Atlanta Couples Photographer | Marc & Brielle

Even if you don’t have children, you’re still a family who chose each other. Marc & Brielle chose each other ten years ago, and I was SO excited to photograph them for their outdoor fall session! Many of you may know Brielle since she works with a TON of our clients as a member of our HMUA team. Needless to say, Brielle did her own hair and makeup for their couples session!

We scheduled their session to take place at the park location in November. The leaves had started changing and the park was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was warm and golden, and the colors are so rich as a result. Atlanta is so hard to predict when it comes to fall foliage since so many factors are at play: rain, temperature, etc. We schedule tons of sessions in November, but one thing to be aware of is that it could be cold, or it could be warm. Ah, Atlanta. I love you, but you are so unpredictable.

I love couples sessions because we just walk around and explore, and the two of you cozy up and snuggle. Yep, that’s pretty much all my couples really have to do… pretend you’re on a date night and I’m not there. ;) In all seriousness though, my main goal of a couples session is to capture your unique relationship and how you feel about each other. I’ll give you some guidance for how I want you to interact, and I’ll also intervene if I see either of you are giving yourself a self inflicted double chin. Your photos will be the best of both worlds: natural interaction, but also a bit directed so you look every bit as beautiful as you are. Sometimes my prompts will make you laugh because you feel ridiculous - but guess what? It’s a real laugh! I want genuine emotions and true connection between the two of you, and I have ways to help that happen if you’re freezing up in front of the camera a bit.

These two were so fun to work with. I’m smiling as I look through the images because I can literally hear Brielle and Marc laughing and teasing each other throughout. They used several of their images for their Christmas card, and I was lucky enough to be on that mailing list!

As of this blog being published, we only have a few November weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights. If you can make a weeknight work and dip out of work a bit early, you’ll have far less people to contend with wherever we shoot. Weekends are more crowded since tons of people are out and about. Just some food for thought!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this awesome couples’ fall 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 | Eden & Gizachew

When Eden called the studio to ask about scheduling a maternity session, she mentioned that she wanted to wear a linen dress with embroidery to honor her Ethiopian culture. I visited Ethiopia as a teenager, and knew exactly what she was talking about. She decided that the studio would be the best setting for her because she was concerned about our infamous Atlanta humidity affecting her hair. She came to the studio for a maternity fitting beforehand, and brought her dress along with her. After looking through the wardrobe, she fell in love with an off the shoulder ruffled sleeve dress that was a perfect complement to her Ethiopian dress, and we were all set for her session! We chatted about what her fiancé, Gizachew, could wear from his wardrobe and what would look best with each dress. We provide our clients with a style guide that is super easy to follow, and have a great Pinterest inspiration board as well. So many of our clients have the perfect clothing in their own closets and don’t realize it until they look through the boards and review the guide. We’ll provide as much assistance as you need: I’m available for style consults in the studio where you can bring in options for what session participants are wearing and I’ll help you put it all together, or you can email your outfit combinations and I’ll provide feedback. We’re here to make your session experience as easy as possible!

The day of their session, we met at the studio, and got started! Eden looked absolutely gorgeous, and it was clear how devoted Gizachew is to her and their unborn baby. He was a little bit nervous about what to do and told me he wasn’t sure where he should put his hands, and I reassured him that I would take care of all that for him and direct him along the way. The truth is, most of my clients aren’t really sure what do to. And that’s TOTALLY ok. I’m the one that can see what it looks like through the camera, and you can’t! I’ll make adjustments as needed and tell you exactly what to do the entire time: from where to look, how to stand, etc. It’s all taken care of for you. Most of my clients express relief that I take care of this for them, and comment on how easy it all was when we’re finished!

As we moved through the session, I photographed Eden alone and would call Gizachew in every so often. This is the most efficient way to photograph a session! Who wants be stuck for two or three hours being photographed?! I often hear from my dads that they hate photos because of their engagement session (not their wedding!). These poor guys were trapped in front of the camera and apparently got their fill of being photographed for life. Honestly, that sounds pretty awful to me! An hour is all I need for portrait sessions, and many sessions are more in the 45 minute range. As a note, newborn sessions are an exception as we need a couple of hours for those due to the time it takes to photograph a tiny baby with all of the nursing and diaper changes happening during that time!

Here are a few of my favorites from their studio maternity 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 Family Photographer | An Adair Park Lifestyle Session

Sometimes I go to my clients’ houses! If you didn’t know that, now you do. :) I always deliver client sessions in both color and black and white, but I’ve chosen to share only black and white images from this session.

An in home family lifestyle session is perfect for many families - especially those who really want their home to be the background for the photos. Jaqai and Mandi have the COOLEST old home in Adair Park that they have lovingly restored over the last few years. The house gets incredible natural light, and we had so much fun during our time together. This was not the first time I had worked with this family - I last worked with them when they were expecting Zax for their studio maternity session! Want to see those images from that maternity session? Just click here!

Lifestyle sessions capture your family as you are, where you are. I’ll send over some instructions beforehand, with suggestions of what to wear and how to prep your home beforehand. They’re straightforward and simple. We’ll discuss what you do as a family and have a couple of activities in mind. The timing of in home sessions also depends on a few factors - the most important of which are (a) when is your child well rested and at their happiest? and (b) when do the rooms you hope to be photographed in get the best light? We’ll work together to determine the best time and go from there when we schedule your session!

For this family, I arrived in the morning hours. Jaqai and Mandi asked what we should do first, and I asked what they would normally be doing at this time of day. We started on their front porch while they played and had fun. I think they realized about five minutes in that this was not going to be as awkward as they thought, and they visibly relaxed. When Zax asked to go inside to play, I followed them as they all sat on the floor to play. Lifestyle sessions are led by the little ones in your family! We go with their moods and interests, and get lots of amazing images that really capture your child’s personality and expressions along the way.

After playing with trucks, the family headed to read a book on the couch, and enjoyed a tickle fight and some snuggles. Zax lost interest for a bit, so I took the opportunity to photograph just Jaqai and Mandi together for a few. Of course, when Zax realized we were having fun without him, he jumped back into the fray and we wrapped up the session in the living room and front entrance door before I said my goodbyes.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!

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 Ava

You last saw this sweet couple’s maternity session at the field here on the blog a couple of days ago. If you missed it, no worries! Just click here to see those images.

I was so excited when Heather let us know that little Ava had arrived! Heather asked to work with Margaret again for add on hair and makeup, and we scheduled the date for Ava’s newborn session. Adding on hair and makeup is super easy! You just let us know that you’d like to do so, and we take care of determining who is available, and send you a date. You have enough going on taking care of your new baby, so we’ll take care of the coordination for you. As a note, our HMUA’s are often busy on the weekends with weddings and other events, so the vast majority of our newborn sessions are booked on weekday mornings.

