Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Eva & Phil

Eva contacted the studio to book an outdoor maternity session for her husband and herself at the park location and a newborn session for when their baby arrived. We scheduled a time for her to come into the studio for a maternity fitting, and she found two dresses that she absolutely loved. Once she had chosen her dresses, we discussed what her husband should wear for the session to be most cohesive with her choices while also remaining true to his personality and style preferences! Simply put: if your partner doesn’t like to wear khakis….don’t put him in khakis! There are so many options of what your guy can wear that will look great with what you’re wearing, and it doesn’t have to be any specific thing. In Phil’s case, he wore stone chinos and a button down that he already owned and was very reflective of who he is.

Eva asked to add on hair and makeup services, and we paired her with the best fit for her who was available on her date. We talk to each individual client who books about what their vision is and then we see who on our team that we know will be a great match for them is available. She loved her hair and makeup so much that she emailed immediately after her maternity session to let us know she wanted to add it on to her newborn session too. I’m so looking forward to photographing their new baby girl in just a couple of 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 Joie

Have you ever heard those stories about how a couple thought they were having a boy and then ended up NOT having a boy? Yeah? I have too. But I’ve never met anyone personally that this actually happened to…. until now. I personally waited to find out what I was having with all three of my children until they were born!

So, how is this mixup even possible?! Great question. In their case, they had the tech put the sex of their baby in an envelope and sent to the bakery for a gender reveal.

Except…. either the tech or the bakery got it wrong. We will never know which (but we’re guessing the bakery!) Baby came out, everyone was expecting a boy, and the doctor said “Oh my gosh, it’s a girl!” Good thing that baby Joie’s parents are very go with the flow and are still laughing about it. Plus, doesn’t it make the coolest story?! Another bit of good news is that a nursery hadn’t been decorated yet in their new home, so clothes were the biggest thing that needed to be replaced.

When Marcus and Jazmyn arrived for Joie’s newborn session, I couldn’t get over how perfect her little features were! Jazmyn and I looked through the wardrobe and she chose a simple blush pink dress to wear. She sat down in the makeup chair as she had added on makeup services for her time with us.

I took baby Joie to the newborn shooting room to get started while her mom was being prepped. She was also one of the most alert and awake newborns I have ever met - and she was SO smiley. This is actually very rare for newborns, so smiles and eye contact should not be expected. I photograph newborns on neutrals (mainly creams and whites with some beiges) and will add in blush pinks for baby girls if moms are okay with that. I want the focus to be entirely on your baby and not have lots of other elements competing for the eye of the viewer. When it comes to headbands and tiebacks, I keep them very dainty and proportionate to the size of each individual baby’s head. In my view, if the first thing you notice is the headband a newborn is wearing, there’s a problem with the photograph. Some parents request that nothing be used at all, and it’s totally up to you! Joie’s daddy was VERY excited about headbands, so it was made pretty clear to use as many as possible. ;)

Joie woke up towards the end of her solo portraits, so I took the opportunity for some open eye and awake shots. I then took her to her mama to nurse, and we did some parent images and then wrapped her up to get her back to sleep. I finished up the parent portion, and then took her back into the newborn room to finish her solo portraits with her in deep sleep. While I do have a typical flow of how the majority of my newborn sessions go, they are entirely baby led. We switch things up all the time so that we don’t waste any of our time in the studio and so that your baby stays happy and comfortable! Lots of expectant parents ask how long a newborn session will take - and we can’t really answer that question with an exact time. So much depends on how often your baby needs to eat, if they’re sensitive to being touched or moved, how deeply they are sleeping, and how many diaper changes they’ll need. We don’t rush sessions, and our average time spent at the studio is 2.5-3 hours. That’s time spent: not time actually being photographed! :) Newborns can take quite a few minutes to nurse! We have our studio set up to be a serene and comfortable environment so you can relax during the "waiting periods” that happen during sessions.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from little Miss Joie’s session!I can’t wait to see them again in 2019 for a milestone session!

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Benjamin is ONE!

I first worked with Ashley, Rob, and Benjamin when they came in for his newborn session. You can view some of their sweet newborn session images by clicking here. Unlike his newborn session, Ashley contacted us well in advance of his first birthday to make sure we’d have room on the calendar! She wanted to schedule a First Birthday session in the studio, and let us know that her parents would also be participating. We love grandparents around here! As a special treat to her mom, she also chose to add on hair and makeup services for the both of them beforehand.

