Atlanta Family Photographer | Sunrise in the gardens

I first photographed Ramsey for his First Birthday session at the studio, and was so excited when Angela emailed us to set up a family/second birthday session at the gardens location. You can view his First Birthday images by clicking here to see how much he grew in just over a year! You’ll notice how much his hair grew and how curly it is now. The changes that happen from year to year are always just so amazing to see, and I love when families make it a priority to schedule annual portrait sessions so they can look back and see it for themselves.

We scheduled their session to take place in September - and as most of you will remember, we had an incredibly HOT end of summer and fall in Atlanta. I mean, soooooo hot. We had originally scheduled their session to take place at sunset, but when I saw that the weather would literally be 25 degrees cooler the morning of their session at sunrise, I emailed Angela to see if they’d be open to switching the time to sunrise. I only photograph outdoor sessions the hour before sunset or immediately at sunrise. We do not offer any other times - as the light is not optimal.

Her response was an immediate: OMG YES. If you have a child who rises on the earlier side and is happiest in the morning, a sunrise session may be the perfect fit for you! If you hate early mornings and your child is dragging until 10 AM, it’s probably not for you. When you contact us, we’ll discuss what the best fit for you is! The time of year will also be a factor: a sunrise session in the winter is not an option since it’s sometimes below freezing outside.

The morning of the session, we met at the gardens location. While it was warm, it was not unbearably hot, and the light was gorgeous and soft. Angela and her husband both expressed how glad they were that I’d suggested we change the time to sunrise. Bonuses to an early start: no worrying about juggling naps or sleepy babies when it’s almost bedtime, and then you have the rest of your day wide open!

We explored the gardens and I photographed Ramsey alone, with each of his parents, and the whole family together. David had bought matching father-son tennis shoes that he was super excited about, so Ramsey changed his outfit mid session so we could include that. I thought it was so sweet and really special that he had done that.

Enjoy a few of my favorites 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 Child Photographer | Troi is TWO!

I’ve photographed Troi since she was an itty bitty newborn, and just absolutely love her and her awesome parents! Troi can be a stoic toddler, but she loves to have fun so once tickles and crazy voices are introduced, the smiles and giggles start. ‘Toya initially just wanted this session to be of Troi alone since they had just done their fall family portraits, but quickly realized that Troi needed some help warming up. Since Troy (her daddy) was dressed in an outfit that worked for photos, he stepped in - and it did the trick. I let them know I could just leave out the images with him that we took in their final proof gallery, but some were just too good to not include. Apparently, ‘Toya thought so too since she chose a few to keep!

'Toya expressed how amazed she was at the patience that I had because Troi was pretty grumpy for most of her time in the studio. I pulled out all the stops, and her parents willingly helped when I asked them to. The funniest part of the session was when I asked Troy to “laugh with a deep rumbling laugh” and he did - and that was what got the biggest smiles. They were astounded that it worked because he felt a little silly doing it, but hey… whatever it takes, right? When you look at this gallery, you really have NO idea that she walked in, crossed her arms, and mean mugged us all for a while. That my friends, is the magic of photography married with patience, a bag of tricks to try, and a fast shutter speed. ;) Grumpy babies and toddlers don’t faze me.

When I photographed Troi’s First Birthday session (view those images by clicking here), ‘Toya had chosen NOT to include a cake and later came to wish that she had. Who says a smash cake has to be for First Birthdays? Around here, there aren’t any such rules…. so out came a cake for the end of Troi’s second birthday. It was pretty funny to watch because Troi doesn't like getting her hands messy and didn’t want to touch the cake when she discovered how sticky the icing was. So, I handed her a spoon from our studio kitchen, and that did the trick.

Enjoy a few images from Troi’s Second Birthday!

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 Hauwa

I first worked with Safeeya and her family for their family maternity session at the gardens location, (view those images by clicking here) and was so excited to photograph them again for their new daughter’s newborn session! Safeeya had let me know that they would be wearing traditional dress for their session and I absolutely love when my clients honor their heritage in that way.

When Safeeya arrived at the studio with baby Hauwa, I got started with photographing just the baby. Safeeya took the opportunity to rest for a bit. Hauwa wasn’t really sure if she wanted to sleep or not, but she eventually did after being snuggled and rocked for a bit. I have all the patience in the world, so if your baby doesn’t want to go to sleep right away during your session, please don’t stress or think your baby is being “uncooperative”. They are being a baby and they have their own sleep cycle. They will eventually go to sleep, and it’s my job to get them there. When babies are awake, I always photograph them for those open eye images as long as they’re calm. If they are awake and angry, my focus is on settling them and getting them what they need. I would say maybe under half the newborns who come into the studio ever open their eyes and of those half - about half are calm when awake. So, while I definitely take advantage of the opportunity for that open eye direct camera engagement image - it doesn’t always happen. It just depends on your baby!

Once I was finished with Hauwa’s solo images, big sister and daddy had arrived. Everyone got dressed and Safeeya dressed Hauwa in a beautiful lace dress to match big sister. If you choose to bring clothing for your newborn to wear during the family portion, you’ll need to make sure that it fits snugly. Otherwise your baby will be swimming in their outfit, and it will not look cute. We have a full collection in the studio of blankets and some sleepers and onesies that photograph well, but some of our clients like to bring a sleeper or blanket from home. I’ll advise on whether it’s going to work well for your session since sometimes the items brought have a strange color cast or just won’t work well with what the family is wearing.

I started off with sibling images of the two girls together. Hauwa was awake and calm, but then decided she wanted to eat and wanted to eat NOW. After she was fed, she was happy and content and we resumed the session. Since Hauwa was totally asleep, we finished this portion up very quickly as it was just a matter of passing Hauwa back and forth between her parents with different groupings. I work very efficiently when I have baby’s cooperations since we never know how long we’ll have it!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Hauwa’s newborn session. I can’t wait to see this family again in the future and see how much the girls have grown.

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 First Birthday Photographer | Aadya is ONE!

Anitha contacted us when her daughter was only six months old because she knew she wanted to schedule a First Birthday session with us. She was in love with our videos that she had seen and knew she wanted to book a video add on as well. Videos are offered for Fresh 48 and First Birthday sessions as an add on, and I really love them! While still photographs are gorgeous and freeze memories, there is nothing quite like video for remembering how your child moved, their funny expressions, and the connection between you and your baby. I know I’m not alone in going down the rabbit hole of watching my iPhone videos of when my children were tiny. I can’t believe how fast the time flies, and I’m so thankful that we have photographs and videos these days so we never forget all those little things that we love about them.

