Atlanta Fresh 48 Photographer | Pace & Rush

Pace and Rush are fraternal twin sisters born to the sweetest parents... and they're the SECOND set of fraternal twins to join the family! Going from three to five children in one day....no big deal, right? :) Morgendee and Neal actually live in Florida, but traveled to Atlanta to be under the care of Dr. Bootstaylor at SeeBaby for their delivery, which ended up being a family centered cesarean. I was hired to document the birth of the twins, and was in the OR with them sitting next to Neal at Morgdenee's head as the baby girls were delivered. It was truly an amazing day for their family, and the experience was so calm and uplifting. Both girls were each placed on Morgendee's chest immediately after delivery, and they weren't taken away from her. I left the family in their recovery room to head home at around 2 AM so I could get some sleep before returning later that day. 

After a few hours of sleep, I arrived at DeKalb Medical Center in advance of the siblings arriving to photograph just the babies and their parents first. For Fresh 48 sessions, it's highly recommended that I arrive in advance of siblings or extended family so that I can do this first, and then photograph those first meetings between loved ones. 

Morgendee and Neal had not told their older children Cross & Briggs (fraternal twin brothers), and big sister Fischer that they were having another set of twins. So the big kids thought they were coming to the hospital to meet their little sister.... SURPRISE! TWO little sisters. The joy on Fischer's face when she realized she had not one, but two baby sisters was absolutely adorable. There was so much love and laughter and excitement in the room. Morgendee and Neal definitely have their hearts full, and they love (almost) every second of it. It was such an honor to be invited to walk alongside this family and freeze all of these moments in time for them. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Penelope, 26 days new

Danielle contacted me to see if she could schedule a newborn session, but was a little bit concerned because her daughter was already three weeks old. I explained to her that this wasn't an issue at all, and that we could definitely make it work! She was so excited that I had last minute availability in my calendar and showed up a couple of days later with her sweet little girl, Penelope. Proud daddy came along for the session too! 

Penelope was over 9 pounds at the time of her session, so she wasn't quite as flexible as a smaller baby is likely to be. She loved being wrapped up like a burrito and slept soundly throughout. Your baby's comfort and safety is my primary concern, so if they don't like being in a certain position or don't easily curl up, I am not going to force it. Most babies resist change, but there's a big difference between a squawk of protest and some squirming versus screaming and flailing. I aim to soothe your baby and work with them so it doesn't ever get to that point. Being a newborn photographer who photographs multiple newborns every week definitely requires lots of patience...good thing I have a pretty big supply of it, and I really love what I do! 

After Penelope's solo portraits, we moved on to parent images. Danielle and Nick were just the sweetest, and had such a great sense of humor in their dynamic. They weren't afraid to laugh and make fun of each other, but did so in a very caring and affectionate manner. Nick had quite an interesting childhood growing up in England, and they both had been all over the world. It was lots of fun chatting about their adventures and what led them to where they were today. 

The images during this session, especially of their new little family together, are some of my favorite images ever. Capturing brand new families just as they are, sharing quiet and tender moments together that are REAL and not staged... that's what I'm all about. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Caroline & Blair

Caroline contacted us to schedule a maternity session in the field, and scheduled a newborn session as well for when her daughter arrived. She and her husband Blair came to the studio all the way from north Alpharetta for a maternity fitting, and I was treated to listening to their very cool Australian accents! They're from Perth and here in the states working. I'll definitely be contacting Caroline in a few years for some insider tips when we take an anniversary trip to Down Under. 

I love working with so many clients from all over the world. Most of you know from watching my video that I have a hearing impairment, so I have an accent also. Understanding clients and communicating with them is never an issue, and we've had a couple clients in the studio who have only been speaking English for a year or so. We always find a way to communicate. The beautiful thing about photography is that it doesn't need words. It just needs emotion and mutual basic understanding.  I absolutely love meeting and working with clients from all over the world. So far we've had clients from England, Australia, Nigeria, Botswana, Japan, China, Korea, Germany, France, and Malaysia. I can't wait to see what other countries will be represented in our studio this year. 

