Atlanta First Birthday Photographer | Baby Crew is ONE!

A SPUR OF THE MOMENT FIRST BIRTHDAY CLIENT

Karen contacted the studio at the VERY last minute to schedule a First Birthday session for her son, Crew. She and her husband Kirk have EIGHT children in their blended family, and Crew is their youngest. They were in the middle of getting their home listed, and things were crazy busy for them. Because of everything going on, Karen realized that she had neglected to schedule a session for him! She and her husband spent some time researching and visiting websites, and knew that I was the one for them as soon as they looked through my portfolio. Karen crossed her fingers and hoped we would be available for a last minute session. Much to her excitement - I was available that same week, and it was also my last availability in the next six weeks! (Pro tip: Don’t wait until the last minute if at all possible, because I can’t guarantee that it will work out for you in terms of my ability to fit you in!) Karen wasted no time securing the date with us. We sent along our style guide and cake tips sheet for her to look over, and let her know that we were available for any additional questions she had.

A couple of days later, Karen sent me an email letting me know she was feeling very overwhelmed due to the preparations for the move. Because of all the organizing and packing they were doing, she didn’t have access to a lot of her clothes, and she didn’t know where she was going to get a cake at the last minute!

I invited her to come to the studio the next day for a style consult, and she was thrilled to hear that she could borrow from the wardrobe and that I had plenty of options that would fit her 5’11” frame. I also asked her to bring along options for Crew from what she had and I would pull out what I had available as well. Crew was already in 18-24 month sizing at age 1, and I have a handful of neutral and timeless things that work really well for that. There’s no need to stress about what to wear - I will help you figure it out!

Karen loved so many of the options that I had available for her and we narrowed it down to two of her favorites. Since her session was in just a couple of days, I told her that we could decide when they arrived. We also looked through the options for Crew, and she fell in love with a unisex cream romper that I have in my studio. She had also brought along the most darling little three piece set for Crew as well, so he was all set!

As a mom of three myself, trust me…I know you’re busy! I have thoughtfully designed your entire session experience from start to finish to be as simplified as possible. You shouldn’t have to waste precious brainpower trying to figure everything out on your own. If you want or need more in-depth assistance with styling like Karen did, I’m available to schedule a complimentary visit in the studio to go over your wardrobe or exchange a few emails in advance of your session. Whatever you need, I’m here for you!

THE BEST TIME TO DRESS YOUR BABY FOR THEIR SESSION

Some moms find it it easier dress their child beforehand because they’re in that oh-so-fun stage where a diaper or clothing change results in an epic flailing temper tantrum. You know your little one and their needs best, so I will always defer to your mama judgment on when to get them dressed!

If you choose to dress your baby before coming to the studio, please make sure they are wearing something that is wrinkle resistant! You will also want cover their clothing with a big bib to protect their outfit in case anything happens on the way. “What could possibly happen?”, I’m sure you’re thinking. Well….here’s some real life examples that have actually happened to some of my clients: carsickness, spilled bottle, spilled snack, really big sneeze….oh, and that time a baby found a chocolate m&m lodged in their carseat that an older sibling must have dropped. I’m not kidding! When your planned outfit can no longer be used, it can be stressful, so let’s do what we can to avoid it happening!

WHERE TO GET YOUR BABY’S SMASH CAKE IN ATLANTA

Karen was stressing about finding a bakery and ordering a cake, so I took that stress away from her. I checked with our preferred baker to see if she had availability (she did) and then gave Karen her contact information for Christina. Bonus: If your baby needs a vegan, egg-free, or dairy-free option, Christina can do that! A MAJOR plus to working with Christina is that she delivers your cake to the studio in advance of your session! This means that your cake is one less thing you need to worry about. There will be no prayers that you don’t trip while precariously balancing your cake. Not only are Christina’s cakes delicious (even the vegan ones!), her cakes are beautiful and photograph like an absolute dream.

I have personally worked with Christina over the last few years to develop the best buttercream consistency for our tiny clients. The icing texture is soft and malleable, so it’s perfect for smashing, but it’s not so sticky that it and won’t wipe off easily with some baby wipes. The majority of one year old babies DO NOT enjoy being wiped off afterwards because of being constrained! The less elbow grease needed from you to wipe the icing off their skin after their session, the better.

If you’re looking for a commercial options, Publix, Kroger, and Whole Foods are all great options for your baby’s smash cake! Wherever you choose to get your baby’s smash cake from, we’ll send our cake tips to you regardless. We’ll also warn you about a popular place in the Atlanta area….a popular bakery that we do NOT recommend getting your baby’s smash cake from! We don’t recommend this particular bakery because their cake icing is so sticky that it’s like GLUE, and extremely difficult to get off skin. Trust me: you do not want to have to use 10,000 baby wipes to get your baby cleaned up - and neither does your baby!

BEST PRACTICES FOR YOUR BABY’S SMASH CAKE

• SIMPLE is the name of the game at the studio when it comes to smash cakes - the focus should be on your baby, not the cake. Don’t use fondant or tons of added objects for decor. Consider textured icing or an ombre, or watercolor design if you want visual interest. “Naked” cakes are also really beautiful too!

• Bigger is NOT better. Keep your baby’s cake to a max of 6 inches in diamete and to two shorter layers at the max. If height of your baby’s cake is too high, it will block their face and limit angles for their photos.

• Flowers as decor are so pretty on cakes, but are not practical for smash cakes. If you choose to include them anyway, plan to remove them after first few photographs, 9 times out of 10 they will end up on your baby’s mouth and you'll be dashing over to take it away… which can lead to an unhappy baby! This advice applies to everything that isn’t icing - candles, decor, etc. Added elements tend to be a distraction from actually exploring and eating their cake, and the biggest drawback is that they obscure adorable facial expressions and limit angles.

• Keep it neutral! Choose a neutral icing color (off white, cream, or pastels) is best. Don’t choose neons, black, or super bright colors. These may permanently stain and ruin your baby’s clothing, and will cause unwanted color casts in your baby’s photos.

• Pass on using shaved coconut as a coating for your baby’s cake. While shaved coconut does add beautiful texture, there has not been a single baby in my studio that has liked it. As soon as they felt the texture in their mouth, it promptly ended exploration of the cake and they started crying and trying to get it out of their mouth. The exception to this guideline on coconut would be if you’ve given this to your baby before and know that they consistently enjoy it!

• Use buttercream icing only! AVOID whipped icing and fondant like the plague. Whipped icing is extremely sticky, greasy, and slippery. It is VERY resistant to being wiped off skin. Fondant is very thick, and frustrating for babies because it’s difficult for their tiny fingers to break through and eat. It’s also a choking hazard if they get a big piece of it in their mouth!

• Don’t bother with writing a message on top of the cake (save it for the party cake instead) - it doesn’t photograph well and can be distracting. If you HAVE to have something written that’s fine - but just be aware you won’t see it well like you think you will.

FIRST BIRTHDAY SESSION FLOW

First Birthday sessions are the ultimate 3 sessions -in-1. Your gallery will have solo portraits of your little one, family.parent portraits, AND cake smash photos (if you include a cake) to choose from. When Karen arrived, I had the two dresses she was considering ready to go. As soon as I saw what her husband was wearing, I knew that only one of the dresses would work for the overall tone - and she had been leaning towards it anyway, so she was happy for me to make the final call. I love when my clients trust my professional judgement when it comes to the best colors and tones! Trust me: I want you to look your very best, and choosing the right colors for everyone that all work together cohesively is a HUGE part of making that happen.

I started the session photographing Crew with his parents, and he was just the CUTEST little baby boy with the biggest blue eyes. He was a little bit shy at first, so photographing him with his parents helped him get used to me and accept that everything was okay and he was safe. I brought out our wooden stacking blocks for him to play with, which he absolutely loved. It didn’t take him long to warm up to me and his big, fun, and FEARLESS personality came out quickly! Karen changed him really quickly into the unisex cream romper for a few images since she loved it so much, and it looked absolutely perfect with the dress she had chosen.

Once we were done with the family and Crew’s solo portraits, it was time for the cake smashing fun!

THE CAKE SMASH

Karen put Crew into one of the knit diaper covers that I have here in the studio. I set up one of our antique high chairs and we sat Crew in it. I then demonstrated exactly how Karen should present the cake to Crew (I know it sounds a little over-the-top, but how you do this actually does matter for the best pictures!). I constantly physically demonstrate what I need you to do throughout during my sessions, so you’re never left hanging and trying to figure it out yourself!

When Crew saw his cake, he LITERALLY grabbed it! I think this session might be my most favorite baby boy session ever when it comes to how much he loved his cake. His parents joined in on the fun too for a few images! A lot of parents worry that a smash cake will be a complete waste of time if their baby isn’t in to it. I can’t promise your baby will love their cake, but I CAN tell you that I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve to get them interested. These tricks involve YOU interacting with them, and they’re easy! Once they’ve become sufficiently interested, parents can exit out of the frame and I’ll capture those images of your little one enjoying their cake! In this case, we didn’t have to employ any of these tactics at all… but we did have to take Crew out of the high chair and put him on the floor when he kept trying to throw his cake off the tray. Have no fear: I disinfect and steam mop the floors before sessions, so your baby will be on a clean floor if we have to do that!

I don’t typically put babies on the floor for cake smash sessions because the high chair is better for containing the mess and making life easier for parents. In this case though, I’m so glad we tried it to see what he would do… because the resulting images are SO RIDICULOUSLY CUTE and show Crew’s seriously flexibility and dedication to getting some more of his cake in his mouth! Scroll through a few of my favorites below to see what I mean!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from sweet Crew’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 Family Photographer | Kathleen, Ben & Holland

I first worked with Kathleen & Ben for their studio maternity session, and had hoped to photograph their newborn session but COVID hit right when she was born, and the mandated statewide pause shut my studio down for several weeks. So…. we did an outdoor family/milestone session several months later in September at the mountain location instead!!!

HOW TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY SESSION

Kathleen knew that we book out our fall dates MONTHS in advance, when when we knew that a newborn session wouldn’t be possible we went ahead and got their milestone session on the calendar. After chatting for a bit about the different locations available, she decided that the mountain location fit her family and her vision the best. Keep reading this post for more detail about the mountain as a location, because there are things you NEED to know about it when making your location decision.

Once Kathleen chose a date from what we had remaining on the calendar, we sent over her session paperwork electronically, and when she remitted it she was officially locked into the calendar.

As a note, dates are first come, first serve and they go quickly, especially for spring and fall dates. When we speak and give you open dates, those dates are what we have open as of our conversation with you. Dates are considered open on our calendar until booked, so it is possible that some or all of the dates will become unavailable if other clients book them before you make a decision. We have had clients get dates, tell us they’ll get back to us, and then get distracted. A week later, they reply back choosing a date that is no longer available due to being booked by another client. Moral of the story here: choose your date and lock your session in as soon as you can to avoid it being taken by another inquiry.

Kathleen sent back her session paperwork (everything is handled securely and electronically online!), and we sent over our style guide. When I asked if she would need any help styling like she did the first time, she said YES. We had a few email exchanges, and I sent over some options from my studio wardrobe for Holland that I knew would look amazing with her blue eyes. Kathleen was relieved to not have to go shopping for Holland, and opted to have the family dress more casually. She struggled with finding something for Ben to wear, and I saved the day by sending her links for options from Target. Since Kathleen avoids going into any stores due to the ongoing pandemic, using Target drive-up for picking up the order was the perfect solution for her!

My simple and to the point style guide really does make it effortless to understand how to dress your family for your pictures, and I’m here to help you with extra hands-on assistance if you want it! You are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult with me at the studio. We’ll spend time chatting and go through your options, as well as look through things I have that might work from the client wardrobe.

I know you may have had less than stellar experiences with photographers in the past that left you to fend for yourselves and figure out the details yourself. You won’t be left in the desert when you’re my client. I’m here for you! If a studio visit isn’t an option for you, you can e-mail me photos and I’ll reply with feedback and suggestions… maybe even some shopping links if you need that! It is important to me that your experience is enjoyable and FUN, so let’s make that happen!

THE MOUNTAIN LOCATION: IT MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU

The mountain location is absolutely gorgeous in the fall, and I absolutely LOVE it. It almost feels like you’re on another planet due to the entire surface being rock.

I do NOT recommend choosing the mountain for summer sessions because of the extreme heat and the entire surface being rock and will NOT shoot there during the months of July and August due to the increased risk of heatstroke and fainting for participants.

The mountain location is NOT an “easy” location This holds especially true for families with little ones. Here’s why:

1. Parking can be EXTREMELY difficult to find, necessitating a two mile walk/hike just to get to the top, and then back again. Think about how exhausted your toddler might be after a walk like this.

2. There are no bathrooms on the mountain. You’re out of luck if you need to go - you have the option of using a Port-A-Potty at the base of the mountain if you’re desperate.

3. You cannot take strollers or wagons on the mountain, so you will need to plan to carry your children if they are young. Carrying your child(ren) can result in wrinkled clothing, sweating through your clothes, and being grumpy and exhausted by the time we get to the top.

4. If you have your maternity session at the mountain, you will only be able to have one outfit due to no changing tents being allowed on the surface of the mountain. There are very rare plants on the surface, and they are federally protected and yes, this is enforced!

5. The hike is moderate, but even my most physically fit clients who hike on the regular are a bit winded when we get to the top.

6. I will not be able to assist you by carrying anything for you. I will be handling my own heavy camera bag.

The good? It’s a gorgeous location that looks amazing whether it’s sunny or overcast and is worth the hike up.

THE FAMILY’S SESSION DAY

On the day of the session, it was a very slow evening at the mountain, which surprised me especially for how beautiful it was! We didn’t have any issues finding parking - granted, we went on a Tuesday evening and weekends tend to be less crowded but there’s never a guarantee during the fall.

Because Kathleen had chosen to wear heeled boots and neither of them wanted to hike up to the top carrying Holland, we decided to keep the session at the base of the mountain rather than hiking the mile up to the top. Kathleen was a little bummed because she thought we wouldn’t be able to get silhouette photos without going to the top, but you’ll see that’s NOT the case! All you need is an elevated surface and some open sky - and we can get that without going all the way up! :) The rocky ground is pitted and not even, so choose your footwear with that in mind…and walk carefully. The last thing you want is a sprained ankle to contend with!

I was really thrilled that we had scheduled their session at a time that ended up being the PEAK of the yellow flowers blooming! I love how they look in the background and in the gorgeous light we had that evening. We had so much fun staying at the base of the mountain and moving around from spot to spot.

Enjoy this beautiful mountain session - I just love working with this family and cannot wait to see them again for their next session! My favorite images are the shilouette images - so much emotion these two photos, and so much love. I think they’re such a perfect illustration of the saying “A picture is worth 1,000 words.”