Anitha asked to book add on hair and makeup services for herself, and chose to use our preferred baker. Our baker makes CORGEOUS cakes and works with many of our clients to create something beautiful. She also offers the option of adding on delivery service to the studio so your cake is here waiting for you and it’s one less thing you have to worry about. We’ll provide you with a cake tips sheet that goes over best practices for the icing type and color, as well as a place in the area that we DON’T recommend using. While they’re delicious, their cakes have horribly sticky icing that most of our babies hate and makes cleaning it off of their skin absolutely awful. Our mamas have used Whole Foods, Publix, or bake and decorate the cake themselves! And don’t think you have to use cake - we’ve seen pie, donuts, and strawberries & whipped cream here too.

When Anitha arrived to the studio, Margaret was there waiting for her to apply her makeup and style her hair. When clients have their hair and makeup done at the studio in advance, I am sometimes there for part of it, or I’ll arrive right beforehand. In this case, I was working around the studio on other things, so we were all there together. Anitha and I chatted and got to know each other, and she showed me what she had brought along for herself and Aadya to wear. There were several options for Aadya, so I pulled what was the best with Anitha’s outfit and had everything all ready for her arrival.

Aadya and her daddy arrived just as Anitha was finishing up. Aadya was a bit shy at first, but I spent a few minutes playing peek-a-boo with her, and one I had her laughing, she was good to go! While Anitha was getting dressed, I started with solo portraits and video of just Aadya, and then moved on to family images. I use two separate cameras when I am incorporating video into First Birthday sessions because time is of the essence. Most one year olds will not last longer than 30-45 minutes and I want to make sure I’m maximizing the time they’re giving me in order to get the photographs and video footage that I need before they’re totally OVER it. While we are moving at a quick pace, you won’t feel rushed. After we finished up with the family images, Anitha changed Aadya’s outfit to her cake smash one which was a simple white camisole that she borrowed from our studio wardrobe! We brought out the cake, set it in front of Aadya, and she went to town! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a baby decide they were going to try sucking the icing off the side of the cake. SO adorable! I absolutely love watching how each individual one year old in my studio interacts with and conquers their cake. It’s always so funny and unique to each baby. Mom and dad jumped in for a few cake images too - which I welcome and encourage.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Aadya’s First Birthday session, and the video at the end of 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 Baby & Family Photographer | Ava is six months!

I first worked with Heather & Jason when they were expecting their daughter, Ava, and again at Ava’s newborn session. You can see their maternity images at the field location by clicking here and Ava’s newborn images by clicking here. I’ll be seeing them again this spring for Ava’s First Birthday - I adore working with clients for all the special milestones over the first year!

I was so excited to see them for Ava’s six month session! Heather had asked to add on hair and makeup services again, and had requested the park location for this session. One of the fun things for my clients about repeatedly working with me is that they become more and more confident with each session. They’ve learned all the basic “rules” I have for flattering posing and don’t need very much direction from me. We also have a relationship at this point and they trust me to photograph their family and KNOW that they’re going to walk away with gorgeous images that they love. I’ve had clients come for a session and have one of their children have a full on meltdown. They don’t get frazzled or stressed, because they’ve learned from their previous sessions with me that we’ll work around it and that I’ll spend the extra time help their child calm or settle however I can - whether that is me engaging with their child or stepping away to let mom and dad do it.

In Ava’s case, she’s the happiest baby on the planet. There was no fussing or needing to settle - she was so happy to be outside with her parents. We did have one outfit mishap when Ava spit up all over her goldenrod romper that she was wearing. Heather had heeded our advice to have a backup outfit on hand, so a quick outfit change to a gorgeous cream bodysuit took care of that with no problem! Plus, who doesn’t love chubby baby legs?! The outfit change showed those off well!

I don’t have a set session flow for babies and families and change it up for each individual client based on what the baby needs. Since Ava was so friendly and happy, it didn’t matter how I structured it. We moved through the whole family together, Ava with each of her parents, and some with Ava by herself. Ava was a pretty strong sitter, but her daddy was hovering just out of the frame to catch her if she tipped over. Safety first!

How cute is this little gal and her family!? I can’t wait to see them all in April to smash some cake and celebrate Ava being ONE!!!

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 G Family in the studio

Leila contacted the studio to book a family/milestone session in the studio with her husband and daughter, Raine. We sent over the style guide to her and set a session date. Our style guide is a helpful one page document that guides you through best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combinations. If you want more detailed feedback, you are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult at the studio or to send over quick phone photos of what you’re considering!

A couple of days before their scheduled session, Leila reached out to let us know that the whole family was sick with an upper respiratory infection. We know that life is unpredictable with little ones, so if this happens to you - don’t stress. We want everyone to be happy and healthy at their session! We looked through the studio calendar and rescheduled for a couple weeks out on a date that worked for both of us.

A funny story …. on the reschedule date, guess who woke up with NO voice. Yep, yours truly. I had zero warning that this was about to happen, and just woke up that way. I wasn’t sick with anything, but literally just did not have a voice. Never in my life have I had that happen, and to this day, I still don’t know why it did.

Because of how I run my sessions, having a voice is absolutely essential. I talk to babies, give direction to parents, and NEED my voice. My studio manager, Caroline, had to call Leila and let her know that I couldn’t speak and we needed to reschedule again. Leila understood completely, and was glad that I was erring on the side of caution just in case losing my voice was the precursor to actually being sick with something. Turns out that it really was just me losing my voice for no reason. I’m not kidding when I tell you that I was silent for three entire days until it came back. It was very, very strange to not be able to talk or communicate verbally… but my husband and kids seemed to love it! ;) My voice did return after that, and when Leila came in for her session she mentioned that when we had rescheduled she didn’t fully understand why I needed to be able to talk but that she 100% understood why afterwards! :)

Raine was a shy baby, so we began our session with family images and in parent arms. It took a lot of goofing around and trying different things, but I figured out that if Raine’s parents “dropped” her by bending their knees quickly and tilting her backwards she had a BIG smile and was laughing. So… guess what her parents did for the entire session? Yep. Your workout class is included free with sessions. ;)

After all the fun, Raine was feeling a lot more comfortable with me and the studio and we were able to sit her alone on a chair for some solo portraits. If you arrive and your little one is not feeling it, don’t stress. I have TONS of patience, and I’ll do whatever is help to your child feel comfortable. Come in ready to play and with a willingness to try unorthodox things to get the giggles going, and everything else will work itself out!

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

Want to capture your family just as you are now before the 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!

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

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Clara

Karen contacted the studio to book a newborn session when she was at the end of her second trimester with her daughter. The best time to book your newborn session is definitely when you’re in the second trimester to guarantee a spot on our calendar! While we don’t pencil in an exact date for your session until your baby has been born - you are secured into our books and guaranteed a spot no matter what.

