Atlanta Family Photographer | Henry is six months!

I was present as their birth photographer when Henry was born and his parents found out they had a son. I also photographed his newborn session, which can be viewed by clicking here. Michelle had gone ahead and reserved his six month session and one year session so that she would have the dates she wanted. Many of our clients choose to reserve their milestone sessions on our calendar for this reason! 

Michelle had added on hair and makeup services for her newborn session and knew without question she would be using them for every session with us. For milestones, our HMUA's will often travel to your home if they're within the travel radius to get you ready beforehand so you can all come to the studio together as a family. Some clients opt to travel to Margaret's studio (located less than ten minutes from mine) to get ready and then meet their husband and baby at the studio at their session time. 

Having worked with Michelle before, I knew what colors would look best on her and what would fit, so I had pulled aside a few options for her to look through. She loved a white floral lace dress and chose that. Initially, she had bought an outfit for Henry but wasn't in love with it. Even though Henry was only six months, he was already over twenty pounds and in 9-12 month sizing! I have several really adorable options that are timeless and neutral for baby boys in the studio. She absolutely loved one of our one pieces for baby boys, and we dressed him in that. The little baby blue elbow patches just kill me! 

We always start baby sessions with family and parent images. I want to make sure your child feels safe and secure during their time with me, and starting out in your arms helps ensure that. As they become used to the sound of the shutter and become comfortable with me, we'll move to baby only portraits and then mix it up from there. I often suggest that mamas bring their baby's favorite lovey or something that is meaningful so that we can incorporate that into the session as well. I also absolutely adore photographing chunky baby legs and rolls, so we will often undress your baby down to a diaper. I have several cloth diapers in the studio that we use to put on over regular diapers. If you choose to bring your own, I recommend the Honest Company's plain white diapers. Diapers with characters all over them are pretty distracting and take away from the focus on your baby. These are just a few of my favorite images of sweet Henry and his parents! 

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Tiffany & Logan

Hearing the stories of my clients is one of my favorite parts about my job. Tiffany and Logan met and married later in life, and found themselves pregnant with a baby girl. They were surprised and so excited. When Tiffany called the studio, she told us she knew it was incredibly late in the game but she had loved what she'd seen on the website and wanted to see if we could fit her in for a maternity session. We told her that if she had the flexibility to shoot on a weeknight, we had one day open for the park location coming up in three days that had been released in the calendar.

Quick tangent: outdoor sessions have a backup date scheduled so there's no stress if there's rain and rescheduling becomes necessary. Having a backup date ensures that calendar stays open for reschedules and nobody is panicking or stressing about finding another day because we already know what the date will be if it's needed. Sometimes we have out of town clients where a backup date isn't an option. We plan to default to an indoor session at the studio if rain is predicted. When an outdoor session happens as planned, the backup date is released in our calendar. There are many months that we have a waiting list, and we go down the wait list in the order they're in - first to grab the date gets it. Some months we don't have one, and this was one of those months. 

Tiffany came to the studio the next day to try on pieces from the wardrobe and loved two of the dresses. We discussed jewelry options and what her husband should wear. The evening of their session, they arrived and Tiffany put on her first dress. She cracked open a giant box of jewelry options and I gave my input on what would look best with each dress. Then we headed off to the location and began our session. Despite the heat and humidity, it was an absolutely GORGEOUS evening with such beautiful sunset light. Tiffany looked so radiant and joyful, and I just absolutely love the images from their session! Enjoy a few of my favorites below. 

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | A Mommy & Me session with Holly, Oliver & Willow

I firmly believe that it's so important for mamas to be in the photos. So often, we are the ones who document the special family moments. And sometimes we just don't want to be in the picture because we don't feel pretty that day, or we have baby food stuck in our hair and it's just been a crazy week. I get it. I have three children six and under and they're all two years apart. While the selfie option is certainly better than nothing at all, I absolutely love it when mamas take matters into their own hands and come into the studio for a mommy and me session. 

Holly is a sweet long time client of mine! I've photographed her maternity and birth sessions, and I just adore working with her and her adorable children! She let me know that she was going to have her daughter wear a dress that belonged to her as a baby, and that her hairbow would be the one she'd worn for her newborn pictures. I absolutely loved the sentimentality and meaning of those items. Holly asked if I had anything in the wardrobe that she'd like and I send her a photo of one of the newest additions. We're always adding pieces to the wardrobe if they meet our standards for color and photographing well. She absolutely loved it, and we discussed ideas for her son's outfit as well.