QUIT PROCRASTINATING ALREADY

Do you need to schedule your family photo session? Do it now, before time inevitably slips away from you and you find yourself packing their bags for college. Contact us and we’ll chat about your vision and the goals you have for your pictures, as well as discuss our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Andrea & Paul at the park

Andrea contacted the studio at the end of her second trimester to learn about our maternity sessions. Since she and her husband are both in the medical field, she also asked about our COVID precautions. I’m so fortunate that about half of my clients work in some area of medicine/health! When news started coming out about COVID, I got ahead of it and emailed a selected few of my clients who work as pediatricians, OB-GYN’s, infectious disease doctors, ER physicians, and general practitioners. I asked them for advice on what I should do to keep myself and my clients as safe as possible, and they all sent me a list of their recommendations. This was long before the CDC had even come out with anything, and I’m pleased to say that their advice was actually beyond what the CDC recommended. After learning about all our safety procedures, Andrea knew she definitely wanted to book a maternity session with us, and chose the park location for their late September session.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR MATERNITY SESSION (it’s easy!)

We make it really, really easy for our clients. In fact, our clients frequently tell us how pleasantly surprised they were by how easy we make everything. This is intentional! You deserve to be able to enjoy your pregnancy without worrying about anything or dealing with complicated stuff.

Because Andrea had contacted us later in the game, we were already completely booked for weekend dates. We found a weeknight date that worked for her husband’s schedule, and because it was still early on in the fall, the sun was not setting until 7:45 PM. That meant that the session start time was 6:45, which allowed plenty of time for him to finish with work and for them to get there on time.

If you’re also a last minute client stressing about whether you’ll be able to book with us because you waited so long, please know that we often do have weeknights available. A lot of clients will just leave work a bit early to schedule a weekday evening session depending on what time the sun is setting on their session date. I always begin outdoor sessions about one hour before sunset. So, to find out what your session start time would be, just enter into the Google search box: “sunset time on X date in Atlanta”. The results will give the sunset time. From that time, subtract an hour, and that’s the general time for your session start!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Andrea’s electronic paperwork to secure her session date in the calendar. After Andrea remitted it, her session was officially locked in! Caroline then scheduled her maternity fitting here in the studio and e-mailed a short list of what she should bring along with her. She also gave her directions to our studio in intown Atlanta. We’re located right on the Beltline very close to Old Fourth Ward and Poncey-Hihglands. We are conveniently located by Ponce City Market, next to two.urban.licks and Bully Boy. There is a free parking lot available (and lots of street parking if our lot happens to be full when you arrive).

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR MATERNITY FITTING

Your maternity fitting will be scheduled to take place 1-2 weeks before your session! I want to make sure you have lots of time to decide what to wear, as well as time to pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. You’ll choose up to 2 looks for your maternity session, unless you’re at the mountain location - then you’ll just choose 1. Our mountain location rules (enforced by rangers to protect the flora) no longer allows me to bring up our changing tent.

Your baby bump isn’t likely grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices! Most of our dresses have some stretch to them as well, but there are a few that' don’t. If you fall in love with a dress at your fitting that is close to not fitting and doesn’t have any stretch, you will pick a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore on your session date.

Usage of the studio wardrobe is not required but roughly 95% of our clients do borrow from it! It saves you lots of time on online shopping and returning what you don’t like, and eliminates a lot of stress. Even if you end up not choosing to borrow from the wardrobe, coming in to look through is GREAT for inspiration and to get to know me.

As an added bonus, a LOT of my maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting! So many of my client closet pieces pull double duty and can be worn as a maternity or regular dress.

I strongly recommend that you come in to see me beforehand even if you are planning to wear your own clothing. If you are just not able to do that because of logistics (I have tons of out of town clients), let’s schedule a virtual meeting via Zoom or FaceTime instead! Clients who spend some time with me before their session are MUCH more relaxed and start having fun a lot sooner. Why? Because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time and they start off the session feeling comfortable since we’ve already broken the ice.

When Andrea and Paul came in for her fitting, they were surprised by the number of options available in the wardrobe. We have a LOT! She had been worried we wouldn’t have options for her as she’s very slim in build. Our studio wardrobe has outfitted women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16, so if you fall into those ranges, we very likely have something for you! When they arrived, we chatted for a bit about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I started pulling some of our pieces for her. She tried each of them on and Paul assisted by taking an iPhone photo of her in each one so they could review and choose later. While she was trying on pieces, Paul and I chatted and got to know each other, and I walked him through how to dress as well. He had a few questions for me about newborn sessions and how I did those, which I was happy to answer. They had not yet booked a newborn session at this time, since they were still considering whether or not to do that and wanted to see the studio and hear more about how they worked first.

When it comes to making your choices, you don’t have to decide at your maternity fitting! That’s why iPhone photos of you in each dress come in handy. You’ll need to have your final selections sent to me 4 business days before your session date. That allows me to have your options dry cleaned and back in time if another client wears one of your choices in the same week, or to pull your selection and put it aside if I have a session the day before or day of yours.

After looking at all her options and showing her husband, Andrea decided on a pretty teal lace gown that brought out her eyes and the popular “magic” dress - a backless boho dress with a crochet top that somehow looks amazing on very single skin tone and fits a wide range of sizes. It’s a client favorite for a reason!

EFFICIENCY IS THE NAME OF MY GAME

An outdoor maternity session should NOT take 4 hours. That’s a crazy length of time to shoot a regular portrait session without a newborn involved. Overly long sessions are why a lot of first time dads come in assuming they’re going to hate the entire experience and it’s going to be one of those things they have to grit their teeth and get through for the sake of making their wife happy.

NO WAY. That’s not how I operate. I’m incredibly efficient, and I make sessions enjoyable (and sometimes even fun). I will lead you both through the entire experience and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. Your partner will be given direction and be told what to expect next. Dads HATE sitting around not knowing what’s happening or what we’re doing next, and I eliminate that entirely with my direct tell-it-like-it-is (but in a kind way) approach.

My focus, and the heart of my business, is capturing the emotional connection between my subjects. You know that interaction you see in my photographs? It is 100% real and not forced or staged.

I’ll be totally honest: most of my couples can’t get to that natural interaction on their own because MOST people are very camera aware and freeze up a little bit.

So….I’ll get you both positioned just where where you need to be. I’ll tuck back stray hairs and adjust your clothing if necessary ….and proceed to direct you with a simple prompt that spurs your natural interaction and emotion. THAT, my friends, is when the magic for your photographs will begin.

When you choose me as your photographer, you won’t need to be nervous about not knowing what to do. You will never have to think to yourself, “We will never look like we are in love and connected like those other couples on her website .” You will, but it WON’T look like “those other couples”. Why? Your dynamic with your partner is absolutely exclusive to the two of you! Your session pictures SHOULDN’T look like any other maternity session. If that were the case, you’d just have a cookie cutter shoot, and who wants that?!

Your images will be a beautiful and true reflection of your relationship and affection for each other, and highlight the love you have for this brand new baby on the way. Oh, and you’ll also look absolutely stunning. ;) 

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR MATERNITY SESSION

I already mentioned that my maternity sessions aren’t needlessly long. I block off an hour for portrait sessions that don’t involved a newborn, and we will begin one hour before sunset. As such, it’s important to be on time, because while I shoot efficiently, I don’t have the power to keep the sun from setting.

When we start your session, you will likely be feeling a little nervous awkward. Feeling this way is 1000% normal! You can be confident that I will take excellent care of you. I frequently shoot 20+ maternity sessions (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for over 8 years now - so you are truly in the hands of an expert when it comes to maternity sessions!

Most of my expecting couples start hitting their stride within ten minutes of being in front of my camera. Sometimes the pictures I take at the very beginning of your session will meet my standards and they’ll make it into your proof gallery, but most often they don’t. I intentionally plan for the first bit of your maternity photos to be the warm-up for you! When I can see that you and your partner are beginning to relax, I ramp it up and that’s when I start getting those natural and unforced images for your gallery.

I have my pregnant clients move around as little as possible during maternity sessions! I am acutely cognizant of the fact that you’re pregnant! I know that your back might be aching, your feet might be a bit swollen, and that being pregnant and growing a baby is HARD work. So I refuse drag you all over the place and make you feel like you competed in a triathlon by the time we finish. Instead, I have your partner be the one to jump in and out of the frame.

During your session, if you ever need a break or to sit down for a minute, all you need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you if you need a minute. Your comfort is my priority and at the top of my mind when photographing you.

ANDREA & PAUL’S MATERNITY SESSION

The evening of their September session was warm, beautiful and sunny. When I arrived to the location, I got a text letting me know Andrea and Paul were running a few minutes late to their session. Andrea was a bit flustered when they arrived because of being late and very apologetic, saying she hoped this wasn’t messing everything up. I reassured her that it was totally fine, and because they were already comfortable with me we wouldn’t need very much time to warm up. While I would always prefer for clients to be on time, life (and Atlanta traffic) sometimes happen! All it means is that I will get even more efficient with my shooting and move things a little bit faster to make sure we get what we need in the time we have. Andrea changed into her first dress, and we got started shooting!

I spent some time photographing Andrea solo and having Paul step in and out. The two of them have a very lovey-dovey relationship naturally, so not much direction was needed to get that out of them! We really had a lot of fun and laughter during our time together, and their gallery images are just full of so many sweet moments that really showcase their affection and love for each other. At the end of the session, Andrea and Paul told me how much fun everything was and asked if they could go ahead and reserve a spot for their son’s newborn session after he arrived. I let Caroline know they wanted to proceed with a newborn session, so she sent over the information to them that same day to get them locked in.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, congratulations on expecting your baby!!! I know that this is such a special time in your life and you are so excited about everything that is to come. I would absolutely love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and how we can best serve you and your growing family!

Enjoy some of my favorite images from Andrea & Paul’s maternity session at the park !

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | Kelly, Daniel, Ruben, Thea, and Zoe on the mountain

I first worked with Kelly and Daniel for their first family session with a professional photographer a couple of years ago when their youngest was still a baby. When Kelly contacted the studio, she was so excited to hear that I helped clients with wardrobe planning and that there was a real, live studio manager available to answer her questions about the entire experience. Caroline (our studio manager) is pretty awesome! She’s so much fun to talk to, and our clients love her. I hired her full-time five years ago and have never looked back. Caroline helps ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the studio is served well from the very beginning, and her help allows me to focus 100% on working with my clients.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY SESSION

Kelly knew that we book out our fall dates MONTHS in advance, and she made sure to reach out to us in late spring to get on the calendar for a fall date. After chatting for a bit about the different locations available, she decided that the mountain location fit her family and her vision the best. (I’m going to go into more detail later in this post about the mountain as a location, because there are things you NEED to know if you’re considering choosing it as your location!)

Once Kelly picked a date from what we had remaining on the calendar, we sent over her session paperwork electronically, and when she remitted it she was officially locked into the calendar. When you call the studio to talk about dates, you need to know that any dates given to you as possibilities are not confirmed until you are officially booked in with your paperwork. When we give a date as a possibility to a client, we may have also given the same date as a possibility to another that we spoke with earlier in the same day. Dates are considered open on our calendar until booked - so they are first come, first serve. Clients are always amazed at how quickly dates go! We’ve had several instances where a client asked for some date options and we sent them over. The client got distracted and waited for a week to reply back - and all the dates that had been given as options the week prior were already booked by other clients.

Kelly remitted her paperwork that same day, and we sent over our style guide. She already had it from the first time around, but it’s always good to have a refresher. When I asked if she would need any help styling like she did the first time, she told me she planned to send over what they were wearing, but that she was pretty sure she could handle it thanks to the style guide. She did email over photos of the family’s ensemble, and I gave her two thumbs up. She did SUCH a great job! The style guide really does make it easy, and I’m here to help however I can. If you want to schedule a style consult at the studio to go through your options and possibly borrow from the client wardrobe, I’m here for you! If you’d rather send over photos of your options for me to look at and reply with feedback, I’m here for you! I want to make your experience enjoyable and FUN - and if that means you need some extra help with planning, I’ve got you taken care of.

THE MOUNTAIN LOCATION: IS IT RIGHT FOR ME?

The mountain location is absolutely gorgeous in the fall, and I LOVE it. I do not recommend it for summer sessions because of the extreme heat and the entire surface being rock and will NOT shoot there during the months of July and August due to the risk of heatstroke and fainting for clients.

The mountain location is NOT an easy location, especially for families with little ones. Here’s why: (1) parking can be EXTREMELY difficult to find, necessitating a two mile walk/hike just to get to the top, and then back again. Think about how exhausted your toddler might be after a walk like this. (2) There are no bathrooms on the mountain. You’re out of luck if you need to go. (3) You cannot take strollers or wagons on the mountain, so you will need to plan to carry your children if they are young. When you carry them, it can result in wrinkled clothing, sweating dads, and exhausted kids by the time we get to the top. (4) If you have a maternity session there, you will only be able to have one outfit due to no changing tents being allowed on the surface of the mountain. There are very rare plants on the surface, and they are federally protected and yes, this is enforced! (5) The hike is moderate, but even my most physically fit clients are a bit winded on the way up. (6) I will not be able to assist you or carry anything for you. I will be handling my own heavy camera bag. It is very much every man for themself on the way up.

The good? It’s a gorgeous location that looks amazing whether it’s sunny or overcast and is worth the hike up.

THE FAMILY’S SESSION DAY | CRISIS AVERTED!

On the day of the session, I arrived an HOUR early in hopes of finding parking. There was zero parking to be found. I texted the family to let them know and the overflow parking was also full. We ended up parking three miles away at another lot and then put our heads together to come up with a plan. What ended up happening is we decided I would jump into their minivan (masked and the windows down) and we would head back to the mountain base parking. Daniel planned drop us all off, and then try and find somewhere to park and then do the walk himself. When we pulled up, a car just happened to be leaving and we snatched the spot. Crisis averted!

We started the session at the base of the mountain and took our time going up to the top. I photograph along the base and every session looks different. We were all excited because it happened to be the peak of the yellow flower season, and they looked absolutely beautiful in the background with the clothing the family had chosen to wear. I cycle through lots of variations of groupings when I shoot family sessions - parents together, kids together, whole family together, mom with kids, dad with kids, so on and so forth. When a child needs a break or loses interest, I change it up and we move on. Keeping it low pressure for children is 100% the key to a successful session!

Enjoy this absolutely gorgeous mountain session - I just love working with this family and cannot wait to see them again for their next session!

IT’S TIME TO STOP PROCRASTINATING

Do you need to schedule family photos? It won’t be long before the time slips away from you and you’re packing their bags for college, so don’t put it off. Contact us and we’ll chat about your vision and the goals you have, as well as discuss our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family pictures!

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 Sonic

Rebecca had completed a maternity session at our field location with us and she loved the experience so much that she asked to reserve a  newborn session for after her son arrived. We fortunately still had room for another newborn in the month he was due, so we were able to get her taken care of! If you want to see the pictures from their maternity session, just click here!