Because of the amount of time we dedicate to each newborn client for shooting and editing, we book a limited number per month so that we can provide the best possible service to each client. Once those spots are gone, we accept last minute newborns on a case by case basis. If you contact us when your baby is two weeks old and it happens to be a week where we don’t have any scheduled newborns, we can sometimes fit in last minute clients. Babies arrive on their own timetable! Sometimes we’ll have availability open up if some of our newborns arrive earlier or later than expected. Plenty of of our newborn clients don’t actually arrive in their due date month! So if this is you - don’t assume that you’re out of luck. Give us a call or send us an email to see if we can fit you in.

When Karen let us know that Clara had arrived, she asked to add on hair and makeup services. We’ll take out the legwork for you so you don’t have to call around to see who is available! You’ll simply let us know you want to add it on, and we’ll take care of making sure someone is available for you on your newborn session date. You’ll be connected via email, and your artist will take it from there with what they need from you. All you’ll have to do is show up on the morning of your session and you artist will be waiting for you to step in the chair!

Side note: we are often asked if adding on hair and makeup lengthens your session. The answer is nope! I will be photographing your newborn alone for the first 90 minutes or so, so you’ll be sitting around waiting either way. Some mamas are nervous about having professional makeup done because they’re worried it’s going to be too heavy or make them look unrecognizable. While professional makeup applied for the camera is heavier than every day makeup, you should know that about 30-40% of makeup disappears in post processing. Having your makeup done is a lovely way to pamper yourself and most mamas do have some undereye circles happening from the sleep deprivation that comes along with having a new baby. Our team will work with you to craft a gorgeous look for you that enhances your features. They are experts in creating “barely there” makeup for a natural and classic look, but they can also add a little extra oomph on request if that’s what you want. You won’t just sit in the chair and have makeup applied to you - your input and preferences are important and matter!

While Karen arrived and settled into the chair, I started photographing Clara alone. Karen had brought along a Santa hat (December due date baby born in November!) and requested that I incorporate it into her session. I am always happy to incorporate a special hat or blanket brought along when the session allows for it. They ended up using that image on their Christmas card, which I just think is adorable! It’s usually very easy to add in a hat into my workflow, but there are times that the hat or blanket is too big or won’t photograph well. I'm always honest with my clients about that and it’s ultimately up to them whether they want to proceed with including it.

Her daddy, James, watched the session from the comfort of our studio couch, and even did a little bit of work throughout. While we were chatting, we found out that we live in the same neighborhood and had a mutual friend from my husband’s workplace. Such a small world!

As I was finishing up with Clara (she was getting a bit fussy due to being hungry), Karen was also finishing up with hair and makeup. James tended to Clara for a bit while Karen and I looked through the studio wardrobe. I pulled out a few options, and she loved a simple lace sheath dress that we had on hand and slipped into it. We then moved right into the family/parent portion of the session. I noticed at the end of this that Clara was in super deep sleep, so I ended the session with a few more solo newborn images. When I placed Clara on her belly in the beginning of our session, she did not want to turn her head. I assumed that the direction was uncomfortable for her, and wanted to try placing her on her tummy the other way. My instincts were correct - and after turning our newborn posing surface the other way and placing her down, she had no issues and I was able to photograph her that way for a few images before handing her back to her parents. Photographing newborns requires lots of patience and observation. I don’t force babies into positions they don’t like. If they’re protesting or fighting, I go through the options of why that might be happening. Sometimes it’s nothing - they’ve just decided in that moment they don’t want to do it. Other times there is a reason - such as not wanting to turn their head a certain way due to it being uncomfortable for their neck. I listen to my babies and watch their body language and facial expressions to keep them comfortable throughout.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Clara’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 First Birthday Photographer | Veda is ONE!

I first worked with Nick and Nutan for their maternity session in the gardens location when they were expecting their daughter! You can view those images by clicking here.

Nutan contacted the studio a few of months before Veda’s first birthday to book a First Birthday session and wanted it to be outdoors at our park location. She also asked to work with Margaret again for add on hair and makeup services as she’d loved it so much with her maternity session. Because it was during our peak fall season, she knew our availability would be limited or completely gone if she delayed booking. We recommend booking at least 3-4 months or so in advance for a fall session as our fall calendar is usually fully booked by end of July/early August. Some of our clients just go ahead and grab their fall date in January each year so they can set it and forget it. While we can (and do) fit last minute inquiries in sometimes, there are also times that we just cannot. We hate for anyone wanting to work with us to be disappointed, so if you’re able to, it’s best to reserve a spot on our 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 Nutan along with our cake tips sheet. Our guides are simple, straightforward, and really easy to read! Clients find them 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 our clients to assist however they may need.

The afternoon of their session, the family of three arrived at the park. I loved what they were all wearing! Nick is a sharp dresser who enjoys wearing suits. I always tell my mamas that their partner should dress how they love and feel comfortable. Whether that’s a suit or jeans and a casual t-shirt - if your guy is comfortable and happy, the session will be enjoyable for him!

I typically begin with family images to let babies warm up if needed, but Veda wasn’t a shy baby at all. I loved her big brown eyes and sweet smile. We started with family and parent images with Veda in their arms. She was an early walker, and as soon as her toes touched the ground she was off to a running start! If you’ve never had a professional photography experience for your family, you should know that family sessions with me are not difficult. I promise to guide you on exactly what to do. All you need to do is be the mom and dad that your baby adores…. and the rest will naturally into place. After we finished with those, Nutan changed Veda into her second outfit and brought out the cake!

Nutan had been a little iffy about doing a smash cake because of the sugar involved but eventually decided that she would cover it with strawberries and just cut Veda off if she started eating too much icing. Her plan worked out… because Veda was ALL about the strawberries and not a big fan of the rest.

You may be wondering if you have to include a cake in your First Birthday session. Answer: Nope! Not every First Birthday session includes a cake! It’s completely up to YOU. There is no right or wrong way to do one, because ultimately, First Birthday sessions are about celebrating your baby and their first year. While a cake is often lots of fun and results in some super adorable images, it’s not a necessity. You decide what best fits your vision and we’ll make it happen!

Here’s a few of my favorites from Veda’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 | Baby Lulu

Thomas called the studio to learn about milestone and family sessions, and asked to book a session to take place in that next month. He requested to add on hair and makeup for his wife, Noi, and scheduled a complimentary studio visit as well to take place a week before their session. We sent over the style guide for his review, and an overview of what to expect.

