Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Dawn in the studio

Dawn contacted us to schedule a maternity session and asked for the studio as her location. We arranged a time for her to come in for a maternity fitting a couple of weeks before her session as well. Maternity fittings are done 1-2 weeks beforehand, and not earlier than that due to the potential for a mama to grow to the point that a dress she had selected didn’t fit! If you try on a dress that’s pretty tight, we will have you choose a backup dress for it just in case you grow to the point where you can’t comfortably wear it for your actual session. This has never actually happened, but I’m all about covering all the bases!

Maternity fittings are about 20 minutes long, We send ahead a tip sheet with directions, where to park, and what to bring along. I also suggest that mamas snap selfies in the dresses they like the most if they’re not 100% sure of which should be their final choice. This gives you time to think about it and poll your trusted friends and family members for opinions if you want their input! Then you simply attach the photos of your choices and email them to me at least four business days before your session date - easy peasy. I enjoy meeting my clients and chatting with them during their fittings. Partners are also welcome to come along too, but not required to. If your guy needs some time to warm up to new people or you think he’d be more comfortable meeting me in advance of your session, then by all means bring him along! He and I will chat while you’re trying on pieces.

Dawn drove all the way from her home in Woodstock to the studio on the day of our fitting. She had lots of fun trying on dresses! She had been worried we wouldn’t have anything that would fit her since she was petite. I reassured her by letting her know that we work with petite clients all the time - our shortest was 4’10”! She fell in love with a backless dress that draped her belly so beautifully and also chose a strapless split front dress with a sweetheart neckline. Our split front dresses can be worn even if you don’t want to photograph the bare belly. We’ll talk about your preferences and comfort level, and go with whatever that happens to be.

In Dawn’s case, her husband had elected to not participate in the session and wanted it to be about her and their baby girl. If this is you or you’re a single mom: you’re in for a treat! We’ll have so much fun during your session, and it’s almost like a girl’s morning out - except you’re having your photo taken!

A couple of weeks later, Dawn returned to the studio for her maternity session, and we had SO much fun. She has the best giggle, and looked absolutely radiant and beautiful. She was a little bit nervous at first, but let me share something with you…almost everyone is. I expect it! It’s my job to get you comfortable and into a place where you relax. I’ll make sure there’s no lipstick on your teeth, that your hair doesn’t look crazy, and that you’re not accidentally giving yourself a double chin. It’s MY job to worry about all those little details… and your only responsibility is to have fun and enjoy yourself!

Dawn went on to have the most ADORABLE baby girl named Cadence and I was just so excited when I got the email letting me know she had arrived! I was able to meet her for the first time when they traveled to the studio a few months later for a mommy and me milestone session, and she was just absolutely adorable. I love seeing my maternity clients later as new moms - they all assume that role so well and are the most loving mamas.

All clients receive their final galleries with both color and black and white images. I really loved Dawn’s images in black and white, so I’m choosing to share my favorites in this post!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Twins Photographer | Kara & Leo

Nathalie contacted the studio when her twins were almost three weeks old after finding us on Google search. She was convinced we would already be booked for newborn sessions but decided to take the chance and ask anyway, and it paid off! Because the babies were nearly three weeks old, we suggested bringing them in two days later on the only available date we had for the next week. Nathalie’s husband did have to reschedule some appointments he had planned for that day, but reported back after their session that it was worth it. Nathalie was thrilled to hear she didn’t have to worry about what to wear and immediately asked to add on hair and makeup services. She was in luck since one of our HMUA team members was available at the last minute!

When the family arrived, Nathalie and I went through a few wardrobe options for her and I went through some of the clothing she had brought for her husband. She chose a simple and comfortable cream lace dress and got settled into the hair and makeup chair. I always wait for mama to choose what they’re wearing before I make the decision on what other session participants are wearing. “Dress mom first” is the rule around here for any type of session we photograph!

Twins are always fun to have in the studio! The biggest challenge is getting them to sleep at the same time. I typically start with the sleepiest twin for their solo images while a parent is getting the other to sleep. Then I bring them together for sibling images, and finish up with the other twin’s solo images. I really enjoy working with twin families, and have so much respect for parents with twins! Having ONE newborn is challenging, so I can’t imagine what it’s like to have two!

Kara and Leo are fraternal twins who could not be more different, Kara is tiny and delicate, with very little hair and her brother Leo has a full head of thick hair and weighs in at a whopping 1.5 pounds heavier. It was so funny to see the two of them next to each other! I just love how genetics work out with siblings sometimes. My only sibling is my younger sister and she and I look absolutely nothing alike (yep, same parents!). My own three children do share similar traits in appearance and look like siblings. Kara made some of the funniest expressions, and Leo opened his eyes once…. only to be dragged back down into sleepyland, It was comical watching him fight to stay awake, but he just couldn’t do it!

After I finished photographing the babies, we moved on to the parent and family portion. There are lots of variations with two newborns that we’ll walk through, and I’ll assess your comfort level in how you hold them. Baby safety is the top priority in the studio, so we won’t place babies in potentially risky positions even in your arms. I am always checking with you to make sure you feel that your baby is secure and that you have a good hold on them. We’ll be in constant communication during our time together about how you’re feeling and if you need a break to sit down and rest. Postpartum recovery is a process, and it’s normal to feel extra tired or to become a bit light headed after standing for a while. A six pound baby might not feel so heavy at first, but can feel like an anvil after ten minutes for a new mom. You and your family will be taken care of here!

Enjoy just a few of my favorite images from Kara & Leo’s newborn session!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Keyianna & Randy

Keyianna is a planner, and scheduled her maternity session early in her second trimester to ensure she would be able to get on our calendar. We had a few rescheduling hiccups happen with her husband’s unpredictable work schedule and pouring rain on their original date but we DID make it happen! She initially thought she wanted the gardens location but then changed to the park.