The day of her session, she arrived at the studio and got into the hair and makeup chair. Our add on HMUA services are such a fun way to pamper yourself... most of our clients plan a date with their partner later that day to get the most mileage out of it! 

Mommy and me sessions in the studio are all about loving and interacting with your babies. It's as simple as that. We'll also take a few portraits of just your children too. This session makes me smile when I look at it because there is so much affection and joy! We really had such a great time creating these images. If you're considering a session for yourself and your children, I would LOVE for you to reach out to discuss your vision! 

Enjoy some of my favorites of this sweet mama and babes. 

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Benjamin, 17 days new

Ashley contacted us when her baby boy was over two weeks old. She was concerned that he was too old, and called to find out if that was the case. We assured her that it most certainly wasn't, and that we had one day open for her in a couple of days. She also opted to add on hair and makeup services and expressed relief that she didn't have to worry about getting ready the morning of. When she asked what she should wear, she was SO excited to hear she didn't need to worry about that either! 

When I took Benjamin out of his carseat after he arrived for his newborn session, I was immediately amazed by how much he looked like his dad! Most newborns will have features that resemble each of their parents but there's no clear defined likeness to either. I think we can safely say that's not the case with Benjamin! 

Ashley selected her favorite dress from what I had pulled for her as options and settled into the hair and makeup chair while I started with Benjamin. He was such a little chunky thing, but was in a deep sleep so was a breeze to wrap and move around. We finished up before his mama was finished having her hair done, so we moved into the daddy and son images right away. Once we were finished with those, Ashley was ready to go and jumped into the images. The parent and family images are my favorite part. I love photographing the joy and wonder of new families, and that beautiful contentment and peace on their baby's face. Your baby feels so safe and secure with you, and it just melts my heart. Being able to freeze these moments for you forever is the most special part of my job. 

When Ashley viewed her proof gallery, she decided to order a collection with a wall gallery for her home. She chose one of the frames that we have in the studio and we matted a 20x20 family image flanked by two matted 16x20 images. It's such a gorgeous display and I know they'll enjoy looking at it for many years to come. 

Here are a few of my favorite images from their session! 

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Tracey-Ann & Jason

Tracey-Ann contacted us to book a maternity session in the studio. She'd seen my work because she had worked with one of our makeup artists before and saw when I tagged her in some Instagram posts. She and her husband, Jason, came to the studio for her maternity fitting and it was such a cool experience getting to know them!

I learned that Jason works as a financial planner in a company that has a completely unique approach - designing your financial strategy around the life that you want. He was clearly passionate about his job and was so much fun to talk to. Tracey-Ann is an actress, and I'd actually seen a few of her commercials before! She was absolutely lovely and had some funny on-set stories to share. 

A lot of women worry that I won't have anything in the studio wardrobe that will fit them, especially if they've experienced some growth in the bust area due to pregnancy. We have many dresses that have considerable stretch to them and have had G cups wear studio dresses before. We have a pretty wide variety of sizes from 0-14 that can all accommodate pregnant bellies. Tracey-Ann fell in love with an ivory off the shoulder gown with lace sleeves, and looked absolutely radiant in it! 

On the day of their session, Jason brought a suit and a shirt with him. We discovered that the shirt had a stain on the front of it, and Tracey-Ann was dismayed. Not to worry! While Photoshop doesn't have an Oxiclean button, creative posing to hide such things will do the job. That's exactly what we did, and there was no issue. Part of my job is to handle when things don't go as planned. Trust me - newborns love to throw plenty of things my way! Over the years, I've become quite good at adapting to whatever a session might throw at me. 

Here are just a few of my favorite images from their maternity session - I can't wait to see them as a family of three when they come back for a family session! 

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Eden is six months!

The last time I had seen Ashley was during her studio maternity session, which can be viewed by clicking here. She emailed at the last minute asking if I had any availability for her daughter's upcoming six month milestone. Because she owns her own event planning company, she has a pretty flexible schedule and was able to make the one day that I had open work for her. Booking in advance is definitely key to getting the date you want, otherwise clients may find that I have very little or no availability at all. Many of our newborn clients schedule their six month and one year sessions so that they can be on the calendar and not have to worry about it later.