Caroline chose to add on hair and makeup services with our HMUA Margaret for her maternity session. We met at the field on a humid summer night. Blair is a very stoic kind of guy that doesn't enjoy being in front of the camera, but with a few jokes and getting snuggled up to his wife, he started smiling and having fun. Some of my favorite images from this session are the ones at the very end, when Caroline and Blair were standing looking at each other as the sun set. Unprompted, she reached up to touch her husband's face, and it was magic. These are the real moments that I live for, and the moments that show who you are as a couple. The moments that you can show to your child printed out where your child can see how much you loved each other and how tender you were with each other while waiting for their arrival. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Robert

I first worked with Kea, Bob, and Blythe for their family maternity session in the field, which can be viewed by clicking here.  Like myself, they had waited to find out if they were having a boy or a girl until birth - and I was so excited to get an email from Kea informing me that they'd had baby boy named Robert after daddy! My son is named after his daddy also, so I just love that.

When the family arrived at the studio, they brought along Grandma to help with Blythe. When a toddler participates in a newborn session, we always encourage families to bring along a helper if possible. It makes it more relaxing for mom and dad, and that way big brother or sister gets to have some fun too!  The studio is located right down the street from Zoo Atlanta, and some families plan for their older children to head off to explore the Zoo when their part in the session is finished. Grant Park is also located right down the street and has a playground that children enjoy as well. 

Kea had added on hair and makeup services with Margaret at her maternity session, and elected to do so again for the newborn session. She settled into the makeup chair, and I got to work. 

Since Robert was in such deep sleep when he arrived, we started with some solo images, and when he began waking up, moved to sibling and dad images. By the time I was finished with these, Kea was ready to go. We took some of the sweetest images of Kea with her children. She brought her own clothing from home and told me that the newborn preparation guide was perfect in helping her determine what to bring from their closets. When we finished with the family images, big sister Blythe left with Grandma to head home. Kea and Bob chose to change into some more casual outfits, and we finished up the session with Robert and his parents only. They're just the sweetest family!

When Kea came in for her ordering session, she came with her mom. She ordered a gorgeous linen album, and we had fun designing it from the proof prints. Album design involves us spreading out all the proofs on the floor and deciding which edit version (color or black and white) of each image would go best in the album. Most clients leave me to the album design, but I include up to two proof revisions if any changes are requested. I can't wait to see Robert for his First Birthday session in a few months! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Whit

When Nicole contacted me last March to inquire about a newborn session for her baby boy due in September, I was impressed with her advance planning! She didn't absolutely love her wedding photos, and was on the hunt for the perfect photographer for her baby's first portraits. My natural light style and natural posing with a focus on emotional connection is what drew her to my work, and she reserved her spot on my calendar right away. Booking in the second trimester is a great way to ensure my availability. While we always try to accommodate last minute requests, we simply just can't say yes to everyone. 

When Nicole and Jay brought sweet baby Whit to the studio, I just fell in love! Not only were Nicole and Jay the sweetest couple (they're high school sweethearts!), they were just so in love with their new son. He was absolutely precious and such a little sweetheart. He even gave me a couple of grins during my time with him.

After I finished with Whit's portraits, Nicole chose a dress to wear from the studio wardrobe, and we started the family session. As you'll, see there is quite a height difference between Nicole and Jay. I will never ask a husband to minimize his height by slouching down or bending their knees to make themselves closer to their wife's height. I have so many couples with large height differences, and I'll get up on a ladder and use other techniques. Just as your baby has unique characteristics, so do you and your husband. If you have a height difference - you're already aware of it and comfortable with it! The last thing you need is a photographer that treats that difference like it's a problem or a detriment to your images and makes you feel self conscious about it.

When Nicole viewed her images, she told me, "These are beyond what I imagined them to be! So so perfect!". That's what I always love to hear from my clients!  