When Keyianna came in to the studio for her maternity fitting, she let me know that she wanted to wear a dress of her own for one of her outfits. Clients are welcome to wear whatever they like! If you prefer to dress yourself entirely, you can definitely do that The wardrobe is simply available to clients who wish to utilize it and it is not required! I actually love deep and rich colors - but the color needs to be chosen carefully and with thought to avoid color casting or clashing. We provide an easy to follow studio style guide to our booked clients and can provide input on choices via email or an in studio consult. Believe me, I know that trying to decide what to wear for photographs can be a stressful experience - we are here to help make it as easy as possible!

The day of their session was a bit chilly outside, but not too bad - and the light was absolutely gorgeous! She was all ready to go as she was dressed in her own dress for the first portion so we got started as soon as we arrived. Randy let me know that he wasn’t really sure what to do, and I reassured him that I’d help him out. I’m great with working with partners - I’ve found they like exact and specific directions, and I’ll step in and gently adjust them as well. We aren’t going to drag your maternity session out for two hours because it’s absolutely not necessary. I work quickly and efficiently, while still giving you time to enjoy the process. We’ll have a lot of fun together, I promise!

After finished with the first outfit’s images, Keyianna changed into the second dress - a blush pink empire waisted dress from the wardrobe. She looked absolutely gorgeous in it, and it draped her belly so beautifully. By this point in our session, Keyianna and Randy were comfortable in front of the camera and knew how to snuggle up and what to do, so it was a breeze. Some of my favorite images ever take with light and palpable emotion are in their gallery! My goal is to always create at least a few images on the artistic side rather than having a gallery strictly full of portraits. I want these images to take the viewer back to that time and feel those feelings of love and anticipation for their baby all over again!

Enjoy some of my favorite images from their gallery! I’m looking forward to sharing some images from their baby boy’s six month milestone session on the blog in the coming weeks!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Calvin

I first worked with Carolyn and Craig for their maternity session at the park location. You can view those images by clicking here. They had scheduled their maternity and newborn sessions at the last minute so we didn’t have long to wait for baby Calvin to arrive!

Carolyn loved working with our HMUA team for her maternity session and when we asked her if she wanted to add it services again for newborn her response was, “Oh god, yes.” Coming home with a newborn is quite the shock to the system and most new moms cannot fathom having to get themselves ready for a photo session running on little to no sleep. The good news is that you don’t have to! Just show up in some comfy yoga pants, and we’ll can take care of the rest.

Calvin was such a little sweetie with the cutest little features. Carolyn chose a simple white dress that she loved from our studio wardrobe and settled into the makeup chair. I took Calvin to the newborn shooting room to get started. He was a very heavy sleeper and transitioned very quickly from each setup that I did. My main goal is to photograph babies beautifully wrapped in natural positions, and then depending on the baby I will branch out a little bit. Babies lead the way during their time with me, and I follow their cues. If they need a break to be snuggled or to nurse, we’ll take one!

We finished up with Calvin’s solo images and I took him back out to the main shooting room for a diaper change and a nursing session. Everyone in the studio 100% supports however you choose to feed your baby. We are comfortable with nursing mothers, and will continue to work around you. You are welcome to use a cover if you are more comfortable doing that - but we know how difficult nursing can be in those first weeks! If you’d prefer not to use one please feel free! Don’t make any decisions on whether you use a cover based on the comfort of those around you when you’re here, make it based on yours. We won’t stare or make you feel uncomfortable, we promise!

After Calvin was finished nursing, he was in a pretty deep sleep, so we started with baby sleeping on the shoulder images. Carolyn started feeling really dizzy and needed to sit down. This happens sometimes! New moms spend a lot of time laying in bed (as they should!) and sometimes standing up for longer than they have been can cause dizziness. If this happens during your session, it’s totally ok. We have so many variations that we can do - and in Carolyn’s case, we moved her to a chair. We also had dad hold Calvin for the family images, and kept Carolyn sitting or laying for most of the rest of the session with just Calvin. She was feeling up to snuggling him alone while standing towards the end, but we had a chair right there and Craig was standing nearby just in case. I always ask moms to let me know if they’re feeling tired during a session or need to sit down. There is absolutely nothing wrong with needing to take a break, sit down, drink some water, eat a snack. We are in no rush, and our main priority is the safety and comfort of our clients! You will be cared for while you are here.

Enjoy some of my favorite images from Calvin’s newborn session! Looking at this loving couple with their sweet little boy just makes me smile every time I look at the images, and it makes me miss the days of when my own babies were tiny.

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Ramsey is ONE!

Angela contacted the studio several months before her son’s first birthday to book a First Birthday session. She needed a weekend date due to her work schedule and had seen our recommendations about booking 3 months or so in advance for a guaranteed weekend date. While we can (and do) fit last minute inquiries in sometimes, there are also times that we cannot. We hate for anyone wanting to work with us to be disappointed, so if you’re able to: go ahead and reserve your spot on the calendar as soon as you know you want a session in the future especially if there is a specific date you’re hoping for.

We sent over our studio style guide to Angela along with our cake tips sheet. She wasn’t sure if she would include one or not, and we told her that was totally fine. You don’t need to decide until the day before so that I can make sure the studio is set up for either scenario. Both guides are simple and straightforward and easy to read! Clients find them incredibly helpful, and we are here for any additional questions you may have. Should you want to utilize the studio wardrobe or input on what you’re thinking of wearing from home, that’s what we are here for! We are always available to help and more than happy to do so.

The day of their session, the family of three arrived at the studio. I normally begin with family images to let babies warm up, but Mr. Ramsey was immediately entertained by me. I loved his little grin with his two little bottom teeth sticking up, and his sweet brown eyes. We had fun playing games while I photographed him, and then we moved on to family and parent images. These images are so easy! I will guide you on what to do and make sure you’re in the right place. Then all you need to do is be the mom and dad your baby loves so much…. and the rest falls into place. After we finished with those, Angela changed Ramsey into his second outfit and we incorporated his favorite stuffed animals.

I welcome and encourage the usage of special items like these in First Birthday sessions! When my oldest was a baby, I took a weekly photo of her with a stuffed rabbit. When we started, she was smaller than the rabbit. The photos of her as a newborn with her rabbit compared to the photos of her at six months and one year are amazing to see. There’s nothing like something special that remains the same size through the years to really put things in perspective. It’s amazing (and bittersweet) how fast our babies grow!