When Thomas and his family arrived for their style consult, I welcomed them into the studio and we spent a bit of time getting to know each other. They wanted to look through the studio wardrobe and potentially borrow from it, but were coming more for inspiration and to meet me in advance. Noi and I went through lots of different options available, and looked through the limited baby wardrobe as well. I’ve found that the majority of my clients prefer to use their own clothing for their babies - but we do have a limited wardrobe for babies 1 year and under if you’re in a pinch! I welcome and encourage my booked clients to come in to the studio beforehand for a style consult to go through what we have and talk, so if you can make the time - please do! :) The family left feeling confident about how to proceed with their wardrobe and excited about our session in the coming week.

On the day of their session, Noi arrived and settled into the hair and makeup chair. Thomas and Lulu came a bit later, and I started photographing just Lulu since she was curious and friendly. If babies are a bit shy, I’ll have them in your arms instead until they warm up. Lulu was 5 months old at the time of their session, so not quite sitting unassisted, but had great head control! She was such a smiley little thing… and then she fell asleep!

I LOVE when my milestone babies fall asleep during sessions, so if this happens to you, do NOT stress. It’s cause for celebration! This is a wonderful opportunity to photograph their sweet sleeping faces and their lush eyelashes. I even joked that we’d get a few “newborn-esque” images since she was sleeping SO deeply for her short nap!

Thomas and Noi are such doting parents to little Lulu, and the whole family was just so sweet together! When I have a younger baby that can’t sit unassisted, I shoot these sessions with baby in the arms of their parent(s) for the majority of the time. If a parent just wants to document the milestone and doesn't want to be in the images at all, we'll work around it by shooting from above while on the floor, or have a parent hold their baby and not photograph the parents' face. I strongly encourage parents to participate though! You will love having these images of yourself with your baby when they fly from the nest someday (and that will happen sooner than you think). I can't keep them little for you forever, but I CAN freeze time in a tangible way with portraits of them at this stage. 

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 T

I’m always honored to be chosen as a family’s photographer, but there’s something special about being asked to travel out of state for a session! I don’t accept these requests often due to my busy studio schedule, but it’s hard to say no to heading to the Big Apple if my schedule allows! ;) I’ve been up to NYC several times over the past few years to photograph clients for family, maternity, First Birthday, Fresh 48, and newborn session. This particular newborn session took place in New York, and was a mix of lifestyle and posed. When I travel to homes for sessions, I do a very limited number of posed images. These are kept to a white/cream/beige color palette, and we often incorporate a onesie for many images as well.

While I bring studio lighting in case we need to augment the lighting, it wasn’t necessary for this session due to the windows of the house facing north and south. We had plenty of abundant lighting in the two rooms we used. The family did not have a nursery set up just yet, so you won’t see any images of his nursery here!

T was a sweet little boy with big brown eyes and perfect little lips. He looks like such a sleeping angel in these images, but rest assured: he made me WORK for it. Some babies are more sensitive than others to being touched or moved, and I adapt my session flow to accommodate their needs. In T’s case, I had to move him very, very slowly, and we slowly rotated from on the back, to the side, to his tummy before moving on to the lifestyle portion in his parents’ arms. We moved into his parents’ bedroom for this part - and I just love all the gorgeous detailing in their home - from the floors to the crown molding and original doorknobs. They had let me know in advance that they wanted a true lifestyle approach and they were fine if he had a pacifier in his mouth, and also wanted images where they were giving him a bottle.

I have always said that my photography style for newborns is the perfect marriage of lifestyle and posed. My lifestyle images are very much client led - but I am tweaking things along the way. I’ll correct positioning, fix wayward hair, and make sure parents aren’t giving themselves a self inflicted double chin.

Believe it or not - I photograph the EXACT same way whether I’m in your home or in my studio. There are some big differences between the two though! Once of the differences is is that in my studio I know that I’m getting exactly what I need in terms of light and positioning, and in homes it takes a bit more effort to find the light and best place for shooting. The other MAJOR difference is that in my studio the background is designed to be neutral and free of distractions, and is a very controlled environment in terms of temperature. In your home, you may not have a neutral background, and we will likely spend some time moving things out of the way that would be really distracting in the background. Some great examples of that: the diaper caddy on the changing table with all the tubes of ointments, or an Owlet cam hanging out above the crib - and all the odds and ends you might have laying around that just don’t quite fit into the overall setting. Getting your home to a comfortable temperature for a newborn session might prove difficult (and not comfortable for you!) if you don’t have a way to just heat one room. We can talk about the differences and what type of session is the best fit for your family!

I loved traveling up to NYC for this session, and am so looking forward to photographing this family again as T grows. Enjoy some of my favorite images from their time with me below.

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

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

Atlanta First Birthday Photographer | Parker is ONE!

I first photographed Parker when he was a tiny little newborn, and was so excited for him to come to studio to for his First Birthday. I had last seen them for an in-home lifestyle session a few months prior, and was looking forward to catching up.

While most of our families choose to make a First Birthday session a family affair complete with a cake, Madeleine and Tyson wanted birthday portraits of just Parker at one year old. I so love getting to watch my clients grow and photograph them throughout! The first year of a baby’s life is absolutely astounding when you think of just how much they grow and develop. I see it all the time multiple times per week in my studio with our repeat clients and it still never fails to amaze me every time!

The day of his session, Madeleine, Tyson, and Parker arrived and I just died over the adorable outfit that Madeleine had brought for him to wear.

Parker has the most beautiful blue eyes and the sweetest expressions. He was a friendly and curious little guy, and I knew right off the bat that he wouldn’t need much of a warm up to me. Portrait sessions of just babies and children without their parents are typically pretty abbreviated (20 minutes or so) because I’m only photographing one subject. However, we allot up to an 45 minutes because sometimes your little one will need a break for a snack or snuggles.

I pulled out our Eames modern chair and captured one of my favorite images ever - Parker was about to try and take his hat off. What you can’t see is dad hovering just out of sight of the frame to catch Parker if he decided to try and dive off of his chair.

I then pulled out the high chair, and it was smash cake time! Madeleine and Tyson LOVED being able to stand there and watch and just soak in those moments without needing to worry about documenting it. As you can see, Parker was a big fan of his cake!

Enjoy this little sweetie’s handful of birthday pictures! If you’re looking for a photographer to photograph your baby or older child for a milestone or birthday, or want some updated portraits, we’d love to have you in our studio! Contact us today to discuss the different options we have available.

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 A Family at the studio

Jessi called the studio to learn about our process and asked to book a family session. She had never experienced professional photography with her entire family together, and she was very excited to find a studio that was in line with what she was looking for. Because she wanted to schedule her session for December, she didn’t want to try for an outdoor session with the risk of it being too cold outside. You just never know what you’ll get in Atlanta - sometimes we have 75 degree December days and other times we have 21 degree days. Studio sessions happen no matter what the weather is outside, so if you can’t be flexible to reschedule to the next available open date due to weather conditions, the studio is the best choice.

