Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Kate & David, a field session

Kayte contacted me for a field maternity session and knew that I was the one she wanted to work with after viewing images in my portfolio. She loved the glowy and backlight images with the focus on emotional connection. Kayte works as an interior designer, and her husband works at a very popular French eatery in the Atlanta area. I am always honored when other creatives choose to work with me and love my aesthetic. 

We met at the field for their maternity session one hot summer evening, and Kayte wore a gorgeous dress that I fell in love with.... so much, that I added it to my own studio wardrobe! She knew she wanted an image of the sun shining through the dress to show her beautiful pregnancy shape and I loved that she had the same ideas that I did. Because it was so hot and Kayte was already feeling uncomfortable, we shot this maternity session quickly. I don't like to ask my expecting mamas to move around any more than necessary so that they can save themselves the physical exertion. Instead, I move around as needed and have dad move too. 

After their maternity session (literally just days after) Kayte was admitted to the hospital with pre-eclampsia. Fortunately, baby Ford arrived perfectly healthy and safe and is just the cutest little baby! This is why I recommend scheduling your maternity session between 30-34 weeks if possible. It's a good time frame to have a beautiful round belly but generally before potential swelling and/or complications. That being said, we have had lots of last minute clients between 37-40 weeks so it's a general guideline, not a rule.

I absolutely adore the images from this session, and the black and white images are some of my favorites.

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 | Lincoln

I first worked with Millini and Cedric for their studio maternity session, which can be viewed by clicking here. 

Lincoln was born at DeKalb Medical Center at exactly 42 weeks by family centered cesarean section attended by Dr. Brad Bootstaylor and the SeeBaby midwives. I know this because I was there in the OR to document the entire beautiful experience. His mama was such a trouper and they were so proud to bring him into the studio for his newborn session! 

Because Lincoln was two weeks overdue, much of the skin protecting vernix was gone when he was born. Babies who are born later tend to lose most of their vernix in utero, and tend to peel more after birth. Lincoln was one of those babies. Millini loved his peeling skin because it told a part of his story, and asked that I not completely edit it out. She also wanted to be sure to document his umbilical cord stump as it is the last physical connection between her son and herself. Not everyone likes a photo of the umbilical stump, and that's totally ok! We will talk about your preferences when you arrive for your newborn session if it has not yet fallen off. 

Millini chose a simple white gown from the wardrobe and worked with Margaret to add on makeup services. Cedric wanted to be more casual in a simple white v-neck tee with jeans. Every family is different, and I send a newborn preparation packet with wardrobe suggestions for dad based on his personality and comfort level. I've had dads be most comfortable in a button down with a sport jacket, and others in a simple tee. The most important thing to me is that you feel comfortable and love the way you look and feel. That will translate to your final images. 

Here are some of my favorite images from this long awaited baby boy's newborn session. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer here in Atlanta, 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. 

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Theresa & Jabari

Theresa contacted me in her first trimester to schedule a consultation at the studio. She chose to reserve The Birth Session Experience, maternity, and newborn with me. Theresa is a physical therapist and Pilates instructor who owns her own practice in the Dunwoody area, and is such a lovely person. I loved working with her and her sweet husband, Jabari. You will see their newborn session featured on the blog in the future, but you will not see her birth story. Out of respect for what I consider the most sacred of experiences for a new family, I never share birth stories publicly on the Internet. The few images that you do see shared on the website were shared a few years ago, and by request with permission. Sharing a birth story with the world online should solely be a decision of the new parents, not their photographer. There are so many private and special moments during birth that you will want to keep to yourself and those select few that YOU choose. As such, birth stories are only shared in the studio sitting next to me at a consultation, and only with specific client permission. 

Theresa came into the studio and loved a specific dress and shawl. The day of the session, she spent four hours doing her hair since it's so long, thick, and curly. Hearing about the process required to do her hair made ME tired to think about! The day of their session, it was sweltering hot outside. I have mamas move as little as possible and dads do all the moving. This cuts down on physical exertion and perspiration for you. A handkerchief to dab as needed and some Photoshop magic take care of the rest! The final images are definitely worth being a little uncomfortable in the summer heat. If being outdoors in Atlanta isn't your thing, the studio is a perfect alternative with air conditioning. 

