I am concerned with is colors and patterns working well for the session type, which is why I’ll happily provide any assistance and guidance you need!

After Theo was changed and had a full tummy, we moved into the family portion of the session. New parents are often still getting used to holding and handling their newborn. Most new moms have been sitting down while holding them at home! My clients comment a lot about how amazed they are by how I make it look so effortless when handling their newborns. You’ll get the hang of it too and be a pro in no time!

I’m constantly watching my mamas to make sure they’re doing well and not getting dizzy. An 8 pound baby can start to feel like a 50 pound baby after 15 minutes of standing holding them, trust me. If you or baby need to take a break, we take one! The safety and comfort of my clients is my top priority in the studio, and I over communicate with my parents when we are moving baby from person to person to make sure the receiving person has baby securely in their grasp before removing my hands.

Another concern often expressed is, “We don’t know what we’re supposed to do.” The good news? You actually already do. ;) Your job is to hold your baby and admire them, and I’m pretty sure you’ve been (or will be!) doing that from the moment of their birth. I’ll take care of the rest with gentle guidance and demonstration. I explain things verbally as we go and make gentle adjustments as needed. My goal is for all of you to feel comfortable and relaxed, and I’ll help you get there! Nobody is left hanging in my studio wondering what they’re supposed to do next - I promise.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Theo’s newborn 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Miles

I first worked with Jazmine & Chander for their maternity session in the gardens, where we had so much fun! You can view some of the gorgeous images from their shoot by clicking here. I told the two of them that my guess was that their baby boy would have LOTS of hair, and they agreed. I was so looking forward to getting to meet baby Miles at their newborn session!

Jazmine let me know that baby Miles had arrived safely and asked to add on hair and makeup services again. She knew she didn’t want to have to handle getting herself ready for the session while sleep deprived, and had a pretty good idea of which dress she would wear from the studio wardrobe. This isn’t unusual! The vast majority of our newborn clients who work with us for maternity beforehand have a good idea of which dress they’re going to wear for their newborn session. Sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting to see what fits well if their bust grows a lot due to milk production. It’s different for every woman, but many of our dresses can accommodate a range of sizes do to their stretch and construction.

When the new family of three arrived at the studio, I peeked inside the carseat and squealed when I saw that Miles DID have tons of hair! He also had some of the plumpest little lips and cheeks I’ve seen, and was just absolutely adorable.

I took Miles out of his carseat and into the dedicated newborn shooting room. We keep it toasty warm and comfy for newborns, and there’s an observation window for parents to watch through if they so desire. Jazmine settled into the hair and makeup chair with Brielle to be prepped, and I set to work with Miles. He was a sleepy baby and very relaxed and flexible, which made for a pretty smooth session! I have endless patience, so if your baby is fussy or is fighting sleep, I’ll keep working with them and we’ll still get wonderful images even if they refuse to sleep. (yes, this has happened!) My style of photography is focused on your baby, so the colors I use are various shades of neutrals. I have carefully chosen colors that will work with a wide range of skin tones, and I select wraps after I see your baby and determine what would be the best for their skin. Every baby is different! I do have some clients who request an all white session in advance, and I’m happy to accommodate that as well. Unless I am specifically asked to photograph using all white, I usually use a mixture of beautiful colors and textures.

When I came out with Miles, Jazmine will still being prepped. Miles needed to eat, so it was perfect timing. He was also a quick eater, so when he finished up, Jazmine was done also. She slipped into the blush pink off the shoulder dress she had chosen to wear, and we got started with the last half of the session - which is parent and family images. I don’t have a set specific flow, but I keep the transitions for baby minimal and have mom and dad be the ones that move as needed. This part of the session is also very laid back and relaxed, and consists of you enjoying your new baby! Since Jazmine and Chander had previously worked with me for their maternity session, they were very comfortable from the start and already knew my basic “rules” for how to stand and where. If you’re coming in as a new client who has never worked with me before, no need to worry. I’ll direct you and give you all the guidance that you need, and you’ll be a pro in no time at all!