WHEN YOU SHOULD BOOK YOUR BABY’S NEWBORN SESSION

Your baby will grow SO quickly, and the newborn stage is incredibly fleeting. It’s amazing how much your baby will change in appearance from their first days to weeks, to months. Preserving exactly how they looked when they were at their tiniest is what I specialize in, and I absolutely love being able to give parents these memories in tangible form for a lifetime! You will never regret having these photographs taken.

If you’re wondering when you should book your baby’s newborn session, the answer is NOW. Don’t wait until your baby is born to try and find a photographer. You will be tired, sleep deprived, and not in the best frame of mind to make major decisions. Who you entrust with your baby’s and your family’s first photographs is a pretty big one!

To reserve your newborn session, you need to reserve a spot on our calendar in advance because I have limited space for newborns due in each month, and I book pretty far in advance. To give you an idea: more and more of my clients are choosing to reserve their sessions in their first trimester or right at the end of it to ensure they have a guaranteed spot.

Once I reach my monthly newborn capacity, there are no more available spots. This policy is in place to ensure we can provide the excellent experience and service that you deserve! Reserving your session is NOT scheduling the exact date since it’s impossible to guess when your baby will actually be born. When your baby arrives, you will let me know and we will then schedule your session to take place here in the studio! Typically, clients can expect to be scheduled to come in between the first 8-21 days of life, depending on how much their baby weighed at birth, if they were early/late, and if there were any delivery or postpartum complications that necessitate some extra recovery time at home.

If you’re reading this and your newborn is already here, you can always check with the studio to see if we have availability for a last minute newborn. There are times throughout the month that we have the space to take on an additional client if we’ve had a lot of our reserved newborns arrive early and they have already been photographed that month. You’ll never know unless you ask!

SONIC’S NEWBORN SESSION

On the morning of their session, Rebecca and Bo arrived to the studio with Sonic in tow. Rebecca was a bit concerned about how their session would go because she said that he sometimes would get fussy and take a while to calm down. I reassured her that I have seen it all at this point (I’m in my ninth year of business!) and that it wouldn’t be a problem even if he was fussy. I have all sorts of tricks up my sleeve and am very skilled at assessing a baby and what they might need to calm down. If your baby is fussy at times, know that this is NORMAL and we will get through it! There is no such thing as a “good” baby or a “bad” baby. When your baby is fussy or cries, it’s because they need something, and it’s our job to figure out what it is! I have a four hour chunk of time allotted for your newborn session to allow for calming and soothing your baby, as well as diaper changes and feedings just in case we need that much time. It will be fine, I promise! And just so you know: most newborn sessions are accomplished in 2-2.5 hours - the 4 hour chunk is just my “insurance” policy if your baby needs a lot of soothing time!

Sonic was a BIG boy, born at nearly nine pounds, and had the squishiest cheeks. Rebecca already knew we had tons of options available in our client wardrobe from when she had tried on options for her maternity session, and had a pretty good idea of which dress she wanted to wear for her newborn session. She felt both beautiful and comfortable in her choice of a mauve cap sleeved dress, which is exactly what the goal is when choosing what to wear.

Baby Sonic was a super sleepy guy, and he slept right through his solo portraits. He had the cutest little nose and head of black hair, and was just a chunky love bug!

WHY I USE NEUTRAL COLORS IN MY NEWBORN SESSIONS

You will notice when looking through my blog posts and portfolio that I primarily use neutral colors for newborn sessions. There’s a few thoughtful reasons for this!

1. Neutrals are timeless. They will stand the test of time and be impervious to being dated by trendy colors.

2. Netrals keep the focus on your baby and all their unique details. There are no loud colors competing for attention with your baby.

3. Neutrals look good on everyone! While the specific shades I use for your baby will depend on their skin tone, I have quite a few that are versatile and will work with pretty much every baby’s skin.

FAMILIES ARE INCLUDED IN NEWBORN SESSIONS, NOT JUST YOUR BABY!

After we finished up with Sonic’s solo portraits, Rebecca and Bo changed his diaper and gave him a bottle. He was alert at this point and looking around with a very serene gaze. Rebecca asked if we needed to get him back to sleep, and I told her it wasn’t necessary for the next part as long as he stayed happy and calm. I actually ADORE when babies have their eyes open during the parent and family portion because I’m able to capture that connection between parents and babies taking each other in. If this is your first baby and you didn’t have a lot of hands on experience prior to your baby’s birth, you might feel a little nervous or unsure of how to hold them. I will guide you and show you just what to do for your family portraits, so you don’t need to be concerned about figuring it out on your own. A lot of my clients have told me that a newborn session with me was like attending a Baby 101 class and that they learned things they wish had been covered in all their birth and baby prep classes! I have three children of my own, and have photographed hundreds of newborns over the past nine years of being a professional family & baby photographer. Prior to being a mom, I was a governess and overnight baby nurse so parents could get more sleep - in my tenure as a baby nurse I had NINE sets of twins. With all this combined professional and personal experience of being a mother myself, I have a LOT knowledge to share, and I am more than happy to be a resource for you if you ask! Don’t worry though: you won’t get unsolicited advice from me or be told you should do XYZ!

MAKING NEWBORN SESSIONS EASIER SINCE 2013

Not only will I guide you though how to hold your baby and what to do throughout your session, I’ll also make sure to tuck back any stray hairs. (Postpartum baby hair is REAL and sets in quicker than you think!) I pay attention to the little details, and adjust clothing and all those little things as needed. You just had a baby so the last thing you need is to deal with anything complicated. My client experience requires minimal brainpower from my clients, and we strive to make everything as simple as possible for you from first contact to final product delivery!

During your time with me, I want your focus to be holding and admiring your new baby. The family portion is typically the “easiest” part of our time together ! All you have to do is admire this amazing little human that you’ve welcomed into your family while following my gentle prompts for natural interaction with your baby and as a new family.

If you're expecting a new baby, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I’m so thrilled for you, and would love to be considered as your trusted photographer for your newborn and family’s first portraits.

We will work together to create images that you will treasure for a lifetime and pass down through generations, and you’ll never regret taking the time to have these moments photographed. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio, and contact us to learn more about our client experience!

Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from Sonic’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 & Family Photographer | Alexander is seven months!!!

Katie contacted the studio to book a family/sitting milestone session in the studio for her son, Alexander. She had come to us for her first son’s newborn session, but COVID had hit right when her second son was born. Once she felt comfortable and things had settled down somewhat, she was ready to schedule!

MAKING YOUR LIFE EASIER WITH WARDROBE STYLING ASSISTANCE

After Katie picked an available date on our calendar, our studio manager sent her the session paperwork. Once it was remitted, Katie’s session was locked into the calendar! We sent our studio style guide for her to refer to when choosing what to dress the family in. My studio style guide clearly outlines the best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combos and is a short and sweet read. I know you’re a busy mama juggling all the things, so I keep everything concise and to the point! If you need more assistance with styling, I am happy to schedule an in person or virtual appointment!

In Katie’s case, she emailed and asked me for some extra help in sourcing outfits. I emailed her a few links of things to look at to get her pointed in the right direction, and she took it from there. H&M is what ended up being the winner for the outfit Katie bought for Alexander and it was PERFECT.

Once you are booked for a session with me, I am here to help you with styling if you need it! I am a mom of three kids, and believe me… I know all too well that the process of planning family photos can feel daunting. It doesn’t have to be that way! I am here to help take as much of that stress off of your shoulders as possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR MILESTONE SESSION

We will discuss your priorities for your baby’s milestone session before we get started. For milestone sessions, most clients want the focus to be on their baby, with family and parent images mixed in throughout. Young babies don’t have a super long attention span and tend to tire out quickly. There’s a lot of excitement and stimulation going on in a brand new environment! ALL my milestone sessions are efficient and guided by your baby’s mood and interest.

Most babies need some time to warm up to new people. This is why I almost always begin my milestone sessions with parents involved. Doing this ensures that your baby feels safe and secure in your arms. Once they start showing interest in me and no longer seem concerned, that’s when I start interacting with them and getting closer to them.

PRO TIP: If you arrive to my studio and your baby is not adjusting right away, don’t stress. I have an infinite supply of patience and empathy. We’ll work together to get them comfortable and adjusted! Come in ready to have fun and be open to trying some “weird” things (example: snorting like a pig) to get your baby’s giggles going, and it will all work out in the end!

My biggest priority in the studio is baby safety! Alexander was sitting solidly on his own, but quick to roll and crawl, so his parents were right outside of the frame when he was on the bed ready to come to the rescue if needed. If your baby isn’t sitting up alone for very long yet at their milestone session, no worries! There are SO many other adorable positions for your baby, and your gallery will still have plenty of variety.

THE SESSION

When the family arrived at the studio, Katie looked through what I had pulled from the studio wardrobe and chose a pink lace dress for herself to wear. She’d also brought an armful of options for her husband, Jason for me to pick from. Katie had opted not to come in beforehand because she knew I would have something for her just like at her newborn session with her first son, Jackson. Speaking of Jackson - it was a bit mind blowing to see him all grown up! I love watching clients grow over the years, and it never ceases to amaze me how MUCH and how fast children grow up.

After getting Jackson dressed, Katie changed Alexander into the perfect soft neutral outfit from H&M, and I chose the best look from Jason’s options that worked with the rest of the family’s outfits, and we got started!

Katie had requested that the gallery be mostly a mix of family/parent/sibling images with a few solo of Alexander, so I got started with the family images right away. Both boys were so happy and fun, and there was a lot of laughter and hilarity that ensued. Jackson couldn’t quite hold on to his wiggle worm brother for some brothers only images on the floor, and it was so funny watching Alexander continually escape from his grip. To be fair, Jackson has been taught to be very gentle with his baby brother, so holding on tightly was not something he felt ok with doing!

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Alexander’s sitting milestone session with his whole family! You’ll see in the gallery that I utilized lots of my studio furniture throughout where it made sense.

If you want to learn more a milestone session for your baby, we would love to chat with you about what we offer and answer any questions you may have! It is NEVER too early to get on the calendar - so even if your baby is only a few weeks old right now, NOW is actually a perfect time to connect. My weekend dates typically book up 3-6 months in advance, so plan ahead and connect with us to get more information!

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

Atlanta Newborn and Family Photographer | Baby Bence

Mayers contacted the studio to learn more about booking a  newborn session after her son had arrived. She had relocated to the Atlanta area from her home state of Texas, so didn’t know many people in the area but loved what she saw on our website and knew we were the perfect fit for her family. After speaking with Caroline (our full time studio manager) and learning more about our client experience and COVID safety, she proceeded to book her son’s newborn session.

On the morning of their session, new parents Mayers and Jeremy arrived at the studio with Bence, and grandma accompanied them as well. We welcome grandparents in the studio, and have them present just for their part in the session. Mayers had brought a couple of options from home but looked through the studio wardrobe with her mother, and found a dress she really loved. Grandma also found something in our client wardrobe for herself too which she felt and looked fabulous in.

Baby Bence was awake upon his arrival, and Mayers expressed concern that he wasn’t sleeping. I reassured her that it was totally fine because he was calm and content. If your baby is awake and fussy, I’ll have you meet their needs with snuggling or a feeding to get them to a relaxed and happy state. I could see that Bence was tired and getting sleepy so I knew he wouldn’t be awake for long! Alert babies are so much fun to photograph and I work to get those eye contact images of your little one. After a few minutes of being swaddled up and warm with the sound machine turned on, Bence fell into a deep sleep, and I continued the session. I have an array of neutrals here in the studio, and I choose which are used based on your baby’s skin tone. Neutrals are timeless and will still look beautiful decades from now. They also keep the focus on your baby and all their unique details, which is where it should be! My posing and wrapping is very natural and led by your baby. I will not force your baby into any position they don’t want to be in, because their comfort and safety is important to me.

After we finished up with Bences’ solo images, he was awake again and a little bit fussy due to being hungry and having a wet diaper. Mayers took him for a feeding break and a change and once he was settled, we moved on to the family images.

I absolutely LOVE observing and photographing new parents together with their little one! There is always a sense of awe and wonder, and a whole lot of love. A lot of my clients don’t have a lot of prior experience with babies, and are still getting comfortable with handling and moving them around.

If this is your first baby, and you don’t have a lot of prior experience with babies, there is NO need to be nervous about your session! My utmost priority is your baby’s safety. I will verbally walk you through what to do and will model for you with demonstrations. There’s more than one way to hold a baby - so if you aren’t quite confident holding your baby in a certain way, I’ll seamlessly pivot and find an alternative that is comfortable and feels secure for you!

I’m here to make your experience fun and as stress-free as possible for you! During our time together, I will take care of all the little things so you don’t have to stress. I will smooth stray hairs and adjust your head angle so you don’t give yourself a double chin. I want your focus to be on your baby and for you to truly relax and enjoy yourself.

Grandma jumped in for some images with Bence and Mayers also, which I just loved. Bence was so alert and “looked” at the camera for so many of the family images. It’s always fun when this happens….but be aware that it’s always 100% sheer chance when it does. I can’t guarantee that your newborn will open their eyes at any point during their session - not every baby wakes up!

Mayers and Jeremy loved the images from Bence’s newborn session so much that they chose to keep all of them. They selected a gorgeous large framed print of their favorite image from the session. W e had a lot of fun choosing the best frame moulding for the print from my studio line, and the print now hangs in a very prominent place in their home for them to enjoy on a daily basis.

A lot of my clients ask if I like framed artwork or albums better when deciding what they want for their own homes…. I love both, but I’m a fan of seeing your photos EVERY day… and the best way to do that is on the wall of your home, so framed prints definitely have an edge over albums in that area!

If you’re expecting a new baby, congratulations! I’d love to work with your family and document this special time in your lives with beautiful photographs that will last 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.

Enjoy some of my favorite images from this sweet little boy’s newborn session!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity & Family Photographer | Chitra, Srini and Suman at the studio

I first worked with Chitra and Srini when they were expecting their son a couple of years ago, and have worked with them several times since then for milestone and family sessions. I was so excited to hear from them that they were expecting a little girl and wanted to book another maternity and newborn session! Chitra had been so busy with work and family life that she had procrastinated a bit in scheduling, but we were still able to get them squeezed into the schedule. Their first maternity session was at the park, during a beautiful late spring day. This maternity session was in the month of January, and Chitra opted for in studio so she wouldn’t have to worry about the weather being too cold outside.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Chitra had contacted us pretty late to get on the schedule for maternity, we were not able schedule a weekend date for their maternity session. I really do book up my calendar several months in advance, so it’s the truth that the sooner you contact us the better your chances of getting the date you’re hoping for!

If I am fully booked for all my weekends during your best window for maternity session, you can plan to leave work on a weekday. We can arrange for your session to take place over your lunch break so you miss as little time as possible. They chose to come in on at the end of the week, and commented that the traffic was a less heavy than they expected! Atlanta traffic on the weekends can definitely sometimes be heavier than during the week…but just like weather in the South ….you just never know.