Here are just a few of my favorites from Theresa and Jabari's field 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 | Reagan, 10 days new

Rosanna contacted me for a Fresh 48 session and a newborn session after she was referred to me by another client. She came to a studio open house to meet me and see the studio. 

When Reagan was born at home attended by Birth By Grace Midwifery, Adam and Rosanna let me know and I traveled to photograph her Fresh 48. I met several extended family members and it was just a fun family to be around. Before I left, we scheduled her newborn session to take place at 10 days of age. I like to schedule between 8-16 days of age, but often have newborns that are as old as a month! The older the baby, the bigger and less curly they tend to be. Reagan was perfect, and her mom let me know she wanted her to wear some tiebacks for her session. I have a wide array of dainty and neutral tiebacks available for my newborn girls, and use them based on client preference! Some babies startle more easily, but Reagan slept deeply for her session and was such a sweetie! 

While I love photographing babies and all their sweet details, my favorite part of newborn sessions is when baby is in the arms of their parents... exactly where they belong. It's impossible to do anything "wrong" during this portion of the newborn session and many of the photos that I I take are of you and your partner doing the things that you would normally do at home... admiring your baby, loving your baby, snuggling your baby. The difference is that your hair and makeup are done, you don't have a burp cloth over your shoulder, and the lighting is perfect. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer here in Atlanta, 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 | Sara, Chris & Jaxon

Sara and Chris came in with their sweet two year old son for a studio family maternity session. I had worked with them previously when they were pregnant with their son, and it was so fun to see them again. Sara chose a split front gown and a lace gown for her dresses, and an outfit from the studio wardrobe for her son complete with suspenders!  Aren't they the cutest?! Chris also elected to borrow one of the men's button down chambray shirts that I keep on hand.

Sara also decided to work with Margaret for add on hair and makeup services. We started the session on the bed for some snuggle time with her son. Children of toddler age love snuggling with their mamas and some of the sweetest images are captured this way. Jaxon was quite the bundle of energy and didn't want to stay in one place for long. I pulled out some of my tricks to keep him happy but still in the frame, and some toys to play with for when I was photographing just Sara and Chris together. 

I loved working with this family, and can't wait to see them again in the future! 

*This session photographed before the installation of our 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 Maternity Photographer | Carolyn & Greg

Carolyn contacted the studio to reserve a newborn session and didn't have maternity on her radar. When she viewed the maternity portfolio on the website, she decided that she did want maternity photos in the field because my photos "were not cheesy or contrived." Her husband's sister is a successful photographer in Manhattan but does not specialize in maternity and newborn. She and I share the philosophy that it is best to reserve your specific session type with someone who specializes in that niche. Jack of all trades, master of none is definitely something that I see far too often and it makes me a little bit sad. 

Carolyn came into the studio for a maternity fitting and arrived in scrubs. I found out that she is a speech therapist, and informed her I'd been in speech therapy for the majority of my childhood. For those who don't know, I wear hearing aids! I don't use sign language to communicate, but have no issues understanding my clients and communicating verbally. :) During the fitting Carolyn decided that she loved this one dress with a shawl so much that she didn't want to wear anything else.

Carolyn also opted to add on hair and makeup services and worked with Margaret. She absolutely loved working with her and stated that she felt gorgeous and natural but not overdone. Our HMUA's are amazing and professionals at what they do. They specialize in classic clean beauty but can kick it up a notch if you prefer a more dramatic look.

When we arrived at the field, we started shooting and had a lot of fun. During my sessions, I'm all about relaxing and joking and having fun.  When you are having FUN, it will show in your images. The joy will be evident, and you will look back on your session and smile when you see them. You can't fake real emotion...and why would you want to? Authenticity is what I strive for with every aspect of your experience with me.

I can't wait to share Carolyn and Greg's newborn session with you! Here are some of my favorites from their 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 Maternity Photographer | Caroline & Eduardo

Caroline contacted me for a last minute maternity session in the field. She and her husband had recently moved here from Brazil and she has two years of English under her belt. I frequently work with clients from all over the world and even when English isn't the first language, we always figure it out! 