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jennifer & Johnson

Jennifer and Johnson contacted me to schedule a maternity session in the field at the end of the summer, and I had spots available due to backup dates not being used. When I schedule outdoor sessions, I always block another date on the calendar. My clients don't have to worry about me being overbooked and not being able to shoot their session before they have their baby! 

Jennifer came to the studio and tried on several dresses. The use of studio dresses is included with your session! She fell in love with two, and elected to add on hair and makeup services with Margaret. We met at the field in the hour before sunset, and started shooting. It was such a gorgeous evening, and the two of them had so much fun during their session. There was a lot of laughter, which I love - because when we're all laughing, we're relaxed and true personalities shine through. Since we will have already met during your styling appointment, there is no ice to break when it comes to getting to know each other! It takes about 5 minutes on average for my clients to "warm" up and feel comfortable. You don't need to worry about how you look or what you should do. I will guide you through your session every step of the way and help you adjust as necessary for the most flattering posing and to connect as a couple if you need a little help. Every client has remarked "Wow, that was so easy!" when we conclude their session. Our goal is for every session experience to be a relaxed and enjoyable one. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | The Patrick Family

Jason contacted me to schedule a studio maternity session as a surprise for his wife. Yomaira, for a Mother's Day gift. They were expecting their third baby, another little girl! Professional photos were not something they had done before, other than their wedding, and he wanted to go all out. He asked if he could bring her to the studio for her maternity fitting (unbeknownst to her) and surprise her with the session there. 

I loved that he was gifting her with a maternity session and images to have forever of their growing family. I mean, I would personally just be so excited if my husband gifted me a photography session! It's truly a gift that lasts a lifetime and that means so much to me personally. Plus, I have something to show and give to my children as well!

The day they arrived for the maternity fitting, I had expected him to have already told his wife why she was there... but no. They walked in and she asked, "Okay, so why are we here?" I said...."Surprise! Happy Mother's Day!" She was a little bit concerned we were going to shoot the session right then and there without having had the time to do her hair and makeup to her liking, but I assured her the session wasn't until the following week and that she was only here for the fitting. Her older children, Tony and Julie were also along for the ride and they are just the CUTEST and sweetest kids! Julie tried on dresses from the children's wardrobe and found one that she loved. While Yomaira was trying on dresses, Patrick and I chatted about what he and Tony should wear. 

The day of their session, the family arrived, and we began shooting. Family sessions tend to take a little bit longer since we have so many different groupings to do. We shot Yomaira alone, with just her husband, the entire family together, mother and daughter, and mother and son. And I just had to take a few of just the kids lounging on the studio bed while their mother was getting changed. They were just too cute not to! Baby girl is so lucky to be coming into such a close and loving family with the best big siblings ever. I so enjoyed working with the Patrick family, and can't wait to have them back in the studio again in the future! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A foggy and drizzly winter maternity session

Katharine contacted me to schedule a maternity and newborn session. She and Howard were expecting their first baby, a little boy! At first, Katharine didn't think she cared about the location of a maternity session, but then realized she really wanted an outdoor session at the park location. No problem! She came to the studio with Howard, and chose two dresses that she really loved. Howard is one of the funniest people I have ever met, and he kept me laughing with his jokes and wit while Katharine was busy trying on pieces. We discussed what he should wear for the session, and Katharine asked to add on HMUA services as well. 

The day of her session, she came to the studio where Margaret, our HMUA was waiting for her. Margaret created a gorgeous waterfall hairstyle for Katharine and a beautiful clean beauty look for makeup. When I arrived it was starting to sprinkle and there was an incredible amount of fog. 

So, why didn't we reschedule the session? Simple: why should we? It wasn't pouring rain. The fog was incredibly unique and beautiful.  I actually LOVE overcast weather for shooting just as much as I love the bright and sunny days. The weather was a part of the story and it made their final images absolutely stunning. Katharine and Howard were up for it, so we headed to the location and the sprinkling rain turned into more of a mist and then stopped completely. 

We had a lot of fun during their session. Howard kept us laughing throughout, and Katharine looked absolutely stunning. When you feel beautiful and confident, it shows! 