When the new family of three arrived at the studio, I couldn’t get over Ava’s full head of dark hair! I had a sneaking suspicion that would be the case, but babies have surprised me before and looked nothing like their parents or I thought they would. It’s always so neat to see a newborn with their parents and see what features they have from each parent. Some newborns look like their very own person with no features from anyone! Genetics are such a cool thing.

Heather settled into the hair and makeup chair with Margaret, and I took Ava to the newborn room to begin her solo portraits. Some of our clients are concerned that adding on hair and makeup services will cause their session to last longer… I think the opposite is true! I’m going to be photographing your newborn alone anyway, so you’ll just be sitting twiddling your thumbs and waiting for me to be done. Why not choose to get pampered by one of our incredible artists while you’re waiting anyway? They are MAGICAL at helping newborn moms look like they’ve had a full night’s sleep. ;)

Ava was a good sleeper for me, and even cracked a few sleepy smiles. Her big cheeks and perfect little lips were absolutely adorable. Since she was such a good sleeper, we moved through her solo portraits pretty quickly, and finished up right before Heather was finished being prepped. I took the time to pull a few options from our wardrobe for Heather, and Ava needed a diaper change and a feeding, so the timing was perfect.

Heather chose a gorgeous blush pink lace dress which was perfect for her skin tone and looked amazing on her. Jason had brought along a few different shirt options, and I chose a white one with tiny blue dots all over. Subtle patterns are great! If you’re worried about what your husband should wear, don’t be. We send out a handy newborn prep packet in advance of your session that goes over all of that. Most dads bring a few options along, and I make a decision on what will work best in about 5 seconds. All you have to do is make sure that it fits the subject well and is ready to be photographed (ie: no wrinkles).

Once Heather and Jason were dressed, I wrapped Ava up and we began the parent and family portion of the session. I LOVE getting to see parents with their new baby, especially when they’ve worked with me for maternity! The changes that happen in their dynamic and relationship as new parents are beautiful, and I can clearly see it. I hear maternity clients confess to me that they’re a little bit nervous about being a first time mom and then I get to photograph them confidently holding their new baby. I see the slightly nervous anticipation of what is to come between my couples at their maternity session, and then I get to photograph them looking at their new baby with loving awe and wonder. How incredible is that? Welcoming a new baby is, without a doubt, one of the most momentous times to happen in your life, and sometimes I pinch myself that my job is to photograph that for my clients.

Because Heather and Jason had previously worked with me, they were pretty comfortable during their session and knew my main “rules” what what to do and what not to do in terms of where to stand and how to turn their heads. Even if a client has never worked with me before their newborn session, it’s no problem. I’ll guide you through the entire experience and gently make adjustments or demonstrate what I need for you to do. You’ll catch on in no time at all. Sessions here in the studio are laid back and relaxed: there is no place for stress here, because it’s so unnecessary!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Ava’s newborn session. I can’t wait to see this little sweetheart and her parents again in the fall for her six month 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 Family Photographer | Logan is TWO!!!

I first worked with this family when they were expecting their son for their maternity session in the studio, and again for his newborn and First Birthday sessions. Adrienne and Dave are some of the most loving parents I’ve met, and that’s very evident when I’m around them.

Adrienne emailed to ask if we could schedule a family session for Logan’s second birthday. He’s an October baby! My birthday is in October, and so are the birthdays of my two younger children. While we’re on the subject of October… we are almost fully booked for weekend dates in October. We still have a handful of weeknights open at this time. If you’re hoping to have an outdoor session, please don’t delay in contacting us to get on the calendar. November is also starting to fill up with just a couple weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights as well.

Adrienne has worked with our HMUA team for her previous sessions, and this time was no exception. Our lead artist, Margaret, worked with her and we met at the field location that evening. Logan had fallen asleep on the way… so he was a little bit disoriented and shy at first. He also had a death grip on … a toothbrush. Definitely one of the most unusual objects that I have ever seen in a session!

As a mom of three, I know how stressful it can feel to plan your session and then have it seemingly go sideways if your child (or children!) are in a less than stellar mood. I always tell my clients to come into their sessions with a laid back and relaxed attitude. Children know when their parents are stressing out, and it can sometimes make it worse if they decide it would be fun to push a few of your buttons. Putting pressure on children almost always backfires. Here’s the deal: you cannot FORCE a toddler to smile and look happy, and why would you want to? Every time you look at your images you would see that the smile wasn’t real and you would remember how miserable everyone was that day. Instead, I give my little clients the time and space to warm up to me. If they want to snuggle with you, we go with that. Once they’re more comfortable, I’ll quietly give you some prompts of things to do with your child. I also step pretty far back and let things unfold naturally to capture your unique family dynamic in the most authentic way possible.

As for that toothbrush… well, Adrienne asked me to leave it as it was. Editing it out would not have been realistically possible with many of the image, but she told me that she knew she would laugh about it someday, and that it was a great story to share with him when he was older. That being said: if you don’t want your child to have an interesting object, bring neutral wooden toys if you think they’ll need something to hold. Whatever you bring for them: you need to be okay with it being in the images. Some children won’t give it up. :) In Logan’s case, we were eventually able to get him to trade his toothbrush for a lollipop towards the very end. And as you can see…. the sugar definitely transformed his mood and made him into a little camera ham!

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!

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 | Heather & Jason

Heather was referred to us by another long term client of ours. We love working with referred clients! Heather and I had actually met briefly at a party at that client’s house the year before, so we weren’t total strangers to each other. She contacted us in her second trimester to schedule a maternity session at the field location because she loved the look and feel of what she had seen on the blog and portfolio. She also opted to add on hair and makeup services and was paired with Margaret. Most of our clients reserve their maternity sessions when they are in their second trimester. To clarify: they are booking their session when they are in the second trimester: not scheduling their session to take place in the second trimester. Maternity sessions are scheduled during the third trimester -generally between 28-34 weeks! Reserving your session early helps with having more date options to choose from - especially if you need a WEEKEND date outdoors! I only photograph outdoor sessions in the hour before sunset, hence the limited availability on the weekends. Weeknights are also available as well.

Heather came to the studio for her maternity fitting, and we discussed her style preferences. She mentioned that she wanted to go ahead and reserve her newborn session as well, so I sent Caroline a quick message to get that taken care of for her. After she tried on multiple pieces from our studio wardrobe, she chose a gorgeous off the shoulder dress and a taupe backless dress. Before she left, we discussed what her husband Jason should wear and I made some suggestions based on what she told me about his personality and style preferences. Caroline followed up later that day by sending her our style guide so that she could refer to it while going through Jason’s clothes! The style guide is super simple and SO easy to follow. If you have any questions or want more input, I’m available via email. Many of my clients bring some options with them to their session if they’re not sure, and I make a quick decision to pull it all together. Every client decides the level of support they need from me, and I ensure they get it!