We sent over the style guide to Jessi for her to review as she planned what everyone would wear. On the phone, she expressed that her family loved to wear color, and we told her we love color too! Our studio is a very neutral setting and as long as families dress in color combinations that don’t involve neon or certain colors with heavy color casts, it’s all good! Our style guide is super helpful when it comes to deciding what to wear, and we are more than happy to have you come in for a complimentary style consult as well. We’re here to make this experience as easy and stress free as possible - so if you need some extra help or guidance, all you have to do is ask.

We set a date, and Jessi asked to add on hair and makeup services. We paired her with Olivia, who Jessi absolutely loved. She e-mailed us after her session just to tell us that Olivia was the best hair and makeup person she’d ever had in her life so far. Pretty high (and well deserved!) praise! Our hair and makeup team is absolutely fantastic, and our clients love working with them. It’s not unusual for clients to decide to never step in front of my camera again without utilizing the services of our team! You’ll feel like you’re chatting with a good friend the entire time you’re in the chair.

When the family arrived the afternoon of their session, I introduced myself to the kids. My approach with children is to give them space and let them approach me. I believe that kids are people too, and they deserve as much respect and consideration as adults do. Getting into a child’s face with a peppy cheerleader voice is not my style, nor does it tend to go over well from what I’ve observed. Sometimes my littlest clients are outgoing and friendly from the start, and other times they need to take a little time to familiarize themselves with the surroundings and warm up to me. This is exactly why I structure my family sessions the way that I do! We will almost always start with the whole family together and then move into parent/child images. This helps your child feel safe and secure with you while I gain their trust. By mid session, we’re usually exchanging high fives and playing games and that’s when we go for sibling and individual child portraits. There is no 100% set session flow that I refuse to deviate from. I’ll switch it up depending on the needs of your family and who is willing to participate at any given time.

Sadie & Zeke were just absolutely adorable! I love their big blue eyes and grins - and Sadie’s curly hair is just gorgeous. She had the best personality, and I spent a few minutes with just her in a chair photographing her expressions as we talked about her favorite things.

We had an absolute BLAST - the kids were running and jumping by the end and having a ball. Once I could see the kids were over being photographed, I pulled Sean and Jessi aside for a few parent only images. Most of the time with first time clients, the last time they’ve been photographed professionally as a couple was at their wedding! With my sessions, I always pull mom and dad aside for a few of just the two of them. After all, it was just the two of you once - and someday when the kids leave home, it’ll be just the two of you again.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this family’s studio 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 | The L Family at the Park

I first worked with Tiffany and her family in 2018 when she relocated to the area from Tennessee. She had loved her photographer there but could no longer travel back and forth for sessions, and decided it was time to find someone local to her. A Google search led her to me, and she knew as soon as she viewed my portfolio and read about my approach that she had found her new long term photographer.

Last fall, I met the family out at the field location for a family/milestone session around their son Abel’s second birthday. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed working with them. They told me they’d be in touch for another session… and sure enough, they were…. for a family MATERNITY session because they were expecting TWINS!!!! Tiffany chose the park location, and she made sure to get book their newborn session as well so she would be on our schedule.

We book twin maternity sessions on the earlier side for mamas for two reasons. (1) Bellies grow bigger much faster with twins, and we want you to feel comfortable at your session (2) Twin mamas are more likely to go on bedrest or have early deliveries. So, we schedule twin mamas for 24-28 weeks in most cases when we have enough notice! That being said, we have photographed twin mamas even later in pregnancy that were last minute clients, so if you’re past 28 weeks and want to book a maternity session, please don’t think it’s too late! If you’re comfortable and still moving well with no restrictions, you’re good to go.

We scheduled Tiffany’s maternity fitting to take place right after our Santa event ended since they were the last clients for that day. I wanted to save them a trip since they live an hour away from the studio. Abel had fun eating extra holiday goodies and talking to Santa as he packed up to leave, and Tiffany and I got started at looking at the dresses. She chose two really beautiful gowns that looked amazing with her skin tone and eye color. She laughed about choosing the sequin topped dress since it’s not what she would normally go for, but she just loved it so much. We have a lot of clients fall in a love with a dress that they wouldn’t have chosen just seeing it on the hanger - so keep that in mind when you come in! Sometimes a dress that you didn’t think you would even like becomes the frontrunner top pick once you see it on your body. We discussed what the boys should wear for the session as well before they left, and emailed her the style guide to have on hand. She found the style guide super helpful and easy to read, but still wanted my seal of approval on the final choices. She emailed me a photo of two outfit combinations to ask for my input, and I circled the pieces that went best together and sent back an email with my input. Easy peasy! I offer this to all of my clients because I want them to feel confident in their choices and serve them however I can to make things as smooth as possible for them. If you’d rather make an appointment for an in person style consult at the studio, we can schedule one! Mamas just bring the clothes they’re considering and we chat and go through them to pull everything together. It is never an inconvenience to assist our clients with this, so don’t hesitate to ask.

The evening of their December maternity session, it was the very beginning of winter, and it was a bit chilly outside but not too bad! We had a pretty mild December this year for the most part. Tiffany looked at me before I pulled my camera out and said, “For your information, I’m terrible at this. Just wanted you to know.” I laughed and told her she didn’t need to worry about a thing. The vast majority of my clients don’t know what they’re “supposed” to do. Guess what? You don’t have to, because I’ll guide you the entire time. My direction is clear and concise, and I will also demonstrate for you exactly how to stand and look to make it even easier. It’s basically adult “Simon Says” at some points! ;) I promise you will never be left standing there staring awkwardly at the camera wondering what on earth you’re supposed to do next. That’s not the way I work around here.

We started off with just Tiffany and then pulled in Greg and Abel for some family photos. My goal during maternity sessions is to make it as easy on pregnant moms as possible. So I have other participants be the ones that jump in and out and I change up my angles as well rather than have mom constantly have to move around and change it up.

I love to photograph expectant moms with just their child. When kids are participants in sessions, we spend a lot of time playing and having fun to keep them interested and engaged. You are one of their favorite people in the whole world, so this is very natural interaction. I’ll give you guided prompts for things to say or do to get those giggles and smiles if they’re not already happening, and everything will unfold organically.