Caroline let me know that she had chosen two of her own dresses because she preferred short and fitted and that they were in line with what she had seen on my website as far as color goes. She definitely nailed it with her choices! 

We met at the field on a hot summer night, and got to work. The two of them were so loving towards each other, and have been together for a very long time. They moved here for Eduardo's job and are enjoying everything that Atlanta has to offer so far. Caroline expressed relief that she was pregnant here in America since the Zika virus was a big problem in Brazil at the time of their session.

How sweet are these two? I loved working with them, and can't wait to see them 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Emma

I first met Yetsie and Roger when they came in for a studio maternity session, which can be viewed by clicking here. They chose to reserve a newborn session also, and I was so excited to hear that sweet baby Emma had arrived safely! Yetsie chose to work with Margaret again and added on hair and makeup services. The family arrived at the studio with Grandma in tow, and I started working with Emma for her solo portraits while Yetsie slipped into the hair and makeup chair. Yetsie already knew exactly which dress she wanted to wear from the studio wardrobe as she had tried it on during her maternity fitting. Most of my clients have a pretty good idea of what they'll want to wear for their newborn sessions since they've already seen the wardrobe! 

Emma looks SO much like her mama, and was a sleeping angel during her session. She was one of my easiest babies that I've had in the studio, and it was evident that they had followed the instructions that I provide in my newborn preparation packet. 

After I finished with Emma's solo portraits, we moved on to the family images, and Emma decided to wake up. She was so cute with her eyes wide open and perfectly happy to be held by her mom and dad. We all laughed about how alert she was and how she kept looking right at the camera and making funny faces. She was the sweetest little thing, and I loved working with this family again. I can't wait to see her in the studio again for her First Birthday celebration! 

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 | Millini & Cedric

Millini contacted me in November to discuss my offerings and knew that she wanted to work with the same photographer for maternity, birth, and newborn. She came into the studio for a consultation, and we spent an hour getting to know one another. She told me that she would be giving birth at DeKalb Medical Center and attended by Dr. Brad Bootstaylor of SeeBaby Midwifery. I have worked with Dr. Bootstaylor and SeeBaby midwives multiple times for births, and have greatly enjoyed it. At the consult, Millini decided to book all three sessions with me, and this studio maternity session is the first in the series. 

Millini and Cedric are the sweetest. They weren't sure if they would be able to have a baby due to some challenges, but when they found themselves pregnant they were elated. Millini loves the vintage look and fell in love with an off the shoulder lace medallion gown in the studio wardrobe, as well as a simple lace gown with straps. I absolutely loved working with these two for their maternity session. Cedric has one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen, and is just one of those incredibly sweet and genuine people. Millini is the same way, and it was special to watch the two of them interact during their session.

You will not see Millini's birth story and images shared on the blog in the future. I do not share birth stories on my website other than the few that have been shared in order to protect what I consider to be the most sacred of experiences. The only people sharing their birth story with the world should be the person who gave birth, not their photographer. I am simply a guest who is honored to be in the room to document one of the most important days in the lives of clients. Clients interested in The Birth Session Experience come into the studio for a complimentary consultation and view birth stories with me in the studio, with client permission. As of this blog post, I am fully booked for the remainder of 2017, but there are still waiting list spots available for select months. 

I look forward to posting and sharing images of Millini and Cedric's long awaited baby boy on the blog soon! 

*This session photographed before the installation of the all 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 Newborn Photographer | Raquel

Leslie inquired about a newborn session in her third trimester, booked, and then attended a studio Open House with her own mom so that she could meet me and see the studio. I love meeting my clients in advance and welcome them to make an appointment if they don't have the opportunity to attend an Open House. We talked about how the session would flow, and about what her husband and stepson should wear. The whole family prefers to be casual, which is never a problem! I gave her ideas for colors and pieces that everyone could wear. She told me that her stepson was incredibly excited to be a part of the session as well, and that Hector, her husband wasn't much for having his photos taken. 

On the day of their session, the family arrived in my studio along with Hector's mom. Leslie requested that no tiebacks be used and that we keep it very simple with more focus on family images than solo portraits. That's never a problem to do when a client requests this. Otherwise, the final gallery is a 50/50 between baby alone and baby with parents and family. The family wanted to include Grandma in some of the images, and I was more than happy to do this. 