Enjoy some of my favorites from this absolutely joyful newborn 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby George

Dmitry contacted the studio to schedule a last minute newborn session for his son, George. He and his wife had come to the United States from their home country of Ukraine to deliver, and were returning in just a few weeks. After reviewing our information, they booked their session for a couple of days later on our only remaining available date, and Dmitry asked to add on hair and makeup for his wife as well.

The morning of their session, they drove from their home in Buckhead to the studio. We schedule newborn sessions for after the majority of traffic has passed for our clients who don't live intown. For those who do live intown, it's a quick trip as we're located less than a half mile off the Zoo Atlanta exit on I-20. We have a lot of clients who drive from far away - we've had newborn clients from Macon, Braselton, Hampton, and Carrollton. All you have to do is get here and we'll handle the rest! 

When the new family of three arrived, I pulled out a few options for his wife to look through. His wife did not speak any English, so Dmitry translated, and there was lots of pointing and smiles. She chose a beautiful floor length cream gown that was a perfect fit for her. She settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, and I took George into the newborn shooting room.

Their new baby boy, George was absolutely ADORABLE and had the cutest little expressions throughout his session. He woke up a couple of times during his session when he wanted a bottle, and I took advantage of his being awake and calm and took some photos. Not every newborn will open their eyes during a session, and sometimes they are not calm when awake. I can't always guarantee an image of your newborn with their eyes open making direct contact with the camera, but I definitely take advantage when presented with the opportunity!  

After I finished up with George’s solo portraits we moved on to the parent and family portion. It was so sweet seeing them with their son. I love watching new parents interact with their babies. The expressions of awe and wonder and ineffable joy are beautiful to observe and document. While I do help my clients get into the best positions for photographs, the emotion you see is all genuine and unforced. How can you not look at your beautiful baby and each other and smile? These are the moments I'm looking for as you interact with each other, and the reason why I love photographing newborns and their families so much. I want you to tangibly see how much you loved your little one from the very beginning. I want you to be able to show your child when they’re older so they can see it too. For me, that's the entire point of photography. It's the only way we can freeze time and revisit the moments that we will someday desperately miss. 

Enjoy a few of my favorites from George’s newborn 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Amanda

Viviana contacted us to book a newborn session at the studio after seeing the photos from a coworker's session. She and her husband had taken their own newborn photographs of their first child, and had decided that they wanted professional photographs for this go round. Viviana also asked to add on hair and makeup services to her session, as her sister had so enjoyed them as well.

The morning of their session, Viviana arrived with Amanda. She and I looked through the studio wardrobe and she chose a very simple white sleeveless dress that looked perfect with her skin tone. She commented on how comfortable it was, and it was also such a great fit for her personality! Her husband and toddler son were scheduled to arrive later. We minimize the time older siblings spend in the studio by having them arrive when baby’s solo portraits are done, and most dads also appreciate it as well! :) Amanda was the SWEETEST little chunk with a full head of hair and the LONGEST eyelashes. After I gushed a little bit over how adorable she was, I took her into the newborn shooting room while Viviana settled into the hair and makeup chair.

Amanda was one of the easiest newborns that I’ve had in my studio. She slept very soundly, and was very squishy. I moved through her solo portraits pretty quickly with only one nursing break needed. Every baby is different! I work with each baby and respect the unique individual that they are. If they don’t like being on their tummy or side, I will not force them into that position. My sessions are very baby led, and their safety and comfort are my top priority.

Viviana did eventually wake up a little bit, and made the cutest little nose scrunchy grins. Right about this time, Viviana was almost finished, and her husband and son arrived. He was SUCH a good big brother! He was a bit hesitant about me, but was was so sweet and gentle with her, and loved participating in the session. After we finished up with the family and parent portion of the session, we said our goodbyes and the family headed home.

Enjoy Amanda’s newborn session images! I still can’t get over how cute these two siblings are - the cheeks and the dimples!!! I’ve shared some of my favorites 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Elias

Earlier this week, I blogged Rachel’s studio maternity session, and am so excited to share her son’s newborn images today!

Rachel had elected to add on makeup services as she has done for all of her other portrait sessions. As a busy mom of (now) THREE boys, she appreciates being able to just show up and be taken care of.