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Chitra’s session documents to her. Our entire booking process is easy, streamlined and handled securely online! Our clients frequently describe our process as a “well oiled machine” and we very proud of that. We work hard to serve you well and to make everything as easy as possible for you from first contact to final product delivery!

After Chitra remitted her paperwork, her date was officially locked into our calendar. She opted to skip the maternity fitting since she knew she wanted to wear the same dress from her initial maternity session with her son as a sweet nod to the past, in addition to a more casual outfit consisting of jeans and a sweater.

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Chitra skipping her maternity fitting was totally fine since (a) she knew what she wanted to wear already and (b) had already worked with me multiple times! I typically schedule you maternity fitting 1-2 weeks before your session date! This ensures that you have plenty of time to decide what to wear from your options, and time to pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your belly is not likely to grow so much in two weeks that you won’t be able to fit into your selections. If you choose a dress that BARELY fits and are absolutely in love with it, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit anymore at your session!

Using our studio wardrobe is not at all required! Roughly 95% of our clients do choose to borrow from it! If you are able to, I recommend that all clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other if we haven’t already worked together. Your session will feel much more relaxed and comfortable for you if you’ve met me prior to stepping in front of my camera.

You do NOT have to decide on your final choices at your maternity fitting and can take a few days to think about it! You will need to submit your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This advance time allows me to have your selections dry cleaned in time if another client wears one of your choices in that same week. Most of our client dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum mothers, so a lot of our clients also decide on their newborn option while with us too!

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH TODDLERS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because a couples or family maternity session shouldn’t take 4 hours. When a young child is involved with a session, it’s even MORE important to not have a long session because it’s a recipe for stress and disaster. Four hours is an ridiculous length of time to photograph a standard studio natural light portrait session, and most kids are over it in roughly 30 minutes.

I’m going to lead you throughout your entire session from start to finish. I will demonstrate what to do and when to do it. I’ll do it quickly, but you won’t feel rushed. My photography focus during session is on the emotional connection between you and your partner/child(ren). The interaction between my family that you see in my images is 100% natural and unforced!

In the interest of transparency: most of my families and couples can’t quite get there on their own unless they have worked with me before. I do the initial setup work of positioning you, adjust your hair and clothing if necessary, and THEN give you a simple and easy to follow prompt that sparks the interaction.

Young children don’t follow direction well (or at all!), so we just let them be who they are, and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is NO formal posing with little children where everyone has to be perfectly stiff for twenty eternal seconds - let’s face it, that is just NOT possible (or realistic) with most little ones under the age of 5.

Once you family is relaxed and has gotten comfortable in front of the camera, the real magic begins. No need to be nervous about not knowing what to do. The dynamic with your family is unique, and it SHOULDN’T look like any other session. I am not a cookie cutter photographer, because what’s the point of that?! Your session will highlight the love your family has for each other while capturing the beauty of your pregnancy.

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that your session won't be be dragged out unecessarily. I allot an hour for studio portraits, and we’ll take breaks if anyone in your family needs to!

If you’re a first time client, you are probably going to be a bit nervous and a little bit awkward when we get started. This is 100% normal, and it will disappear, I promise! I regularly shoot 20+ maternity sessions per month on average. I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for over 9 years now, so you are in very experienced hands!

Most clients take about 10 minutes or less to relax. The photos I take at the very beginning of your session often don’t make it into your final proof gallery, and this is intentional! This time is intended as your warm-up so you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction throughout. Once I see you’re relaxed and starting to have fun with it, THAT is when we start getting the keepers for your proof gallery!

I have you move around as little as possible, and my session flow is structured around your comfort. When you’re pregnant, your hips and feet might be hurting. You might feel sore and swollen, and there’s just no need to overexert you. Instead, your partner is the one who will step in and out of the frame at my direction. Breaks are taken as needed for you to drink some water or sit down and rest for a moment!

We started out our session in the most gorgeous late summer sunset light, and I spent some time photographing Chitra solo and pulling in the rest of the family for some images from time to time. Suman was a ball of energy and running around all over the place, which I loved. He was fun and so sweet, and we really captured his true personality in the family images, which is always my goal. Chitra and Srini expressed amazement that he was so well behaved in the studio. They were worried he might be bouncing off the walls.

Most young children have a short period of what I call “shock and awe” when they enter the studio since it’s a new place for them. This is exactly why I knock out the family images right away while I still have them interested and listening. Once they become comfortable in the environment, that’s when they tend to start to bouncing off the walls. ;) Maybe you have a child that knows no strangers and is always energetic. I have three children of my own who match this personality description, so no worries!

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session with me, YAY! Firstly, a HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an amazingly special time in your life as your family grows. It is truly an honor to work with couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child, and I would love for you to contact us to chat.

Have you watched the video here on the website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, check it out - you can click here to see it. It’s a short 90 seconds, and provides an awesome overview of what it’s like to work with me. PLUS, you’ll actually get to see my entire face in the video unlike when you’re with me due to my wearing a mask! ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s studio maternity session 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Atticus

Katrina contacted the studio to learn more about booking a  newborn session after her son had arrived and had been referred by a good friend who is a client of ours. We had last minute availability, and told her that we could fit her in that same week.

Katrina had initially thought she wouldn’t do a newborn session because she was concerned about COVID, but when she saw how fast her son was growing, she didn’t want to miss out on such a special time - the newborn stage is so fleeting! Her friend had filled her in our safety protocols, and she liked what she heard. For those who are wondering: yes, I am fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, and my full protection kicked in on April 12, 2021. I also wear a mask with clients at all times in the studio! After speaking with Caroline (our full time studio manager) and learning more about the experience and our process, Katrina proceeded to book her newborn session.

She also opted to add on hair and makeup services, and was thrilled that this was an option to her! No worrying about trying to get ready in between nursing and packing your diaper bag the morning of your session!

Our in home newborn sessions have been indefinitely suspended due to COVID-19, and we are currently only offering studio sessions: the only thing you need to worry about is just getting here. You should know that in-home newborn sessions actually require so MUCH work on your part: cleaning, moving distracting elements out of rooms, turning the heat up to get it warm enough in the house, and the list goes on. Most moms don’t want to deal with all that while recovering from childbirth and dealing with sleep deprivation. With a studio newborn session: you simply show up. You’ll enter our sanitized studio which will be set to the perfect temperature for your baby, and has perfect natural lighting from our giant 25 foot long wall of windows.

On the morning of their session, Katrina and her husband arrived at the studio with Atticus. Katrina had brought some options from home but looked through the studio wardrobe and fell in love with one of our casual cream jersey dresses. She felt beautiful AND comfortable - both important factors!

Baby Atticus was awake when he arrived, so I took the opportunity to photograph him with his eyes open. Atticus was a BIG boy, and I knew he would need to eat based on his rooting and squirming. When he started getting fussy, I took him to Katrina over in the hair and makeup chair for a feeding and snuggle break, and that did the trick! Once he was soundly asleep in his mother’s arms after a full feeding, I took him back to the shooting area to finish his solo portrait. He stayed asleep for the rest of the session, and was very easy to pose and work with due to being in such a deep sleep!

I use neutral tones here in the studio, and I select them with your baby’s skin tone in mind. Neutrals are 100% timeless and will still look classic 50 andeven 100 years from now. The use of neutrals keeps the focus on your baby and all their unique details, which is where it belongs.. My posing and wrapping is also baby led and kept very natural. I will never force your baby into a position they don’t want to be in. The safety and comfort of your baby is my utmost priority when they are in my care.

After I finished up with Atticus’s solo portraits, he had a diaper change and another short feeding break to calm him back to sleep. Most babies get pretty mad when their diaper is changed, so I always have parents change the diaper BEFORE feeding, so we can help calm baby down. Once he was asleep and content, we moved on to the parent and family portion of the session!

I LOVE observing first time parents with their little one! For many of my clients, their baby is the FIRST baby they have ever held and they’re still getting the hang of handling them. Most of my first timers are a little nervous because they aren’t used to handling their baby while standing up. If you think about it: when you’re at home with your new baby, most of the care you are giving your baby is while seated, or in bed, or with them on the changing table or other surface.

 If you are one of those first time parents that doesn’t have much hands on baby experience, there is NO need to stress. I will verbally walk you through the entire session along with demonstrations and adjustments if needed. There are plenty of ways to hold your baby - so if you don’t feel secure or confident holding your baby one specific way, we’ll adapt it to a way that you are! 

I’ll tuck back stray hairs and adjust your clothing if needed throughout our time together. I want your focus can be holding and admiring your new baby while following my gentle direction, not on whether your hair looks okay. The family photos are typically the “easiest” part of our time together! The only thing you have to do is admire the amazing little baby that you’ve welcomed into your family. One other perk of choosing to to work with me for your baby’s first family portraits is that I’ll make sure you don’t give yourself a self inflicted triple chin while looking at your baby.  ;) 

My goal is to make sure that your session is fun and relaxed, and we will create images that are natural and true to life. Let me help you preserve those special moments for generations to come! Your baby will grow up before you know it, and soon enough they'll be a teenager in the ninth. You're going to want pictures of them when they were impossibly tiny so you never forget these memories. Contact us today for more information and discuss booking your session with us!

Enjoy some of my favorite images from this sweet little guy’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 | Ben is ONE!

Carolyn contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her son, Ben with the whole family included as well. Carolyn was sent to us by her sister-in-law who has worked with us for multiple sessions over a year! Many of our clients are sent to us from existing clients, which we so love and appreciate.

After Carolyn chose an available date for their session, we sent her session agreement and invoice. We also sent her our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet to review! The sheets we send over are to the point and really easy to read through, so no need to feel overwhelmed. We know you’re busy, and we make your entire session experience as simplified as possible so you’re not wasting precious brainpower trying to figure things out. If you want more in-depth assistance with styling, I’m available to schedule a visit in the studio to go over your wardrobe or exchange a few emails in advance of your session.

THE BEST TIME TO DRESS YOUR BABY FOR THEIR SESSION

Some moms find it it easier dress their child beforehand because they’re in that lovely stage of babyhood where a change instantly equals a temper tantrum. You know your baby best, so I will always defer to your judgment there!

If you choose to dress them before heading over, please make sure they are wearing something wrinkle resistant, and cover their clothing with a big bib. This will serve as insurance just in case anything happens on the way (ie: carsickness). You may scoff at this and think I’m exaggerating…but has actually happened to more than one client! When the outfit you were planning on your baby wearing can no longer be used, it can be upsetting, so let’s take every measure we can to avoid this in the first place.

WHERE SHOULD I GET MY BABY’S FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE IN ATLANTA?

Carolyn brought along a simple white cake with buttercream icing from Publix that had the word “One” written in blue icing on top. If you’re looking for a commercial options, Publix, Kroger, and Whole Foods are all great options for your baby’s smash cake!. If your baby needs a vegan, egg-free, or dairy-free option, we exclusively recommend She Takes the Cake. Christina is our preferred baker and we are happy to connect you with her! A major perk of working with Christina is that she offers a delivery service to the studio! She’ll drop your cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you need to worry about the day of. No balancing your cake precariously on the drive over or the walk up to the studio while praying you don’t trip. Not only are they delicious (even the vegan ones!), her cakes are GORGEOUS.

I have worked with Christina to develop the best buttercream consistency for our babies: soft and malleable for interacting with and smashing, but not so sticky that it gets everywhere and doesn’t wipe off easily. Most babies don’t enjoy being wiped down because of being held still! The less elbow grease you have to apply to get the icing off their skin after their session, the better.

Wherever you choose to get your baby’s smash cake from, we’ll send our cake tips to you regardless. We’ll also warn you against a popular place in the Atlanta area. The warning is that we do NOT recommend getting your baby’s smash cake from this particular bakery rom because of the icing’s incredible stickiness which is like GLUE.

Below is a list of our top tips for your baby’s cake!

• SIMPLE is the name of the game at the studio when it comes to smash cakes - the focus should always be on your baby, not their cake. Avoid fondant or tons of added objects for decor. Consider textured icing or ombre if you want more visual interest.

• Don’t go crazy with the size. Keep your baby’s cake to a 6 inch diameter size or less and no more than two shorter layers at the max. If height of the cake is too high, it will limit angles for photography since your baby’s face can be obscured.

• Real flowers are really pretty on cakes, but not practical for our purposes. If you choose to include them, you should plan to remove them after initial photographs because 9 times out of 10 they will end up on your baby’s mouth. This goes for anything other than icing on their cake - candles, decor, etc. Added elements often end up being a distraction from actually exploring and eating their cake, and most importantly: obscure adorable facial expressions during their session.

• Choose a neutral icing color (off white, cream, or pastels) is best - AVOID neons, black, or super bright colors that may permanently stain and ruin your baby’s clothing, and cause unwanted color casts in their photos.

• Skip using shaved coconut as a topping - yes, it adds beautiful, texture, but there has not been a single baby here that has liked it. It usually promptly ends exploration of the cake as soon as they put it in their mouth and causes tears. The exception to this guidelines would be if you’ve given this to your baby before and know that they consistently enjoy it!

• Choose buttercream icing. AVOID whipped icing and fondant. Whipped icing is greasy and very resistant to being wiped off skin. Fondant is very thick, and difficult for little baby fingers to break through and eat.

• Skip writing a message on top of the cake (save it for the party cake instead) - it doesn’t photograph well and can be distracting. If you HAVE to have something written that’s fine - but just be aware you won’t see it well like you think you will.

FIRST BIRTHDAY SESSION FLOW

First Birthday sessions are the ultimate 3 sessions -in-1. Your gallery will have solo portraits of your little one, family portraits, AND cake smash photos to choose from. I started the session photographing Ben alone, and he was just the CUTEST little baby boy with the biggest blue eyes. He wasn’t shy at all, and gave me lots od sweet expressions and smiles. If your baby is on the shy side, I will start the session with them in your arms rather than alone. Starting this way will reassure them that they are safe and secure, and that everything is ok.

Once I was finished with those, we moved on to the family photos! I photographed a variety of family images: Ben with big brother, each of his parents, the whole family together, etc. Then it was time for the cake smashing fun!

THE CAKE SMASH

Carolyn put Ben into a white cloth diaper cover that we have here in the studio. She put over his regular diaper - which don’t photograph well. I also have other knit bottoms as options for baby boys here! I set up one of our antique high chairs and we put Ben inside. I then demonstrated exactly how Carolyn should present the cake to Ben (sounds silly, but how parents do it does matter for the best pictures!). I physically model what I need clients throughout during my sessions as needed, so you will never have to worry about what to do, how to do it, or when.