I started with Raquel's images, which I finished quickly since she was sleeping so soundly. Then I moved on to sibling shots with proud big brother. He is just the SWEETEST. I loved watching him with his baby sister! (Leslie surprised him by ordering a matted print of his favorite image for his bedroom at home) 

We then moved to images with Leslie and the children, and then gathered everyone together. Even though Leslie had warned me that Hector didn't enjoy having his photo taken, he seemed to have a pretty good time! Sessions in my studio are always relaxed and not rushed. I never want anyone to feel stressed or that we're in a hurry - because we are not. When everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves, the session flies by that much faster! LOVED working with this family, and cannot wait to see them 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 | Morgan & John

Morgan contacted me to schedule a studio maternity session with her partner, John. When she came in for her fitting, I found out that she was delivering her baby girl at Atlanta Medical Center and was a patient at Intown Midwifery. This is the same hospital and practice that I worked with for the births of all three of my own children, so I was more than happy to give her all the details on what to expect. She was disappointed that she missed out on being able to book The Birth Session with me, but was elated that I had room for her maternity session. We had a lot of fun trying on dresses and chatting during her fitting.

Two weeks later, Morgan and John came back to the studio for their session. I loved the white gowns that Morgan chose. She knew she wanted to show off the bare belly for some images, so she chose a cream split front gown. She loved how she looked in our form fitting gowns and chose an off white lace one with a flared bottom. John and Morgan also have quite the height difference between them! This is never a problem, and you won't see me asking men to hunch over to make themselves shorter. I embrace height differences! I'm a tall person myself at 6 feet tall, and I remember how self conscious some photographers made me feel about my height by asking me to bend my knees a little bit. I never want one of my clients to feel that way.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite images from Morgan & John's maternity session!

*This session was photographed before the installation of our all 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby A, 12 days new

Kristel contacted me in her third trimester to schedule a newborn session for her baby girl, and I was happy to add her to the schedule. When Kristel and her husband John arrived at the studio, I squealed at Little Miss A's fluffy strawberry blonde hair. Kristel's mom also tagged along for the session and when I asked if she wanted to step in for some images, she waved me off and told me that she didn't have anything to wear. I pointed at the studio wardrobe and said, "Ah, but you do!" I pulled a lace sheath dress for her that was very similar to the cut of the dress she was wearing and it was a perfect fit. Problem solved!  I will absolutely never tell a client that a grandparent cannot be involved with their newborn session. Grandparents are so important, and if you want images of them with your tiny newborn, I am more than happy to accommodate. If you don't want the grandparents to be present for the entire session, we can arrange to have them stop in at the very end. 

How adorable is she? I loved working with this family, and can't wait to see them again when she's older! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer here in Atlanta, 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. You can also sign up for my studio open house this month on Sunday, September 25th from 2-5 PM. 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 G Family

Shayna contacted me to schedule a studio maternity session with her husband and four year old daughter. Like me, she waits to find out if she's having a boy or girl until the baby is born. Shayna had heard about me from a friend who recommended me after working with me for a newborn session. She came into the studio for her fitting and we talked about what her husband and her daughter should wear. 

The day of the session, the family arrived and her daughter had brought a dress from home that was just perfect. She was such a little lovebug with her mom, and they had some snuggle time on the bed while I quietly worked behind the camera. I remember being pregnant with my second and snuggling with my daughter while wondering all sorts of things...if they would like each other and be friends... if I could love the second as much as the first... if maybe I was a tiny bit crazy.... the whole gamut! We brought dad in and they just had tons of fun dancing and singing (completely unprompted be me) and being a family. The majority of the family images required zero direction from me... you're seeing who they really and truly were that day, which I love. Some clients aren't this comfortable at first, and that's completely okay! I'll work with you and your family to get you there, and give you some guidance for natural interaction that produce authentic moments between all of you. 