The morning of their session, Rachel arrived with her mother and baby Elias and we went through the studio wardrobe together. She already knew that she wanted to wear the same dress for a few photos that she had worn for her maternity session as a way to come full circle. After viewing the other options, she fell in love with a gorgeous blush pink lace dress and settled into the makeup chair while I got started with Elias.

Elias was sound asleep when I took him back, and stayed that way for most of his session. He did need a nursing break, but then went right back to sleep! He made some of the cutest expressions with a lip curl and half grin here and there. The focus of my sessions are entirely on your baby, and I choose to use simple neutral wraps to achieve this and keep posing natural. If your baby doesn’t want to do into a certain position, I don’t force them to. Their comfort

I finished up pretty quickly with Elias and came out to the main shooting room just as his daddy and big brothers arrived. Aaron Thomas was still all about his sister, but Luca was still a little bit unsure.

Forcing big siblings to do something or putting a lot of pressure and expectation on them is (a) unnecessary and (b) almost always backfires. It’s SO much more effective to adopt a relaxed approach with no expectations at all. I work with so many children on a weekly basis, and have been told I have infinite patience. In all honesty, there is pretty much nothing that I haven’t seen at this point. I have a whole arsenal of techniques and tricks up my sleeve if I need them. My number one priority is the safety of your newborn. Some toddlers just aren’t going to come near their new sibling alone! Two and under is always a roll of the dice when it comes to “cooperation” for sibling shots, and the chances increase with age 3-4. Age 5 and up - I’ve never had a sibling this age not be a fantastic listener or not want to participate.

Since both big brothers were willing and ready to participate, we started immediately with the sibling images. Because of the ages of the big boys, I chose to have Aaron Thomas in the middle. That way if Luca decided to jump up, Elias wouldn’t be affected. I knew that Aaron Thomas was mature enough to stay in place and hold his baby brother securely. What you can’t see is that we have spotters right by the brothers ready to reach in if needed!

Rachel slipped into her dress, and we continued with family images. I asked the big boys for permission to play some games with them and if I could touch them gently to move them where I needed them to be. When young children feel that they have a choice in the matter, they are much more likely to be happy and willing participants! You’ll always hear me talking to your children with respect. I 100% believe in asking them for permission to touch them. If they say no, that’s ok. We’ll work around it! We gave the boys a quick break to photograph some daddy and son images, and then a few of just the parents with Elias. I had daddy and big boys out the door in about 30 minutes. Rachel’s husband had braced himself for a horrible time because of their last newborn session experience, and was shocked (and pleasantly surprised!) by how much fun he ended up having. She later sent me a screenshot of a text exchange with him saying “That wasn’t bad at all! She was great, and had us in and out!” ::dusts off shoulder:: Just kidding! I can’t predict how your newborn will do - I’ve had some newborns decide to start crying at the start of family images, and we then have to spend some time getting them calm before we can continue. That being said, I make every effort to be as efficient as I can be so that you are there for the least amount of time possible.

After the boys left, Rachel changed into her white dress and we photographed just her and her last baby. It’s such a bittersweet feeling holding your very last baby and knowing you won’t get to do it again, even if you’ve made the decision yourself and know it’s the right one. I still wonder if I’m REALLY done, even though my brain knows I am! I looked over at Rachel’s mom and asked her if she’d like to be in a few of the images. She waved me off, saying that she wasn’t dressed appropriately. I responded by saying I had the perfect top for her to put on. When she took a really long pause, I grabbed the tunic off the hanger and handed it to her before she had a chance to change her mind. I’m so glad she decided to participate for a few images! What a precious gift to give Elias: a three generations photo. I know Rachel will also fondly look at the images of her mom with Elias in the future. We wrapped up the session and parted ways.