We sent over our style guide and Pinterest board so Ashley could coordinate with her parents to make sure everyone had a cohesive look that would photograph well in the studio, as well as suggestions for what type of smash cake to bring along. Believe it or not, the type and color of icing you choose does matter! We will make sure you have all the necessary information and provide you with all the help and feedback that you need.

The day of Bejamin’s session, the family arrived at the studio. It was so much fun to see him again and I marveled at how much he still looked the same! Some newborns have strong features that don’t really disappear or change much as they grow, and he definitely falls into this category. Benjamin was also such a happy and curious little guy. While I typically start with family images, we started with solo portraits since he wasn’t shy or scared at all. The rest of the session was a flow of different members of the family jumping in and out, and then we moved right into the cake smash. Ashley had elected to have him in just a white diaper for this portion, so I took the opportunity to take a few diaper only portraits as well before placing him into the high chair.

Benjamin LOVED his cake. It was so much fun photographing him eating it, and his family had such a blast watching it. They commented that they had no idea that part would be as much fun as it was, and that it was so nice to be able to truly watch and enjoy it and not worry about trying to document it since I was taking care of that for them. Benjamin was one of a few babies who destroyed his cake all the way down to the base. Every baby will explore their cake differently, and that’s what makes cake smash portraits so unique from each other!

I so loved working with this family again, and thought that it was so wonderful that they included his grandparents too. Grandparents are often very involved family members, and I welcome any family who wants to bring them along to be included too. What a beautiful gift to give your child!

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, CONGRATS!!!! 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 | Ethan is six months

I first worked with Keyianna for her park maternity session (click here to view those images), and was so excited to hear from her when she emailed to schedule her son’s 6 month milestone session! Her son Ethan has the same first name as mine, so I obviously think she has great taste in names. ;) I also absolutely LOVE getting to meet the babies after they’ve been born at their newborn and/or milestone sessions. Watching my little clients grow up over the years is so much fun.

We started the session with solo baby portraits of Ethan in his cute little outfit! During the session, his diaper leaked through, so we lost the pants. It was no big deal though, since I love showing off those chunky baby legs and toes, and it adds variety to the gallery! Most six month sessions also include images of your baby in just a diaper but it’s completely up to you. It’s so much fun to play on the bed and almost all babies at this age love to play with their feet. The detail images of those chubby hands clasping their feet get me EVERY time. The thing I looked forward to the most at this stage with my own three babies was when they’d chew on their toes. It’s my absolute favorite! Keyianna hadn’t planned to be in the images, but I encouraged her to step into a few at the end She was worried that what she was wearing didn’t work well, but I assured her that it did! For being an unintentional choice, it really worked perfectly with the colors and patterns that Ethan was wearing. I want every mom to walk away from their session with sweet images of them loving on their baby. You don’t see yourself the way that I do - and I love being able to show you just how beautiful you look when your baby is in your arms. You are your baby’s tender protector, and being able to photograph what that FEELS like and create tangible artwork that evokes that emotion every time to see it … this is my dream job come true.

Let’s make it happen for you and your baby! I’d love to connect with you and set up a time to work with your family for a milestone or “just because” session!

In the meantime, enjoy a few of my favorites from Ethan’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 | Alina & Chandler

Alina contacted the studio to schedule a maternity session in our gardens location and asked to add on hair and makeup services as well. She loved that we had a studio wardrobe so it would be one less thing to worry about coordinating, and we scheduled a time for her to come in.

I met Alina and her husband, Chandler, when they came to my studio for her maternity fitting. Alina saw sequins on my studio wardrobe rack and immediately asked to try that one on. While she was changing, Chandler and I chatted for a bit. I learned that he was in the middle of taking his CPA exams and we talked about how my husband has an accounting degree as well. Those exams are no joke! (I’m happy to report that Chandler PASSED them!) Alina was torn between multiple dresses, so I suggested that she think it over and then let me know in advance of her session. We schedule fittings to take place 1-2 weeks before your session date so that your baby doesn’t have a big growth spurt that could potentially affect fitting into your choice. Because our dresses are cleaned after wearing, we have to make sure we have enough lead time to get them taken care of if another client wears your choices in the days before your session. I always have moms take phone selfies of their favorites so that they can think it over before deciding 100%. Alina did just that and emailed us a few days before her session to let us know what her final two choices would be!

The evening of their session, I met them at the gardens and Alina changed into her first dress. We had some absolutely gorgeous light that evening, and I always like to take advantage of the setting sun in the background whenever possible. Backlighting is my absolute favorite! We made our way around and through the different areas of the gardens, and had such a fun time together. The two of them are just the sweetest and I so enjoyed working with them!