When Ben saw his cake, he grabbed it the rest of the family joined in on the fun with big brother helping out! A lot of parents worry that a smash cake will be a waste of time if their baby doesn’t like it. While I can’t promise your baby will love their cake, I have lots of trips and tricks up my sleeve to get them interested that involve you interacting with them. Once they’ve become sufficiently interested, parents can exit out of the frame and I’ll capture those images of your little one enjoying their cake!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from adorable blue-eyed Ben’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 Jude

***In-home sessions have been temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 situation and it is not known at this time when they will resume.***

Stephanie contacted us for a last minute newborn session when she was in her first trimester. She and her husband had a very long road to have a baby and were so thrilled to be expecting. They opted to wait until baby arrived to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. I love this approach… I’m a little biased since I also chose to wait to find out with all three of my children!

Stephanie requested an in-home session because she loves the decor in Jude’s nursery and wanted it in the images and didn’t care as much about having the solo portraits of Jude. Please note that I do not bring my wraps, lighting equipment, or posing surface to home. I work with whatever is available within your home.

As a note: I am fully protected with the Pfizer vaccine as of April 12, 2021 when full protection kicked in after my second dose on March 29, 2021. I always wear an N95 mask when I am with clients regardless of their vaccination status.

WHY RESERVING YOUR NEWBORN SESSION EARLY IS THE BEST PLAN

I accept a limited number of newborns due each month. You deserve an incredible portrait experience from start to finish, and limiting the number of monthly newborn sessions is how we make that possible for all!

Reserving your newborn session means you are guaranteeing a newborn session for your baby on the calendar. It does NOT mean that you are scheduling the specific date.

No one can accurately predict your baby’s birth date. Sorry, Aunt Matilda. When your mother gave birth to you has no bearing on when you will give birth. Doesn’t matter when your mother-in-law did either. I’ve had so many moms tell me they were absolutely going to deliver the baby early because of a variety of factors and end up having baby at 41 weeks. I’ve also had the reverse! Welcome to motherhood: also known as the wild ride where nothing is absolutely certain anymore except for the incredible love you have for your child!

“What if I have a scheduled delivery because I’m high risk?” Also doesn’t matter. I’ve lost count of the number of reserved babies born before their scheduled induction or c-section date! I’ve also had mothers show up to the hospital for an induction and be sent home with delivery happening a week later than planned for whatever reason.

When your baby does arrive, you will notify us via phone or email as soon as you’re able to - preferably within the first 48 hours. We’ll you ask a few questions and based on the answers, schedule your session date! There are quite a few factors that go into determining the best time to schedule your session. Some of these factors include (but are not limited to) the length of your partner’s paternity leave, any delivery complications for you or baby, how you’re feeling post delivery, how much your baby weighed at birth, etc.

WHICH TO CHOOSE: IN HOME LIFESTYLE SESSION OR STUDIO SESSION?

If you are deciding between an in-home or studio newborn session, let’s go over the major differences between the two to help you determine which is best for you! If you’re still not sure after reading through this blog post, please call the studio and we’ll discuss the options at length with you!

If you choose an in-home session, you will need to:

• Understand that your images will be lifestyle oriented with baby in your arms for the most part.

• Be ready to start your session upon my arrival.

• Ensure you have ample natural light in your home.

• Have neutral colored walls in your home.

• Be ok with not having access to our studio wardrobe that is complimentary to our clients.

• NOT be married to the idea of shooting in a particular spot within your home. I will assess your home upon arrival and we will be shooting where the best light is available.

• NOT have cats living in your home. I am highly allergic and cannot travel to homes with cats, but dogs are totally fine!

• Tidy your house and declutter. You will need to be willing for things to be moved at my direction if they are distracting in your images.

• Unplug lamps, clocks, etc in the rooms and hide the cords so they are not in the photos.

• Understand that there will be fewer solo portraits of your baby and that they will be wrapped in a blanket on your bed or in your arms. There will not be wrapped solo portraits like what you see for my natural posing.

So, as you can see, it is actually NOT “easier” to choose in-home for your newborn session, and it limits the types of images that will be taken.

Many clients tell us the reason they want an in-home session is because they want to showcase their baby’s nursery. (1) We may not be able to use your nursery if the lighting does not work. (2) Your baby is completely unaware of their surroundings as a newborn. An in-home milestone session for your baby’s 6 month session when they can sit unassisted on the floor of their nursery and hold on to the side of their crib while standing is such a fun way to show off the nursery with your baby actually aware of everything and interacting with their toys! Just something to keep in mind when making your final decision! Ask about our First Year Collection for the perfect way to photograph your baby for their first year including their newborn, siting, and First Birthday milestone sessions.

The studio is the perfect setting for my blend of lifestyle meets posed, and all you have to do is worry about getting here. It’s also a nice break and gets you out of the house to a safe, private, and zero pressure location where you don’t have to worry about if your baby is crying or needs to eat. Once you’re here, everything else is taken care of for you!

If you choose a session here at the studio:

• All you have to do is show up.

• Your images will be consistent and like what is shown on my portfolio (which is why you’re hiring me!)

• The studio is all neutral and intentionally designed to be a blank canvas so that your newborn and family are the focus, and your session images will look beautiful in any home.

• You can add on hair and makeup services to your session, so you don’t have to worry about getting yourself ready while managing everything at home.

• You will not have to stress about cleaning your house after just having had a baby.

• You’ll have access to our studio wardrobe.

• The studio will be heated to the perfect temperature so your baby is comfortable.

• You will have solo and naturally posed portraits of your baby intermixed with family and parent images.

• ALL your needs will be met, and you will be very comfortable! We have everything you need here - elevator access for recovering c-section mamas, a full kitchen, private bathroom, Nespresso coffee machine, nursing pillows, extra diapers and wipes…..the list goes on!

• You’ll have a gallery that is a perfect mixture of lifestyle blended with posed images.

• You won’t have to worry about whether the lighting is adequate enough.

• You can take a nap on the couch, or connect your laptop and work remotely with our studio Google Fiber

• If you have older children, they will most likely better behaved at the studio than at home. It’s true! Ever notice how your children are always perfect angels at school or when visiting another household? The expectations are different! When I go to client homes, toddlers are really comfortable in their own environment. Because of that, they are easily distracted, and often much more difficult to work with. When they come to the studio, it’s a new place with far less distraction, because they have nowhere familiar to run off to for escape or toys to distract them.

IN HOME LIFESTYLE SESSION FLOW

If you choose an in-home session, here's what you can expect.

I will arrive and when I come into your home, I will do a quick walk through to see where the best light is and where the best places to shoot are within. If you need any input on what to wear from your closet, I’ll go through your options quickly and pull it all together for you if we haven’t already done this in advance of your session via virtual consult. I’ll rearrange decor and furniture as necessary and may ask you to move things for the best images. We’ll transition through the different areas in your home that are adequate for lighting and composition.

I will photograph your family the EXACT same way I would if we were in the studio - you’ll just have your home interior as the background! If there is an area and surface (ie: bed, ottoman) with adequate light that I can photograph your baby alone on, I will wrap them in a blanket you have on hand for some simple solo images!

Stephanie and Gene lived in a small townhouse, but had the benefit of the nursery and living room being incredibly well lit. The living room had a sliding patio door so was essentially a giant floor to ceiling window. The images taken in front of that window look pretty much EXACTLY like they would here in my studio. Due to a very firm shaped couch in their home located right by that window, I was able to accomplish some of those posed solo portraits with Jude as well even though that’s typically NOT the norm.

When we finished with the downstairs photographs, we headed upstairs to the nursery. Stephanie changed into a another outfit (also available in my studio wardrobe!) and brought in their white fluffball shepherd for some sweet images including her.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR IN-HOME SESSION

After I leave your home, you can expect your proof gallery in about 7 business days beginning the day after your session! You’ll look through it, decide on your favorites, and choose what best fits your needs! Stephanie and Gene loved all of Jude’s images and it was impossible to narrow them down, so she chose the full collection of images so she wouldn’t have to!

Enjoy some of my favorites from Jude’s in-home 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 | Lucia is ONE!

I first worked with Saidie for her maternity session, and photographed her daughter’s newborn and six month milestone session as well. Shecontacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Lucia with the whole family included and asked for it to be OUTDOORS! Because Lucia’s birthday was in late summer, I suggested that we schedule the session to take place at sunrise. Sunrise sessions are only available at one of my park locations during late summer. If you have early risers who are happiest at that time and also want to avoid the heat, a sunrise session might be the perfect option for you! In Atlanta, you’re looking the temperature of about 25 degrees COOLER than sunset. While there might still be humidity and mosquitoes, it’s definitely an improvement. If you don’t want to deal with the outdoor elements at all, the studio is the perfect place to have your session.

We sent Saidie our studio style guide, Pinterest style inspiration boards, and our cake tips sheet for best practices. The information we send over are is super easy to read and implement. Our style guide is applicable to every session we offer, and I’m here to help you however I can! Some mamas want to run their choices by me for input, and it’s all part of the service. I can schedule a visit in the studio to go over your wardrobe (whether you are borrowing from the studio wardrobe or wearing your own) or we exchange a few emails in advance of your session with photos! I’ve even been known to provide specific shopping links for those who ask! I understand you may be a busy mom who doesn’t have the time to come in, so that’s why I offer virtual options as well. Please note that if you want to borrow from the client wardrobe you will need to some in so you can physically try on options beforehand.

THE BEST TIME TO DRESS FOR YOUR SESSION AND WHY

Some moms find it it easier dress their child beforehand because they’re in that fun (ha!) stage where a change instantly equals a temper tantrum, and it’s just not worth the hassle. You know your little one best, so I’ll yield to your judgment in that department! If you choose to dress your child(ren) before heading over, please put a bib on them to protect their clothing. You want this insurance just in case unexpected carsickness occurs, or they manage to find an old piece of candy lodged somewhere in the car seat. You may roll your eyes and think that’s ridiculous overthinking…but that actually happened to one of my clients with an old m&m. The mess that ONE melted m&m can make is almost unbelievable! Fortunately, they had NOT dressed their baby beforehand so the outfit was fortunately spared!

WHERE TO GET YOUR SMASH CAKE IF YOU’RE INCLUDING ONE

Not everyone chooses to include a smash cake, so don’t feel pressured to do that if that’s not your style. You don’t HAVE to choose a cake for your baby’s birthday treat: I’ve seen a plate of donuts, cupcakes, pie, macaroons, and even cookies used instead!

Saidie brought along a simple white cake with buttercream icing from Publix. Publix, Kroger, and Whole Foods are all great options for your baby’s smash cake or cupcake. If your baby has egg/dairy allergies or you need a vegan option, I highly recommend She Takes the Cake! Christina is our preferred baker that we exclusively refer to our clients! If you don’t want to worry about picking up your cake on the day of the session, she offers a delivery service to the studio! It will be in perfect condition and waiting for you to arrive. Such a great way to take that extra unnecessary stress off your plate so you can truly enjoy your session day.

Over the past several years, I have personally worked with Christina to develop the perfect buttercream consistency for our babies. It’s soft enough to interact with and smash, but not so sticky that it gets everywhere which makes cleanup a nightmare for parents. Most babies do not enjoy being wiped down since it requires sitting still. The less elbow grease needed to get icing off their skin, the better.

Regardless of where you choose to source your baby’s smash cake, we’ll send our cake tips to you. We also list a popular place in the Atlanta area that we do NOT recommend getting your baby’s smash cake from because of the icing’s stickiness, I’m not kidding when I tell you that it is so sticky it’s like GLUE and is so awful! Below is a list of my top tips!

• SIMPLE - the focus should always be on your baby, not the cake. Don’t decorate with fondant or tons of added objects for decor.

• SMALL - your baby’s cake should be a 6 inch diameter size or less and no more than two layers at the max. If it’s too high, their face can be obscured in photos, which is not what you want.

• SKIP PROPS - Real flowers are so pretty on cakes, but don’t work for long. You should plan to remove them after the first few photographs. Flowers will usually end up on your baby’s mouth! This goes for anything added to your cake - candles, decor, etc. Added elements become a distraction from the cake and can also obscure your baby’s adorable facial expressions during their session.

• COLOR - Neutral icing color (off white, cream, or pastels) is best - steer clear of neons or super bright colors that may permanently stain clothing and cause color casts in your photos

• NO COCUNUT - Don’t put shaved coconut on your cake - it’s has a gorgeous texture, but there there has not been a single baby in my studio that has liked it. It usually ends their exploration of the cake as soon as they put it in their mouth and feel the texture of the flakes.

• BUTTERCREAM ICING ONLY - AVOID whipped icing and fondant like the plague. Whipped icing is slippery and greasy. It is resistant to being wiped off skin and results in a messy screaming baby . You will be on your fiftieth baby wipe and muttering under your breath, “For the love of all things, why won’t this stuff WIPE OFF?!?!?!.” Fondant is impossible for tiny fingers to break through with their fingers and eat and frustrates babies. How do I know this? Past experience with these situation!

• NO WRITING - Skip a message on top of the cake (save it for their party cake instead) - it doesn’t photograph well at all, and you don’t need writing to know that it was their first birthday when you look at the photos.

FIRST BIRTHDAY SESSION FLOW

First Birthday sessions are the ultimate 3-in-1. You will have solo portraits of your little one, family portraits, and cake smash portraits all in one session gallery! I started the session photographing Lucia with her parents and sister, and she is just the CUTEST little baby girl. After we finished with those images, we moved on to photographing Lucia alone. Saidie had brought along a sweet little flower crown for Lucia which she shockingly kept on her head! Once we were done with this portion, we moved on to the cake smash! Outdoor cake smashes require a little more advance planning. You’ll need to bring a LOT of baby wipes, a trash bag, a few bottles of water, and a washcloth just to be prepared for the cleanup if babies get super messy since you won’t have access to running water like you would here in the studio.

THE CAKE SMASH

Saidie kept Lucia in the same outfit for the family photos and the cake smash. I had brought along one of our studio high chairs to use for her outdoor session. I demonstrate exactly how to present the cake to your baby (sounds silly, but how you do it does matter!) I physically model what I need clients throughout during my sessions as needed, so you never have to worry about what to do or how.

When Lucia saw her cake, she immediately dove right into it, and the rest of the family joined in on the fun too. If your baby isn’t super interested in their cake, parents getting into the photographs can help a lot. A lot of babies love to play the game of “feeding” their parents. When you model feeding each other cake, your little one will pick up on it quickly! Once they’ve become interested, parents can slowly back out of the frame and I’ll get those solo images of them enjoying their cake!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Lucia’s First Birthday session! My clients receive their selected images in both color and black and white versions, and I’m sharing the black and white in this blog post just to change it up a little!

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 Asher Family

Do you have really, really, really cute kids? Do you stay up at night after putting them to bed scrolling your phone looking at all the cute phone snaps of them? Do you want to capture your family's memories without using your phone? Do you keep saying to you partner that you need to find a photographer to schedule family photos with before your kids grow out of this ridiculously cute stage? Have you been putting off scheduling family photos because life keeps getting in the way? If you answered yes to any or all of the above, I would be happy to help!