*This session was photographed before the installation of the studio's new all white 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 Newborn Photographer | Camille, 1 month old

"My baby is too old for a newborn session, they're already three weeks." What if I told you that I have three week olds ALL the time... and have even photographed a one month old? Camile is the second baby girl for Crystal and Philip. I photographed big sister Graces' Fresh 48 session and then Camile's! Philip was out of the country for work, and had very limited availability. On the day of their original session (scheduled for three weeks), Philip was sick so we rescheduled to a week later at exactly one month old. I sent along the preparation packet to Crystal and told her that with a bit of patience, we would make it work.

And boy, oh boy, did it work. 

When Camile arrived at the studio, she was sound asleep, so we started with sleeping images. Amazingly enough, she opened her eyes and I started talking to her... and she made eye contact with me and smiled. I thought to myself "This has to be a fluke." But no. She did it again. And again. I was ready with my camera and captured her sweet little baby grin. When I came out, I mentioned to Crystal that I was super lucky to be getting all these random eye contact smiles and she said, "Oh no, she does that all the time at home too." As a disclaimer: MOST newborns are not smiling until 6-8 weeks of age. I don't want clients to think that if they wait until their baby is one month old, they'll smile for their newborn images!  After she fell back to sleep, I finished up her solo portraits and moved on to sibling images.

Sibling images with toddlers are truly a tossup. Sometimes a toddler doesn't like the way a rug feels, which was the case with Grace. I placed them on the bed instead with mom and dad close by, and we made it work. Parents are always concerned about whether their toddler will cooperate. While I cannot make any guarantees, I can assure you that I am a mom of three children myself and understand how toddlers work and think. I have a whole bag of tricks and will do my very best to capture an image of your children together. If that just doesn't happen, we'll default to family images instead and I'll sneak up for a close shot of your older child interacting with their new baby brother or sister. The most important component is to remain relaxed and not to stress. Everything else will work itself out, promise. 

Isn't Camile the sweetest little baby girl?!

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer here in Atlanta, 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 | Dayana & Joshua

Dayana contacted me in her second trimester to talk about her vision for maternity photos. She had a very clear idea of what she wanted, and had decided that I was the perfect photographer for her.

She stopped by the studio with her husband Joshua to chat and see the studio wardrobe, and they booked their session before leaving. We talked about what Joshua should wear for the session as well, and kept in touch over the coming months. When it was time for her actual maternity fitting a couple of weeks before her session, she came in and tried on several dresses. Dayana chose her favorites, and agreed to wear the first lace one as a favor to me since it was a brand new dress and I wanted to see how it photographed! When Dayana arrived, she had brought her own flower crown with her, and was ready to shoot. She'd had a rough morning feeling a bit sick, but she rallied and was such a trouper.

Her husband Joshua chose to bring white linen pants and two different Burberry shirts which I thought were absolutely perfect for the session. They worked beautifully in color and complemented Dayana's choices as well. I just love everything about this session from their tattoos to their loving embraces. Their little boy is so lucky to have such a loving set of parents! 

*As a note, this session was shot before the new all white studio floors were 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 Baby Photographer | Oona is ONE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Oona's Nine Month Milestone Session

We recently featured Oona's newborn session, six month session, and her parents' maternity session. This is her 9 month milestone session!

   Most clients opt for newborn, sitting, and first birthday sessions, but we have some clients choose to celebrate 3 months/100 days old and 9 months too. You can never have too many photographs! 

    Oona's mom chose to have her wear a traditional kimono for part of the session and then chose a sweet white eyelet lace dress from the studio wardrobe for the rest. Nine month sessions are some of my favorites... babies have such unique personality traits and pudgy little fingers and toes. I loved Oona's teensy little pigtails and made sure to document that for her mama as well.  

     Nine month sessions are relaxed and easygoing. We spend time just playing while I capture your baby being just who they are at that time in their life. I always ask parents to quietly sit on the couch and observe. While your intent may be to help, your baby can become confused if you're standing right behind the photographer calling to them. They don't know where to look, they're in a new environment, and they can quickly become overwhelmed. The studio is a calm and peaceful environment and I approach babies in the same way. The quieter, the better! Here are a few of my favorites from Oona's nine month session. I can't wait to share images from her FIRST BIRTHDAY session in a couple of days. This little girl LOVES birthday cake, as you will see! 