When Ashley and Eden arrived, she showed me the dress and cute headbead she'd brought along for her to wear. I asked her a few questions about her style preferences (I already knew which colors would look beautiful on her skin tone having already worked with her before for maternity) and I pulled out a couple of options. She loved one of the cream wrap dresses we had on hand and it looked perfect with her daughter's dress. For anyone wondering, her daughter's adorable dress came from Well Dressed Wolf, which is quite a popular clothing company for children. So popular, in fact, that it sells out within a few minutes whenever they have a new release. I've basically given up on ever being able to buy anything from them because I'm just not fast enough to snatch one up and complete the purchase before they're sold out! 

We started with mommy and me images. Many six month olds aren't quite sitting on their own yet and that's totally ok! There are so many things that they can do, and we work around what their current motor skills are. My favorite part of six month sessions is when moms and babies are snuggling and interacting. A mom loving her baby is one of the most beautiful things, and so many moms often don't get to see themselves and what they look like when they're doing that. I've heard from so many moms that looking at their galleries for the first time brought them to tears because it was the first time they'd seen what that interaction looked like. I love being the medium to show you! You are literally the center of your child's universe and they absolutely adore you. Someday, they'll be grown with children of their own and they'll reach for those pictures of you beaming at them and tenderly holding them. I know that's what I reach for with photos of my own mother and I. 

I absolutely loved little Miss Eden's spunky personality - from sticking out her tongue to chewing on her little toes. Enjoy the photos of this beautiful mother and daughter duo. If you have a baby and you're thinking about booking a mommy and me session for yourself, please reach out so we can discuss your vision! I would love nothing more than to work with you to create images that both you and your baby can cherish for a lifetime. 

Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Theodore

When Jessica called the studio, she told us that time had gotten away from her and she hadn't gotten around to scheduling a newborn session for her son who was already a few days old. We'd had a few babies arrive earlier than their due dates, so we had a last minute opening for her. Jessica was so excited about being able to borrow from the studio wardrobe because shopping was absolutely the last thing she wanted to do. We sent over our newborn preparation guide which helps clients immensely in choosing what to bring for their husband and other session participants (such as older children or grandparents) and in preparing for the morning of the session. It's a short and sweet read - we know you're sleep deprived and don't need a fifty page manual to go through! 

When they arrived at the studio, I handed her an armful of dresses that I knew would fit her. While she was trying them on, I started photographing Theodore. He was such a handsome and sweet little boy. I have three children of my own, and my youngest is a boy. Theodore was so adorable, it made me want to have another little guy! After I finished photographing him, he needed to nurse and snuggle with his mama for a bit before moving on to the parent and family portion. Regardless of how you choose to feed your baby, you're supported in our studio and babies lead the session flow. We'll take as many breaks as needed so that your little one remains comfortable and happy - they're my first priority! 

We then moved into the parent and family portion and I walked Jessica and her husband through everything. The majority of images we create are often things that you're doing at home with your baby anyway. I provide very simple and easy to understand direction to make it beautiful and flattering for photos. Don't worry about what you need to do, because I've got you covered. You won't feel awkward or weird, and you'll have lots of fun snuggling your baby and celebrating your new family! As the family was leaving my studio, they told me how surprised at how relaxing and wonderful the whole experience was for them. Just what I love to hear! We've created a serene environment for new parents and babies, and strive to make sure you're well taken care of from first contact to final image and product delivery. 

I loved seeing what Jessica chose from their proof gallery. She opted to order two large 11x14 prints for their home - one of the images she chose is the second one you'll see! Enjoy a few of my favorites from this woderful newborn session. 

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Family | The Kelly Family

Mallory contacted me on referral from another photographer who wasn't available due to her own maternity leave. She wanted to schedule an outdoor maternity session with her husband and son, and had fallen in love with what she saw on the website. Because she had waited until the last minute, we had really limited availability, but they were able to make it work for their schedules!

Mallory came into the studio a few days before her maternity fitting and we discussed her likes and dislikes as far as colors and necklines. I pulled out several options that I knew would look lovely on her, and she told me it was such a relief that she didn't have to go out and shop for something to wear. She chose two gorgeous dresses to wear, and we talked about what her men should wear during the session too that would look great with what she had chosen and also stay true to who they were too. 

The evening of their session at the end of September was warm and sunny even though it had threatened to rain all week. Atlanta weather loves to stress my clients out, but there's no need to worry. We keep backup dates open on our calendar to move to in case of inclement weather. This ensures that clients don't need to worry about not being able to reschedule due to weather. 