On the evening of their March session, it was sunny and gorgeous. Mild late winter days are another reason why I love living in Atlanta so much - I photograph sessions outdoors all year round because it’s rarely cold enough to not be able to shoot outside.

Heather had told me at her fitting that she and her husband weren’t pros in front of the camera and that Jason was a little camera shy. If this is you, know you’re not alone. I’ve had a few clients that work as professional actresses or models, and even they sometimes feel a bit nervous in front of a camera. It’s completely normal. Don’t stress - I’ll take great care of you. My direction for what to do during your session is very straightforward. I’m known to demonstrate exactly what I want my clients to do, and we’ll have a lot of fun during your session. Just come ready to have some fun and connect with your partner, and I’ll handle the rest.

During the session I asked how brave they were, and they said, “We’ll do whatever you ask!” So we made our way through tall grass and briars to get to a little spot that I love, and the resulting images were absolutely gorgeous. I love when clients are willing to go outside of the box a little bit for creative purposes, because it’s always worth it. Jason was a little bit nervous at first, and I could tell by how he was standing. About 15 minutes in, he started having fun, and that’s when I started REALLY photographing them together. I usually photograph mom a bit by herself and have dad jump in and out until I can see that they’ve both relaxed and let their guards down. I get it: being yourselves as a couple can feel weird and awkward at first when someone you don’t know all that well is standing and literally watching your every move. As you’ll see from their gallery, by the end of the session they had all but forgotten I was there and were totally comfortable and at ease. I adore the images - the way they look at each other is just so loving and beautiful.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this beautiful session at the field. As previously mentioned, Heather’s look was created by our lead HMUA, Margaret. Serious hair goals here: her hair is so thick and gorgeous! She commented on how much she loved her makeup and truly felt like herself, and made sure to let me know she wanted Margaret again for her her newborn session. Check back in a couple of days to see images from their beautiful little 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 Baby Photographer | Alexandra is ONE!

Tiffanni lives in Woodstock, Georgia and was looking for the perfect photographer for her daughter’s first birthday. She wasn’t able to find any photographers that she loved close to her, so she expanded her search to Atlanta.  She loved what she saw because she felt our work was classic and timeless and felt we would be a perfect fit for her vision. So, she called the studio and chatted with Caroline, our studio manager. She had lots of questions, and Caroline spent some time with her on the phone answering her questions and discussing her vision for her daughter’s first birthday session.

One of the big questions was whether to photograph the session indoors or outdoors.  The answer to this question is different for every client! There are multiple factors to consider when deciding and we will go over these with you in depth so you can make a fully informed decision that is best for your family.  Ultimately, Tiffanni chose the park location for her outdoor session and we gave her a few dates to choose from.

Tiffanni also wanted to know whether she could include a birthday balloon and Alexandra’s rocking lamb in her session. Balloons can pose a challenge, especially outdoors, but we are always willing to give it a shot!  Fortunately, the wind cooperated with us that evening, and you’ll see how we included the lamb and balloon in Alexandra’s session in the gallery below. Although we don’t provide props, we can definitely work to incorporate them in your shoot!  We understand some items add a meaningful connection for the family. As a note, our studio antique high chair is not for outdoor use - so if you’ve seen other sessions with that high chair in use, please know that bringing it outdoors is not an option.

Tiffanni was unsure whether her own outfits would work for the shoot, and asked if we could provide any insight.  We’re here to help with that! We have a style guide, studio wardrobe, and a Pinterest board as resources for our clients. Clients are ALWAYS welcome to schedule an appointment at the studio as well to go over outfit choices and browse through our studio wardrobe. Tiffanni jumped at the chance to schedule a consult, so we put a date in the calendar for her. About a week before her session, Tiffanni brought Alexandra and her husband Myron to the studio. We discussed the outfits for Alexandra that Tiffanni had purchased from Etsy boutiques for Alexandra, and I made specific color recommendations based on Alexandra’s outfits. Tiffanni checked out the studio wardrobe and loved many of the pieces! She chose one of our lace dresses to have as a backup option if what she had from her own wardrobe didn’t work out and left feeling confident that she would look and feel great for her session either way. While Tiffanni was trying on pieces, I enjoyed chatting with Myron and playing peek-a-boo with Alexandra. Bonus for you if you come in beforehand: It’s always nice to meet the person photographing you before you actually step in front of the camera! 

After our studio visit, Caroline emailed our style guide to Tiffanni and directed her to our Pinterest Board.  Our style guide is simple, easy to read, and straightforward!  Clients find these resources incredibly helpful. Please know that we are always here to answer questions and guide you in your selections and will provide as little or as much help and input as you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance - we are here to serve.

We met the evening of the session at the park location.  I LOVED the outfits that the family had put together! Tiffanni wore her own pale chiffon skirt with a satin band and a white cap sleeved shirt, Myron wore linen pants and a white buttoned-down shirt, and Alexandra wore an adorable long-sleeved lace ballerina tutu dress with coral details and a sleeveless all white lace dress. Tiffanni had purchased both from sweet Etsy boutiques.  Most parents bring two different outfits for their child and we change halfway through the session.

Tiffanni brought Alexandra’s birthday cake from her favorite bakery in Woodstock for the cake smash portion. You decide whether to include a cake at the end of your session.  Some clients choose to have a cake, some choose to have donuts, some choose to have a pie, and some choose not to have anything.  Should you choose to include something, we suggest bringing a towel, lots of baby wipes, a jug of water, and wash cloths for outdoor sessions.  If you don’t want to deal with transporting a cake to your session at the studio or park location on top of everything else, you can order one through our preferred baker and she’ll take care of delivering it to the studio. Bonus: She can accommodate allergies and vegans!

We began with family photos of Myron and Tiffanni loving on Alexandra. I loved the open-mouthed kiss Alexandra gave her mom and the piggy back ride on Daddy’s shoulders! Tiffanni and Myron’s love for their daughter shined through every image. If you’re worried about freezing up in front of the camera, there is no need to. I’ll give you directed guidance for things you naturally do with your child.  I then step back and capture you in your element. 

We interspersed solo portraits of Alexandra throughout the family photos. I follow your child’s lead, so there is no one set flow, other than ending with the cake smash. We had fun playing games while I photographed Alexandra riding the rocking lamb, plucking flowers off her birthday cake, and with her pink birthday balloon.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Alexandra’s First Birthday 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 Ellis

I first worked with Jess and David for their maternity session in the field, which you can view by clicking here. They had not scheduled a newborn session, but I checked in with Jess to see how she was doing. I really love staying in touch with my clients after I’ve worked with them and seeing photos of their little ones as they grow! Jess responded that they hadn’t had their little girl yet, but were still waiting and would let me know when they did. A few weeks later, Jess emailed the studio and asked if they could schedule a newborn session for Ellis! They hadn’t thought they wanted a newborn session, but after Ellis had arrived a couple of weeks ago and they saw how quickly she was changing and growing, they decided that they wanted to preserve those early days. It took some finagling when it came to the studio schedule, but we were able to fit them in on a day that worked for both of us when Ellis was almost FOUR weeks old. I prefer (when possible) to photograph babies between 8-21 days of age, and we schedule most between 8-16, barring any complications for mom and baby. However, sometimes things happen or we get a last minute request for an older newborn whose parents had a change of heart about wanting newborn photos. If that’s you, don’t wait to contact us - if we can fit you in, we will. Most of our clients book their newborn sessions when they are in the second trimester.