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 | Oona is 6 months!

Earlier this week, we featured Oona's newborn session and her parent's maternity session in the field. For Oona's 6 month session, we went back to the field where it all began. Irene chose to borrow a dress and shawl from the studio wardrobe again, and she fell in love with one of the sweet little dresses we keep on hand for baby girls in the studio. 

Sessions in the spring and summer can sometimes be harder for babies since we start in the hour before sunset, and that's typically past the bedtime of most babies. A later nap and a full belly help quite a lot, and most babies are too distracted to remember they're tired until the end of the session.... and then we have some adorable sleepy images. 

Oona is such a happy little girl and her parents dote on her. They're always so much fun to work with and whenever we're together there's a lot of laughing that happens. I love that they chose me as their photographer because they wanted the photographs of their family to focus on the real moments and emotional connection. When Irene told me that was what drew them to me, I know they were my perfect clients. While I will always attempt to create a portrait with everyone looking at the camera, that's not the goal of my sessions. The goal is to create images of you playing with your child and being her mom and dad. The goal is to capture those in between moments of tenderness and sweetness that happen when nobody is looking. Parenting is hard as it is... let's grab hold of those moments that make it all worth it. 

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Oona, 12 days new

   If you're new to the website, this week is a throwback to one of my favorite families! I thought it would be fun to show the progression from maternity through the first year with one client. You can view Irene & Steve's maternity session by clicking here.

   When Irene and Steve let me know that their little girl Oona had arrived so we could schedule their newborn session, I was so excited to see them and meet her! She was every bit as cute as I imagined she would be and had the poutiest little lips and the longest fingers. Steve and Irene brought her to the studio and Irene chose a dress from the studio wardrobe.

   I started working with just Oona, and was lucky enough to catch a cute little baby sneeze and her studying gaze. She was such a big baby and so long, and also preferred to stretch out rather than be bundled up. I always let babies lead the way when it comes to their images, so I photographed Oona as she was most comfortable. I love all the tiny details of brand new babies... their lips, fingers, toes, and eyelashes. I always marvel at how perfectly made every baby is! I will never force one of my newborns into a contorted position - all of my images of babies curled up are because that particular baby preferred to be wrapped in that manner and felt more secure that way. Every baby is different! 

  After I wrapped up Oona's portraits, we moved on to parent images which I absolutely love. Parent images are always included in my newborn sessions, and are such an important part of them. I want your baby to see how much you were in awe of them in those early days and how much you loved them from the very beginning. Some parents need some extra help with guided natural interaction, but Steve and Irene did not. They snuggled together and loved on their little girl. 

Next up on the blog will be Oona's 6 month session, so check back in a couple of days to see how much she grew between this session and 6 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. 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 | Irene and Steve, a field session

This week I thought it would be fun to change it up a bit and showcase a whole year of sessions on the blog with one of my favorite families from maternity to first year. So many clients are interested in doing so but aren't sure what it would look like. This is a great way to see what to expect! 

When Irene contacted me, she knew she wanted a field maternity session, and told me that she loved the emotional authenticity of my work.  She wanted to have images to remember their pregnancy with their baby girl, especially since she had been unsure if she'd ever be able to have children. She and her husband Steve were looking for a photographer who was fun to work with and would help guide them during the session for natural interaction.

Irene is from Malaysia, and Steve is from the tiny town of Chincoteague (anyone else love Misty of Chincoteague like I did as a child?!) and originally met through an online dating website. They went on a date and then didn't see each other again for a few years... and then it all came together. Such a cool love story!  At her maternity fitting, Irene fell in love with one of the studio dresses and opted to wear just that one. We also talked about what Steve should wear from his closet at home.

The day of the session, we met at the field, and got to work. We laughed a lot and had a lot of fun. I know I say this about almost every session, but it's true. I work hard to make the experience fun and enjoyable! You're only pregnant with this baby once, and I want your maternity session with me to be one of the experiences of your pregnancy. 

 I am sharing black and white images from this session in this blog post. Irene and Steve received the images edited in color as well! Check back in a couple of days to see their newborn session with their sweet little girl. 

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.