Here are a few of my favorites - aren’t Alina’s blue eyes absolutely stunning?

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 Sven

I photographed a newborn session for a sweet family with a baby boy named Maverick. Want to see that one? Just click here! As they were leaving his mom said, “By the way, I told one of my friends about you! She’ll be in touch.”

And so she was. Angela contacted us to schedule a newborn session for her son, Sven who hadn’t arrived yet. A lot of folks ask when they should schedule a newborn session with us. The answer? When you know you want one. We’ve had many first trimester bookings, and the majority seem to book in their early to second trimester - especially those planners who want to make sure they’re on the books! We don’t schedule an exact date in our calendar until your baby has arrived but you’re guaranteed a spot. You simply contact us when baby has arrived, and we’ll handle the rest.

Angela emailed us a couple of months later to let us know Sven had arrived safely, and that she wanted to add on hair and makeup services as well. We sent back a couple of dates to choose from. She chose one, and then we sent over the newborn prep guide for her review. It’s a short and sweet document that goes over how to best prepare everyone for your newborn session! Knowledge is power… and knowing what to generally expect makes for a much smoother experience for clients.

On the morning of their session, the new family of three arrived at the studio. Angela and I looked through the studio wardrobe dress options and she chose one of my favorite cream lace dresses. The lace dresses I have in the wardrobe are beautiful and subtle - to the point where many clients who aren’t big fans of lace fall in love with them. They add beautiful texture and visual interest to any photo and lend well to the tender aesthetic that naturally occurs during a newborn session. Angela headed to the makeup chair and I took Sven back into the newborn shooting room to get started on his solo portraits! Lots of clients ask if they can bring along something to include in a session and more often than not, it’s a hat or a small lovey that someone made or has special meaning for the family. The other most popular option is a special blanket that has been handed down or specially made for the baby which I will often incorporate in a whole family image by wrapping the baby in it while mom and dad hold them.

I will include one prop of my client’s choice should they wish to do that with the understanding that if the prop does not match the aesthetic, it’s going to look quite strange in the gallery when compared to the others! In this particular case, it was a cute little grey Viking hat to pay homage to his Swedish heritage. I laughed when I saw it, because it was just adorable. Hats are pretty easy to incorporate into sessions if baby is up for it. I unfortunately can’t guarantee that every baby will cooperate for it!

Sven needed a couple of nursing breaks during his part of the session, so I simply carried him out to his mama. We have two different types of nursing pillows here in the studio, and our HMUA’s are well versed in applying makeup around a nursing baby. We all support however you choose to feed your baby and have had moms nurse in the chair, give a bottle in the chair, and even pump in the chair. Whatever you need to feed - we’ll accommodate you!

I was finished with Sven’s newborn portraits just as Angela was finishing up, so we moved right into the family part of the session. Lots of clients tell me their biggest concern is not knowing what to do. The other big concern is being new to holding their baby. If you’re a first time parent, you’re still getting the hang of it in many cases - because up until your time in the studio you’ve most likely been sitting down or in your bed while holding your baby and not standing up. I’ll walk you through everything and your baby will be safe and secure the entire time. We have a few practices in place to ensure that, and I’ll verbally explain them to you when we start that. If at any point you need a short break to sit down, or you’d rather sit - we can also make that happen too. Your comfort level is just as important as your baby’s!

After giving the new parents some prompts and direction, we started the session and flew right through it since Sven had already eaten during his solo portraits. Sometimes the parent portion will take a bit longer if baby needs to eat - no two sessions are ever the same in terms of length and flow. Your baby basically leads the way when it comes to how everything goes, and I’ll read their cues to determine what their needs are and determine how to proceed and structure our time together.

Sven was actually wide awake when we started the parent portion, and I just loved the sweet eye contact he made with his parents. Eventually he started to yawn and after being bundled up fell right to sleep. I think he has some of the most distinctive features I’ve ever photographed - 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Samuel is ONE!

Petra contacted me to schedule a First Birthday session for her son, Samuel. She had brought her daughter Abby in a few years prior for hers, and wanted to have his be in our studio too as she loved the images from Abby’s session so much. Have you seen those? If not - click here - and get ready for some serious cuteness!

Petra worked with our baker again for Sammie’s smash cake and requested a fun frosting technique with colors to match his outfit. If you choose to include a cake (nope, it’s not required!) we have a list of great options for you in the Atlanta area if you want to outsource that part. Our baker is such a talented person and can accommodate many food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She’ll drop the cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of. Using her services is not required - regardless of where the cake comes from, we will walk you though best practices for icing type, cake flavor, texture, and colors, if you choose to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session!