Aaron (Mallory's husband) and Kaeden (their son) were great to work with. I like to keep my sessions straightforward and simple for the guys and let them know what to expect throughout. If I see someone might need a break, I switch things around to give them one. Kaeden was such a sweetheart and just loves his mama. I told Mallory that I hope my own little boy is the same when he's 12! 

After the session, Mallory printed out quite a few to use for displaying at her baby shower, which seems to be what many of my clients do these days. I always love seeing snapshots from the showers showing how their images were displayed - there have been so many really creative things done!  

Here are just a few of my favorites from this family maternity session in the park!

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Haylen is ONE!

I first worked with Haylen's mom and dad for their maternity session when they were pregnant with her, which can be viewed by clicking here. I saw them again when Haylen was six months old, but that session has yet to be blogged. The majority of our sessions aren't blogged for a while after they take place because we shoot so many sessions and just don't have enough time to keep up with blogging! 

Sindi contacted me to schedule Haylen's First Birthday session. She wanted it to take place before her actual birthday so that she could use images from the session for the birthday party. Many of our clients do this for the exact same reason. About 10% of clients like to schedule their session to take place on baby's actual birthday, and the rest plan it sometime before their baby turns 13 months old. 

This session didn't quite go how Sindi had hoped it would. Her cake didn't work out, and Sindi came down with a cold so wasn't feeling up to being in the photos. She was in a little bit of a tiff when she arrived at the studio as she'd just discovered the cake problem and also wasn't feeling well, but I called a time out to go over the options and what we could do. 

Sindi had ordered a character cake from Publix for Haylen's First Birthday but unfortunately the cake was not at all what Sindi had envisioned. I gave Sindi the option to send Errol to grab a cake or cupcake, but she made the decision to just skip the cake. I highly recommend keeping smash cakes small (4-6 inches) and simple with beautiful textured icing. We have a baker that we work with who can deliver the cake to the studio in advance of your session so it's one less thing for you to worry about. Otherwise, if you keep your cake order with your local bakery simple - it's very hard for them to mess that up! I also suggest to moms who are planning on baking their own cake for their child that they do a trial run before the session day. We've had a couple of cake catastrophes in the studio with cakes that were made with alternative ingredients crumbled before our eyes or just didn't bake well. 

Sindi had brought some beautiful outfits for Haylen and some of her favorite loveys too. I adore when parents choose for their child's favorite stuffed animals or doll to be included in the session. It's such a precious part of childhood that deserves to be remembered. The second outfit that Haylen is wearing is one that I actually have in the studio wardrobe. Sindi and I had a good laugh about that. 

Even though the session didn't happen the way that Sindi had envisioned it, she let me know after she viewed her images that she absolutely loved them. She printed several large wall portraits for her home and for Haylen's upcoming First Birthday party! 

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Janaia & Keenan

Janaia called the studio phone to discuss booking a studio maternity session. She had a couple of concerns that she wanted to address first - and these concerns are frequently echoed by so many of our clients. She first stated that she loved the work that she saw on the website but she was a bit concerned that she wouldn't look that beautiful. She also was concerned about where to get maternity dresses for her session.

I photograph so many pregnant women every week, and I've been doing this for several years now. Please know that I will be directing you in your session and giving you you guidance on how to best position your body to show off your gorgeous pregnant belly in a flattering way. The rest (lens choice, camera angles) is all on me and not for you to worry about. Having your hair and makeup professionally done also adds to the experience! Even more than the actual makeup, when women invest in working with one of our HMUA team, they feel incredibly confident and it shows in their images. 

As for the wardrobe, we have you covered there too. Literally. We have a clothing rack filled with gorgeous pieces that fit women size 0-14/16. A wide range of styles appeals to women who love the bohemian look to women who love the more glamorous look. We also have sweet and simple for those who don't like too much fuss, and a few open belly gowns too. All booked clients are scheduled to come in for a 20 minute appointment in which you'll try pieces on and I'll provide my professional input on which best complement your shape and skin tone. 

Janaia was excited after hearing that we had her concerns already taken care of, and we booked her into the calendar. She came in for her maternity fitting and fell in love with two of our dresses. We also discussed what her partner should wear for the session and what type of jewelry and makeup would look best. She wanted to work with one of our HMUA's but unfortunately, none were available since she booked so last minute. She did find one to work with who I thought did an excellent job! As you look through this gallery, you'll see how a simple change in lip color can change the whole feel and look of your maternity images. I loved working with this beautiful mama! 