You may be wondering where the cake is! Answer: there wasn’t one! Not every First Birthday session includes a cake and that’s totally okay. It’s up to you and what your preferences are. First Birthday sessions are about celebrating your baby and their first year - and YOU as parents for making it through! While a cake is often lots of fun and results in some super adorable images, it’s definitely not a absolute necessity. You’ll decide what’s the best fit for your vision!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Ramsey’s session!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photography | Candace & Company at the park

I first worked with Candace and Eric when they were expecting their first child for a studio maternity session. It was a lot of fun, and was photographed in my original studio. That original studio was only 104 square feet and is now the studio office in present day! It’s right next door to our much larger studio where we photograph clients today.

Candace contacted us to book a family maternity session! Her daughter was now a rambunctious toddler, and she wanted an outdoor session this time around. She chose the park as her location after looking at all of the different options as she felt that would reflect her family’s personality the best. I love maternity sessions that double as family sessions. It’s focused on family interaction centered around the baby bump!

Toddlers are almost always a wild card when it comes to sessions, and that’s okay. It’s NORMAL and I expect it. You as a parent will be far more concerned about it than I will. The best approach is to come in with a laid back attitude and to not pressure your child. Don’t bribe them, threaten them, or push them to do something. When they see that we’re taking photos and ignoring them, they will often run to you to be in the frame too. I’ll give you advance guidance on exactly what to do when this happens and I’ll be at the ready to capture the moments that unfold at lighting speed. Your job is to relax, follow my direction, and let me take care of things for you!

The best thing about family sessions? You can’t fake the moments. Toddlers don’t do acting - it’s not in their nature. So all the sweet smiles, hugs, and kisses? They really happened and they weren’t staged.

When we arrived at the park, I immediately started with family and parent images. The light was absolutely gorgeous and I had chosen for them to dress in the outfits I knew would look best with the backlit sun.

Toddlers have a very limited attention span and we never know when they will decide they’re done. So I work very quickly and efficiently for the first 10-15 minutes so if this happens we have a gallery ready to go! Sure enough, Avery was pretty much over it once Candace changed her outfit. While Candace was changing, I took the opportunity to photograph some father-daughter images, and we wrapped up with family and solo images of Candace pretty quickly after that. I don’t want to keep you or your toddler waiting any longer than necessary!

Here are just a few of my favorites 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Rowan is ONE!

I absolutely love when clients recommend me to their friends (it’s such a compliment, don’t you agree?!)… and that’s how Sandra found us! A friend of hers has worked with us a few times previously and gave her our information. Sandra contacted the studio to book a First Birthday session for her daughter, Rowan.

We sent over the studio style guide and our cake tips via email, and Sandra took it from there! Some clients are comfortable styling themselves with no assistance from us. For those of you who would like input or a helping hand, please don’t hesitate to ask! We are here to serve you in any way we can to make your experience with us an incredible one. Your portrait experience shouldn’t be stressful - let us help if you need it!

The day of Rowan’s session, the family arrived at the studio with everyone dressed beautifully. (The dress Sandra is wearing is now a part of our studio wardrobe!) Rowan was a friendly and inquisitive little girl, and very wiggly. I’m an expert with wiggly kids, and will give you guidance on what to do. Remember that I only need 1/800th of a second to create an image! Even if you feel like your child is constantly moving and are wondering how I can possibly be getting anything, rest assured that I am. It’s my job to worry about it - not yours!

We then moved on to solo images of Rowan in her adorable tutu dress. We weren’t sure she would keep her headband on, but she did for a while until she realized that it was on her head! She pulled it off, but we just waited until she was distracted again and put it right back on, and she didn’t take it off again for the remainder of the session.

After we finished with portraits, we changed Rowan into a simple pink camisole that I have on hand in the studio wardrobe. I love simple and classic pieces for cake smashes, and being able to see the chunky baby legs and toes.

Sandra chose to decorate Rowan’s cake with fresh flowers, which looked absolutely gorgeous. The flowers proved to be too tempting, and we had to pull them off after Rowan attempted to eat them. This is usually the case with any cake decor, so be prepared to remove anything that’s on the cake if necessary!

Rowan’s reactions and expressions while exploring her cake were adorable. Every baby is totally different! Some babies make it their mission to decimate the cake down to the base. Other babies taste the frosting and are over it. Others love to play in it and never actually eat it. It doesn’t matter - your images will tell the unique story of how they reacted to their cake. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to encourage babies to touch their cakes, but it’s ultimately up to them. I encourage parents to get involved also since lots of babies love to feed their parents or share with them. Be aware that “sharing” often ends up with mom and dad covered with icing! :)

As a note, some parents choose to skip including a cake in the First Birthday session. That’s totally fine! We customize your session flow to your preferences. Regardless of whether a cake is involved, you’ll still have beautiful images to remember just what your one year old was like at that stage.

Enjoy a few favorite’s from Rowan’s session!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Erica

When your best friend is a photographer, you enjoy some perks when you book a session with her! Erica and I have known each other since we were six years old and I photographed the birth of her first child, which was the very first birth I ever photographed and how I became a birth photographer! I photographed the birth of her second child as well, but we knew that I would be unable to attend the birth of her third unless he arrived on his due date weekend when I would be in town.

Erica asked if she could come and visit this summer for a little getaway before her baby arrived, and of course I said yes as it’s been a few years since we’ve been able to spend time together without our children. She asked if she could book a studio maternity session while she was in town. I was thrilled to say yes, and she also elected to add on hair and makeup services. The day before her session, I sent her to my favorite nail boutique right down the street - Lark & Sparrow! If you haven’t visited, check it out! It’s so lovely, and the manicurists are amazing!

I do not photograph maternity sessions in two different places. The studio light is best in the morning through early afternoon - and I only photograph outdoor sessions in the hour before sunset. You can see the problem here: there would be an hours long gap between indoor and outdoor sessions, so it’s not possible. The outdoor images you are seeing below are a result of Erica doing me a favor much later that day after her studio session so that I could test out a secondary field location! The photos from it were so beautiful that I decided to include them in this post as well. We have had clients who wanted two locations for their maternity session, and they simply booked two separate sessions.