Sammie was a pretty shy little guy who didn’t want to leave his mama’s arms. When this happens I often ignore your baby and start playing on my own. In almost all cases, curiosity wins out and they forget about the fact that I’m a stranger. Babies and children are drawn to play and new things naturally, so I just work with that. I’m a very low key person and will match your child’s personality when it comes to my demeanor. I can’t think of anything worse than a peppy cheerleader type shrieking “Smile! LOOK AT ME BABY!” right off the bat. Some of my little clients are very high energy and respond best to that, and if that’s your baby - that’s what I will ramp the energy up to. Because I wear hearing aids, body language is something I am very attuned to. I can tell when a client needs space or a break and am very responsive to that. My ultimate goal is for everyone to have a great time and for your child to feel safe and comfortable throughout their time with me.

We moved right into the portrait part of the session once Sammie was comfortable and his mama was just out of the frame. Petra only wanted images of Samuel for his session, so that’s why you won’t see any of her. Typically our First Birthday sessions double as a family and parent session too! After we played for a while, we brought out the cake, and Samuel went to town. I just love his happy and satisfied icing covered grin…. complete with his absolutely ADORABLE little dimple.

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 | The K Family

Mandi was at a group gathering when one of her friends pulled out her phone to share images from a recent family session. Mandi looked at the photos, gasped, and asked who took them. It’s funny, because I am known more for my maternity and newborn work in these parts, but I absolutely LOVE photographing families and frequently do so!

That’s the story in a nutshell of how she came to contact me! I really love when friends of clients see their images and decide that they’d also like to work with me. It usually feels like I already know them when we work together.

Mandi and her husband live in the Peachtree City area and have two sweet little boys. I sent over the style guide and wardrobe inspiration board to her so she could look through it. We provide as much or as little assistance with styling your family as you need. Some of my clients could open their own fashion boutiques and need zero help from me, while others want the assurance of knowing what they’re choosing to wear will work well for their session. Whatever category you may fall into: know that I’m here to take care of you!

The evening of their “fall” session in October was a toasty 89 degrees. When we met at the mountain location, Mandi sheepishly said that she knew it was going to be hot but that since she was using the images for her Christmas cards she didn’t want to be in summery clothes. Fall and winter in the South can be so off the wall! I reassured her that it was fine, and we would roll with it! I checked on everyone multiple times during the session to make sure nobody was overheating and that they were drinking enough water. Aside from dad sweating a little bit through the back of his shirt, it was no big deal!

Family sessions are full of fun and play. I ask parents to leave expectations in their car, and to be willing to play games and follow my prompts for things I ask them to do. It’s so easy to become frustrated when you feel like your family session isn’t going well. I know how much planning and effort goes into it - I’m a mom of three kids myself, so I REALLY get it. When my clients trust me and go with the flow, they are always pleasantly surprised by the resulting gallery even if they felt like the entire session was chaos. If your children are a bit wild and running around, that’s perfectly ok! Usually that also means they’re full of joy, and we’re going to get images where that sheer happiness is clearly evident. I also like to remind parents during sessions that all I need is 1/1000th of a second to get those sweet and quiet moments. Sometimes it may not seem like those moments are happening, but they definitely are!

The mountain location is a favorite for families because kids have a lot of fun exploring, and the scenery is different than the norm. There are lots of areas to photograph in, and we keep moving constantly to keep the interest of your children. It’s about a mile hike from our meeting place to the top, and my little boy hiked it successfully by himself with no assistance from me when he was twenty months old. So, it’s definitely on the easier side for families and pregnant women, but there is definitely some physical effort involved.

I love images taken on the mountaintop - and we all enjoy watching the gorgeous sunset together. When’s the last time you climbed a mountain and watched the sun set? Come do it with me in the near future, and you’ll have some gorgeous photos to show for it! ;)

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

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photography | A Field session with Melissa & Josh

Melissa contacted the studio to book a maternity session at the field location. When she called she was concerned because she and her husband were only available on Monday evenings, and she wasn’t sure if we would have an opening.

The good news for Melissa was that weeknights are much more readily available than weekend nights! If you leave work a bit early one day, and can be flexible with scheduling your session for a weeknight you have a better chance of being able to schedule for when you want to! Weekend dates are the first to go and are often fully booked a few months in advance.

Melissa was thrilled to hear that we could schedule her for a Monday, and we arranged for her to come to the studio for a maternity fitting a few weeks later.