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | The S Family in the Field

Oh, this family is so dear to me. I first met Crystal when she brought her second son, Aevan in for his newborn session.  She and I had a lot in common and have stayed in touch over past few years since then. She asked to schedule a fall session so that she'd have updated family portraits and images for Christmas gifts and their holiday card. Crystal was smart enough to book her fall session in advance - she chose her date in the month of May. Once our schedule is full, it's full - so if you're hoping for a session during the popular months of April-June and September-December, it's best to get on the schedule as soon as possible. Many of our clients book their outdoor session 9 months to a year in advance if they know they want a specific date. 

Crystal and I emailed back and forth about wardrobe, and I sent her our helpful styling guide. She absolutely knocked it out of the park with her choices for the entire family! I think this session is a perfect example of how to incorporate color into your family session if neutrals aren't your thing. I love neutrals AND I love color. Choose what suits your family's style preferences the best.

On the evening of their session, they drove all the way to the field from Powder Springs. They had chosen the field location because they loved the backlight and the wild and rustic look of it. I think it provides the perfect setting and is lots of fun for kids to run around.

I would tell that Crystal was a little bit stressed. It's a lot to get everyone out the door, get them all dressed, and then you have the worry about them behaving. I pulled her aside for a moment, and reminded her that stressed moms equal stressed kids. She took a deep breath, and forced herself to relax... and then the games began. 

When I say games, I mean games. We PLAY during family sessions. I want your child to smile naturally, and when they're laughing and having fun, that's what happens. I want you to interact with your children and have real moments with them. I want you to love each other, and enjoy the time together too. This is a lot easier to do when you're actually having fun, right? Family portraits are always a mix of the entire family together, parents with each child and all their children together... and then we can't forget just mom and dad. At the end of a session, you're so glad that everything has gone so well. Now you get a chance to snuggle for a little bit. Crystal and Rae, you two are the sweetest. These images of the two of them together are ALL them. All I did was put them close together, the rest was their natural interaction together. For many of my parents, the last time they had a professional photograph of just the two of them taken was their wedding day. I always want to honor the fact that your family began with the two of you, and give you some images of just you together. 

As we were leaving the field, Crystal asked if she could walk with me to my car. I'll take any chance I can get to hang out and chat with my clients, so I of course said yes! We ended up chatting for about fifteen minutes, mostly about mothering three kids and the challenges it can have... but also the joy and the fun! I always want my clients to feel understood and encouraged when they share with me. Motherhood is not always an easy gig - I'm right there in the trenches with you. 

When Crystal received her gallery, she was so excited. She told me "These photos are everything, and even more perfect than I could have imagined." I love her gallery and how perfectly they capture her family and the individuals within it. I hope the images bring you a smile as you look through them. 

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Alexandra

Sometimes dads contact us to schedule newborn sessions! Colleen had contacted us for information and then life juggling a full time job and two older children got in the way and she forgot to email us back. A few weeks later, we heard from her husband Jeff, who had been tasked with squaring away their third baby's newborn session. We fortunately had an opening due to one of our December babies arriving in November and scheduled them to come in. Colleen also requested to add on hair and makeup services because she knew it would be nearly impossible to do herself the morning of. 

When Colleen arrived, I took baby Alexandra back to the newborn shooting room, but little miss was uncomfortable and didn't want to settle. I held her and determined that her little tummy was bothering her, so I took her back out to Colleen and asked if she had been having any issues with gas. Colleen let me know that all of her babies had reflux and she suspected that Alexandra did as well. I'm not a doctor, but I work with several newborns every week. Handling babies and reading their body language (are they stiffening up when put on their backs?) has given me a lot of hands on experience. It was clear that Alexandra would not be comfortable enough to proceed at that time, so we stopped shooting and I held her upright in between feedings. Sometimes that's what my job looks like: I hold newborns for as long as I need to in order to get them comfortable. Rushing a session is pointless. While the average newborn sessions takes between 2-2.5 hours this is not a guarantee. Sometimes babies need more time to settle or have special needs that we might not know about until they're here for their session. 

Jeff and the children arrived for their part in the session, and we moved to sibling family images right away because Jeff needed to get back to the office. Colleen warned me that her oldest daughter, Reagan didn't typically ever smile. I warned Colleen that I could be pretty goofy during sessions, so there was a chance I could get Reagan to laugh at me. (scroll through the images to see if I was right!) Grandma was in town helping out, so she was able to take the children back to the house after they were finished.