For her studio maternity session, Erica chose to wear white. Her first dress was a simple grecian style dress that looked gorgeous on her both in color and drape. The second was one of our very fitted lace dresses which shows off more while still keeping mamas somewhat covered. It’s the perfect in between for an expectant mother who wants to show off her belly without having it bare. Our HMUA, Brielle, created a beautiful updo for her with some loose tendrils, and went for a more dramatic eye at Erica’s request. When the dresses are simple, sometimes it’s fun to kick up the makeup a notch!

After the studio session was over, I pulled a dress for her to wear for our location test. She has loved the color purple since we were little, so I knew it would be the perfect choice. A few hours later, we drove out to the location and I fell in love with it! We now officially have two field locations that clients can choose from - when you inquire with us we’ll go over the options you have and you can choose the one that is best for you and fits your preferences.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Erica’s maternity session! She welcomed a beautiful baby boy just weeks later, and I was fortunate enough to be able to meet and photograph him as a newborn on Labor Day weekend (his original due date!)

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Cecilia

Natalie contacted the studio a few weeks before her due date to inquire about reserving a newborn session. She was concerned that we might not have availability since we do become fully booked a few months out for newborns sometimes. We’d had a couple of our newborns arrive early that month, so we had room on our calendar to reserve her spot.

Reserving your spot doesn’t mean that we are scheduling your session date and time. It means that we are guaranteeing you a spot on our calendar when your baby arrives! Babies are unpredictable. We’ve had micro preemies, 32 weekers, 37 weekers, and up to 42 weekers! Even if your baby is born early or late - it doesn’t matter, you’re still guaranteed your spot with your reservation. You’ll let us know within 48 hours after birth that your baby has arrived, and we’ll respond with a few questions to help us determine the best dates for you. We’ll want to know the weight of your baby, how you both are doing, if you want to add on hair and makeup services, and if you had any complications such as a c-section delivery. These factors all affect the dates we send for you to choose from.

When Natalie, Scott, and Cecilia arrived at the studio they had an armful of clothes from their own closet. We send every client a newborn prep packet that goes over guidelines of what to wear from your own closet! The studio wardrobe is available to new moms as well should you want to do that. Natalie opted for a more casual look with white jeans and a pretty pink off the shoulder top. You should dress how you feel most comfortable! We also talked about Natalie’s preference for whether she wanted Cecilia to wear any headbands during her time with me. Some moms want every image to have a headband, others opt to skip it entirely, and some ask for a mix of with and without. I choose the headbands based on your baby’s skin tone and head size. We don’t do anything the size of Texas around here!

Cecilia was sound asleep, so I took her to the newborn shooting room to get started, and Natalie settled herself into the hair and makeup chair. Other than a couple of nursing breaks, Cecilia was a pretty sleepy and curly baby. I photograph babies with neutral colors (mainly creams and whites) and often bring in pale blushes and peaches for baby girls. She gave me a few smirks, and is just the cutest! As I was finishing up with her solo portraits, our HMUA was putting the finishing touches on Natalie. Cecilia needed to nurse, so Natalie took care of her while I set up our main shooting room for the family and parent portion.

Newborn sessions in the studio are anything but stressful. They are laid back, slow paced, and quiet. This is a time to enjoy being together as a family. I am here to guide you through every single step, and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. The studio fridge is stocked with an assortment of beverages, and we have quite a few snacks as well. If you need a break, we’ll take one. The parent and family portion usually only takes 30-45 minutes but it’s all dependent on your baby and how they’re doing! I love photographing awake babies, but if they are awake and fussy there isn’t much that we can do in terms of photographing until they calm and settle. Taking a patient approach is what works best, and I promise we’ll have fun too!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Cecilia’s newborn session!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Ashley & Lee

Ashley contacted us to schedule a studio maternity session because she and her husband didn’t want to deal with the summer heat in Atlanta. If you’re weather or temperature sensitive and an outdoor session won’t work for you, no problem! We want you to be as comfortable as possible during our time together.

Ashley also scheduled a maternity fitting at the studio and loved that she could borrow from it. She expressed concern that she was on the petite side in height, but we reassured her that we had plenty of options to accommodate her. It’s true! Our shortest female client was 4’10” and our tallest was 6’2”. We have an array of options that will work for sizes o-14/16, and many different styles to suit tastes from simple to boho to glam.

Ashley came in for her maternity fitting alone, and it was so nice to meet her! I always love getting to spend this time with my clients to get to know them and hear their stories. We have 20 minutes allotted for maternity fittings, and I move through them efficiently. Clients are encouraged to take photos of themselves in their favorite dresses (sometimes I lend a hand) with their phones so they have them as reference. You do not have to make a decision that same day, so this also lets you have a visual reference when you’re thinking about what your final choice will be! So many of my clients report back that they polled their friends and family to help them decide as well. Whatever works best for you! Ashley makes decisions quickly and knew exactly which dresses she wanted after trying on several. We discussed her husband’s personality and style preferences, and I gave her some suggestions on what he should wear from his own closet at home. I never want dads to feel uncomfortable in what they’re wearing, so I really love to keep everyone true to who they are. Feeling good in what you’re wearing affects your whole experience in a big way!

A couple of weeks later, Ashley and Lee came to the studio for their maternity fitting. I had her dresses freshly steamed and waiting for her. While she was getting changed, I chatted with Lee a little bit and found out he wasn’t a big fan of having his photograph taken, but was willing because he loves his wife. This is probably 90% of my guy clients! I told him I would make it as easy as possible for him, and I think he was pleasantly surprised at just how easy it actually was! Your guy will not be dragged through an hours long maternity session, and he’ll have built in breaks during our time together. I’m an efficient photographer - we will have lots of fun during, but we’re not wasting time either. I will also walk you both through exactly what to do and adjust you as needed for the best angles. The images you see throughout the website of snuggly couples are REAL. They just had a little help getting close to each other with my direction. The interaction and love between them were just a natural result of that!