Maternity fittings are 20 minutes long and fun! It’s a chance for us to meet, and you can ask any questions you might have. I’ll look at you and assess your skin tone and belly shape and then pull dresses that will work well for you and look perfect in the location you’ve chosen. You’ll try them on, and you’re welcome to take some phone snapshots of yourself in the ones that are top contenders to decide on later. Lots of clients love to get the input of family and friends and poll them for which one they like best. If you don’t plan to use the studio wardrobe, I’d still love to meet you and see what you’re wearing if you have the time in your schedule! I’ve found that clients are so much more comfortable when they’ve had the chance to meet and chat for a bit in advance of being in front of the camera. We have a lot of out of town clients who travel to us for sessions, and I still set aside time before their actual session start to get to know each other.

When Melissa arrived, I asked what she did for a living, and she responded that she was a cardiac ICU nurse. I said, “Which hospital?” She told me the name of the hospital and I immediately asked if she knew two of my other maternity and newborn clients who were ALSO cardiac ICU nurses at the same hospital. She did! What are the chances? Such a small world to have three very specialized nurses on the same floor in the same hospital come to me. I love it!

Melissa decided on her dress choices pretty quickly and loved how they looked on her. She wasn’t sure if she wanted hair and makeup services and asked me to give her more insight into them. She was concerned that because she didn’t wear a lot of makeup that it might be overkill for her. I was happy to share my experience with her! First of all, you should know that I don’t wear makeup at all. I don’t even own any at this present time. (This could change in the future though because I’m considering taking some makeup lessons from my team, so don’t hold me to this if you’re reading this a year after this is posted!) I never wore it in high school or college, but I DO have it professionally applied for my team whenever I am stepping in front of the camera. They do an absolutely amazing job of really enhancing my features while keeping the look very natural and true to me. They will tailor your look exactly to your specifications and comfort level. So if you never wear makeup and want to for a session, they’ll work their magic for the “no makeup” look! After our discussion, Melissa ultimately decided to add on hair and makeup services, and worked with Megan.

We met at the field on the evening of their session and it was completely deserted! (another perk to a weeknight session!) It was a cloudy and overcast evening, but I love these just as much as when it’s sunny. One of the pros to overcast evenings are that the light is soft and diffused, and we can be anywhere we want to be without needing to worry about squinty eyes or harsh light. Melissa had told me they were a bit worried about feeling awkward in front of the camera and not knowing what to do. I reminded her that it was my job to worry about that, and that I would take care of them. I walked Melissa and Josh through their entire session and directed them with prompts for natural interaction, and they were total pros halfway through. My directions are clear and easy to follow, and I have three simple and easy to remember “rules” that we will go over at the beginning of our time together. It’s a stress free and laid back experience, and I promise we’ll have a great time!

After we finished our session and were walking back to our cars, the cloud cover broke through and there was an absolutely amazing sunset sky. I asked if we could take one more image that night, and they readily agreed. They were a little surprised when I laid down on the ground, but they understood why later! I’ll do all sorts of crazy things to capture that perfect image, and it’s always worth it.

Enjoy 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Ezra

Yesterday’s post included this sweet little girl - she was inside her mama’s belly still. Click here to see her wonderful family’s park maternity session and read the backstory!

When Ezra was born, Jessica let me know right away and I was so excited for them! When her brother Everett was born, I happened to already be at the same hospital (Northside) photographing a birth and stopped by their room to meet him and say hi. This time I wasn’t, so I had to wait to meet her until her newborn session.

I love meeting new siblings of repeat clients. It’s so fun to compare and contrast what they look like as newborns and see the differences and similarities! My younger sister and I look absolutely nothing alike, but my three children very much look like siblings and share similar features - they all have the same eye color, but not the same hair color!

Jessica arrived at the studio with Ezra and settled into the hair and makeup chair. She loved her HMUA experience for her maternity session so much that she requested to add it on again. Fact: most of our repeat clients always request services for their subsequent sessions!

I started with Ezra’s solo portraits, and marveled at how chunky she was! Such big cheeks and so cute! She was an eight pounder and a solid sleeper. There were a few times she needed to eat, but she was also a very quick nurser! Jessica had let me know that she wanted a mix of headbands and no headbands for her images. I always discuss with moms what their preference regarding that is, and I choose the headbands used very carefully. I want it to flow well with everything else and also be proportionate to each baby’s head. I’m not a fan of giant bows or flowers because that takes away from your baby, and they should be the star of the show!

After I finished up, Danny arrived with big brother Everett. When older siblings are involved with sessions, we have them arrive later after we’ve finished photographing just your newborn. This keeps the studio calm and peaceful, and your toddler has much more fun at home until it’s time for them to come! Mamas also really enjoy the little break and quiet.