Abel was a busy little guy, so when I saw him start to get fidgety, we moved on from our spot and explored the park a bit. He loved being able to run and walk with mom and dad, and had fun playing in the leaves as well. While your child is happily playing, I’ll photograph just you and your partner. If you have a child that can’t be trusted to stay close or is just too young, I always recommend bringing along a stroller to hold them for just that bit. I’ve been known to hold a baby on my hip in a pinch, but not every baby is okay with someone other than their parents holding them! Your photos will reflect it if you’re stressed out about where your child is wandering off to instead of safely secured in the stroller in your line of sight.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this maternity session! I can’t wait to share the beautiful newborn session photos of their new additions on the blog soon!

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | A Brookhaven in-home session with Madeleine, Tyson & Parker

I’ve worked with Madeline & Tyson before for their maternity session at the gardens location when they were expecting their son, Parker - and then again for his newborn session and First Birthday session! They are such a fun couple to work with and I’ve enjoyed the time I have spent with them.

Madeleine contacted me to schedule an in-home lifestyle milestone session at their gorgeous home in Brookhaven that also included some professional headshots for a print campaign for her (which I won’t show in the gallery below). I love in-home sessions when babies are older because you can photograph them actually enjoying and interacting with all the aspects of their nurseries. The vast majority of our newborn clients choose to book a studio session over in home and plan an in home session for the sitting or First Birthday milestone.

We scheduled the session around Parker’s nap times and at the best time for the best light in the rooms they wanted to photograph within their home. I do carry lighting equipment with me just in case we need it, but it’s pretty rare. I tend to embrace the light in a client’s home - so if it’s not as well lit, the photos will just have a darker and more moody feel to them that reflects that. If it’s too dark for the images to meet my quality standards, that’s when I will make the decision to augment with my lighting equipment. So, how do you know when the best light of day will be in? You probably have the answer right on your iPhone! Go into the room you want to photograph and open the compass application. North facing windows are pretty great all day long (and what I have in my studio). East facing windows can be too bright and harsh in the morning and it’s better to wait until the sun has risen up a bit closer to noon. South facing windows are often the most difficult to work with as it’s just super harsh light, and West facing windows are great from noon until right before the sun lowers so much that it’s shining directly in the windows. This will also be affected by whether you have trees outside your windows and the time of year. Spring and summer tree foliage block out a lot more light than fall and winter when the leaves have dropped. There are lots of factors at play - and we’re here to assist you in determining the best time of day light wise!

When I arrived at their home, Madeline and I headed down the street to a local park for her headshot portion. Parker was due to be up from his nap at any moment and would be eating afterwards, so that’s why we planned it this way. When we returned from the park, he was ready to be dressed. Madeleine showed me a few outfit options and I pulled out the best combos. We headed to the backyard first before the sun rose too high for some outdoor images with their pups, and then went back indoors for some images in their formal living room. After an outfit change, we headed upstairs to Parker’s gorgeous nursery. I loved the blue and white scheme and the stuffed llama was just the cutest! Madeleine has an affinity for traditional Southern clothing, and never misses an opportunity to dress Parker up. True to form, she put him in a sweet romper and handed him his silver cup and spoon that had been a baby gift from a special person in their lives. He had the best time banging and playing with them, and we wrapped up the session with family and parent images in the nursery.

As of this writing, I’ve photographed Madeleine’s second maternity session and we’re waiting the birth of the newest addition to the family later this spring!

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 | Kimberly & Eric

Kimberly contacted the studio for a  maternity session at the park location. She had a few schedule limitations on her calendar due to travel, but we were able to find a date that worked! We scheduled a maternity fitting at the studio to take place a couple of weeks before her session, and sent along the style guide for her to have on hand when thinking about what her husband should wear.

Maternity fittings are an opportunity for you to come to the studio and look through our client wardrobe! We’ll chat and get to know each other while you try on pieces. The majority of our dresses can accommodate most bellies and are based on bust size. We have dressed female clients from size 0-14/16 and that are 4’10” through 6’2”! Usage of the studio wardrobe is included with your session, and even if you choose not to borrow from the wardrobe you'll still have styling assistance from us if you need it. We care about your session experience and the final product, so we work closely with you to help you choose the best colors and styles to take the stress out and make it fun! Kimberly really enjoyed trying on all of the dresses, and settled on two that she looked and felt beautiful in. We discussed a few different options of what Eric could wear based on what she had chosen that would stay true to his style preferences.

On the evening of their session, we met at the park and I was struck by how much fun the two were having together. It was almost like I wasn’t even there, to be honest! They had eyes only for each other, and it was just the sweetest thing. Very little direction was needed from me other than where to stand and which direction to face to work with the strong backlighting, and the rest was all them. If you don’t know what to do, don’t worry - I’ll tell you exactly what to do. I position clients, and then give prompts for natural interaction and will adjust certain things when necessary to make sure it’s flattering to my clients. The rest is all you - all you have to do is focus on each other!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos! Isn’t her round pregnant belly the cutest?!

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 Aiden

I have so many clients return year after year as their children grow or they add another baby, and this family is no exception. I LOVE getting to see the newest addition to families and seeing if they look like their siblings or not. I first worked with Adrienne and Dave when they were expecting their first child for their studio maternity session, then again for newborn and his First Birthday, then for his second birthday…and then heard from Adrienne that they were expecting baby #2! She scheduled both maternity and newborn for their second baby, opted to add on hair and makeup services with Margaret as she always has for previous sessions.

You can see their studio maternity session when expecting their first by clicking here, the newborn session of their first child by clicking here, fall family photos at the field by clicking here, and their park maternity session with their second child by clicking here. Whew, that’s a lot, right!? I don’t think I ever blogged Logan’s First Birthday session, so I should probably dig that out and post it sometime since it was such a cute one! That list doesn’t even include all the Santa sessions they’ve come to as well. What can I say? We have lots of long term clients and we LOVE it!

On the morning of their session, Adrienne and Dave arrived at the studio with baby Aiden! They had waited until birth again to find out if they were having a boy or girl (just like I did with all three of my own children) and were so excited that Logan was a big brother. As soon as I looked into the car seat carrier I was amazed at how CUTE Aiden was, but also at how different he looked from his brother as a newborn. There were definitely some similarities and time will tell - but I think they’re going to look pretty different from each other!

When I took Aiden out of his carseat, he was sound asleep, so I got to work right way with his solo portraits. Adrienne hopped into the hair and makeup chair, and Dave took the time to relax on the couch. Mamas - adding on hair and makeup doesn’t extend the length of your session time in the least bit. I’m going to be photographing your baby solo for the first 90 minutes or so of your time here, so if you’re worried that it’s going to make your session longer, don’t be!

Aiden slept for most of his time with me, but he did open his eyes to look around once. I always jump at the opportunity to photograph awake newborns as long as they’re calm and content. I love his quizzical expression in the photo I took, and then he drifted back to sleep. As I was finishing up with Aiden, big brother Logan arrived with his grandparents. Aiden woke up, but stayed really quiet and calm, so I kept photographing him while awake! Adrienne nursed him and then we got started with the family portion of the session.