Every final gallery is delivered in both color and black and white. I really loved this whole session in black and white, so that’s what I’m choosing to share here!

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Ella is ONE!

I first worked with Cindy for her maternity session, and then again for her daughter’s newborn session! You can view Cindy’s studio maternity images by clicking here, and her newborn images by clicking here. Cindy brought Ella in for our 2017 Santa event, and I loved seeing how big she had gotten! We were thrilled to hear from her when she called to schedule her daughter’s First Birthday session! 

Cindy LOVES our studio wardrobe because she never has to worry about getting ready or finding something to wear. She’s shown up at every session confident that she’ll find something she loves - and she does. She tried on a couple of dresses and chose a gorgeous off the shoulder chiffon floral dress. She had brought a simple pastel pink dress for Ella to wear for the cake portion of her session, but needed something for the parent/solo portraits. I pulled out a few options for her to look through, and this sweet little lace romper was the winner. The chambray bow is also part of the studio wardrobe as we have a few on hand for when moms forget or decide last minute they want to add one! If you’re not interested in the studio wardrobe and prefer to wear your own clothing, that’s totally fine! The wardrobe is simply an option to booked clients should they wish to utilize it. We’ll send you a helpful style guide when you book that will walk you through best practices for dressing everyone participating in the session. 

On the day of their session, Cindy arrived with Ella and her sister! Her sister had not planned to be in the photographs and wasn’t dressed to be. When Cindy expressed her desire to have a couple of aunt and niece images taken, her sister was worried about her outfit. I told her it wasn’t an issue and pulled off a few pieces from our wardrobe for her to try on and choose from. She picked a simple gauze textured dot dress that was the same style as the shirt she had worn to the studio to begin with, and it worked perfectly with what Cindy and Ella were wearing! 

We started off with Ella and her mom together. As Ella warmed up to me, we moved into the solo portraits of her. Ella is a more serious baby, and her personality is perfectly reflected in her images. Ella also showed off her newly acquired walking skills too! Not every one year old is walking yet, but we’ll capture them exactly as they are at the age of 1 even if they’re still crawling and not quite upright yet! 

Cindy changed Ella into her second outfit for the cake portion. Cakes are not required for First Birthday sessions, and about 20% of our First Birthday clients opt to skip including a cake in the session. I think they’re adorable and a lot of fun. If your baby didn’t react well to cake at their party, don’t let that faze you! Cakes in the studio are often much more well received because they’re not tired and overwhelmed with a bunch of loud strangers watching them. It’s a very low key experience with zero pressure or stress. So many of our parents are shocked at how much more their baby enjoyed and interacted with their cake in the studio as opposed to their official party! 

We started off with Ella in the high chair, and managed to take a few images before Ella let us know she was NOT going to sit in it anymore. Cakes don’t have to be done in the high chair (although it’s much easier for parents in terms of cleanup and corralling their baby!) so we just moved her to the floor where she was happy and content. It was adorable watching Ella explore her cake and taste the icing. There were a few moments where she was unsure (girlfriend did NOT like the feeling of icing all over her hands) but she worked through it. I just love photos of babies with their birthday cake icing all over their face… it’s so cute! 

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Ella’s session! 

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Parker

I first worked with Madeleine and Tyson for their maternity session in the gardens, which can be viewed by clicking here. I always LOVE getting the announcement that baby has arrived so we can schedule the newborn session!

Really quickly: we take a limited number of newborns due in a calendar month. Sometimes babies don’t arrive in their due date month, and that’s okay! When you reserve your session, you are guaranteed a spot. We don’t schedule your actual session date until your baby has arrived. Generally newborn sessions are scheduled between 8-16 days of life. However, there are many factors that will affect the dates that we give you as choices! Some of those factors are: baby’s weight, if there any complications for mother and baby, whether baby was born on the earlier or later side, and how mama is recovering! We see older newborns all the time for a variety of reasons, so don’t worry if your baby is older than 16 days old! It is NOT a “make or break” deal if they are.

When the new family of three arrived at the studio, Madeleine and I looked through several pieces that I had pulled and she chose a blue off the shoulder dress. Baby Parker was just the cutest and had a lot of his mom’s features. I loved his head of hair, and he was a sleepy yawny baby.

I headed to the newborn shooting room with Parker and we wrapped his solo portraits up pretty quickly due to how sleepy he was! We send a newborn session prep packet to all of our clients a few days beforehand, and Madeleine had followed it perfectly. While nothing will guarantee that your baby will sleep deeply for their session, following our instructions definitely gives us much higher odds!

I use mainly neutral colors for photographing babies. Your newborn is so perfect, and so precious! I don’t want anything distracting from their sweet little features, and want them to be the focus. I blend natural and organic posing with a few more involved poses as well for babies that are super sleepy. I don’t photograph babies in buckets or hanging from a sling - simple and timeless imagery is what we strive for at the studio!

After Parker’s solo portraits were concluded, I took him out to our main shooting room to his mama to nurse. Sessions are baby led! If your baby needs a break to eat or just to cuddle, we take one. The safety and comfort of my tiny clients are my top priority, so we’ll do what we need to do to accomplish that.

Once Parker was finished nursing, we started with the parent and family session. New mamas are often tired and need to sit down and rest from time to time. I build in breaks for mama throughout so she’s not standing the entire time, and you better believe I’m watching them closely! If I sense that a mama is getting tired, we take a break. The studio fridge is stocked with an assortment of beverages, and we have a snack basket as well! Recovering from childbirth is not always a walk in the park, and I want you to know that you will be taken care of too. I’ve had three babies of my own…. so I know how those first weeks can be!

Here are a few of my favorite images from sweet little Parker’s session. His mama sent me a recent photo of him, and I cannot BELIEVE how big he’s gotten and how much he has changed! I can’t wait to see him again as he grows.