You may wonder how we book a newborn session for a baby that hasn’t arrived yet. You aren’t alone -almost everyone asks us this! Simply put: we have a limited number of newborns that we will take for our calendar. When you reserve your newborn session, you’re reserving a guaranteed session on our studio calendar. Our calendar is based on due dates, but babies operate on their own schedule. If you’re due in the month of May, but deliver in June - no worries, you’ll still have a guaranteed spot. When your baby arrives, you simply let us know. We’ll ask you a few questions regarding your delivery and baby’s stats, and then schedule your session based on the answers to the questions. If you’re adding hair and makeup services we’ll also take care of making sure one of our HMUA’s is available on the date that we schedule for you. Easy peasy! All that’s left is to review our short and sweet newborn prep packet that we’ll send to you after scheduling your date, and then just show up for your session.

On the morning of of their session the new family of three arrived at the studio with Miss Ellis! I was so excited to see them and hear about their delivery experience and how they were settling in to parenthood. We discussed whether they wanted to have Ellis wear headbands during the session, and they decided on a mix - some with, and some without. I leave this decision up to each parent. I have everything your baby will need and when I choose headbands for your baby, I’m choosing the best colors for their skin tone and the best size for their head. We don’t do flowers the size of a ten gallon hat in this studio! All of our headbands are meant to be simple and dainty so that the attention is on your baby’s sweet face and not what they’re wearing on their head.

Ellis was a big girl since she was almost a month old, and was wide awake when we got there. She made me work to get her to fall asleep, but once she had nursed and been shushed and swayed and soothed, she fell into a deep sleep and I was able to photograph her solo portraits pretty quickly. It just took us a bit of time to get her to sleep, but we used that time to chat and catch up. I am never in a rush, and your baby is never an inconveniencing me. All of my sessions are very laid back with no stress and baby leads the way.

Jess and David had followed our style guide and had opted to go with earthy tones which I LOVED. Olive green is one of my favorite colors and I half jokingly told Jess that I wanted to steal her dress. It seriously is one of my favorite colors, and she looked gorgeous in it. They had brought along some headbands for Ellis, and once I saw the mustard yellow bow, I knew it was a perfect fit for what they were wearing. Since they were wearing more casual clothing, they opted to dress her in one of our studio onesies rather than a wrap. The onesies that we have are selected for their fit and their color - many of the onesies out there are too white and will photograph with a blue cast. They also tend to be ill cut and bunch up under the chin. We have them in a couple of different sizes to fit the tiny babies and the chunkier ones. :) Ellis was wide awake at this point, and I loved it! She was so alert, but so chill and relaxed with her parents holding her. Some awake babies will fuss and flail, but not Ellis. She just casually checked out her surroundings and looked right at the camera for so many of her images, which is pretty rare for her age. I can’t wait to see her when she’s older and see if her personality is still the same as it was during her newborn session when she was awake!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this awesome 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 Family Photographer | John is TWO!

I first worked with Myra and John for their maternity session at the field when they were pregnant with John. You can see their maternity photos by clicking here. I saw them again the next to photograph John’s First Birthday Session (click here to view those images). Myra contacted us to schedule a family session for John’s second birthday this year and opted for the park location again. Whenever I have families repeat the park location, I switch up where I shoot in the park! The park is really big, so I could easily photograph a family here several years in a row and it would look different each time. Myra also asked to add on makeup services with one of our hair and makeup artists, and we paired her with Brielle.

We sent Myra our style guide and Pinterest inspiration board for her to look through. Since she had worked with us a few times before, she was pretty confident in her choices. The day of her session she did bring two options for herself because she wanted my opinion on which would work better with the outfits she had chosen for her son and husband. I took one look and pointed at the option that worked best. I am MORE than happy to give input to clients for their sessions - and we can do this with a scheduled style consult beforehand at the studio, via email, or even the day of from an armful of options that you bring. If you choose the day of, you just need to ensure that the clothing fits well and is ready to wear for the session. Myra chose to have John wear suspenders… I absolutely love suspenders on little boys and think they are just about the cutest thing ever. Too bad my own three year old son refuses to wear them!

During their session, we had a lot of fun laughing, tickling, and being silly. John is such a sweet little boy and his parents are wonderful! Photographing their family session for his second birthday was so much fun, and the happiness and love are so evident in their images. 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 Baby Photographer | Elijah is ONE!

I first worked with Elijah’s parents for their maternity session in the gardens, which you can view by clicking here. So many of my clients choose to work with me for their baby’s first year (and subsequent babies!) and then schedule annual family portraits after that. I absolutely love getting to watch my littlest clients grow over the years!

Briana scheduled Elijah’s First Birthday session to be held in the studio. First Birthday sessions almost always include parents too unless they opt to not be in them. I strongly encourage parents to participate because these photos are a gift to your child. They will look at them someday and see the love of their parents that enfolded them. We are not JUST celebrating your baby’s first birthday - we are celebrating the fact that you made it through your baby’s first year. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, so let’s honor that!

You might wonder where the cake is …. there wasn’t one. Not all our clients choose to include a cake. It’s entirely a matter of your personal preference. Some clients choose not to give their babies any sugar for a few years, while others just don’t really like cake. Some clients get creative and include something different like a pie or pile of donuts. If you do decide to use a cake (or something creative!), we’ll send you our cake tips sheet for best practices. Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose to use matters! Pro tip: avoid whipped icing like the plague. It’s SO difficult to wipe off of skin and makes the floor slicker than an ice skating rink. Take it from me: I went sliding across the floor after my one and only experience with it… never again! :)

We sent over our style guide to Briana to help her in choosing what they should all wear. It’s super helpful and clients report that it takes so much stress out of figuring out what to wear. Most parents celebrating a first birthday have two outfits for their baby. I always encourage parents to make sure one of the outfits shows off their baby’s toes, and chunky legs. When your baby is a full fledged toddler and starts to lean out, you will miss their babyhood chunkiness terribly… and reliving the cuteness will simply be a photo away.