We get a lot of requests for sibling photos. I want to address this because every older sibling is different. My first and foremost priority is the safety of your newborn. If I deem your older child too wiggly or too excited to calmly lie next to their sibling and follow direction, I will not put your newborn at risk by attempting it. We have LOTS of other ways to capture siblings together that involve a parent holding baby to keep them safe. Some older siblings are simply not willing to get that close to their sibling or don’t want to touch them. I always want my clients to have a realistic view on what to expect from their time with me and understand that sometimes the hope of a specific image just isn’t safe to create.

When we started the family portion, Logan was very excited and kept running back and forth between his parents and grandparents. Sometimes it’s totally fine for grandparents to remain in the studio, but in this case it was causing too much distraction. His grandparents were totally fine with stepping out and heading to our building lobby to hang out for a bit to see if that would help. It did - within minutes of their exit, Logan was participating and listening again. Sometimes having too many adults on hand can be overstimulating and distracting, so if I notice that happening, I will ask those not participating in the session to exit the studio for a bit to see if it helps. On the flip side, I’ve had so many kids do better with grandparents in the studio! Every family and kid is different, and we’ll play it by ear and see how it goes.

When I have toddlers involved, I get all of the family images and sibling images done first. That way they are free to go and enjoy their day and aren’t running around the studio or making their parents crazy. ;) Logan left with his grandparents to head home, and I ended the session with parent and baby images. Aiden was such a little squishball with the most delicious baby rolls - see for yourself!

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 | Cori is TWO!

I first photographed Cori when she was one for some First Birthday portraits. Her parents had chosen not to be in the session with her for that session, but when Rebecca called to schedule portraits for Cori’s second birthday she let us know that they wanted to be in the photos this time for a milestone/family session. They were so excited about it, and I was too! I really love when parents participate in the session because I believe it’s such a gift to give to your children. They will look at those images for the rest of their lives, even when you’re not there with them anymore - and they will see how much you loved them. I like to call photographs “tangible memories”. It’s incredible how much emotion a simple picture can evoke. Looking at a photo of myself holding my daughter as a tiny newborn in your arms instantly transports me back to those days the memories all come flooding back - from the weight of her in my arms to the sweet scent of her newborn baby head.

We sent Rebecca our style guide which she appreciated, and she let us know it was super helpful. It’s a short and sweet rule with suggested guidelines for the best practices in dressing your family. If you’re still feeling stuck or not quite sure, you can schedule a time to stop by the studio for a complimentary style consult, or we can exchange emails! Moms simply snap a few photos of their outfit combinations, email them to me, and I’ll respond with input and feedback. Super easy! If you opt for an in person consult, you simply bring what you’re considering, and we’ll sit down together and go over it. We’re here to help planning for your session be as EASY and stress free as possible and are more than happy to serve you in this way!

When the family arrived Rebecca let me know that Cori was FULL of personality and might be difficult to wrangle. Pretty much every client tells me this - and I say, “bring it!” I LOVE lively children, and I have three of my own who are chock full of personality themselves. If you have a spirited child, we are going to have the best time playing and interacting - and they will be full of those cute expressions unique to them that you know and love. Just saying that is making my brain flash through all the expressions my children make on a daily basis when reacting to certain things! I want you to always remember the fun personality of your child, and portrait sessions are such a great way to do this!

“My child is really, really shy.” - that might be what you’re thinking right now. That’s okay! When you come in for your session, you won’t see my camera out for a little bit. I’m going to give your child a LOT of space and start playing by myself with toys. Yep, you heard right. When they show interest, often times they’ll come over to see what’s happening. I tend to ignore my littlest clients until they show interest in me - and I meet them where they’re at. The last thing a shy child needs is an overly peppy photographer getting in their face because that’s just not going to build their trust and win them over. If it’s taking them a little longer to warm up, we’ll start the session with family images in your arms. We have lots of fun techniques that we use to warm kids up, and as long as you’re laid back and go along with my prompts - we will work together to create some magic!

Since Cori wasn’t shy, she hopped right up onto one of my studio chairs and proceeded to show me all her expressions. We brought her parents in one by one and together, and just had lots of fun playing and running around. I want you to know that this session was VERY high energy, and mom and dad were a little out of breath at the end. When they saw their gallery they LOVED the photos of their family together and all of the images of Cori as well - from the funny, to silly, to happy, to serious. I can’t wait to see them 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.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Katherine & Daniel at the park

Katherine contacted us to book a maternity session and let us know that she had been referred to us by a few nurses on her floor. I immediately knew which floor it was because we have literally had FIVE nurses from the same floor come to us! :) I love when our clients loved their experience so much that their friends know they’ll be taken good care of too.

After looking at the locations, Katherine chose to book a maternity session with us at the park location. When she came in for her maternity fitting, she informed me that her husband didn't enjoy having his picture taken and would probably feel super awkward. I told her not to worry at all. I really love working with dads and have lost count at how many have told me they enjoyed the experience after initially thinking it would be something they just had to survive and get through. Dads like really clear direction and knowing what to expect, and I make sure they get that! My sessions are not dragged out and never ending, and your guy will feel comfortable with me and my direct but laid back approach quickly.

Katherine came in to the studio for a fitting, and after looking through several options, she chose two lace dresses from the wardrobe. One was a gorgeous cream off the shoulder dress, and the other was a steel blue dress that looked beautiful with her eyes. We discussed what her husband should wear, and she asked for my opinion on whether she should add hair and makeup services. My opinion is always, absolutely, yes - you will not regret it! This is coming from a gal who doesn’t wear makeup or even own any - but you can bet that I work with a member of our team whenever I am stepping in front of the camera. Our hair and makeup team is absolutely incredible, and each artist will work with you to create a look that is true to who you are tailored to your specific preferences. If you want classic and clean or want a bit more dramatic glam, they can do it. They collaborate WITH you during the process, and they’re just wonderful. She ultimately did decide to add on hair and makeup services  and met Brielle at the studio the afternoon of the session to get ready.

I met them at the park on a beautiful and sunny fall evening with her dresses, and while Katherine was getting changed into her first dress, I chatted with Daniel and got to know him a bit. I could tell he was a bit nervous and not really looking forward to this, but absolutely loved his wife and wanted him to be happy. I let him know that being nervous wasn’t necessary because I was going to tell him exactly what to do and would literally nudge him into the right position if he wasn’t there. He was visibly relieved to hear this and it didn’t take him long at all to relax! Because my primary focus is on love and connection between my subjects rather than “Ok, please look at the camera and smile” formal and stuff portraits, your guy just has to focus on YOU. Most expectant dads look at their pregnant wives and start thinking about everything that the future holds, and they start smiling all on their own without any help from me. How can you not smile when you’re looking at the only part of your life that truly matters?