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Madeleine & Tyson

Madeleine contacted us in her first trimester to inquire about a maternity and newborn session. She’s a busy lady, and wanted to make sure she was booked with us as soon as possible. Pregnancy is a busy time! Between planning for your baby, childbirth classes, prenatal visits, taking a babymoom, attending baby showers, etc - the time can get away from you before you know it! She chose the gardens location for her maternity session, and we scheduled her maternity fitting as well.

The day of her fitting, she brought along her husband Tyson. She also brought a yellow dress with a navy floral print that she loved. She was THRILLED to hear that I also loved it. While the majority of my clients do opt for a neutral palette, please don’t think that it’s the only palette you can wear for your session. The colors you choose do matter to the outcome of your final gallery, but we will talk about the best practices for choosing what to wear from your own wardrobe! We have a super easy style guide to read through that our clients report is a total lifesaver and takes so much guesswork out of the equation. We’re also available to provide input and suggestions on what you’re considering wearing. You can either schedule a time to drop by the studio or we can exchange emails - whatever works best for you!

We looked through the wardrobe together, and Madeleine fell in love with a cream dress to wear as her second dress. We talked about jewelry and options for Tyson as well. Lots of clients ask if their partner needs to come with them to their maternity fitting. The answer? It’s optional! I will say that I do enjoy meeting your partner in advance, and sometimes it can be beneficial if he’s not a guy that likes to be photographed. It makes it easier for your partner the day of our session if they’ve already met me since they don’t feel as awkward!

We got lucky with the Atlanta weather in June! It was actually a little bit breezy and in the high 80’s. This doesn’t always happen, but we’re all thankful when it does. The garden flowers were absolutely gorgeous, and we had lots of fun throughout our time together. I direct couples through their entire session, so you don’t need to worry about knowing what to do. Much of what I direct you to do is pretty normal stuff you might do every day - just modified a bit for the best images! I LOVE photographing maternity sessions - I consider them your last couples session before becoming a brand new family. We don’t do cheesy stuff here, so reassure your guy that he will not be asked to drop to a knee and kiss your belly. (Seriously, reassure him: this is literally the most expressed fear of my guy clients!)

Enjoy a few of my favorites from their session, and come back on Friday to see their newborn session with their beautiful 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Oliver is six months!

Ashley had first contacted the studio when she was pregnant with her son to inquire about booking a session. She had been interested in The Birth Session, maternity, and newborn. We were sad to inform her that we were fully booked and didn’t have any additional space on our calendar. Many of our clients book in the beginning to middle of their second trimester, and we have LOTS who choose to book during their first trimester. It really is never too soon to reserve your spot so we are guaranteed to be able to work with you!

A few months after her son arrived, she contacted us to book a six month milestone session. She and her husband both had hectic work schedules, but were able to make a weekday work for scheduling. Sometimes we have parents who work take a longer lunch and pop by the studio. We do schedule sessions on weekends, but have limited availability, so if you’ve waited until the last minute or want more options for session dates and times - being open to a weekday is definitely in your favor!

We sent over our studio style guide to Ashley and let her know she was welcome to set up a time to come by the studio if she wanted to. This is totally optional! We completely understand that some of our clients simply don’t have the time to drop by for a style consult, and we’re happy to participate in an email exchange to offer our input on what you’re thinking of dressing everyone in should you want to. If you don’t need any assistance or input - that’s also just fine. Everyone is different!

On the day of the session, when the family of three arrived, I started chatting with Cameron. I asked where he worked, and when he told me - I asked him if he knew some of my other clients who also worked there. Sure enough, he did! Such a small world! I loved the striped blue and white linen J. Crew dress Ashley had brought to wear for her session. Oliver wore the cutest striped one piece with adorable button detailing, and dad was in a casual button down that picked up one of the stripe colors. It was the perfect mix!

We began the session with family images, and it wasn’t too hard to get these guys snuggling and interacting together. Ashley and Cameron adore their son, and the feeling is mutual! Once Oliver was comfortable with me, we moved to some solo baby portraits, and then it was time for an outfit change. Ashley had brought along some striped engineer pants with the cutest suspenders. I pulled a white linen button down from my studio wardrobe to incorporate into some as well.

I think my most favorite image from this session is the one below of Ashley laughing as Oliver munches on a fistful of her hair. He’s looking right at his mama, and she looks so beautiful and happy. It’s also a genuine mother and son moment, and one that Ashley would never be able to see of herself. Those are the things I’m looking for during your time with me - I want to document those special and silly moments that really show the love and emotional connection between your family.

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | A Mountain Maternity session

I first worked with Abby and Charlie for their FREEZING cold field maternity session when they were expecting their first baby! You can view their gorgeous images by clicking here. Charlie contacted us to schedule a maternity session for baby #2 as a surprise birthday gift for Abby! Isn’t that the sweetest? We love when dads gift their wives with sessions - it’s truly a gift that is appreciated and cherished forever.

Abby was so excited when Charlie surprised her with the gift on her birthday. We scheduled the session to take place in late spring since she wasn’t due until the summer. We often shoot at our mountain location, and while it’s not “officially” up on the website, it’s an option for our clients should they wish to shoot here. Just ask about the mountain when you inquire! As a note: everyone in your family should be in good physical condition with no pregnancy complications as you will be hiking with a moderate incline on rock for a while. Dads will have to carry their child(ren) at points! My children are easily able to hike it alone, and my son did so at the age of 2. However, because we must be to the top at a certain time, sometimes you’ll have to carry a child to help move us along at a quicker pace!

Abby emailed and asked if she could add on hair and makeup to her session. She wanted to relax beforehand and let Charlie be the one to handle their daughter. We said “Sure!” and set it up for her. We also scheduled her maternity fitting, and she came in a couple of weeks before her session.

I hadn’t seen Abby since her last maternity session, and it felt like greeting an old friend. She is such a warm and sweet person, and the first thing she said was “Wow! Your wardrobe grew!” Yep…. it sure did from the time she was last pregnant! We are constantly adding new pieces to the wardrobe every couple of months, and love curating beautiful things for our clients to choose from to wear for their sessions. We went through the options and she narrowed it down to about five that she loved. I always encourage clients to snap a photo of themselves in the mirror if they can’t decide the day of our fitting. This allows you to go home, show your friends and family, and make a decision a few days later. We do have a deadline though, as we want to make sure your choices are clean and ready to go for your session! Abby opted to do this, and emailed me a couple days later with the photos of her final two choices attached.