Here are some of my most favorite images from this foggy winter session. I'm so glad it all worked out the way it did! I can't wait to share Katharine and Howard's newborn session images on the blog later this month! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Sophia, 10 days new

Martina contacted me a couple of months before baby Sophia was due, letting me know that she wanted to schedule a newborn session. We scheduled her on the calendar tentatively since Sophia had a scheduled birthdate. Babies sometimes arrive earlier than their scheduled c-section or induction, so any dates we place on the calendar for a client are not set in stone. We'll adjust them if necessary! 

When the family arrived at the studio for their newborn session, they brought along Grandma and Grandpa who were visiting from their home country of Germany. It was pretty neat to hear German being spoken in the studio. We've had so many clients from all over the world in the last year: Australia, England, France, China, Malaysia, Korea, Nigeria, and now Germany. I wonder what other countries clients will be from this year?! Big sister Celina and dad Felix were also on hand. The family chose to dress Celina in one of the studio dresses for little girls, and Martina chose a champagne pink dress for herself. We started with the family images first so that Celina wouldn't have to be cooped up in the studio for the entire session. Celina was not interested in holding her sister or being next to her. This is absolutely normal for toddlers! I will not force a child to do something they don't want to do, so we just work around your child's comfort level. Your baby's safety is my paramount consideration. Placing a toddler who doesn't want to participate next to a baby is a recipe for injury, so I simply won't do that. In Celina's case she preferred to interact with her baby sister while being held by her daddy. My goal is for children to feel safe and secure during their sessions in the studio, and often that's in the arms of a parent. Sometimes a child will warm up to me later and be willing to take some solo images with baby, but sometimes not. 

When Celina was finished with her part, her grandparents took her down the street to play at a playground. Siblings coming to sessions are always welcomed! If it is possible for the family to do so, we usually arrange for siblings to arrive later after the baby's solo portraits have been finished. Sometimes that just isn't doable for families, so we work around what can be managed and is easiest for families! 

After Celina departed, we finished up with parent images. Martina and Felix were so sweet to each other, loving and enjoying each other and their new daughter. Sophia fell into a very deep sleep during this part of the session so when we finished, I quickly wrapped her back up and took some more baby only portrait images (the last images you see in this post on the rug) in the newborn shooting room. 

*this session was photographed before the installation of the new white studio flooring

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Clarissa

Clarissa contacted me for a studio maternity session. She was pregnant with her first baby, a little girl. She had previously gone the DIY route with a hobbyist friend, and realized that hiring a professional would ensure the results that she envisioned. She drove all the way from Hampton, Georgia to work with me! 

When Clarissa came into the studio, she told me that she had fallen in love with the images on the website and knew I was the perfect photographer for her. She tried on several pieces from the wardrobe and chose a lace dress and a split front dress as well since she knew she wanted a few bare belly images. All clients decide their comfort level. Some clients know they want bare belly images, and others know they don't. This is YOUR maternity session, so we will craft it to fit what you envision within the setting you choose.  We talked about all things pregnancy and afterwards, and had lots of fun chatting. She works as an ER trauma nurse, so I told her that it was likey that very little about being a mother would faze her since she's seen it all at this point! Clarissa definitely has the perfect personality and demeanor to work in the nursing field: she is calm and serene, and makes others feel at ease immediately. 

The day of her studio session, we arrived and began shooting. She had brought a flower crown with her to wear with one of the dresses. We do have a couple of options for flower crowns in our studio wardrobe as well! There was lots of laughter during the session and we had a great time. She looked absolutely beautiful in the dresses that she chose. When she saw her finalized images, she let me know how much she loved them and that she would let me know when her daughter was born. I'm excited to share images from her newborn session later this month, and the story about how that newborn session happened! 

*this session was photographed before the installation of our new white studio floors

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Mommy & Me Sessions Event

The Mother's Day Sessions are now open to the public! We opened booking to our existing clients last week, and are already 50% sold out of our spots. Our booking calendar is now open to everyone and spots are still available on both April 23rd and April 30th.