After seeing her proof gallery, Rachel chose to keep all of her images, and we designed a gorgeous album together for their home as well as a huge wall portrait and other smaller prints. I LOVE assisting families with albums and wall art so that they can enjoy their photographs in their homes every day. Our album covers are so gorgeous: and I’m partial to the suede and velvet materials! We have a stack of albums in the studio for you to peruse while you’re there, and it gives you a chance to touch them and see which one is your favorite.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Elias’s newborn session! I can’t wait to see him and his older brothers again in October for his six month milestone 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby AJ

Laura contacted the studio in her second trimester to inquire about a newborn session. After speaking with Caroline, our studio manager, and reviewing the information sent over with her husband she replied that she was ready to book!

One of the questions clients ask us is: how do you book a newborn session date when you’re pregnant? Answer: you don’t! Booking a newborn session with us in advance of your baby’s birth means that you’re securing your guaranteed spot on our calendar. We only take a limited number of newborns due in each month in order to provide our clients with the best experience from start to finish. Newborn sessions take longer to photograph than regular portrait sessions, and also take longer to edit due to the complex skin work that newborns often need. (ie: skin flakes, jaundice, purple feet - just to name a few) Once you’re on our calendar, you simply let us know when your baby has arrived! We’ll ask you a few questions about your baby and your recovery and schedule your session based on the answers to those questions. In general, we see newborns in between 8-21 days of life. That being said, we’ve photographed as young as 5 days old and as old as 6 weeks when the family’s situation necessitated it. So if you’re reading this now while holding your three week old and kicking yourself for not scheduling a newborn session, just contact us to see if we have room to fit you in! You will not be the first, and you won’t be the last. The number of last minute newborn sessions from moms who initially thought they didn’t want one and then changed their minds is much higher than you’d think! (and every one of those moms has expressed how glad they were that they did!)

Laura contacted us after AJ was born to let us know he had arrived. We scheduled his newborn session date, and sent over our short and sweet newborn prep packet. It details how to prepare for your session, what to bring, and what to wear if you’re planning to bring your own clothing from home. The studio wardrobe is always available to clients, but some clients prefer to wear their own clothing and it’s totally a matter of your personal preference!

When Laura and her husband arrived at the studio with AJ, I had to keep from squealing when I saw his little face. He was SO cute, and slept like a rock for his solo portraits! Mom and dad hung out while I photographed AJ in the newborn shooting room, and just as I was finishing up, the little guy woke up in need of a diaper change and very hungry! Perfect timing, if you ask me! His parents attended to his needs while I did a quick setup of the main shooting room for the family and parent portion. Mom and dad had opted for a more casual look, and I loved the white top that Laura paired with her jeans.

After AJ had finished eating, he was awake, but happy and calm. I love taking advantage of the time that newborns are awake for some open eye images. We took a few of those, and when he started to get a little wiggly, I bundled him back up. It wasn’t long before he was soon asleep again. Parent and family images are usually the easiest part of sessions. All you need to do is snuggle and love on your baby. I’ll tell you where to look, how close to stand to each other (hint: it’s closer than you think), and even make suggestions for where to put your hands if you find yourself at a loss. We’ll be casually chatting throughout, and it’s a very relaxed and laid back experience. I have no room for stress at my studio! Your newborn session experience should be a positive one where you feel cared for and not rushed.

How beautiful is this new family of three?!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Ava

You last saw this sweet couple’s maternity session at the field here on the blog a couple of days ago. If you missed it, no worries! Just click here to see those images.

I was so excited when Heather let us know that little Ava had arrived! Heather asked to work with Margaret again for add on hair and makeup, and we scheduled the date for Ava’s newborn session. Adding on hair and makeup is super easy! You just let us know that you’d like to do so, and we take care of determining who is available, and send you a date. You have enough going on taking care of your new baby, so we’ll take care of the coordination for you. As a note, our HMUA’s are often busy on the weekends with weddings and other events, so the vast majority of our newborn sessions are booked on weekday mornings.

When the new family of three arrived at the studio, I couldn’t get over Ava’s full head of dark hair! I had a sneaking suspicion that would be the case, but babies have surprised me before and looked nothing like their parents or I thought they would. It’s always so neat to see a newborn with their parents and see what features they have from each parent. Some newborns look like their very own person with no features from anyone! Genetics are such a cool thing.