Alexandra had settled and was sleeping by this point, and we had been able to get a few good burps out of her. I moved slowly and gently, and was able to photograph her despite her reflux issues. When she woke up, we moved to mommy and baby images and kept alternating between. Even though the session took much longer than the average time, it gave Colleen a break, and she enjoyed the peace and quiet while enjoying snacks and drinks from the studio supply. We also chatted a lot and found that we had a lot in common besides having three children. Both of us were from Pennsylvania, and we both had similar childhoods. I always love getting to know my clients during their sessions, and this time was no exception. 

I adored working with this wonderful family, and their squishy cheeked baby girl. Enjoy the images! 

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Frances is ONE!

I first met Frances and her wonderful parents at her Fresh 48 session at Piedmont Hospital during her first days of life. I've gotten to know her parents since then, and love photographing this little blue eyed beauty. I had last seen her for her six month milestone session, which has yet to be posted on the blog. We shoot so many sessions that's impossible to post them all, and sessions are usually posted months after they take place. Frances is such a sweet and happy little girl, and her parents are also so much fun to be around. 

Liz chose to add on hair and makeup services, and chose a dress that she loved from the studio wardrobe.  Liz followed our studio styling guide when it came to choosing what to dress Frances and Isaac in, and also brought along an outfit from Frances' first birthday party that she wanted to forever freeze in time. First Birthday Sessions don't always include a cake - it's entirely parent preference! Liz and Isaac opted not to include a cake smash, so the focus was entirely on Frances and the family.

My clients receive a complimentary black and white edit of every color image chosen from their session. Sometimes I love the black and white edits so much that I choose to publish a blog post with only those: and this post is one of those. 

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Ava

Mayra contacted us to book a newborn session for her daughter due in October. I have a special place in my heart for October babies... it might have a little something to do with the fact that two of my own children were born in October, my grandmother's birthday is in October, and MY birthday is in October. October just miiiiiiight be my favorite month of the year. 

Mayra asked if she could use the studio wardrobe because she couldn't fathom the idea of going shopping for something, and also wanted to add on hair and makeup services. I assured her we would find something for her in the wardrobe, and we arranged for her HMUA to be at the studio on her newborn session date as well. You have enough things going on with a newborn: if you want to add on hair and makeup, the only thing you need to do is tell us and show up on your session date. We'll take care of all the scheduling details for you! 

When Mayra and her husband Brent arrived with baby Ava, I had several wardrobe options pulled for her. She tried a few on and fell in love with a lace dress. I actually love the texture and simplicity of lace, although I don't wear it myself often. With three kids it's not the most practical choice! Choosing the right lace is essential for a look that's not overly fussy or prissy. The pieces we have in our wardrobe are timeless and feminine. If lace isn't your thing, not to worry! You can bring clothing from home, and we have so many other options without a shred of lace in sight. Brent had also brought along a few shirts from his closet. I can tell you that pretty much every dad who walks into my studio brings at least three different options. Once we've chosen what mom should wear, I simply make my suggestion as to which is the best choice. We send out a prep guide in advance of your session as well that gives you suggestions as far as colors, patterns, and textures when choosing from your closet. 

I started photographing sweet little Ava while Mayra was in the hair and makeup chair. Mayra requested the use of some of our dainty bows and tiebacks. You won't find headbands with flowers the size of Texas in my studio. That's just not my thing, and anything I choose for your baby girl will complement her skin tone and be proportionate to her head size. As I was finishing up with Ava, Mayra was still in the chair getting the final touches on her hair. We started the session with Brent and Ava for some daddy and daughter shots. To this day, I think he's one of the most visibly happy and proud fathers I've had in the studio and I absolutely love their series of images together. Mayra stepped in for some whole family images, and we wrapped up the session in about thirty minutes. 

I loved working with this family - here are a few of my favorite images from their baby girl's newborn session! 

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | The H Family at the park

When Erica contacted us, she let us know that a friend of hers had suggested our studio to her for a maternity/family and newborn session. She was pregnant with baby #3: a third little boy!!!

Erica hadn't had the best experience with previous photographers, and was hoping this time would be different. We hear this a lot from our clients, and I think it's just so sad. I know what a huge effort it is to get your entire family ready for family portraits and to have the experience be lackluster has to be so disappointing.