Jessica asked if we could borrow from the wardrobe for Everett because she didn’t have many options at home. Moms of boys don’t tend to buy lighter colored clothing because it just gets destroyed! We have several shirt options available for 1-6 year old boys so if you don’t have something, there’s no need to run out and buy something! We also have lots of dresses for big sisters in sizes 1-6 with some 8/10, so if you need help in that department, we may be able to do so!

Jessica opted to keep it simple with jeans and a pretty white tee. I always want my clients to dress however they feel best. If that’s a dress from the studio wardrobe, great! If that’s jeans and a simple white tee, perfect! There is no right or wrong way to dress for your newborn images - the only thing I’m worried about is the color and tone (ie: don’t choose neon colors!) of your clothing palette to make sure your images look like what you hired me for. We’ll help you out by sending you a style guide that covers exactly how to go about choosing clothing from your own wardrobe, so don’t stress about that!

After Jessica chose her favorite shirt for Everett we started with sibling images right away. I like to do these first as long as big brother or sister is up for it and not too wiggly. Some older siblings just aren’t able to safely participate in these types of images, so we’ll default to other tactics that involve mom or dad being in the image as well. Your newborn’s safety is my top consideration, and we’ll determine what will work and what won’t after I assess your older child(ren) and we discuss some things the day of your session. Everett was fantastic with his baby sister, and daddy was just out of the frame ready to help if needed. We then wrapped up with family images, which are so much fun. I’ll play simple and fun games with your older children to get them engaged and interacting with the newest addition, and direct you to do the same. Sessions here are fun and laid back, and I want to make sure your older children are enjoying themselves too!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Ezra’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 & Family Photographer | Back for round two!

I first worked with Jessica & Danny when they were expecting their son, Everett. They booked their maternity and newborn sessions at the very last minute, and we were thankfully able to fit them in. You can view their field maternity session images by clicking here, Everett’s newborn session images by clicking here, and Everett’s First Birthday by clicking here.

This time around? Jessica texted me in her first trimester to tell me they were expecting baby #2! I squealed in my kitchen when I read the message, and was just so excited for them! A few weeks later she let me know that baby #2 was a GIRL! I really love getting to know my clients, and hearing about events in their lives and how they’re doing even if we haven’t seen each other in a while. Jessica let me know she wanted to be sure to get on the books for maternity and newborn so she didn’t put it off. Booking in the second trimester is definitely recommended to ensure our availability and that you have the best chance of booking the date and location you’re hoping for!

A couple of weeks before their maternity session, Jessica came to the studio to look through dresses. I had just added a couple of new pieces from Free People and had bought one of them specifically with her in mind because I knew she would look amazing in it. I was right, and she fell in love with it also - it was made for her! Jessica is also one of my petite clients - she stands at 5’3”. So rest assured that whether you’re tall or short, we have something for you in the studio wardrobe should you wish to borrow from it!

Jessica also elected to add on hair and makeup services and worked with Margaret, who is our lead HMUA so she could relax and enjoy herself beforehand! The day of our session, I was up in the studio working on a few things when they all arrived. Jessica worriedly informed me that it was currently POURING outside, and asked what we were going to do. There had been absolutely ZERO indication of potential rain in the forecast. That’s Atlanta weather sometimes! I suggested that they get dressed and we’d see if the rain would pass. Often Atlanta will have random pop up storms that pass through as quickly as they started. Fortunately for us, about 15 minutes later it was clear again outside so we headed down the street.

So what about those fifteen minutes we “missed out on”? Here’s the thing: sessions with me aren’t about how much time we spend together. It’s about how we spend that time. I’m super efficient with how I work, and in this particular case we had a toddler involved. With toddlers, we don’t have any choice but to work fast and keep it exciting for them. They don’t have a long attention span, and we might only get fifteen minutes out of them before they’re over it. When we arrived, we got straight to it, and they had the same gallery that they would have without those fifteen minutes we spent waiting for the rain to pass.

I absolutely love this family and their gallery - I wish I could share them all, but then you’d be scrolling for hours! Aren’t Jessica’s dresses just absolutely perfect for her? I adore the beautiful half updo with the fishtail braid that Margaret created for her too. Enjoy scrolling - and check back tomorrow to view their beautiful 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Liam

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post about Isabel & Macey’s maternity session in the gardens, I wondered if their baby boy would have lots of hair at birth. The answer? See for yourself in the images below!