Enjoy a few of my favorite pictures 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 Fresh 48 Photographer | Baby Marin

Fresh 48 sessions are some of my absolute favorites! I first worked with Roxanne and Zach when they were expecting their first baby for their maternity and birth sessions. When Roxanne let me know she was pregnant with their second baby, she knew she wanted to book a maternity session at the park location, and she asked if she should book birth or Fresh 48. After some discussion, we determined that Fresh 48 was the best fit for her because she was most interested in documenting the entire family together and Orlando with his baby sister. Sometimes babies are born in the middle of the night, so I’m gone by the time the rest of the family comes to meet baby unless the family chooses to do both birth and Fresh 48. We can discuss which session type is best for you if you’re on the fence or not sure.

Want to see Roxanne’s maternity session at the field location when she was pregnant with her son? You can see the photos by clicking here. We met up at the park for her family maternity session on a hot late summer evening and you can see those images by clicking here. One difference between her maternity sessions was that this time, Roxanne chose to add on hair and makeup ! She had attended our Motherhood Experience event in the past and really loved the simple makeup application that is included, so was excited to see what the full experience would be like. I’m happy to report she loved every second of her time with our lead HMUA, Margaret, and looked absolutely stunning to boot! I love looking back and comparing images from each pregnancy to see if they look similar or totally opposite!

As a quick note: I’m fully booked for The Birth Session for the remainder of 2020 with a limited wait list remaining for the months of August and September. Contact us to discuss what being on the wait list entails! As a note, The Birth Session for 2021 due dates will exclusively be available to clients booking at least 2 other sessions with me over the first year (choosing from maternity, newborn, and a milestone session for 6 months or First Birthday).

Roxanne let me know that she was scheduled for an induction, and confirmed with her daughter Marin had arrived. I asked when her big brother would be napping and available to come to the hospital, and we chose a time that worked for both of us during daylight hours the next morning. I always take nap times of older siblings into consideration when scheduling, but cannot guarantee a specific timeframe. Fresh 48 sessions are photographed during daylight hours in your hospital room before you are discharged to go home from the hospital.

“What if my baby has some unforeseen complications and we aren’t able to do a Fresh 48? because of a NICU stay?” We are asked this a lot, and it’s totally a valid concern because life doesn’t always go according to plan. No need to stress about this - we’ll transfer your Fresh 48 to a future milestone session for 6 months or First Birthday.

When I arrived at Northside Hospital, I made my way to their labor & delivery recovery room. I always ask that when I arrive it just be parents and baby present. This allows me to efficiently photograph those parent moments and baby alone, and get set up for when an older sibling is arriving, especially if videography has been added on. Sometimes it’s the very first meeting between siblings, and other times it isn’t. Everything is very natural and lifestyle oriented for Fresh 48 sessions. I will move some things around if they’re distracting in the background, but typically leave your room as is for the most part in keeping with the truly authentic style of documentary storytelling.

Marin was absolutely ADORABLE and such a little sleeping beauty. Grandma brought Orlando about 15 minutes after I had arrived, and was happy to see me. After a few high fives, I set about photographing the family together and gave Roxanne and Zach some simple prompts for what to do. Everything I photograph is natural interaction unfolding, but sometimes my clients need a little help to get the ball rolling. That’s pretty normal, and I’m here to get it going, so you never need to worry about what you’re supposed to do. Grandma jumped in for a few photos as well - and I welcome other family members! Keep in mind that I will want to start with just parents and baby and then bring in others to keep the atmosphere calm and peaceful for all involved.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this precious 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 Photographer | Taylor & Julianne

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you’re spending it with people you love. I decided to share one of my favorite fall maternity sessions with one of the sweetest couples in honor of it!

When Julianne contacted us, she let us know that she was actually the aunt of three newborns that had passed through my studio in the past four years. Her most recent niece had just come through, and she absolutely loved all of their photos. She told us she couldn’t imagine going anywhere else based on what she had heard about the experience from her brother and sister-in-law and knew she would be coming to us whenever she started a family. That day had come, and she chose to book maternity and newborn together. For her maternity session, she chose the park as her location and we scheduled a time for her to come into the studio to try on dresses.

The day of her maternity fitting, her sister-in-law let me know that she would be stopping by to pick up her newborn collection order. As luck would have it, Julianne arrived shortly after Kate did and we all chatted for a bit. Kate left, and Julianne and I started going through the pieces. We had fun looking through everything and I pulled items that I knew would look great with her skin tone and body type. My first consideration is always the color of the dress with a client’s skin tone. Secondary to that is how it fits. If a dress is too big we can often clamp it and resize it that way! Our studio wardrobe has a wide range of sizes from 0-14/16 and accommodates all heights - we have dressed 4’10” to 6’2” female clients for sessions! After trying on several pieces, she chose a gorgeous nude dress with a lace overlay and a simple pale pink dress. We discussed what her husband, Taylor could wear from his own wardrobe too. When you come in for a maternity fitting we’ll discuss that together, but the nutshell version: keep your partner true to HE is and respect his style preferences. He’s part of the session and we want him to feel comfortable too, not like an imposter wearing something he felt forced into.

The day of their session, we met on a gorgeous and sunny evening, and Taylor looked great in his chinos and pullover sweater. Julianne got dressed in her first dress and Taylor and I chatted a bit about what to expect during the session while she was doing that. Both of them told me that they weren’t really sure what they were doing and were a little nervous, and I reassured them that everyone feels that way! With me, you don’t have to worry about what to do because I will give you clear guidance the WHOLE time. You’ll find that after about 10 minutes you are naturally doing everything you need to, and once you’ve relaxed and start having fun - we get those beautiful and authentic images that show your emotional connection. I get so many clients who tell me that they love the photos they see on the website but “My husband isn’t lovey dovey so I don’t think we’ll get those gorgeous pictures.” Let me tell you something. Most of my clients aren’t “lovey dovey”. But the moments you see are real and not forced. All I do is position my couples in close proximity to each other and give them a prompt, and what unfolds is uniquely them. You cannot fake emotion in photographs, and your love for one another will shine through with those quiet looks and exchanged smiles. I’ve never had a couple not break into a smile when I ask them to think about their baby and what they think they’ll look like! So don’t worry about what to do with your hands or how to stand, or where to look - I’ve got you! :) We’re going to have a blast, just like Julianne, Taylor, and I did.

See for yourself! I can’t wait to share their newborn pictures of their beautiful baby boy on the blog soon.

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.