Elijah was a curious little guy and pretty serious. My flow for these sessions varies and depends on your child. Some babies need to be in their parents’ arms for a bit and warm up to me. Others are ready to go as soon as they walk in. If your baby is walking, I’ll make sure to photograph them doing that! My main goal is to photograph your baby just as they were at this age. I want you to look at the photos and remember their personality, their funny expressions, and the little details you love. Trust me, someday you will compare their baby photos to what they look like now. Maybe it’ll be the day after you drop your son off at college. We can’t stop time, but we can freeze a small portion of it in photographs so we never lose the memory. Photographs are my way of making memories tangible, and why I love my job so much. It’s so bittersweet to watch my own children grow up.

Because Elijah was a bit shy, we rotated through family, solo, and parent images and then ended with an outfit change and more solo portraits. Important note: Eli’s dad was standing very closely next to the chair just out of the frame ready to catch during his solo pictures. The safety of my little clients is the top priority during sessions, and a parent is always right there to spot.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Mr. Eli’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 | A Field Session with Jessica & David

Jess contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a maternity session at the field with add on hair and makeup services. We also went ahead and scheduled a time for Jess to come to the studio for a maternity fitting.

On the afternoon of her maternity fitting, Jess came to the studio and we discussed her style preferences. Jess was so much fun to talk to, and I really enjoyed getting to know her. We have very similar laid back personalities, and meshed well. After talking about her likes and dislikes in terms of color and style, we looked through the wardrobe, and Jess tried on quite a few options! She ultimately chose a long sleeved cream dress and a silk moss off the shoulder dress. We then discussed ideas of what her husband, David, could wear from his closet that would work well with her choices but stay true to his personality and style.

A couple of weeks later, I met Jess and David at the field. The weather was absolutely perfect and a bit cloudy with the sun shining through in some spots. Even though the sky was slightly overcast, it wasn’t a problem and is beautiful in its own right! I love the cloud details that you get from these days, and it also gives us more flexibility in the directions you can face and shoot from. Nobody wants to stare at the blinding sun!

Jess and David were a little bit nervous at first, which is normal! I reassured them that I would make sure they didn’t look awkward even if they felt like it at first. A few jokes later, and we were laughing and having fun, and they visibly relaxed. Pro tip: I can tell when guys are inwardly panicking a bit by their posture. If they’re standing ramrod straight, we’ll work on relaxing him a bit more. :) Jess looked gorgeous and I directed her as we went through the session with the best way to stand and where place her hands. My direction is straightforward and to the point, so you’ll never be left standing there bewildered and wondering what the heck you’re supposed to do. Many of my couples are surprised when I ask them to do things they naturally do on their own! I make a few simple tweaks for the most flattering images! I want your images to show who you are as individuals and as a couple and showcase your unique dynamic. All my couples are so different, but the one common thread they have is that they deeply love each other. Sometimes it can take a little work to get couples to show that love in front of the camera, but once they relax and forget about me a little, we’re golden.

Here are a few of my favorites from Jess & David’s session! Check back in a couple of days to see their adorable little girl’s newborn session on the blog.

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 | Viola is ONE!

I first photographed Viola as a tiny little newborn! Not every session I shoot is blogged because of the sheer number. I only blog three times per week, but shoot 20-30 sessions per month. So… you can see how the math doesn’t allow for it.

I saw Viola again at our annual Santa event when she was around 6 months old, and just loved getting to see her family. Right before her first birthday, her mom emailed us. She confessed that she hadn’t thought she needed a First Birthday session, but now that Viola was almost one, she was feeling very nostalgic and realizing that she couldn’t keep Viola little. She didn’t want to forget all the little details of what Viola was like at one, and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her. Photographs of your baby are (unfortunately) the only way to freeze time. I look at my seven year old biggest girl… and I’m still not sure how it happened so fast! It’s hard for me to remember what she was like as a baby by my memory alone, but fortunately for me - I have countless photographs of her and all the little details I never want to forget.

The family was on vacation the next week and had one day open that I fortunately also had open on my calendar since my weekend was already totally booked. I was thrilled to be able to see and photograph them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed since their newborn session. Viola definitely kept so many of her features from when she was a newborn. Her parents also opted to work with our baker for her smash cake, and chose a pretty pastel pink rosette design. The cakes from our preferred baker are DELICIOUS, and she’ll even deliver to the studio right before your session time. That’s one less thing to worry about, and less stress. If you haven’t tried driving to the studio with a cake in a box balanced precariously on your knees or the floorboard…you haven’t lived dangerously Haha. Oh, and if you have dairy/egg allergies or are vegan, she can accommodate that too! Just ask us for her information when booking and we’ll gladly provide it to you! Whether you opt to use our preferred baker or not, we’ll provide you with a cake tip sheet. Believe it or not, the type of icing you use matters - and the tip sheet will get you all squared away!

On the morning of their session, the family arrived and had brought a pink crocheted dress for Viola that her mom wore as a baby! Lisa didn’t have any bows for her, and asked if we had any on hand. I grabbed a few from our collection and found one that worked perfectly for her dress.

We do have a small selection of clothing available for babies and children as we’ve found that most moms celebrating first birthdays want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a great style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well either in person or by email. Making your entire experience fun and stress-free is important to us!

We started with just Viola for solo portraits, and she was such a happy little girl. She thought I was hilarious, and we got lots of smiles. During sessions I add in parents and don’t really have one set flow - I work with my littlest client and whatever mood they happen to be in! Sometimes a one year old will need a snack or a snuggle break, and we’ll take one. They run the show since they don’t exactly take direction. ;)

After we finished with the portraits, I asked if they wanted to change Viola into something else to smash the cake. They decided to keep her in her dress. Icing does wash out pretty easily, especially when it’s in a pastel color, but if you want to ensure that your child’s first birthday outfit stays pristine, it’s best to bring another option. You can dress them in a camisole (we have a few on hand) or strip them down to just a diaper/diaper cover or pants/shorts.

When the cake was presented to Viola, she immediately touched it. She wasn’t super interested in eating it until her parents came to have some fun with her. She was definitely more interested in poking the icing than eating it.

Clients should know that every baby reacts differently to cake and how they reacted at their party (if you had one) may not be how they react in the studio. Many babies do not “like” their cake at their party. Parties are a TON of sensory overload for young babies. At the end, when the cake is served, they’re often tired and totally over it all. Additionally, a bunch of people staring at you is not exactly a low pressure situation. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun!

When Viola’s mom viewed her images from the session, she emailed us with her image selections and this sweet note below:

“Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for these beautiful images. You managed to capture Viola's personality perfectly! I initially wasn't sure that I needed a first year photo shoot, but I am more than 100% thankful that we went ahead with it. We couldn't be happier! You are always so fun to work with. Thank you and Caroline for being so accommodating and just wonderful people all around.”

Here are a few images from this fun little girl’s birthday celebration in the studio!

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 Olivia

I first worked with Gloria and Andres for their maternity session in the park, which you can view by clicking here. When Gloria emailed me to let me know that sweet baby Olivia had arrived, I was SO excited! We scheduled their newborn session and scheduled Brielle as she had specifically requested for hair and makeup add on services.