When I asked what had happened previously that made her say that, she told me that the photographers hadn't given tips or feedback during their sessions to make sure that her hair was in place or that she was in a flattering position. I'll be the first to say it: family photography can be hectic because you have multiple people and a lot to keep track of during. I always start my sessions with three very simple "rules" for parents and we eliminate most of the problems with self inflicted double chin that way. ;) She wanted to book a session with the focus mainly being on family rather than maternity, so we scheduled one at the park. She opted to wear clothing from their own closets, so we sent over our styling guide which is so incredibly easy to follow! Lots of our clients report that it takes the stress out of planning and makes the process of dressing their families so much easier and actually enjoyable. I am always here to give input or suggestions on wardrobe as well, and it is never a bother to assist my clients! I want your entire experience to be wonderful, and will give you as much help as you desire. 

The family knew they didn't want to drive far from their home in intown Atlanta, so I suggested the park location as it was a short distance from their home. When Erica and her family arrived, I couldn't get over how cute her sons Hayden and Xander were! Erica let me know that Xander was shy and didn't like strangers. I thanked her for letting me know this information, and kept my distance until I could see he was comfortable with me. By the end of the session, I was holding Xander in one arm and shooting with the other. I think it's safe to say that I won him over. We spent time playing games during our session, and the boys absolutely loved running through the park with their parents. Dad and boys were a little bit surprised when I said, "Okay, now run!" But why not? Why not have FUN during your family portraits? When you're having fun, your bodies relax and the joy is evident in your eyes and your face. I'll take fun over boring and stuffy any day. What about you? 

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Logan is ONE!

I first worked with Adrienne and Dave for their studio maternity session, and then welcomed their son Logan to the studio for his newborn session just weeks later! Adrienne emailed after seeing some First Birthday sessions and asked if she could schedule one at the last minute. He had already celebrated his First Birthday earlier in the month, but I reassured her it wasn't too late at all! Their family had a very limited window of time, and we fortunately had an open spot during Adrienne's vacation week from work. 

While making arrangements for their session, Adrienne expressed concern to me that Logan might not handle his session well. She let me know that he had strong separation and stranger anxiety, and that he would often cry and become very upset. She was worried that he wouldn't smile and would cry the entire time. I reassured her that I don't rush through sessions, and I am very slow and measured with the babies who come into my studio. I assess each child's personality and keep my tones low, my movements slow, and let the child lead. I also let her know that we always start our First Birthday sessions with family and parent images. This allows babies to feel safe and secure in their parents' arms as they get used to the sound of my shutter and to my presence. 

Sure enough, Logan was very suspicious of me and did not want me to come near him. I respected his wishes and kept my distance. Adrienne and Dave demonstrated their trust in me to him by giving me hugs and talking to me. Logan warmed up to me after a while, and even cracked some smiles. By the end, we were good buddies and and Adrienne and Dave were absolutely amazed by how well it all went. They even decided to come back in December for Santa sessions... and guess what? With my techniques and by moving slow, Logan ended up sitting ON Santa's lap and didn't scream! :) 

Patience. That's the cornerstone of working with babies. You need a fountain of patience that never runs dry if you choose to work with tiny humans...and I have one. Nothing fazes me or stresses me out. If something isn't working, we'll switch gears and try something else. We will figure it out and keep your baby safe and comfortable too. 

I love Logan's big beautiful eyes and how much fun this family has together!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Amira

When Saira contacted us for information about a newborn session, we called back to follow up as we always do. She let us know that she was still thinking about it. We completely understand that choosing the right newborn photographer is a big deal! We're always here to answer any questions that you might have, and welcome them.

It turned out that Saira knew she wanted to work with us, but was worried about being fair to her children. She hadn't had a newborn session for her first baby, and was concerned that booking one for her daughter was shortchanging her oldest a little. This is such a common concern with parents. I love that so many want to treat their children equally. As a mom of three, I am always thinking about whether I'm giving enough time and attention to each of my three. 

Here's what I can tell you: it unfortunately will never be "fair". Your first child had you all to themselves for however long before their sibling came along. Your second child won't get that alone time with you since there's no way to make that happen. What they will get are more experienced and laid back parents who understand how the whole parenting thing goes a lot better than they did the first time around. ;) Your children will also be very different personality wise. What each of them need and want will also look very different. My oldest child wants to spend time actively doing things together. My middle child just wants to snuggle on the couch and would settle for hours every day doing this. My youngest child just wants me to be in the same room as him and watch him playing. He frequently makes sure that I'm looking at him, but if I try to join in? Oh no, my place is to sit in the chair and watch him. It's so funny how different they are! 