A few important notes!

1) Sessions are for mothers and their children only. Babies should be at least 8 weeks old, with no upper age limit. If your oldest baby is 12, they're NOT too old!  If you have multiple children, bring them all to participate! There is no limit to the number of your children. We'll talk about if you want individual images with each of your children in your gallery or prefer to have everyone together. If you are a same sex couple, this is for one mom. 

2) Professional makeup application is complimentary! You'll need to arrive 35 minutes BEFORE your scheduled time slot. If you are late, our makeup artist will not be able to accommodate you. If you don't want makeup application, feel free to skip it or ask for very light makeup. Tips are not suggested or expected. 

3) If you're pregnant with an older child, you're welcome to participate. If you're pregnant with your first baby, you'll need to contact us about booking a maternity session instead as this is not designed to be a maternity session. 

4) You can opt to dress casually (jeans and white t-shirt) or dress it up a bit! A What to Wear style guide will be emailed out to you in advance of the session. 

5) 50% is due to book with the remainder due April 9, 2017. You can also opt to pay in full at booking. 

Want to see all the details and book your spot?! Click here. 

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

Atlanta Fresh 48 Photographer | Camille, 12 hours old at Northside Hospital

When Crystal emailed me to tell me that she was expecting her second baby and wanted to book a Fresh 48 and newborn session, I was so excited! I had worked with Crystal for her maternity and Fresh 48 sessions with their first child and loved working with their sweet family. She elected not to do a maternity session this time around since she was so close to her due date when she contacted me. 

Crystal let me know that she was scheduled for an induction so that I would have the heads up on scheduling their session. Well, little Miss Camille had other plans and decided to start the process the day of her induction. :) Beat them to the punch! Crystal let me know that Camille had arrived, and I was able to schedule their session to take place before she was even 12 hours old. I arrived and started photographing Camille and her mommy. Phillip (dad) arrived with big sister Grace and it was so sweet to see Grace meeting her new baby sister and talking to her. Many families schedule Fresh 48's so that they can document their older child meeting their new sibling. I did the same thing with my children, and I can state from personal experience that it's so nice to let a professional document the meeting so you can soak those precious moments in without missing things by being behind an iPhone or your own camera. Live in the moments that will never happen again and be fully present for them! That's what I'm here for. 

You can see some images from big sister Grace's Fresh 48 session by clicking here. It's so neat to see both girls and see how different and unique they looked. I am sure they will be the closest and best of friends as they grow up. My two older daughters have an age difference of 22.5 months and they are inseparable. They love each other just as fiercely as they sometimes fight. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Harper

I had last seen Candace and Brandin at their studio maternity session with me, which can be viewed by clicking here. I was so excited to hear that they had welcomed a little GIRL! They waited to find out if they were having a boy or a girl until birth, and since I did that with all three of my children, I always love getting to find out after their maternity session and see the excitement (and sometimes disbelief!). 

When they came in for their newborn session, I (quietly!) squealed a little bit. Baby Harper was a tiny little peanut just under six pounds. She was an adorable tiny little peanut, and she slept like a champ. Candace and Brandin were just so sweet with her, and I loved seeing them as a brand new little family of three. 

Candace elected to have Harper in some tiebacks for a portion of the session. I will never put a tieback on a baby's head that is not proportionate to them. There are no giant flower headbands the size of Texas here. All of my tiebacks are small, sweet, and dainty. It is ALWAYS up to mom whether or not they are used! Some mamas prefer that no tiebacks be used at all, and that's totally okay. Others like a mix, and others want one for every image. I'll work within your specific preferences!

We sailed through Harper's solo images and then started the parent and family images portion. Candace brought a taupe dress from home, and also chose a white lace dress from the studio wardrobe that caught her eye. 

Isn't this family the cutest?! I love how in love Candace and Brandin are with each other and their new daughter. Images that capture that are my absolutely favorite and the ones that will be the most important in the future. 