The morning of of their session the new family of three arrived at the studio with little bitty six pound Olivia! We were all surprised at her light hair since we had all been convinced it would be dark when she was born like her parents! She had such sweet and dainty little features, but was also a very opinionated little thing - especially about where she wanted her hands to be! Gloria and I looked through the wardrobe and she chose a simple white lace mesh dress to wear. She said she was so happy that finding something to wear wasn’t something she needed to be concerned with after having a baby. We hear this all the time from our clients and have a wide variety of sizes 0-14/16 to choose from.

Olivia was a curly and sleepy baby and stayed asleep for the majority of her solo portraits. She did NOT like her hands to be moved during, so I moved very, very slowly and coaxed her little hands and fingers patiently into place. I’d much rather have relaxed hands than clenched little fists! Babies dictate the flow of their session. What works for one baby won’t necessarily work for another, so every newborn session in the studio is unique to each individual baby and every session looks different.

After we had finished with Olivia’s solo portraits, I brought her out for a bottle. Her parents opted to have her wear a headband from my collection for the family portraits, so I pulled a few headbands from my stock, and they chose their favorite one. The rest of the session was very quick and easy as Olivia was tired out and slept well. We had a lot of fun and did our best not too laugh too loudly so we didn’t wake up the baby!

After the newborn session, her parents chose their collection and also chose to add on a beautiful distressed leather album that included both their maternity and newborn images together. Enjoy a few of my favorites from Olivia’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 Baby Photographer | Grace is ONE!

I first photographed worked with Graces’ parents, Justin & Abby, for their maternity session at the park location! You can see the images from that session by clicking here.

I met Grace when she came in for our annual Santa event and saw her again at our annual Mother’s Day event. Her mom emailed and asked to schedule a First Birthday session for her, and I was thrilled to be able to see them again! I love seeing babies for milestone sessions, and seeing how much they’ve grown and changed. Grace has definitely kept so many of her features from when she was tiny. Her parents are in the hospitality industry, and the chef at one of their hotels was so excited to create her birthday cake for the session! I loved the swiss dot design that he created for her.

On the morning of their session, the family arrived all dressed and ready to go. Abby always picks the SWEETEST little outfits for Grace with the most adorable details, and she did it again with her floral romper with criss cross back straps. If you don’t have anything, we do have a small selection of clothing available for babies and children for sessions as we’ve found that most mamas want to dress their babies themselves. We’ll send you a helpful style guide to plan what to wear in advance of your session, and are available to look through the options you’re considering as well. Making your session with us fun and stress-free is a huge priority for us and our clients report that we are very successful in that area! :)

Grace was friendly and curious, so we started with some solo portraits of her on the bed, and then moved her mom and dad in as well for a mix. She was such a happy and sweet little baby, but started to get tired (which is normal). After a little snack and an outfit change to a custom birthday onesie that her mom had brought along, Grace was ready for some cake!

They weren’t really sure how she would do with the cake, but it’s really a toss up. Babies are full of surprises! When the cake was presented to Grace, she immediately started exploring it and even ate some. I always encourage parents to get in on the fun, and babies LOVE to “share” cake with their parents. It makes for some of the funniest moments and sweetest memories.

Every baby will react differently to their cake. You should know that many babies do not react well at a party, and that’s often not how they will be in my studio. Parties are a lot of sensory overload for one year olds, and by the time the cake is served, they’re often tired and D-O-N-E. Plus, being stared at by a bunch of people can add a lot of pressure to the situation as well. A smash cake is not a required part of First Birthday sessions, but they sure are cute and lots of fun! (and it doesn’t have to be cake… it could be donuts, pie, etc…the list goes on!)

Here are a few images from this little cutie’s celebration in the studio!

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 | Gloria & Andres

Gloria found us while searching online and loved what she saw in the portfolio. She went over to our Instagram feed and really enjoyed looking at all the images and reading the captions, and decided she wanted to work with us. She contacted the studio and asked to book a maternity session at the park location and newborn session with added on hair and makeup services as well.

Gloria and her husband, Andres, are from Brazil. They are some of the loveliest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Warm, kind, and so loving. Because Andres has an interesting work schedule with weekdays off, we scheduled their maternity fitting and maternity session for a weekday.

When they arrived at the studio for their maternity fitting, we spent some time talking and getting to know each other. They had some questions about how I run the sessions, and I was able to answer those for them. We started looking through the studio wardrobe, and Gloria loved so many of the pieces she didn’t know how she would ever narrow it down to two! We had a lot of fun as she tried them on, and she was able to narrow it down to five before leaving. Andres took photos of her in each of the dresses, and she sent me her final two choices once they had decided. Andres and I talked about what he should wear in terms of color and texture, and we said our goodbyes.

On the afternoon of their session, they arrived at the studio to get ready with Brielle. They had a lot of fun and I heard lots of laughing from my office, so I know they all had a great time. Gloria loved working with Brielle so much that she specifically requested her for their newborn session, and I told her I’d do my best to make sure it happened!

Once Gloria was ready, she changed into her first dress and we headed to the park location. The weather was absolutely beautiful and the sunlight was GORGEOUS. We started with just Gloria and had Andres jump in and out. I do my best not to make my pregnant clients work too much when it comes to moving around, and we have dads so all of that!

Nearly all of my clients are a bit rattled when we first get started with any type of session. This is completely normal! There is no need to worry or stress, because I’m going to guide you throughout your entire session. I want your images to look natural, and I also want them to be flattering. So I’ll walk you through some things to avoid doing during our time together and make gentle adjustments to your positioning if needed throughout. My verbal direction is to the point, and you’ll never be standing there wondering what on earth you’re supposed to do. I promise!

I will also quickly discuss your specific dynamic and ways that you physically connect with each other on a daily basis, and I’ll come up with guided prompts for you so that we can capture who you truly are as a couple. For many of my clients, their maternity session is the first time they’ve had professional images taken since their wedding, and it will be the last session they have as just a couple before welcoming their little one. It’s such an incredibly special time, and I’m SO thrilled to be able to work with so many expecting couples. If you’re pregnant and considering a maternity session, I’d absolutely love to work with you and your partner!

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 Kyden

I’ve been working with Caroline and her beautiful family since the birth of her first child, Slade. I blogged about her second maternity session with me at the field location earlier this month, and you can see the images from that session by clicking here.

Caroline has worked with one of our HMUA’s for every portrait session with me, and this time was no exception. Add on hair and makeup services are available! Just ask when you inquire. Adding this on does not lengthen your session because I am photographing your baby while you’re being prepped. So, you might as well pamper yourself instead of twiddling your thumbs during that time! Caroline has worked with Margaret for her other sessions, but Brielle was her HMUA this go round. Trust me when I say that you’re in for a treat with ANY of our HMUA team members because it’s like hanging out with great gal pal the whole time.