I am a professional photographer here in Atlanta who specializes in working with young families from their first maternity session and onward (maternity, newborn, first year milestones, and annual family portraits as your children grow!) My goal is to make sure that every session is FUN and relaxed, so we can create images together that are natural and true to life. Your family photo experience shouldn’t be something you have to “get through” - it should be an experience you actually enjoy.

Your children will grow up before you know it, and soon enough they'll be adults with their own families. You're going to want pictures of them as they grow so you never forget the memories of when they were little and you could still pick them up and hold them in your arms. Let me help you preserve your family’s special moments for generations to come!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Liz contacted the studio to book a fall family session! Our fall season is the most popular for family sessions and we book out very quickly. Most of our families schedule their fall sessions 8 months to a YEAR in advance. Not even joking! Weekend dates are coveted, so they get on the schedule ASAP so they can set it and forget it.

I’ve been working with her family since her daughter’s Fresh 48 session, and it’s been so much fun to watch Frances grow over the years. Liz and Isaac are wonderful parents, and seeing them grow into those roles has also been amazing as well. Getting to observe all the changes over the years in children and parents is my favorite part of being a family photographer! We sent over her session agreement and invoice, as well as our easy to follow style guide. Since Liz has been working with me for so many years, she doesn’t really need the style guide any more but we send it along juuuuuust in case. I’m always available to my clients for a wardrobe consult if you need some extra help determining what everyone in your family should wear. We can do this with an in person meeting at the studio, or via email exchange. We’ll do whatever is best for your schedule and your needs! I have been called an encyclopedia of resources and will point you in the right direction if you want to use your session as an excuse to buy some new clothes. ;) I’m your biggest cheerleader and will help make sure you look and feel fantastic at your session!

Frances is an amazing little girl with the biggest personality and the energy to match! If you have a child with big energy, you might feel a little nervous that they won’t cooperate or that your session won’t go well. Here's the truth: themore the chaotic a session feels while you’re in it, the better the images usually are. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s 100% true! I only need 1/1000th of a second to create a beautiful image. You and your children do NOT need to stand still like a statue for this to happen.

Liz and Isaac are wonderful about following my direction and guidance, and just going with the flow no matter what, and all of our sessions together have produced beautiful and memorable images of their family.

I want to make readers aware of two great resources available to them right here on this website. Firstly, our Experience Page, which walks you through exactly what to expect from first contact through post-session. Secondly, our FAQ page, which has so many of our most commonly asked questions and answers!

WHEN SHOULD I RESERVE OUR FAMILY SESSION WITH YOU?

Many of my returning families book an annual fall or spring session, and some do two sessions per year. I also have a lot of clients who choose to schedule their family portrait sessions to take place around their child’s birthday. The session pulls double duty as a birthday milestone combined with updated family photos!

It comes down to what your personal preference is and what your goal is for your session. If you know you want to work with me and have a specific time of year your heart is set on…. reach out now to get on the calendar. One of my recurring yearly clients books her session an entire year in advance. She literally pulls out her iPhone when we finish her family session and gets a date on the calendar for the following fall. Crazy? Nope, not at all. Reserving your date well in advance ensures you’re on my calendar before I book up. In 2020 we were 100% booked for all our outdoor weekend dates in the months of September-November by the end of July. In 2021, as of the publication of this post (mid June) we only have ONE weekend dates left for this months We still have a handful of weekNIGHTS available for outdoor sessions! If you’re able to be flexible and don’t require a weekend, you have a great shot at being able to schedule. A major plus to scheduling on a weekNIGHT as opposed to a weekend is that it will be FAR less crowded especially during the fall season.

WHAT TO WEAR GUIDANCE AND STYLING ASSISTANCE

The biggest stressor for most clients is figuring out what to wear. We want you to be comfortable and look like yourselves, and we KNOW how hard it can be to pull a look together. The good news for you is that we’ve created a short and sweet (and EASY!) style guide for you to follow! I am here to help you as much as you would like. Some of my clients will text over photos of what they’re thinking about wearing, or they’ll make an appointment to come to the studio with bags stuffed full of options, and I’ll help them pull it all together perfectly. We also have an extensive studio wardrobe available to mamas if they want to borrow from it and it can also serve as great inspiration as well even if you end up not borrowing from it.

FAMILY SESSION FLOW WITH YOUNG TODDLERS

If you have young children, it can be stressful when you’re having your photos taken. You’re worried that they won’t nap well the day of, they’ll be in a bad mood, or that they’ll randomly get sick the day of your family session. First of all: if someone in your family gets sick the night before or the day of your session, all you need to do is call the studio and let us know. We will take care of you. Kids are unpredictable, and life happens. We get it!

Here’s the MOST important thing you need to know for a successful session.

• Be on time. I always start my sessions a little earlier than we actually need to, because I want to allow for some warm-up time if your child needs it. There are times that a child really just needs to get to know me a little bit before I pull out my camera to feel comfortable. If you are late, this cuts into our time together and doesn’t leave me a buffer to be able to work with your little one(s) to get them comfortable with me.

• Don’t threaten your child to try get them to cooperate. I’m not referring to your normal parenting methods and discipline if your child is being disrespectful. ABSOLUTELY do what you need to as their parent during our session! I’ve seen it all, and will become very interested in the back of camera if you need to speak with your child for a bit.

  However, telling your child beforehand they will be punished if they don’t behave like a perfect angel and do exactly what I say will kick off the session with a negative tone. The threat of punishment puts a LOT of pressure on young children before they even see me! I have three children of my own who are currently 9, 7, and 5. I frequently work with children of all ages with all sorts of backgrounds and unique personalities. I really have seen it all. Instead of threatening, tell your child that you’re going to go play with Lauren and have some fun and that she’s going to have a camera and take photos of your family! This sets the tone as being something fun, and lets them know what to expect.

• Show up ready to PLAY and have fun. Your children will be looking to you for how feel about whatever you’re collectively experiencing. If YOUR are happy and playful, that is how they will feel too. If you’re stressed out and snapping at each other on the way to the session… well, you get the point. We are going to have FUN together.. We are going to play. We’re doing to dance, we’re going to snuggle, we’re going to have tickle fights. We’re going to check out that cool tree over there. We’re going to hunt and see if we can find a four leaf clover. My approach is about capturing your natural family dynamic. I want to capture you as you really are, and create images of your family that are full of authentic JOY. Most of all, I want you to smile whenever you look at them and remember how much fun you had together as a family that day.

When you show up to your session with me, I’ll guide you throughout, and give you prompts for what to do. I’ll make sure you’re not giving yourself a double chin or awkwardly standing not knowing what to do next. We’re going to have a great time!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Your session is over, so now what?! You can expect your proof gallery in 7-10 business days after your session, and you’ll look through it and decide what best fits your needs. You’ll choose your images and send them back, and we’ll invoice you for your selection. 8-12 days after your invoice remittance, you’ll get your completed image gallery. Every image you choose will be given to you in both color and black and white versions, and if you’re ordering any additional prints or products, you’ll do so from your final gallery. When they’re ready, you’ll come to the studio to pick them up along with your USB containing your selected digital files!

Every week, I send out an email that has a booking calendar with pickup dates and times. You’ll reserve your pickup with this link, and when you come to pick up, it is contactless. If you’re ordering a framed print for your home that has a print size of 16x20 or larger,, I’ll deliver it directly to your doorstep if you live within 20 minutes of the studio.

Enjoy some of my favorites from this sweet family’s session! I can’t wait to see them this coming October for their next family portrait 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 Connor

Joanie and David contacted the studio when their son was already 2 weeks old to see if they could book a newborn session for him! They were in the process of selling a house and looking for a new one, and had simply gotten so busy with all of that they’d forgotten to schedule one.

Joanie asked if the session could include family images also, and we assured her that they always do. Having a newborn session is an event that will be so special for your entire family. The big siblings are important members of your family, and they should feel included in this process too! My newborn galleries are a combination of solo newborn portraits mixed with family/parent images, as well as sibling/baby images where applicable and when safe.

WHEN SHOULD I REACH OUT TO BOOK A NEWBORN SESSION?

If you know you want to work with me, reach out right away. It’s never too early to reserve your session! Here’s why: Reserving your newborn session does NOT mean you are booking an exact date for your session. This is impossible since birth dates are unpredictable! When you reserve, you are guaranteed a session for your baby! When your baby arrives, you’ll notify us, and we will then schedule the exact date for your session.

I provide excellent service for each and every client, so I limit the number of newborn sessions that are available in a month. This way I can be certain that you will have the level of service you deserve from start to finish! When clients reserve with us, they secure themselves a guaranteed spot.

Are you holding your newborn while reading things and thinking you might have missed the boat? Maybe not! Our booked newborns often arrive earlier or later than the estimated due date. As such, there are some months that I can take a last minute newborn client. Get in touch with us right away to see if we can accommodate you!

TODDLER SIBLINGS AND NEWBORN SESSIONS

Joanie let me know that her two year old daughter would also be participating in the session! I welcome older siblings, and love when they participate. We will ask you what your child’s nap schedule is because we want to ensure they’re well rested and adjust timing to reflect that if needed. Dads always relax at home and bring any older siblings the session later after the newborn solo images have been completed. This gives mama a break with some peace and quiet, and dads and toddlers are happiest at home until they’re needed!

Newborn sessions are scheduled for morning hours and start time between 9 and 10 AM depending on the time of year. The 90 minutes of our time together is devoted to photographing your baby alone, which makes it the perfect time for you to take advantage of our add on hair and makeup services! Adding on beauty services does NOT lengthen your session. I’m actively photographing baby only while you’re being prepped. Go ahead and treat yourself, since you’ll just be sitting on the couch anyway! ;) Added bonus: our HMUA team is pure magic at making our sleep deprived mothers look rested. Undereye circles, be gone! Joanie was thrilled that we offered this service and jumped at the opportunity to pamper herself.

When Joanie and Connor arrived at the studio the morning of his session, I took him out of his carseat and got started photographing his solo images right away while Joanie settled into the HMUA chair.

Connor was WIDE awake as he was an older newborn (3.5 weeks) due to being a last minute one. Despite being wide awake, he was very calm. I never stress if I have an awake baby, because I love the images that I can create with direct eye contact. He did eventually fall fast asleep, so his solo portraits were a great mix of awake and asleep. As I was finishing up with his solo portraits, dad and big sister Hanna arrived. Everyone got themselves dressed and ready. We started the session with Connor wrapped in a blanket, and Joanie asked to dress Conoor in an outfit she had bought specifically for some family images. If you want your baby to wear a special outfit, please be sure that it fits snugly. If the outfit is too large and swallows them up, you will be struggling throughout the session trying to make sure their face is visible and not obscured by the material.

NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

As I mentioned before, if your newborn is awake during your session, it’s not a problem at all as long as they are calm. If they're awake and fussy, no need to stress either. We’ll work together to figure out how to soothe your baby into a calm state for photos.

I started out the session photographing Hanna and Connor together for sibling images. I start with the sibling photos because these are usually the highest priority for clients. Most of the time, your toddler will be the most cooperative upon arrival to the studio. I work quickly and efficiently to photograph siblings, each parent with their children, and whole family before your toddler’s patience runs out! How I photograph your children together entirely depends on your older child. In Hanna’s case, she was full of energy and preferred to run around, so having them next to each other was not possible for safety reasons. You’ll see how we ended up doing their images when you scroll down!

The TOP priority in my studio is safety for all involved. I will not place your newborn near their older sibling(s) if they are not calm or are not capable of following my direction. Every toddler is different, so I’ll assess your child and go from there. Parents are always right outside the camera frame just inches away and ready to intervene!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

About a week after their session, Joanie and David viewed Connor’s proof gallery and chose her collection. They chose a collection which included an album and all of the digital files, because they loved their gallery so much that they didn’t want to narrow it down! When I was finished with the final editing of her session, they chose which ones they wanted within their album and their favorite for the framed wall art.

Most clients look through the different album options that we have available as samples in the studio and snap photos of the cover options with their phone before leaving. Album design and proofing is handled virtually, and it’s a simple process for my clients. Most clients approve their proof immediately with no revisions, and once it’s approved to print, I send it off!

After your album is ordered, it takes about 4-6 weeks (due to their handcrafted construction) for it arrive and be ready for pickup. If you’re interested in having your favorite image on the wall to enjoy instead of or in addition to an heirloom album, I have an absolutely beautiful line of frame moulding for you to look at here at the studio as well. Ask about our design mockup service when choosing to purchase frames from - I am here to make your decision making a snap! We make it easy for our clients! We’ve been there, and we know the last thing you need is to deal with something super complicated when you’re in the throes of the newborn stage.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

As your baby grows, so do the memories. That's why you need to secure your newborn session sooner rather than later - and I can't wait until we get started! We would absolutely LOVE to chat with you about your family, what we offer, and how we can best serve you. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Connor’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 Family Photographer | Ella, Sadie & Flynn

Ella is such a wonderful long term loyal client who has been coming to see me since she was pregnant with her daughter and worked with them again when they welcomed baby boy Finn into the family (he looks JUST like his big sister)! It has been so much fun to watch Sadie grow each year and to also see how Ella grows as a mother - she’s such a wonderful and loving one!

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A STUDIO SESSION

When clients book their session with us, we send them our easy to implement style guide. It has everything you need to know about choosing what to dress everyone in, and covers suggested color tones, as well as how to mix and match textures and patterns. I offer in person studio visits for wardrobe consultations to our clients, and they are available virtually as well via FaceTime or Zoom! Note that virtual visits are more for discussing what you already have one hand, not borrowing from the client wardrobe.

Most our clients choose neutral tones or soft pastels. Neutrals stand the test of time, are the most universally flattering to skin tones, and simplify coordinating multiple family members. Ella chose to add fun color pops to this session with a yellow and green. Sadie and Finn perfectly coordinated with Ella’s gorgeous maxi dress, and their outfit combos were perfect!

Lots of moms worry that their child is not going to listen or cooperate during our time together. If you’re concerned about this, I think that fear is very normal…. but it’s also something you can feel free to chuck out the window! One of the most exciting parts about my work is that I get to meet so many incredible kids and have so much fun while doing it. I move swiftly and seamlessly as I jump from one image to the next, all while respecting your child's interest in what is going on. Perfect listening is NOT required or necessary to create gorgeous photos. We will roll with whatever is thrown our way. All you need to do is show up ready to have FUN and be in the moments with your children. Let me worry about capturing the magical moments.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR SESSION

Mommy and me sessions in the studio are so much fun! As I stated already, your only job is to be their mom. You’ll play games that involve dancing, snuggling and sometimes tickling your little one during our time together. I’ll be giving you easy to follow action prompts throughout the session time. My prompts are things you do ALL the time with your child so they’re very natural and spontaneous! They’re just not what you might think to do when in front of a camera.