The day of their session, we met at the mountain, and everyone changed into their outfits. We started our hike, and I photographed as we made our ascent. Charley Rose was just the cutest with her big blue eyes that she definitely got from her daddy. We made it up to the top, and it was such a gorgeous evening with beautiful sunset light. I gave Abby and Charlie some guidance on what to do with their daughter, and then stood back and let it all unfold. Abby and Charley Rose changed their dresses midway through our time together, and we continued to explore the mountaintop. Sometimes Charley Rose needed a break, so I photographed Abby alone or just her parents together during those moments. It never fails during a family session: toddlers will declare they’re all done and walk off, and I’ll start photographing just their parents. They’ll see it happening and they don’t want to be left out!

After the sun had set, the sky was the most beautiful mixture of sherbet colors. I never stop photographing as soon as the sun disappears, since we usually another 5-10 minutes of beautiful soft light for a completely different look that we can work with! On the mountain, I don’t stay too much longer past 10 minutes since we need to get back down to the base before it’s too dark to see where we’re going.

Enjoy a few of my favorites!

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Kelise is six months!

Khalilah called the studio phone to schedule a milestone session for her daughter, Kelise. Isn’t that the most adorable name?! It is the first time I’ve heard it, and I really love it. Unique, and so cute!

When Khalilah and Kelise arrived, I knew this was going to be a fun session! Kelise was such a fun and friendly little baby and thought I was hilarious with my silly faces and funny sounds. She was sitting confidently unassisted, and could maintain a stand while holding on, so we were able to capture a great variety of images for her mom to choose from.

While most clients opt to book a session that includes the whole family or at least one parent, Khalilah wanted a handful of portraits of Kelise only. Clients receive their final images in both black and white and color, but I loved the black and white edits of Kelise’s session so much that I’ve opted to only show those here.

Enjoy all the dimpled cuteness!!!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Fall in the park with Lindy & Jeff

Lindy saw some of our photographs from a friend’s maternity session and loved them. She also loved that we are located intown since she lives in the Inman Park neighborhood, which is close to our studio in Grant Park. After speaking about the options available, she booked a maternity session at the park location and scheduled her maternity fitting at the studio.

Lindy requested to add on hair and makeup services when she heard that our HMUA would keep it natural and classic and not make her look crazy. If you’ve had a bad experience in the past with having your hair and makeup done, there’s no need to fear! I’ve personally vetted each member of my team and they are absolutely incredible. We’ll discuss your specific needs, and your vision! Based on that information, we’ll pair you with the perfect artist for you from the team.

When Lindy came to the studio, she brought along one of her own dresses that she knew she wanted to wear. It was fall, and I absolutely loved her choice of a plaid shirtdress! I immediately pulled one of our studio scarves and showed her how it would look with her dress. She also had a cream cardigan sweater that looked wonderful with it as well. The studio wardrobe is a resource available to clients should they wish to use it. Many clients opt to wear their own clothing, and we love that just as much! We’ll provide you with a really helpful and simple style guide, and we’ll provide you with as much hands on support as you need in pulling everything together! We discussed options for her husband to wear with her dress, and then moved on to trying on studio pieces. Lindy wanted to have a few open belly photos, so she chose an ivory split front strapless gown. The best thing about our split front gowns is that they can be worn both open and closed! So if baring your belly isn’t your thing, no worries at all! It’s all about your preference and comfort level.

The day of their session, I arrived at the studio a few minutes early. Lindy was having her hair and makeup done there, and I wanted to introduce myself to her husband, Jeff and chat a bit. Jeff was such a friendly guy, and we looked through a couple of the options they had brought for him. After making final choices, we were ready to head to the location and set off for it!

Lindy had warned me she was a little nervous in front of the camera. I reassured her that was normal and that I’d take care of everything for her. Unless you’re a professional model, I don’t expect you to be 110% confident in front of the camera! I’ll make sure you’re in the best positions and shoot from the most flattering angles for you. I’ll even step in and adjust your dress or hair if I see something that needs fixing! Your job is to have fun and enjoy the experience. After all, you’re only pregnant with this baby once. After we’d been shooting for a few minutes, Lindy relaxed, and started smiling and enjoying herself. I loved watching the natural interaction between her and Jeff and the loving looks they exchanged during.

Here are a few of my favorites!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Judah

Susanna contacted the studio to inquire about booking a newborn session. She was sent to us from a long term client of ours who is also a photographer! Susanna stated that she trusted their judgement and knew that if they would entrust us with their family portraits, she had come to the right place. We love when our clients send us their friends! There truly is no higher compliment.

Susanna asked to add on hair and makeup services, and let us know that she and her two year old daughter would be using the studio wardrobe. When toddlers are involved with newborn sessions, we have them arriver later with daddy or a grandparent/caregiver. They will be so much happier at home, and there won’t be any waiting around when they arrive. Plus, mamas enjoy the little break with some peace and quiet!

When Susanna and Judah arrived, we looked through the studio wardrobe options and she quickly selected a simple dress with some pretty embroidery that she loved. I pulled a few options for her daughter, Lila, and set them aside for when she arrived. Susanna made herself comfortable in the hair and makeup chair while I took Judah back to the newborn shooting room. Adding on hair and makeup services does not extend the length of your session. I photograph your newborn’s solo portraits while you’re being pampered! Either way, you’ll be sitting while I complete this portion of the session. Might as well spend that waiting time treating yourself, right?!