When Caroline arrived with Kyden, she settled into the hair and makeup chair. Blair and Slade went for a little adventure on their own beforehand that wasn’t too tiring for Slade. We have toddlers wait to come to the studio with dad or a grandparents until it’s time for them to be photographed, but since the family drove from over an hour away and didn’t have anyone else to help, Blair just took her for a quiet walk to explore.

Caroline and I looked through the studio dresses and I had one specifically in mind for her that I knew would look amazing with her skin tone. She immediately loved it, and pulled out the shirts she’d brought for Blair. At her maternity session, Slade had not wanted to change her dress to a second option, so I pulled that dress we’d never used and it fit perfectly into the mix! We don’t have an extensive wardrobe for children, and stick to the basics, but in a pinch we are often able to help toddler moms with what we have on hand if they don’t have something that works! I know how hard it is to shop when heavily pregnant or right when you’ve had a baby!

Brielle got started with Caroline and I took Kyden back to the newborn shooting room. He was fast asleep, and didn’t love being moved. He woke up during the session, which allowed me to photograph some open eye images. While he slept well, he was a pretty light sleeper, so his solo portraits involved a lot of patting and shushing, and a few nursing breaks. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with being on his belly. I do not force babies into positions that they don’t want to be in. I’ll try a few times as sometimes it’s a matter of them being in a deep enough sleep, but it was clear that Kyden just didn’t like it. He was fine with being on his side, so I worked around his preferences. The comfort of your baby is my top priority, and each baby is different when it comes to what they like as far as position. Every newborn session will look different because of that, and I love this because every baby is unique.

When I finished up, Blair and Slade had come back, and Caroline was getting dressed. Slade was still getting used to Kyden, and was fine with touching him but didn’t want to be alone with him. Caroline REALLY wanted a photo of the two of them together, so we tried several different things.

If your child isn’t super excited about their new sibling, please don’t stress. I have many techniques in my bag to get your toddler close to the baby for some sweet and natural interaction, and we’ll talk about those when you arrive. Leave all expectations at the door, and I’ll create a no stress and low pressure experience for your older child. I have found that toddlers are much more receptive when they see that their feelings are respected and that they are being given the space they need. I consider children as my clients too, and I want them to have a great time!

I knock out the images that include toddler siblings as quickly as I can since their attention span is limited. Once they’re over it, they are OVER it. And sometimes babies are over it too…. one of my favorite photos that made us all laugh and laugh is in this gallery… I’ll let you guess which one it is!

After I finished with the family images and siblings, we moved on to parent and baby ones. I think second babies should have some images with just their parents because their older sibling did too. While it’s pretty much impossible to give perfect equality to every subsequent child after the first in all areas, this is one that I make sure of. Since Caroline and Blair didn’t have anyone on hand to help with Slade, they had brought some activities to occupy her when she was finished being photographed. She happily played right on the floor next to us while I wrapped up the session.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Kyden’s session! I can’t wait to see her again for her six month milestone!

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 & Family Photographer | Rylan's Sitting Session

I first worked with Sindi and Erroll for their maternity session with their first daughter (Haylen) in the studio. I went on to photograph Haylen for her sitting milestone and First Birthday sessions! You can see where it all began with their first maternity session by clicking here. Sindi emailed me to let me know they had added another little girl, Rylan, to their family and wanted to schedule her sitting milestone images!

I sent Sindi the style guide and Pinterest inspiration board just so she’d have them, but she’s worked with us SO many time at this point that I knew she wouldn’t need them. Sindi is definitely one of my most fashionable clients - she loves peplum tops, and looks amazing in them. The dresses she chose for Haylen and Rylan were also absolutely adorable, and everyone looked great together, as you’ll see below!

When the family arrived at the studio for Rylan’s session, I was so excited to see them! I couldn’t believe how big Haylen had gotten since her first birthday. Sindi and Erroll warned me that Haylen was full of energy and were worried about her “crashing” the session, but I told them not to worry. I’m a mom of three kids all two years apart give or take a few weeks. At one point I had three children under the age of 4… trust me, I can handle all the energy your children lob my way, and we’ll have a fun time too! At two years old, Haylen definitely had her own opinions and vacillated between wanting to participate and wanting nothing to do with it. That’s normal and expected! I simply work around it and create my flow based on who’s happy and wants to be photographed. Your job as a parent is to try not to stress (I know, easier said than done!) and smile no matter what. Kids know when you’re stressed and most kids enjoy pushing their parents’ buttons. Don’t give them any buttons to push, and you’ll be surprised!

I typically start my milestone sessions with the entire family if the baby is experiencing shyness or stranger anxiety. Since Rylan wasn’t shy AT all, we started with solo portraits and then added parents and family into the mix. I am very efficient when photographing sessions involving older babies and young children. Babies get tired out easily from stimulation, and toddlers lose patience, so I work quickly to make sure we have a varied gallery full of options!

Rylan is such a sweet little girl, and SO cute. I was amazed at how different she looked from her big sister! Genetics are such a crazy thing. It’s so fun to see whose features each baby has and to hear who they look the most like as a baby. It changes with age too - I’ve had parents tell me their newborn looks EXACTLY like dad, only to tell me at six months they look just like mom.

I really love to use our white Eames chair for a few images in each milestone session so that you can see how much your child has grown in between their sessions. Sindi also requested that we be sure to use it because Haylen’s sessions had included it also. It’s really an amazing thing to watch the progression of growth and have one object that’s exactly the same to really compare and contrast! If the modern style isn’t your peference, we have some classic linen options too. We’ll discuss your preferences when you arrive!

Real quick mention: when you see photographs of babies (and even younger kids!) in chairs and on the bed in my studio, mom or dad is right there next to them, just out of the frame. Baby safety is PARAMOUNT around here, and I have measures in place with every session to ensure it!

Isn’t Rylan just the most adorable baby girl?! I cannot wait to see her next month for her First Birthday 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 & Child Photographer | Twice the fun!

Every year we host our annual Motherhood Experience special edition sessions, and they’re usually held in mid to late April. Our HMUA is there to pamper mamas with light makeup application, and it’s such a fun time for all! I love welcoming mamas and their little ones to the studio and photographing them.

This particular mama has been bringing her fraternal twins to me since they were newborns, and I’ve photographed many full milestone and family sessions for them since. These images are from last year’s event, but I’m just now getting around to posting them! Janell comes every year for our Motherhood Experience and Santa sessions, which are the only two volume events the studio has annually.

The Motherhood Experience sessions last about 10-15 minutes, which is all the time we need. The focus is the emotional connection you share with your babies, and lots of snuggles are involved. I quietly direct mamas with simple suggestions to prompt natural interaction and document what unfolds. There are so many sweet and quiet moments - and some crazy and chaotic ones too! Here are a few from Janell’s session with the twins!