My sessions are very child-led. My flow is dictated by how your child is feeling and what they’re interested in doing throughout. I don’t have a “script” or set workflow during sessions with little ones, because it’s impossible to predict their mood and how long they’ll be “cooperative” for any given prompt or activity.

Regardless of how your child is during our time together, know this. I adapt as needed, am super flexible to meet my littlest clients where they’re at, and have endless patience even if you don’t. Showing children I respect them and their preferences is what earns their trust, and is truly my “secret” to successful sessions!

If you're considering a session for yourself and your children, I would love for you to reach out to discuss your vision and learn about the amazing portrait experience that we offer our clients at our studio!

Enjoy a handful of my favorites from this family session with Ella, Sadie, & Finn!

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 Harper

Lilly contacted the studio at last minute after her daughter was born to ask if we had any last minute availability for a newborn session. She had found us by searching Google, and thought we were a perfect fit for her family. Because our reserved babies had all already been born, we did have availability to schedule them to come in. She also requested to add on our HMUA services since she knew that trying to get ready at home juggling a toddler and newborn would be unnecessarily stressful. We make it easy for our clients! You deserve to be able to enjoy your baby or toddler's first days, weeks and months without worrying about anything, so booking is an easy and streamlined process and is all handled securely online.

You should take care of yourself, not spend time figuring out the ins and outs.

WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE MY NEWBORN SESSION?

Can you believe it's never too early to reserve your newborn session once you know you’re pregnant? As an expecting or brand new parent, I know that there are so many things on the radar. But don't put off these memories and get your session reserved as soon as possible.

When you reserve your newborn session, you are NOT scheduling your exact session date.

Scheduling your specific newborn session date is impossible, since due dates are just an estimate!

We want to provide excellent service for each and every client, so we limit the number of newborn sessions that are available in a month. This way we can be certain that all of our clients are well taken care of at the level they deserve. Once we reach our monthly newborn limit, our newborn schedule is closed for that month and we maintain a wait list.

If you’re like Lilly and reading this after your newborn has arrived and is still less than 21 days old right now, don’t panic! It is not unusual for our reserved babies to come “early” or “late”. This means that some months we have the ability to take on a last minute newborn clien or twot. Contact us right away, and we might be able to schedule you in our calendar, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask.

NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH A TODDLER SIBLING INVOLVED

A newborn session is an event that is be so special for the entire family. The big siblings are such important members of your family, and they should feel included in this process too! When toddler siblings are involved in newborn sessions, we ask what their schedule is so we can plan for the most successful session! We want them to be happy, well rested, and fed at the time they arrive for their portion.

Newborn sessions in the studio have a start time that is between 9 and 10 AM depending on the time of year. The first 90 minutes of session time is set aside for photographing your baby solo.

The beginning of the session is the perfect time for you enjoy pampering yourself with our add on hair and makeup services since you’ll be sitting on the couch doing nothing during your baby’s solo portraits! Our HMUA team is fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and are lots of fun to talk to. They’re also complete magicians with makeup and will ensure that you look like yourself, minus the sleep deprivation. ;)

Older siblings and dads arrive about 90 minutes after I’ve started photographing your baby’s solo portraits. I am usually finished with these by the time mama is done in hair and makeup, and will transition to the sibling and family portion of the session. My goal is to get all of the photos with your toddler in them done FIRST so that they don’t have to sit around any longer than necessary! :)

Once your toddler is finished with being in photographs , they are free to play until we’re finished with dad/baby and baby/parent images. Some parents will have Grandma whisk them away to take them back home, but if you don’t have family help, no worries!

Some families ask if we can start with family photos. The answer is generally no. I have found in my 9 years of experience working with newborns that changing the flow of starting with newborn solo images usually backfires. What usually ends up happening is your baby becomes overstimulated and fussy from the start with all the activity and noise, and never quite settles. As a result, I will not be able to get as varied of a gallery in our allotted time.

HOW THE SESSION DAY WENT

Lilly and Harper arrived, and we looked through the studio dresses. She loved one of our gorgeous mauve dresses in the client wardrobe and settled into the hair and makeup chair for some pampering time while I got started photographing Harper!

Harper was absolutely adorable and very alert when she arrived! She was such a great sleeper, and we moved through the solo portraits pretty quickly. When I finished up, big brother Hudson and dad weren’t there yet so Lilly put on her dress, and dressed Harper in the outfit she had brought along for her. Most mamas do not bring an outfit for baby, but if you have one that is important to you, we can definitely use that. The outfit should fit your baby well and not be too baggy, otherwise it will cause you more stress than it’s worth.

I have quite the assortment of soft, textured, and beautiful neutral blankets to wrap your baby in for the family portrait, as well as a few onesies and gowns. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of blankets vs. gown/outfit, but the ultimate choice is yours! Using a blanket is always classic and what the majority of my clients choose, but larger or fidgety newborns can be difficult to keep in the wrap. Putting those babies in a onesie or a gown takes care of that issue, and still looks timeless and adorable!

When Hudson and daddy arrived, we moved right into the family portion!

TYPICAL NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

It is my goal to photograph sibling images first, followed by each parent with their children, and wrapped up with the whole family together.

Sibling images are often the most important to my clients! 9 times out of 10 your toddler will be the most cooperative as soon as they arrive at the studio, so I take advantage of those first few minutes by making sure we’re ready to go! I move very quickly and transition seamlessly between each image, while respecting your child’s interest and cooperation level too.

For our newborns, safety is the number one priority. I make sure that your newborn is not near any older siblings alone if they cannot be calm and listen to instructions. Every toddler has a different energy so I will assess how they're doing when deciding which types of images are safely possible.

Hudson was a VERY sweet and attentive toddler who was so excited about his baby sister! As I was photographing Hudson and Harper together for their sibling images, their parents were mere inches from the pair of them ready to swoop in and intervene if necessary.

Once we had finished all of the photographs with Hudson and Harper together, we transitioned to the family and parent portion.While I do have a pretty typical flow, sometimes your older child will need a break, and I’ll adjust things to accommodate that. It's important that everyone in your family is included and has a good time, including older siblings!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

We make it easy and stress-free for our clients! After you’ve had a baby the LAST thing you need is to contend with anything that is overly complicated.

About a week after their session, Lilly and Josh viewed their proof gallery and chose their favorite images for their desired collection.

CREATING FRAMED ARTWORK FOR YOUR HOME

Our framed artwork is typically ready in about 2-6 weeks. Sometimes a particular moulding will be on backorder, but you’ll be informed of that before the order is placed so you’re aware of it and can change to one in stock if having it quickly is important to you. When you choose the image(s) your want framed, we’ll discuss the best size for where you plan to hang it in your home.

Once the the size is chosen, the print is ordered! After it comes in, we then “dress” the print together with the moulding (frame). We’ll choose the best frame from our line for your image and home decor/personal style preferences. We’ll also decide on the mat width - I’m a fan of 3-5” inch mats depending on the size of the print.

As a virtual appointment for choosing frames, we’ll have a text message conversation where I'll help you decide on the perfect frame to fit your image tone and then send over some photos of suggested frames next to your print. Most clients are able to choose their favorite pretty quickly. If you’d rather come into the studio to see the frames in person with your image for yourself, I can do that too!

After you’ve chosen your frame, we’ll talk about the mat. The mat size depends on your frame! I'll determine the best one that complements both it and your print. The larger the print, the wider my mat should be to balance it out - but this will also depend on what width of frames you can hang from a wall or in an oversized space.

Once that’s nailed down, I then order your frame, mat, and GORGEOUS museum glass. I am absolutely obsessed with museum glass! It might seem strange to describe glass as being stunning, but it really is. You can barely see the glass in the frame when looking at it because of how crystal clear and transparent with very little glare. I also love that 99% UV protection which makes sure there’s no fading or discoloration on my artwork! If you aren’t sure what museum quality framing looks like, you will once you’re in the studio - there are plenty of pieces hanging right up on these walls for your viewing pleasure!

When the frame, mat, and museum glass arrive at my studio, I mat the print, and assemble the entire piece. The last step of framing is to finish the back of the frame with paper and hanging hardware. This means that all you’ll have to do is hang it up on your wall. Once it’s there, you will find yourself standing in front of it and be transported back to the time it was taken. Your children will love looking at it also. How do I know? From personal experience! I have a gallery wall in my own home with treasured family images. I find myself standing in front of the framed prints marveling at how quickly my children have grown in the years since they were taken even though it feels like it was just YESTERDAY. My kids really love them too. They have commented that seeing these portraits makes them feel loved, and asked if I could frame their favorite images to hang on the walls of their rooms as well!

If you order framed artwork from us that contains a 16x20 or larger print, I’ll deliver their finished artwork right to your front doorstep within a 20 mile radius of the studio. If you reside further away than this radius, you’ll need to make pickup arrangements. If you don’t have large framed artwork as part of your order, you’ll come to the studio and pick up your order when it’s ready. I send a weekly email to clients with a link to schedule on designated pickup days and time windows throughout the week. Your order pickup is safe, contactless, and simple.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Are you expecting a new baby and interested in reserving a newborn session with us? We would LOVE to chat with you about your family, what we offer and how best we can serve you! Please contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!

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

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

Atlanta First Birthday Photographer | A is ONE!

A’s mom contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter with the whole family included. We sent her our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet to review as well! The style guide is a quick read and simple to implement! Our style guide is relevant to any type of session you schedule with us. I love helping people with their styling! I'm here to support you, so don't hesitate to ask if there's anything in particular you want help on. We can schedule a visit in the studio to go over your wardrobe options(whether you are borrowing from the studio wardrobe or wearing your own) or conduct it virtually with a few email exchanges in advance of your session.

PRO TIP: DON’T DRESS YOUR BABY UNTIL YOU ARRIVE AT THE STUDIO!

If there’s one thing that’s true in life, it’s that lots of curveballs get thrown our way. Here’s a few examples of incidents that could happen on the way to your baby’s First Birthday session: a random bout of carsickness, a REALLY messy sneeze, a spilled bottle or snack cup….or perhaps your baby will manage to find a chocolate m&m buried in in the depths of their car seat….. You may laugh at this and think there’s no way these situations would occur…but these examples have actually happened to my clients. Fortunately, they had followed me instructions not to dress their baby until arrival, so the clothes were safe! If your best intentions go awry and your baby’s outfit isn’t usable (or you forget it!) don’t stress too much. I do have a limited baby wardrobe here that is very classic and timeless and that some of our moms choose to use. We can dress your baby in a pinch!

WHERE YOU SHOULD GET YOUR SMASH CAKE

A’s brought along a pink and white smash cake with buttercream icing from a local bakery up in Alpharetta where she lives. Unfortunately, the bakery had a MASSIVE amount of icing on the cake, and when we opened the box, we discovered that the icing had literally melted off and was a giant pool at the bottom of the box.

After the initial shock of seeing the cake, I reassured her that it would be ok because after all…the cakes do get smashed up anyway! I keep cake tools in the studio exactly for this purpose (this isn’t the first time this has happened!) I have found that bakeries are not in the business of designing cakes for the specific purpose of photos, and tend to overdo it with too much icing or icing that is too heavy - so when the cake is transported, it sometimes turns into a cake fail.

So how do you avoid this!? Don’t work with a bakery that doesn’t have a proven track record with smash cakes for PHOTOGRAPHY purposes. There is a big difference!

Publix, Kroger, and Whole Foods are all easy and convienent choices to get a simple smash cake or even a cupcake. They will not overdecorate your cake with their standard icing.

If you’re looking for a custom and personalized experience with your baby’s smash cake, or if your baby has egg allergies/ needs a vegan option, we have the perfect solution for you!

We highly recommend Christina with She Takes the Cake. Christina is our preferred and our ONLY recommend baker here in Atlanta. We are happy to connect you with her! She offers a delivery service where she’ll bring your baby’s smash cake to the studio in advance of your session. When you arrive, it will be here in pristine condition and waiting for you. Clients love this option because it’s one less thing they have to worry about the day of their session, and there’s not sweating and praying while transporting the cake. Not only are Christina’s cakes gorgeous, they are absolutely delicious - even her vegan ones!

Over the past five years, I have worked with Christina to develop the perfect buttercream consistency for our babies. It’s soft enough to interact with and smash, but not so sticky that it turns cleaning up your baby afterwards into a nightmare.. If you want to be 100% sure that you won’t have a cake disaster with icing melting off your cake or accidentally dropping it on your way up to the studio, working with She Takes The Cake is 100% the way to go!

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR YOUR BABY’S SMASH CAKE

• Keep the cake simple! Don’t use fondant or add tons of distracting objects to the cake for decor.

• Your cake should be a 6 inch diameter size or less and no more than two layers maximum. If you have a taller cake, it usually limits angles for photography since your baby’s face will be partially hidden behind it.

• Real flowers are beautiful on cakes, but are not recommended. If you just HAVE to have some flowers, you should plan to remove them after the first few photographs. Why? Because they will most likely end up right in your baby’s mouth. This guideline applies to anything on your cake that is not icing- candles, decor, etc. It ends up being a distraction from the task at hand and can also obscure adorable facial expressions during their session.

• Choose a neutral icing color (off white, cream, or pastels). Avoid neons or super bright colors that may stain skin and clothing, and will cause unwanted color casts in your pictures.

• Don’t cover your baby’scake with shaved coconut. Yes, the textured aesthetic is gorgeous, but in my experience, most babies don’t like it. When coconut has been used, it ended exploration of the cake as soon as the baby felt the texture of it in their mouth and was followed with lots of crying and spitting it out.

• Use buttercream icing only. DO NOT CHOOSE to use whipped icing, swiss buttercream, or fondant. Whipped and swiss buttercream icing is slippery, greasy, and horrifyingly MESSY. These icings are resistant to being wiped off your baby’s skin. If you use it, you will be wrestling your screaming baby while struggling for control and muttering under your breath, “For the love of Cheez-It’s, why won’t this stuff COME OFF?!?!?!.” As for fondant, it is very thick, and difficult for babies to get through to the actual cake with their fingers and eat so they lose interest quickly.

• Skip writing a message on top of the cake (save it for the party cake instead) - it doesn’t photograph like you’re thinking it will.

FIRST BIRTHDAY SESSION FLOW

I refer to First Birthday sessions as my 3-in-1 sessions. I photograph solo portraits of your little one, family & parent portraits, and cake smash photos throughout. I started the session photographing A alone since she was a friendly and curious little girl. If your baby is on the shy side, I’ll start the session with them in your arms for family and parent images so they feel safe. Once I finished A’s solo portraits, I moved on to the family images. A’s aunt and cousin had come along too, and they stepped in for a couple of photographs as well!

THE CAKE SMASH

After we finished up A’s solo portraits and all the family images, it was time for the cake!

I demonstrate how you should present the cake to your baby before you actually do it (I know this sounds silly, but it really does matter!) You will never be left wondering about what you should be doing throughout your time with me because I’ll guide you through your session with verbal prompts and demonstration as needed!