Isabel had some pregnancy complications which led to an emergency early delivery. Liam spent a little bit of time in the NICU, but not for long - and with his mama being a NICU nurse for a living, they knew just what to do. He was five pounds when he was born at 35ish weeks, which is a pretty robust size for a premature baby! He came in for his session at just over three weeks old, because we wanted Isabel to have the time to recover. When your baby is born, you’ll let us know some of the details (baby’s weight at birth, when they were born, and how you are both doing) and we’ll send over a couple of dates to choose from.

Isabel asked if Margaret was available again for her hair and makeup services, and we provided her with dates that she was! Our HMUA artists are often busy on weekends, so if you’re hoping to add on HMUA services, you’ll most likely need to schedule a weekday date. We’ll do our best to fit you in before your partner needs to head back to work!

On the morning of their session, the new family of three arrived at the studio. Isabel settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, and I look adorable Mr. Liam to the newborn shooting room for his solo portraits.

Why do we have a separate room for your newborn solo images? To keep your baby (and you!) happy! In order for your baby to remain comfortable and warm, we need to keep the room heated to around 82-85 degrees. This is a wonderful temperature for your baby to keep them warm when they are only wearing a diaper. Moms and dads don’t want to have to sit in that temperature for the session duration. There are observation windows as well so you can still be a part of the entire experience. The main shooting area is kept at a comfortable temperature for adults. When we move to the parent and family portion of our session, your baby will still be comfortable because they will be wrapped and being held by you.

Liam was a great sleeper and had so much hair. We moved pretty quickly through his solo images and then rejoined his mom and dad. Isabel wasn’t quite yet finished, so we took the opportunity to change Liam’s diaper and feed him. Once he was done eating, Isabel was also done so we moved to parent and family images.

Almost every couple in my studio tells me they’re not sure what they should do when I’m photographing them. In all honesty, much of what you’re doing is what you do naturally at home. I’m just here to make tweaks to the angles and how you’re standing. I’ll give you simple prompts for interacting with your baby if you freeze up a little, and I’ll reach in and brush hair out of your face if needed. We take our time during sessions, and they’re so laid back and fun!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Liam’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 Photography | A Garden session with Isabel & Macey

Isabel contacted us to schedule a maternity session in our gardens location. Unfortunately, because of her limited availability due to her work schedule as a NICU nurse, we didn’t have any dates during the month she wanted to schedule. She ended up deciding on the park location instead…. but keep reading for the story of what happened!

On our original scheduled date, the weather was absolutely horrible. It poured rain all day and afternoon, and we made the call to reschedule to another date. We always leave dates blocked in our calendar to be used as backup dates for the clients who need them. When dates are not needed by booked clients for reschedules, we open them to our waiting list on a first come first serve basis.

Looking at the calendar, her next availability wasn’t for a few more weeks, right before she was 35 weeks pregnant. We really prefer to schedule sessions between 30-34 weeks whenever possible so we don’t run the risk of an early delivery causing clients to miss out on their maternity session, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. We’ve photographed clients at 41 weeks pregnant, and at 28! When we settled on a reschedule date, we checked the gardens availability and saw that it was open! Isabel jumped at the chance to have her session at the location she initially wanted and was absolutely thrilled.

When Isabel came in for her maternity fitting, she had chosen two dresses that I knew would still fit her even though our session had been rescheduled. We typically have our mamas come in 1-2 weeks before their session date so that we have a pretty accurate idea of fit! The vast majority of our dresses will grow with mamas, but if you try on a dress that just barely fits well, we’ll have you choose a backup for that one in case it doesn’t fit well on the day of your session. We cover all our bases so you don’t need to stress.

The evening of the session, we met at the gardens location and Isabel changed into her first dress. She had chosen to add on hair and makeup services with our lead HMUA, Margaret - and looked absolutely gorgeous! Margaret has such a wonderful chair side manner and will create the perfect look for you that enhances your best features and is true to who you are. All of our artists are incredible, and our clients love working with them!

Isabel’s husband, Macey, is such a fun guy. He’s in love with his wife, and the world knows it by how he interacts with her and looks at her. I love it! Their session was quiet, intimate, and very sweet. I enjoyed working with the two of them and photographing their steadfast connection. During our session, I wondered out loud if their little boy would be blessed with a head of hair at birth…. check back tomorrow to find out when I share images from their 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 Brody

Jamie contacted the studio to book a newborn session. One of her neighbors had worked with us for their newborn session and she’d seen the images on her Facebook page. She fell in love with the emotive style that we are known for, and knew that we were her top choice for her son’s newborn session when he arrived.