Judah was a sleepy little thing with lots of brown hair. We finished up with his solo portraits at the perfect time: Susanna was nearly finished and Lila and daddy had arrived. Judah was waking up and hungry, so Susanna nursed him while we chose Lila’s dress from the options I had pulled. Susanna had told me she wasn’t sure how Lila would do for the session and that she was crossing her fingers that she would “cooperate”. Expecting a two year old to sit perfectly still is pretty unrealistic. The best thing you can do is just hang back. Telling your older child to “say cheese” or getting irritated with them puts pressure on them and usually backfires. When we approach the session as fun and play some games, it’s WAY more enjoyable for them. They’re a valuable member of you family, and I want my little clients to have fun too! Miss Lila was the CUTEST little thing, and she was so awesome. We chatted and discussed her baby brother, and captured some of the most heart melting sibling and family images. Lila made her departure soon afterwards and we finished up with the parent portion of our session. No need to keep your toddler any longer than we need to!

Enjoy some of my favorites from this sweet family’s newborn session!

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

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Liya

I first worked with this absolutely wonderful family for their maternity session at the field location. Visit this post to hear their backstory and see their gorgeous images!

Each member of this family has such a wonderful personality - Busola is free spirited and fun, and Jude is grounded and the kindest and most encouraging person you’ll ever meet. Ayo is a mix of both his parents and just likes to have a good time! When Busola let me know that baby Liya had arrived, I was so excited for all of them AND for Liya! She’s truly been born into such a wonderful family. I would adopt them as my own family if I could - that’s seriously how great they are.

When Busola arrived at the studio with Liya she let me know she loved all the girly and pink things and to please incorporate them as I saw fit. We mainly photograph on neutrals to keep the focus on your baby, but we do keep an assortment of pale and blush pinks on hand too! Whether tiebacks are used on baby girls is entirely up to mom. I will often photograph a mix of with and without, but some moms request that one be used for all of their baby’s images.

Liya slept for a bit but did wake up during her session. When she was awake, I was struck by her serious and calm gaze. If ever a baby was an old soul, I think Liya fits the description! Busola nursed her back to sleep and we finished up our newborn solo portraits pretty quickly - just in time for the arrival of Jude and Ayo (and grandma!). Lots of families will bring a visiting grandparent along to help with older siblings when they are not being photographed during the family and parent portion, and sometimes even step in for a few images too!

I started with sibling photos immediately, and Ayo was so great with his little sister! We’ll talk about how your toddler is doing with the new addition and the safest way to proceed based on that input from you. Sometimes sibling images aren’t the two of them alone, but being held by a parent. However they are ultimately set up, they will show their relationship just as they were at that stage. The safety of your newborn is my primary consideration when it comes to sibling images, so we’ll make decisions about how to best photograph them with that at the forefront.

We moved on to family images, and I played the jump like a crazy person game with Ayo to get him laughing. It was quite effective as you’ll see below. I always try to get one or two images with everyone looking and smiling - more often than not, I am able to with no issues. Every toddler is a wild card though, so there are no guarantees. The rest of the family portion was all natural interaction - snuggling up nice and tight and making each other laugh. It showcases your family’s true dynamic and results in the most beautifully authentic images. When you look at them you’ll smile and you’ll think, “This is us.”

When Ayo was finished, he headed home with Grandma and we wrapped up the rest of the session with Liya and her parents. I’m so happy that Liya will have these to look back on when she’s older so she can see how incredibly loved she was from the very beginning!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A park session with Jamie & Ryan

Jamie contacted the studio to schedule a maternity session. Initially she wanted the gardens location, but after browsing the blog and looking at our Instagram feed she changed her mind and said that the park location was the best fit for their personality as a couple. I loved that she thought about that when making her decision, because every couple is so different in tastes and in their dynamic. If you’re unsure of where the best location for your session is, call and chat with us - we’ll walk you through it and ask you some questions to give you feedback on our recommendation for you.

We scheduled a time for Jamie to come to the studio for her maternity fitting, and she also asked to add on hair and makeup services. Jamie drove all the way from Dawsonville, and brought her husband Ryan along with her. Partners are welcomed and encouraged to come along as well, but they’re certainly not required to. I love the opportunity to meet both of you before you’re in front of my camera and get to know you a bit. I pulled several dress options for Jamie, and when she went to try them on, sat down across from Ryan to chat. I loved the shoes he had worn to the fitting and told him that I’d love if he wore them to the session also! We talked about his style and what type of clothing he liked to wear. Some guys are super casual and all about comfort, while others like to be sharp and wear a suit. Every guy is different. My goal is for BOTH of you to be comfortable in what you’re wearing and also love how you look. That’s such a key component to a successful session, and a big reason for why we provide a studio wardrobe and help with styling should you choose to wear your own clothing. We are here to serve you and ensure you have the best possible portrait experience. With all the unknowns that come with pregnancy and having a baby, I want this to be a fun and stress free experience for you!

Jamie loved two of our dresses and Ryan heartily approved as well. Once she had made her choices, we talked about what Ryan should wear color/pattern wise. We always send our clients a style guide as well to help them choose, and are available by email or phone should any questions arise. Many guys opt to bring a few options that they like with them the day of their session for me to look over and I’ll glance them over and point to the best one.

On the evening of their session I met them in my studio where Jamie was nearly finished with her hair and makeup services. She looked absolutely stunning, and she kept saying how gorgeous she felt. Her last professional makeup experience has been for her wedding was unfortunately less than stellar. She exclaimed that it was ten million times better this go round and that she was so incredibly happy with it. Our HMUA team truly is amazing, and they are some of the kindest and most caring women you’ll ever meet too. My studio has a standard of excellence and everyone that I choose to recommend on a professional basis must meet that. You’re in the best of hands if you choose to work with a member of our team, I promise!

Jamie got dressed in her first dress and we headed down to the the park location. The light was beautiful that evening, and I loved how it shone through the sheer material of her dress and accentuated her beautiful pregnant belly. Both dresses draped her shape perfectly, and Ryan looked great in what he had chosen to wear as well. He did wear the shoes that I loved!

Because we had spent time getting to know one another at our fitting a couple of weeks prior, Jamie and Ryan were immediately comfortable with being in front of my camera. No worries if you’re not - it’s my job to get you there, and I will! These two are so in love with such a great respect and tenderness for one another, and it really shows in their images.

Some of my absolute favorite maternity photographs I’ve ever taken in my career thus far are in this gallery - can you guess which ones they are?

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

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