Heather settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, and I took Ava to the newborn room to begin her solo portraits. Some of our clients are concerned that adding on hair and makeup services will cause their session to last longer… I think the opposite is true! I’m going to be photographing your newborn alone anyway, so you’ll just be sitting twiddling your thumbs and waiting for me to be done. Why not choose to get pampered by one of our incredible artists while you’re waiting anyway? They are MAGICAL at helping newborn moms look like they’ve had a full night’s sleep. ;)

Ava was a good sleeper for me, and even cracked a few sleepy smiles. Her big cheeks and perfect little lips were absolutely adorable. Since she was such a good sleeper, we moved through her solo portraits pretty quickly, and finished up right before Heather was finished being prepped. I took the time to pull a few options from our wardrobe for Heather, and Ava needed a diaper change and a feeding, so the timing was perfect.

Heather chose a gorgeous blush pink lace dress which was perfect for her skin tone and looked amazing on her. Jason had brought along a few different shirt options, and I chose a white one with tiny blue dots all over. Subtle patterns are great! If you’re worried about what your husband should wear, don’t be. We send out a handy newborn prep packet in advance of your session that goes over all of that. Most dads bring a few options along, and I make a decision on what will work best in about 5 seconds. All you have to do is make sure that it fits the subject well and is ready to be photographed (ie: no wrinkles).

Once Heather and Jason were dressed, I wrapped Ava up and we began the parent and family portion of the session. I LOVE getting to see parents with their new baby, especially when they’ve worked with me for maternity! The changes that happen in their dynamic and relationship as new parents are beautiful, and I can clearly see it. I hear maternity clients confess to me that they’re a little bit nervous about being a first time mom and then I get to photograph them confidently holding their new baby. I see the slightly nervous anticipation of what is to come between my couples at their maternity session, and then I get to photograph them looking at their new baby with loving awe and wonder. How incredible is that? Welcoming a new baby is, without a doubt, one of the most momentous times to happen in your life, and sometimes I pinch myself that my job is to photograph that for my clients.

Because Heather and Jason had previously worked with me, they were pretty comfortable during their session and knew my main “rules” what what to do and what not to do in terms of where to stand and how to turn their heads. Even if a client has never worked with me before their newborn session, it’s no problem. I’ll guide you through the entire experience and gently make adjustments or demonstrate what I need for you to do. You’ll catch on in no time at all. Sessions here in the studio are laid back and relaxed: there is no place for stress here, because it’s so unnecessary!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Ava’s newborn session. I can’t wait to see this little sweetheart and her parents again in the fall for her six month milestone 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Ellis

I first worked with Jess and David for their maternity session in the field, which you can view by clicking here. They had not scheduled a newborn session, but I checked in with Jess to see how she was doing. I really love staying in touch with my clients after I’ve worked with them and seeing photos of their little ones as they grow! Jess responded that they hadn’t had their little girl yet, but were still waiting and would let me know when they did. A few weeks later, Jess emailed the studio and asked if they could schedule a newborn session for Ellis! They hadn’t thought they wanted a newborn session, but after Ellis had arrived a couple of weeks ago and they saw how quickly she was changing and growing, they decided that they wanted to preserve those early days. It took some finagling when it came to the studio schedule, but we were able to fit them in on a day that worked for both of us when Ellis was almost FOUR weeks old. I prefer (when possible) to photograph babies between 8-21 days of age, and we schedule most between 8-16, barring any complications for mom and baby. However, sometimes things happen or we get a last minute request for an older newborn whose parents had a change of heart about wanting newborn photos. If that’s you, don’t wait to contact us - if we can fit you in, we will. Most of our clients book their newborn sessions when they are in the second trimester.

You may wonder how we book a newborn session for a baby that hasn’t arrived yet. You aren’t alone -almost everyone asks us this! Simply put: we have a limited number of newborns that we will take for our calendar. When you reserve your newborn session, you’re reserving a guaranteed session on our studio calendar. Our calendar is based on due dates, but babies operate on their own schedule. If you’re due in the month of May, but deliver in June - no worries, you’ll still have a guaranteed spot. When your baby arrives, you simply let us know. We’ll ask you a few questions regarding your delivery and baby’s stats, and then schedule your session based on the answers to the questions. If you’re adding hair and makeup services we’ll also take care of making sure one of our HMUA’s is available on the date that we schedule for you. Easy peasy! All that’s left is to review our short and sweet newborn prep packet that we’ll send to you after scheduling your date, and then just show up for your session.