A few months later, Jamie let us know that baby Brody had arrived! He was a chunky little guy at over 8 pounds, so we opted to have him come in on the earlier end of our scheduling window for newborns. Typically we like to have newborns come in between 8-21 days of life, but a lot of factors influence what we ultimately choose. We take your baby’s weight into consideration, whether they were born earlier than their due date, if there were any complications for you or baby, and how you’re recovering. Please do NOT stress if it’s better for you to come in at three weeks because you need that extra time to recover. Your baby will still look like a newborn, and we will still be able to capture gorgeous images. There is no hard and fast rule about the “perfect” age to come in for a newborn session.

Jamie requested to add on hair and makeup services and let us know she would be using the studio wardrobe. We sent her the newborn prep packet which included guidance on what her husband should wear from his own closet and how to best prep the morning of.

The morning of their session, Jamie and Justin arrived with Brody and Justin’s mom in tow. Justin’s mom wasn’t participating in the session, but was on her way back to Ohio that day and had a flight after the session was over. I welcome grandparents in the studio, so if you have family in town, they’re welcome to come along. It’s important to keep the studio peaceful and quiet, so if your family members aren’t the type to preserve that type of environment it is best to have them remain at home and only come in if they are being photographed for the period of time they are in front of the camera. We’ll chat about best practices should you choose to include other family members outside of your baby’s siblings.

Brody was nice and full when he arrived, and sound asleep, so we got started right away with his solo images. Jamie chose a pretty white off the shoulder dress with lace detailing that looked amazing with her blue eyes and blonde hair. She sat down in the hair and makeup chair while I photographed Brody. Adding on hair and makeup services doesn’t add time to your newborn session by the way! I will be photographing your baby alone either way, so you might as well pamper yourself while I’m at it! ;) In all seriousness though, our HMUA team is comprised of some of the most talented artists in Atlanta. Our clients truly love working with them and request them time and time again for subsequent sessions. Another fact: I have worked with them myself for my own sessions when it’s my turn to be in front of the camera. I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis (I don’t even own any!) but they do an amazing job of keeping it super natural for me. They will communicate with you in depth about your preferences and create a look tailored to you that accentuates your best features and is at a level that you are comfortable with and feel beautiful in! With our artists you can be confident that you will wear the makeup - the makeup will not wear you.

After I finished up with Brody (he was so sleepy that we flew through his solo images), Jamie was still having her hair worked on. I photographed Justin with his son for all the daddy and son images, and then it was time for Brody to eat. Perfect timing! Justin left to go and pick up their family pet. Shortly after he left, Jamie was ready and Brody had finished nursing. I began photographing Jamie and Brody together, and when Justin walked in with Sonic (some of the the cutest doggie ears EVER!!!!) and we immediately moved to family images and images that included Sonic. Dogs are allowed in the studio on a case by case basis. Be aware that your pet will only be permitted in the studio for the time they are being photographed. You will either need to arrange to have someone bring them and take them, or go and get them and take them home depending on how close you live to the studio.

Please understand that I love all breeds, but our building has restrictions on the type allowed in the building due to insurance. So, because of that, “aggressive” dog breeds (pit bulls, bull mastiffs, Cane Corsos) or heavy shedders are not permitted. We will talk about your pet’s temperament as well. If your pet excites easily, jumps everywhere, or is a barker then they will not be able to come in the building. Cats are not permitted at all… unless you want ME to die during out time together. (Yep, severe cat allergies over here!) Our studio undergoes a very thorough cleaning after a dog participates in a session that includes full washing of any material they come into contact with as well as a full vacuum and mop of the floors.

One last thing I want to mention: lots of clients with furbabies have a vision of what they think life will be like with their newborn and pet. Sometimes that vision doesn’t line up with reality. You may find that your pet isn’t warming up to your new baby like you had hoped. Baby safety is my first priority, so I will not place your sleeping baby propped up on your pet, no matter how cute that image would be. We have lots of safe variations of things that we can accomplish with some dog treats and a lot of patience. Each dog is unique, and we’ll work together to find the best solution to include your pet!

Jamie absolutely loved her newborn images and chose to order an album and a 16x20 framed wall print to hang in his nursery. I so enjoyed working with her and love her sweet personality! Imagine my surprise when I started attending Lagree fitness classes at Stellar Bodies Midtown and discovered she was an instructor! So now I get to see her on a regular basis while she puts me through the best workout I’ve ever done. On a tangent: the Lagree method is really amazing, so if you’re looking for a super challenging workout that will make you strong and won’t bore you over time, check it out!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Brody’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 | 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.