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 | Caroline, Blair & Slade

I LOVE when I get an email from a client telling me that they’re expecting their second baby! I first worked with Caroline and Blair when they were expecting their daughter, Slade, more than two years ago. You can view their field maternity images by clicking here, and you can view Slade’s studio newborn session by clicking here.

When Caroline emailed, she let me know they were having a boy this time and they wanted to schedule their maternity session in the field again. Their first session took place at the height of summer, so the field looked very different in April as opposed to August. Because they lived in north Alpharetta, I suggested a different field location that was closer to them to make it easier for Slade since the session time was close to her bedtime. They were totally on board with that suggestion, so we scheduled their date.

Caroline knew she wanted to borrow from the wardrobe again, and because I had worked with her before I had a pretty good idea of which dresses would work well for her. When she arrived, my assumptions were confirmed after seeing her belly shape. The shape of your belly will affect which dresses I recommend for you! No two bellies are the same, and every woman will look different in the same dress. We’ll chat about if there are any parts of your body that you would rather have covered. Some women don’t want a sleeveless or strapless dress, and that is totally fine. Others prefer solids over florals. My main consideration is whether the dress works for your skin tone, followed by how it fits. Above all, you should feel beautiful and comfortable in the dress - and if those four things are checked off, we have a winner!

Caroline loved what I pulled for her, and chose two of the dresses. Once she had chosen her options, I pulled out dresses for Slade for her to consider. I wanted to make sure that Slade’s dresses coordinated well with her choices, so that’s why I waited until Caroline’s dress decisions were made. She absolutely loved one of our toddler dresses for Slade that is a peachy pleated dress. It’s so comfortable and actually fits a wide variety of toddler body shapes because of the cut and style. Since I had not seen Slade since her newborn session, I also pulled a backup dress just in case the first choice wasn’t the best color for her skin tone.

Caroline had worked with our lead HMUA, Margaret, for her previous sessions and it was a no brainer for her when it came to whether to add on hair and makeup services again. She absolutely loves working with Margaret, and this time Margaret designed a gorgeous updo for her that showed off her beautiful features and kept her hair up and out of the way. When you’re handling a toddler, or if you get hot easily, an updo can be the perfect solution! Our HMUA’s will discuss your preferences and style in great detail with you and craft a look for you that enhances your best features but keeps you looking like you. We want our clients to recognize themselves in their photographs!

I needn’t have worried - when Slade walked up I was immediately mesmerized by her gorgeous green eyes and peaches and cream complexion. She was a bit shy, and a total daddy’s girl. In fact, so much of a daddy’s girl that she didn’t want to go to Caroline at all. We worked around that as best as we could. When I shoot a family maternity session, I save mom and dad images for the end. I want to make sure we get as many family and child images as we can and once they’re over it, we’ll hand them an activity to occupy them and photograph just the two of you. In this case, they handed her an iPhone with a quick show to watch and that did the trick perfectly. I do caution parents not to let their young children see their phones or to offer them as a reward or bribe because it almost always backfires terribly. I have lots of techniques and tricks, and as long as you’re willing to follow my guidance for natural interaction with your little one(s), we can often distract them and they start having lots of fun… which results in the sweetest and most natural images of your family truly being a family!

When Caroline viewed her proof gallery, she emailed to tell me she was so shocked at how many wonderful images I photographed of Slade. Slade was a typical toddler and running around non stop, so they were a bit concerned that she wasn’t cooperative enough. I hear this at almost every family session, and I reassure parents that everything is going just fine. I have worked with just about every personality type of child (and adults) and can handle just about anything that is thrown at me. And yes, I’ve had literal objects thrown at me (by toddlers mind you - no adults have done that yet!). Kids are small humans with big emotions, and I get it. I have three of my own! If you have a child that’s not into having their photograph taken, or is just having a rough day, don’t stress. I’ll give them the space they need, assess what’s working when it comes to engaging them, and make a plan from there. Just give them your love, patience, and support - and the session will work itself out.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Caroline’s maternity session! I can’t wait to share baby boy’s newborn session with you here on the blog. Check back to see those next week!

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 | Ethan is ONE!

I first worked with Ethan’s parents for their maternity session in the park, which you can view by clicking here. He came into the studio at six months old for his sitting milestone session, and you can see those images by clicking here. So many of my clients choose to work with me throughout their baby’s first year (and subsequent babies!) and then schedule annual family portraits after that. I absolutely love getting to watch my littlest clients grow over the years!

Keyianna scheduled Ethan’s First Birthday session in the studio. First Birthday sessions almost always include parents too unless they opt to not be in them. I HIGHLY encourage parents to participate because these photos are a gift to your child. They will look at them someday and see all the love and laughter that surrounded them. Plus, we’re also celebrating the fact that you made it through your baby’s first year. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, so I say we recognize it!

You won’t see a cake smash in these images because there wasn’t one. Not every client chooses to include a cake, and it’s entirely a matter of personal preference. Some clients don’t want to give their babies any sugar for a few years, others just don’t really love cake, and others like to do something a bit out of the box and use a cupcake or pile of donuts. If you do decide to use a cake, we’ll send you our cake tips sheet for best practices. Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose to use matters! Pro tip: avoid whipped icing - it’s by far the most difficult to get off of your child. Take it from me: I have seen it all!

We also sent over our style guide to Keyianna to help her in choosing what they should all wear. She found it super helpful and easy to read, and needed no additional help pulling their outfits together. Most parents celebrating a first birthday have two outfits for their baby. I always encourage parents to make sure one of the outfits shows off their baby’s toes, and chunky legs. When your baby is a full fledged toddler, you will miss these terribly. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone down the rabbit hole looking at photos of my own children as babies. They’re now 7, 5, and 3, and I still don’t know how the heck it happened so fast. I am so grateful that I was at least able to freeze those memories forever so I will never forget their chubby baby fingers and wispy hair.

Ethan was a curious little guy and not hesitant around me at all. My flow for these sessions varies and depends on your child. Some babies need to be in their parents’ arms for a bit and warm up to me. Others are ready to go as soon as they walk in. If your baby is walking, I’ll make sure to photograph them doing that! My main goal is to forever preserve your baby just as they were at the age of one. I want you to look at the photos and see their personality, how adorable they were, and their expressions. You will compare these photos to how they look as they grow and make note of what features they retained and which faded.

Because Ethan wasn’t shy, we rotated through family, solo, and parent images and then ended with an outfit change and more solo portraits. He immediately decided to stand up, and was SO PROUD of himself. I laugh every time I see his face. (it’s the very last image if you can’t wait to see it) Don’t worry - dad was standing right next to the chair out of the frame ready to catch him if needed. Safety is the highest priority during sessions, and a parent is always right there to spot.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Mr. Ethan’s session! I can’t wait to see him again next year!

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.