*As a note, this session was shot before the new white studio flooring was installed. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Traci & Lee

Traci contacted me to schedule a studio maternity session. She was expecting TWINS, and wanted to make sure she had photos to remember her pregnancy with them. I typically schedule twin moms at around 26-30 weeks since they tend to show sooner, and are less and less comfortable the further along they are. 26-30 weeks seems to be a great timeframe for a beautiful round belly and ease of physical movement. She and her husband Lee came to the studio for her maternity fitting, and she tried on several dresses. She chose a simple pleated dress and a split front chiffon one, since she knew she wanted to have some bare belly photos also. Lee and I discussed what he should wear while she was trying on dresses, and also got to know each other a bit. Dads can't always make it to the maternity fittings, but I always love it when they do. It gives us a chance to chat and makes the actual session day easy and comfortable since they've already met me and know what to expect. If your husband hates having his photo taken, I promise it will be as pain free as possible with me. Your husband won't be asked to do anything he's uncomfortable with, nor will he be forced to spend two hours having his photo taken. So far, I've gotten high fives from every dad that has worked with me and they all told their partner that I was pretty cool and I made the experience way more fun than they thought it could ever be. 

On the day of their session, Traci arrived and we got right to shooting! She looked absolutely gorgeous and I LOVED the way she chose to wear her hair! 

I'm such a lover of black and white images, and this session's images just look so beautiful in black and white. Clients receive both color and black and white edits of their final edited images in their gallery, but I'm choosing to share only black and white ones for this blog post.  

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Logan

I last saw Adrienne & Dave at their studio maternity session, which can be viewed here. I was so excited to find out that they had welcomed a little BOY! They waited to find out what they were having until birth, and because I did the same with my own three children I always just love the guessing and wondering, and then finding out from the elated parents. 

When Adrienne had tried on dresses for her maternity session fitting, she tried on a short lace one that she loved. She didn't think it was the right fit for her maternity session, but told me to remember it because she was pretty sure she would want to wear it for her newborn session. So many clients find their newborn session clothing while they're trying pieces on for maternity! 

She had also worked with Margaret to add on hair and makeup services, and worked with her again for her newborn session. 

When Dave, Adrienne, and baby Logan arrived at the studio, Adrienne got into the makeup chair, and I took Logan into the newborn shooting room. He had some of the longest eyelashes I have ever seen on a newborn, and Adrienne had specifically requested that I capture those for her. He was such a good little sleeper so that proved quite easy! I always love capturing the tiny little details of newborns such as their nose, toes, lips, belly button, eyelashes, hair swirls, etc. I always talk to my clients about if there are any special features they want captured. When I was finished with Logan's solo portraits, Adrienne was almost finished with her hair and makeup. I kept working and shot daddy and son images with Dave and Logan, and Adrienne joined in for family images. My sessions do have a general flow that I loosely follow, but they're always adaptable and tailored to each unique baby and family. Sometimes babies have a harder time settling, so we'll switch it up a little and focus on parent images first until they're sleepy. Whatever the case may be, the top priority is the comfort of your baby and family. No stress is allowed at the studio! Newborn sessions are time for you to come and relax and enjoy each other as a brand new family.

These are just a few of my favorite images from Logan's session. I wish I could share them all! As a note, this session took place in October in our studio before our new white flooring was installed. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photography | Kathleen & Owen | A mommy and me session

Kathleen called the studio phone at the very last minute to see if we could work her into our schedule for a maternity session... at 38 weeks pregnant. She is an actress out in Los Angeles and was living here temporarily while her husband was finishing up work on a movie set. She decided that she really wanted maternity photos with her little boy to document her pregnancy with her little girl and how sweet her little boy was. I happened to be at the studio working when she called, so we had her come right over from where she was shopping at Atlantic Station for a maternity fitting. 

When she arrived at the studio, she let me know that she wanted to dress more casually for part of the session in jeans and the shirt that she had on so she could tumble around with her son, and also wanted to wear one of the studio dresses for part of the session. I thought that was a great idea, so we set about trying on dresses, and she found one that she loved. She showed me sweater that she had just picked up for her son, Owen, and I thought it was absolutely perfect. We said our goodbyes and crossed our fingers that she wouldn't have little Miss Lily until AFTER her scheduled session.