On the morning of of their session the new family of three arrived at the studio with Miss Ellis! I was so excited to see them and hear about their delivery experience and how they were settling in to parenthood. We discussed whether they wanted to have Ellis wear headbands during the session, and they decided on a mix - some with, and some without. I leave this decision up to each parent. I have everything your baby will need and when I choose headbands for your baby, I’m choosing the best colors for their skin tone and the best size for their head. We don’t do flowers the size of a ten gallon hat in this studio! All of our headbands are meant to be simple and dainty so that the attention is on your baby’s sweet face and not what they’re wearing on their head.

Ellis was a big girl since she was almost a month old, and was wide awake when we got there. She made me work to get her to fall asleep, but once she had nursed and been shushed and swayed and soothed, she fell into a deep sleep and I was able to photograph her solo portraits pretty quickly. It just took us a bit of time to get her to sleep, but we used that time to chat and catch up. I am never in a rush, and your baby is never an inconveniencing me. All of my sessions are very laid back with no stress and baby leads the way.

Jess and David had followed our style guide and had opted to go with earthy tones which I LOVED. Olive green is one of my favorite colors and I half jokingly told Jess that I wanted to steal her dress. It seriously is one of my favorite colors, and she looked gorgeous in it. They had brought along some headbands for Ellis, and once I saw the mustard yellow bow, I knew it was a perfect fit for what they were wearing. Since they were wearing more casual clothing, they opted to dress her in one of our studio onesies rather than a wrap. The onesies that we have are selected for their fit and their color - many of the onesies out there are too white and will photograph with a blue cast. They also tend to be ill cut and bunch up under the chin. We have them in a couple of different sizes to fit the tiny babies and the chunkier ones. :) Ellis was wide awake at this point, and I loved it! She was so alert, but so chill and relaxed with her parents holding her. Some awake babies will fuss and flail, but not Ellis. She just casually checked out her surroundings and looked right at the camera for so many of her images, which is pretty rare for her age. I can’t wait to see her when she’s older and see if her personality is still the same as it was during her newborn session when she was awake!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this awesome family’s session.

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Olivia

I first worked with Gloria and Andres for their maternity session in the park, which you can view by clicking here. When Gloria emailed me to let me know that sweet baby Olivia had arrived, I was SO excited! We scheduled their newborn session and scheduled Brielle as she had specifically requested for hair and makeup add on services.

The morning of of their session the new family of three arrived at the studio with little bitty six pound Olivia! We were all surprised at her light hair since we had all been convinced it would be dark when she was born like her parents! She had such sweet and dainty little features, but was also a very opinionated little thing - especially about where she wanted her hands to be! Gloria and I looked through the wardrobe and she chose a simple white lace mesh dress to wear. She said she was so happy that finding something to wear wasn’t something she needed to be concerned with after having a baby. We hear this all the time from our clients and have a wide variety of sizes 0-14/16 to choose from.

Olivia was a curly and sleepy baby and stayed asleep for the majority of her solo portraits. She did NOT like her hands to be moved during, so I moved very, very slowly and coaxed her little hands and fingers patiently into place. I’d much rather have relaxed hands than clenched little fists! Babies dictate the flow of their session. What works for one baby won’t necessarily work for another, so every newborn session in the studio is unique to each individual baby and every session looks different.

After we had finished with Olivia’s solo portraits, I brought her out for a bottle. Her parents opted to have her wear a headband from my collection for the family portraits, so I pulled a few headbands from my stock, and they chose their favorite one. The rest of the session was very quick and easy as Olivia was tired out and slept well. We had a lot of fun and did our best not too laugh too loudly so we didn’t wake up the baby!

After the newborn session, her parents chose their collection and also chose to add on a beautiful distressed leather album that included both their maternity and newborn images together. Enjoy a few of my favorites from Olivia’s newborn 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.