When Saira came in the morning of her newborn session with her beautiful baby girl, Amira, we chose a dress from the studio wardrobe for her. I asked her what finally made her decide to reserve her session with us, and that is when she told me she was worried about the fairness factor. I told her what I tell all second and third and fourth time moms. If you didn't have a newborn session with your first baby for whatever reason, that's okay. Maybe you didn't know you wanted one. Maybe your baby had a long NICU stay, or maybe you were so overwhelmed with being a new mother that you put it off and before you knew it you had a six month old and the time for one had long passed. Whatever the reason is, that doesn't mean you have to repeat that with your second baby. Your first baby is celebrating a MAJOR milestone...they're a big brother or sister! Think of your newborn session as a celebration of your new family and the new role that your oldest child has assumed. Some of the sweetest images that I've ever taken are of new siblings together, and this session proved to be no exception. 

I started with Amira's solo portraits, and then Daddy and Oscar arrived as I was finishing up. We always have older siblings join us later because they're much happier that way! This gives you a break and some time to rest and relax, and your big kid has some fun time with their dad and gets their energy out. As soon as they arrived at the studio, we started with the sibling images. Oscar wasn't quite big enough to safely hold Amira, but I have lots of other ways to photograph siblings. Saira and Addison also stepped in a few of the images as well. I really loved how warm and affectionate this family was with each other, and we just had so much fun!

Here are some of my favorites from this amazing family's session! 

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jessica

Jessica booked her maternity and newborn sessions together, and let me know that she would be the only participant during her maternity session due to her husband's heavy work schedule. Maybe this is you and you're worried that booking a maternity session by yourself is just weird. Well, worry no more. We often have clients who either are single moms, have a deployed partner, or whose partner doesn't want to be in the session, or just can't make it work with their schedule. It's no biggie! We'll still have a lot of fun, promise!

Jessica also opted to add on hair and makeup services with Margaret for her maternity session, and came to the studio for her maternity fitting. She fell in love with one of our printed dresses - she actually loved it so much she asked where she could buy one for her own baby shower. Unfortunately, the print was a limited edition and is no longer made. She also chose a second dress as well, and we discussed which jewelry options would look best with each.

The day of her session was gorgeous and sunny. We met out at the field and I loved seeing what Margaret had created with Jessica's hair. Her hairstyles are always so visually interesting and beautiful, and her makeup... well, it's pretty much perfect. Some clients are apprehensive about working with a professional HMUA because they think they'll look too made up. Please remember that each client chooses the level of makeup - some prefer a more dramatic look than others. All of our fabulous HMUA's will work with you closely to create the best and most beautiful look for you while still retaining who you are and keeping your preferences in mind. 

Here are just a few of my favorite's from Jessica's time in the field with me! 

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Myra & John

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Luke

Some of my clients are more emotional than others, and Priscilla is one of them - in a good way! She wears her heart on her sleeve, and is genuine and caring. She also loves being a mother to Luke and a wife to her husband, Steve, and that love is written clearly all over her face and every move she makes. It's an amazing thing to see.

The morning of their newborn session, the new family arrived with Grandpa in tow! She was so excited for her dad to be involved with the session too, and I was more than happy to include him. Both of us definitely teared up a little bit during her dad's part. I blame Priscilla: she became overwhelmed with emotion, and I'm a sucker for happy tears. I was incredibly close to both of my grandfathers growing up and cherish the memories and photos with them when I was small. One of my grandfathers passed away five years ago, and my other grandfather is still with us. Grandparents are so important. They're part of your chid's legacy, and your child is part of theirs. If you want to include them, please do! 

I started with Luke's solo newborn portraits and couldn't stop inwardly squealing over his little chin and his hair. Priscilla asked me if we should slick it down, and my response was "It's your choice, but don't you want to remember how curly and stick up everywhere it was?" She decided she did, and left it just the way it was. We flew through Luke's newborn portraits because he was in such a deep sleep and moved right into the family portion. I once again loved watching the deep connection between Priscilla and Steve that I saw during their maternity session. When I look at these images, I see a couple madly in love with each other, completely overjoyed, and utterly grateful be parents to their baby boy. 

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

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