Fortunately, Lily stayed in, and we met at the park location. It was an absolutely gorgeous and warm November evening. When they arrived, Owen had fallen asleep in the car and didn't wake up even when moved to a stroller. We decided to let him wake on his own since most toddlers aren't exactly the happiest when awoken! I started with solo images of Kathleen, and then Owen woke up. He was a little bit grumpy, but his curiousness about me and where we were won out.  When he heard that he got to play, run around, and hug his mommy, he was all about participating. 

I LOVED working with Kathleen and Owen, and was so happy that I was able to make a last minute session work for them! Kathleen chose to order a large mounted print of the first black and white image of them snuggling, and I thought it was the perfect choice. 

If you have waited until the very last second for a maternity session and are wondering if you should go for it... contact us! We'll chat about what you're hoping for, and see if we have any availability to get you in right away. No maternity client has ever regretted documenting such a special time in their life. We'll have fun, you'll look and feel beautiful, and you'll have a story to tell your baby about that time mommy waited until she was 38 weeks pregnant to book a maternity session.....

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Everett

Jessica and Daniel worked with me for their field maternity session, which you can see by clicking here. I actually was able to meet baby Everett the day after he was born! I was at Northside Hospital shooting a Fresh 48 session for a client, and Jessica had texted me to let me know that Everett had arrived. I responded that I was actually in the hospital with another client, and that I'd love to stop by and say hi if they were up for a quick visit. She responded that they'd love that so I dropped in for a quick 5 minute visit and got to see their handsome baby boy. 

The day of their newborn session at the studio, Everett was wide awake and very interested in his surroundings. I love when babies are awake since it allows me to capture some of their funny newborn expressions so parents always remember what they looked like. I wrapped him snugly, and employed some of my newborn photographer tricks to get him to fall asleep, and within 15 minutes he was fast asleep. Parent and family images were most important to Jessica and Daniel, so we focused more on that for their session. Daniel borrowed another shirt from the wardrobe, and Jessica opted to wear her own clothing from home as she wanted a more casual and comfortable look with a simple sleeveless blush top and jeans.

I seriously love this little family so much and am so glad to know them! All of my clients are important to me, and I love getting to know them on a personal level, and being trusted to capture some of the most special times in their lives. It's a huge honor, and one that I don't take lightly. 

When Jessica and Daniel viewed their images, they knew right away that they wanted a professionally printed album, so they chose a collection that included one. Digital files are a non factor in client decision making because all of my collections come with all of the high resolution edited digital files in the gallery.  Many clients decide that they want to display their images in their home, so they choose a collection that includes a wall gallery or an album. There is a collection for every need!

Jessica and Daniel came into the studio to help design their album, which was a lot of fun. First, they chose their favorite linen for the cover, and then we spread out the proofs all over the floor of the studio. They chose their top favorites they wanted in their album, and decided on a mix of both color and black and white images. I designed the album with their input, and then sent them the proof. They requested a couple of changes since they decided they liked the color version of a couple of images better in the album flow. I revised the proof and they approved it, and the album was ordered. I loved their album so much that I have one as a sample in the studio. I don't believe clients should have to invest in something sight unseen, so all the products are available for clients to see for themselves. 

Here is a little sampling of some of my favorite images from their session! This session was shot in the studio before our new white flooring was installed, so the flooring is no longer dark hardwood. Other than this change, the studio is the same. 

Black and white image of an Asian woman laying on a bed with her newborn son in front of her, taken at the natural light studio of Lily Sophia Photography.

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jessica & Daniel

Jessica contacted me in the middle of April to see if I had availability for a maternity and newborn session. She was expecting their first child, a baby boy! I responded and let her know that I had one opening left for April, and that it was three days away. She jumped at the chance to book her session, and came to the studio for a maternity fitting with her husband.

Jessica and Daniel have a pretty significant height difference! She is all of 5'2", and he is super tall at 6'6". She was a bit concerned that the dresses in the studio would be too long for her and not work well, but I assured her that many of the pieces work for a wide range of heights. We also have what seems like an unlimited supply of safety pins to temporarily fit clothing to more petite bodies! Jessica ended up choosing two dresses that she loved and looked gorgeous on her. Her husband opted to borrow one of the men's chambray linen shirts that we have on hand for men so he wouldn't have to worry about shopping with the session being so soon. 

We met at the field, and it was such a gorgeous evening. I LOVE shooting in the field year round, and it's absolutely beautiful when it's both cloudy and sunny - but I definitely just adore sun soaked images, and that's exactly the kind of evening it was. 

During the session Daniel kept crouching down out of habit. I let him know this wasn't necessary and to embrace the height difference. For some images when couples are snuggling, I do encourage dads to get as close as possible but ask them to do this how they naturally would. For some men that's bending at the back, others bend their knees. I want your images to be true to who you are both individually and as a couple. 

Here are just a few images from our fun evening shooting in the field. I absolutely loved working with this couple for maternity and newborn (check back tomorrow to see their newborn session!) and am looking forward to seeing them again for their son's First Birthday Session! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | Ava's sitter session in the gardens

Brittany contacted me several months in advance to get on the calendar for a late fall family/milestone session in the garden location. She wanted a weeknight so her husband wouldn't miss any football games. The gardens are only available on weeknights, so this was the perfect choice for their family. 

The last time I saw little Ava and her parents was at her newborn session when she was an itty bitty twelve days old, which you can see here. I loved working with Brittany and Frank, who are the owners and driving force behind a successful real estate firm here in Atlanta! They are such a sweet family, and little Miss Ava has the biggest blue eyes and the best personality. Frank is not a big fan of having his photo taken, but has decided he likes working with me because I don't make things awkward and actually fun to be around, according to Brittany. That makes me happy to hear, because I work really hard to win dads over! 

I provided styling assistance to Brittany via email with link exchanges of suggestions of what to wear, and we pulled together a comfortable and cute look for everyone that would photograph well in the gardens setting. My studio wardrobe is always available to borrow from, but many families choose to just utilize my styling assistance instead and shop from their own closets or purchase some new clothes to wear. The most important thing is to be comfortable and look like YOU! 

Brittany had worked with Margaret for her hair and makeup services when we had shot Ava's newborn session and she loved the experience with her. We scheduled their family session to take place on Brittany's birthday, so she treated herself to Margaret's services again! 

We met at the gardens on a mild fall evening, and had lots of fun wandering around and exploring. Brittany chose to mat an 11x14 print of one of their session images and place in a 16x20 frame. I have a gorgeous frame line in the studio, and take care of all of that for my clients. It saves you the hassle of getting the print, taking it to a frame shop, picking out a mat and frame, leaving the print, and then driving back to pick it up. Instead, my clients just choose their frame, and it's ready for pickup within 3-4 weeks time and ready to hang right on the wall! 

These are some of my favorite images from this sweet family's session - I just can't get over Ava's big beautiful blue eyes! 

If you're looking for a family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jasmine & Gregory in the studio

Jasmine contacted me to see if I had any last minute availability to photograph a studio maternity session. She and Gregory were expecting their first child, a baby boy, and were so excited! Jasmine knew she wanted a split front dress as she wanted some bare belly images, and she also knew she wanted something lacy. She found two dresses in the studio wardrobe that fit her vision perfectly. 

Jasmine and Gregory met through work and have been together for a long time. They are such a loving and affectionate couple, and we had a lot of fun during their session. I loved Jasmine's gorgeous braids and big smile. Gregory was so devoted to her and doted on her the entire time. Aren't they the sweetest?! I'm choosing to share my favorite black and white images from their session with me, but clients always receive both a color and black and white edit of each image. 

Congratulations Jasmine & Gregory! Your son is such a lucky little boy to have such loving parents like you. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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