When A saw her cake, she dove right in! A lot of parents wonder about what we do if their baby doesn’t like their cake. There is no guarantee that they will, because every baby is different with this! I’ve found that the majority of babies do enjoy it, especially if it’s presented with no pressure from anyone and kept fun for them.

If your baby isn’t really interested in touching their cake at first, you can help by getting into the photographs! Most babies love to “feed” their parents or to be fed by them. Make eating the cake a fun game for them but modeling feeding each other bites. Once your baby becomes interested, you can slowly back out of the frame and I’ll get those solo images of them covered in cake and icing while you watch and enjoy the cuteness!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from A’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 Levi

Kari contacted us for a last minute newborn session after her daughter, Levi had arrived. She wasn’t sure that we would be available but she took the chance anyway, and was glad she did! Kari requested an in-home session because she loves her home decor and wanted it in the images, but also really wanted to have posed studio images of her baby as well. I do not bring my wraps and posing surfaces to homes . They decided on two sessions so they could have the best of both worlds, which is definitely an option available for clients! Booking two sessions means that you would your baby to the studio for solo portraits, and I would then travel to your home for the second in-home session sometime in the following couple of days, and images from both sessions are presented together in one proof gallery for you to choose from!

As a note: I am fully protected with the Pfizer vaccine as of April 12, 2021 when full protection kicked in. I wear an N95 mask with clients regardless of their vaccination status.

WHY YOU NEED TO RESERVE YOUR NEWBORN SESSION NOW

I can only accept a limited number of newborns due each month. Limiting the number of newborn clients I take ensures I am able serve all of my clients equally at the level they deserve.

Reserving your newborn session means you are guaranteeing a newborn session for your baby on my calendar, not booking the exact session date. No one can accurately predict your baby’s birth date. I have lost count of how many of my newborns were born before their scheduled induction or c-section date! When your baby is born, you’ll let us know, and we’ll schedule your session date! There are SO many factors that determine when we schedule your session. These include but are not limited to: length of your partner’s paternity leave, any complications for you or baby, how you’re feeling post delivery, how much your baby weighed at birth, etc.

IN HOME LIFESTYLE SESSIONS VS. STUDIO SESSIONS

If booking two sessions isn’t possible for you and you are deciding between an in-home or studio newborn session, let’s go over the differences!

If you choose an in-home session, you will need to:

• Understand that your images will be lifestyle oriented.

• Be ready to start your session upon my arrival.

• Ensure you have ample natural light in your home.

• Have neutral colored walls in your home.

• Be ok with not having access to our studio wardrobe that is complimentary to our clients.

• NOT be married to the idea of shooting in a particular spot within your home. I will assess your home upon arrival and we will be shooting where the best light is available.

• NOT have cats (I am highly allergic and cannot travel to homes with cats, but dogs are fine!

• Clean your house and declutter, and be prepared for things to be moved at my direction if they are distracting.

• Unplug lamps, clocks, etc in the rooms and hide the cords so they are not in the photos.

• Be okay with limited solo portraits of your baby, wrapped in a blanket on your bed or in your arms. There will not be wrapped solo portraits like what you see for my natural posing.

So, as you can see, it is actually NOT necessarily “easier” to have your newborn session be in your home, and it limits the types of images that will be taken.

One note: I hear a LOT of clients state that the reason they want an in-home session is because they want to showcase their baby’s nursery. I always like to remind my clients that their baby is completely unaware of their surroundings as a newborn. An in-home milestone session for your baby’s 6 month session when they can sit unassisted on the floor of their nursery and hold on to the side of their crib while standing is such a fun way to show off the nursery with your baby actually aware of everything and interacting with their toys! Just something to keep in mind! Be sure to ask about our First Year Collection for the perfect way to photograph your baby for newborn, siting, and First Birthday milestone sessions.

The studio is the perfect setting for my blend of lifestyle meets posed, and all you have to do is worry about getting here. It’s also a nice break and gets you out of the house to a safe, private, and zero pressure location where you don’t have to worry about if your baby is crying or needs to eat. Once you’re here, everything else is taken care of for you!

If you choose a session here at the studio:

• All you have to do is literally show up at your session time.

• Your images will be consistent and like what is shown on my portfolio (which is why you’re hiring me!)

• The studio is all neutral and intentionally designed to be a blank canvas so that your newborn and family are the focus, and your session images will look beautiful in any home.

• You can add on hair and makeup services to your session, so you don’t have to worry about getting yourself ready while managing everything at home.

• You will not have to clean your house after just having had a baby and running on no sleep.

• You’ll have access to our studio wardrobe.

• The studio will be heated to the perfect temperature so your baby is comfortable.

• You will have solo and naturally posed portraits of your baby intermixed with family and parent.

• ALL your needs will be met, and you will be very comfortable! We have everything you need here - elevator access for recovering c-section mamas, a full kitchen, private bathroom, Nespresso coffee machine, nursing pillows, extra diapers and wipes…..the list goes on!

• You will have a gallery that is a perfect mixture of lifestyle blended with posed images.

• You will NOT have to worry about whether the lighting is adequate enough, because it is!

• You can take a nap on the couch, or connect your laptop and work remotely with our studio Google Fiber

• Your older children will be better behaved than at home - it’s true! Ever notice how your children are always perfect angels at school or someone else’ house and wonder why? The expectations are different! When I go to client homes, toddlers are extremely comfortable in their environment. They are easily distracted, and often much more difficult to get to cooperate. When they’re here at the studio, it’s a new place with far less distraction, because they have nowhere familiar to run off to for escape or toys to distract them.

IN HOME LIFESTYLE SESSION FLOW

If you choose an in-home session, here's the flow you can expect!

I will arrive to your home and when I come in, I will do a walk through to see where the best light is and where the best places to shoot are. If you need any input on what to wear from your closet, I’ll go through your options quickly and pull it all together for you. I’ll rearrange things as necessary and may ask you to move things to be more conducive to the resulting images. We’ll transition through different areas that are adequate for lighting and composition. I photograph you the EXACT same way I would in the studio - you will just have your home interior as the background! If there is an area and surface (ie: bed, ottoman) with adequate light that I can photograph your baby alone on, I will wrap them in a blanket you have on hand and photograph them alone for some simple solo portraits!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR IN-HOME SESSION

After I leave your home, you can expect your proof gallery in about 7 business days beginning the day after your session! You’ll look through it, decide on your favorites, and choose what best fits your needs! Kari loved all of Levi’s images from both sessions so much that she chose to purchase the full collection of images.

Enjoy some of my favorites from Levi’s studio and in-home sessions!

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 | Stephanie, Ben & Warner

I first worked with Stephanie and Ben when they were expecting their son a few years ago, and was thrilled to hear from them that they were expecting a little girl and wanted to book another maternity session! Their first maternity session was at the park in the month of November on one of the COLDEST days that month. This session was late summer, and was such on such a lovely warm day. If you want to see the images from their first maternity session, just click here!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Stephanie had contacted us early on, we were able to schedule a weekend date for their maternity session. I fill up MONTHS in advance, so it’s the truth that the sooner you contact us the better your chances of getting the date you’re hoping for!

If I am fully booked for weekends already, my clients plan to leave work earlier on a weekday. Weeknight sessions have a pretty big perk: your location will be much less crowded! Please note that ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset and sometimes we offer sunrise sessions at certain times of year (mostly in August/September when the sunrise is 7:30 AM or later). If you want to know when your session would start, simply do a Google search for “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and voila! Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general start time! If you’re booking a sunrise session, we will meet up at your location about 5 minutes before sunrise!

Caroline, our studio manager, emailed over Stephanie’s session documents to her. The entire booking process is very streamlined and handled securely online! Our booking process has been described more times than we can count as a “well oiled machine” and we very proud of that. It’s our goal to serve our clients well and to make everything as easy as possible for them.

After Stephanie remitted her paperwork, her date was officially locked into our calendar. We scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session date and sent a short list of what she should bring along with her.

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Your maternity fitting is scheduled 1-2 weeks before your session date! This ensures you have plenty of time to decide what to wear and to pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your belly shouldn't grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit into your choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and are absolutely in love with it, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore in two weeks.

Using our studio wardrobe is not at all required! Roughly 95% of our clients do choose to borrow from it! If you are able to, I strongly recommend that all clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other. If you can’t make the time to come by the studio, virtual options are available via Zoom or FaceTime! Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more at ease because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time.

When Stephanie came in for her fitting, she commented on how many dresses we had compared to the last session from a few years prior. It’s true - I have a LOT and it’s constantly growing. Because I had already worked with her, I knew what her style preferences and favorite colors were (as well as what would look incredible on her skin tone!), so I had a few already pulled for her to consider.

You DON’T have to decide at your maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing for your session. You will need to submit your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead time allows us to have your selections dry cleaned in time if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband the photos from her phone, Stephanie decided on a short cream dress and a gorgeous dusky pink gauze dress.

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH KIDS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because an outdoor couples or family maternity session should NOT take 4 hours. When a young child is involved with a session, it’s even MORE important to not have a long session because they just cannot handle it. Four hours is an insane length of time to shoot a standard outdoor natural light portrait session. This will not be like your engagement photos that were probably unnecessarily dragged out for hours. Honestly, previous sessions with other photographers that tortured them with hours of shooting is why a lot of first time dads to be show up to sessions with me assuming they’re going to hate the entire experience. Nope. Dragging it out is not how I roll.

Instead, I’m going to guide you throughout our entire time together. I will literally instruct you what to do and when to do it, and I’ll do it efficiently but you won’t feel rushed. My focus is on the emotional connection between you and your partner/child(ren. The interaction between subjects that you see in my images is 100% authentic.

I’ll be 100% honest: most of my subjects can’t quite get to this place on their own unless they have worked with me before. I do the initial work of getting you positioned where I want you, adjust your hair and clothing if necessary. THEN I’ll give you a simple and easy to follow prompt that sparks that natural interaction. Small children don’t follow direction well (or at all!), so I just let them be themselves and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is ZERO formal posing where everyone has to be perfectly stiff for twenty eternal seconds - let’s face it, that is just NOT possible (or realistic) with kids!

Once you’re relaxed and have gotten in the zone, the magic begins. You don’t need to be nervous about not knowing what to do. Your dynamic with your family is unique, and it SHOULDN’T look like every other session out there. I don’t operate like a cookie cutter. Your session will show your family loving and being with each other the way that YOU do, while highlighting the beauty of your pregnancy.

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that your session won't be be dragged out. I allot an hour for outdoor portraits - and once the sun is gone, we’re done, so it’s important to be on time. While I do shoot efficiently and can do so at hyper speed if needed, I cannot keep the sun from setting.

You are probably going to be a bit nervous when we get started. You might also feel a bit awkward too. This is 100% normal, and it will dissipate, I promise! I regularly shoot 20+ maternity sessions per month (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for over 9 years now, so I’ve got you taken care of!

Most of my clients are able to really relax in 10 minutes or less. The photos taken at the very beginning often don’t make it into your final proof gallery. The very first little bit is intended as your warm-up so you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction! Once I can see that you’re relaxed and starting to actually have fun, THAT is when the magic happens and we start getting the keepers for your proof gallery!

I have my pregnant moms move around as little as possible, and my session flow is structured around them. When you’re pregnant, you’re often sore, your hips and feet might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag you all over the place. Instead, partners are the ones who will step in and out of the frame at my direction. Breaks are taken as needed for you to drink some water or just take a breather for a moment!

We started out our session in the most gorgeous late summer sunset light, and I spent some time photographing Stephanie solo and pulling in the rest of the family for some images from time to time. Warner was a ball of energy and running around all over the place, which I loved. He was fun, and silly, and we really captured his true personality in the family images, which is always the goal.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session with me, YAY! Firstly, a GIANT congrats!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life! It is my honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child, and I would love for you to contact us to chat.

Have you watched the video on our website that covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, check it out - you can click here to see it. It’s a quick 90 seconds of your time, and will provide a great overview of what it’s like to work with me. Bonus: you’ll actually get to see my entire face in the video unlike when you’re with me due to my wearing amask! ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s park maternity session 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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Austin

Laura contacted the studio in her second trimester to book a newborn session for her second baby. She was so excited to have found us. She really loved that we include family members in our session, since others she had contacted did not. I don’t photograph just your newborn, because your baby deserves to have photos with their family too. My session galleries are always a combination of your newborn alone for solo portraits and family/parent images!

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY BABY’S NEWBORN SESSION?

If you know you want to work with me, now. It’s never too early! Here’s why: Reserving your newborn session does NOT mean you are booking an exact date for your session. This is impossible since birth dates are unpredictable! When you reserve, you are guaranteed a session for your baby! When your baby arrives, you simply let us know when they have arrived and we will go from there in scheduling the date for your newborn photos.

I know you’re most likely very busy with all the baby prep checklist, but do yourself a favor and don’t put this off! The majority of our clients contact us early in their second trimester to guarantee getting on our calendar. We can only take a certain number of newborns due in each month. We do this to ensure we are able deliver our unparalleled level of service that you deserve. Once I’m full, I’m full.

Has your baby already arrived? All is NOT necessarily lost. Our booked newborns tend to arrive earlier or later than their estimated due dates, so there are some months that we DO have the ability to take on a last minute newborn session. Get in touch with us right away, and we might be able to fit you in!

NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH A TODDLER INVOLVED

Laura let me know that her toddler daughter, Elle would also be participating in the session! I love and welcome older siblings, so no worries there! Dads plan to relax at home and to bring older siblings later once the newborn solo images have been completed.

When toddlers are involved with your baby’s newborn session, we will ask you what their nap schedule because we want to ensure they’re well rested. Studio newborn sessions are scheduled in the morning for a start time between 9 and 10 AM depending on the time of year. The 90 minutes of our time together is devoted to photographing your baby alone, which makes it the perfect time for you to take advantage of our add on hair and makeup services! Adding on our HMUA services does NOT extend your total session length as I’m actively photographing baby only while you’re being prepped…. so you may as well treat yourself since you’ll just be sitting on the couch anyway!

When Laura and Austin arrived, I took him out of his carseat and got started photographing his solo images right away.

Austin slept like a rock and and was a very snuggly little guy that curled up very easily for his wrapped photos, but did wake up towards the end and opened his eyes for some of the cutest eye contact images! As I was finishing up with his solo portraits, dad and big sister Elle arrived. Everyone got themselves dressed and ready, and Laura changed Austin into an outfit she had bought specifically for the family images. If you are planning to have your baby wear a special outfit, please be sure that it fits well and is snug. If your baby is dressed in an outfit that swallows them up, you will be fighting with the outfit the entire session trying to make sure their face is visible and not obscured by puffed loose material.

NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

If your baby is awake during our time together, it’s no problem at all as long as they are calm! I LOVE when I have an alert baby, because then I have the opportunity photograph them with direct eye contact. It’s remarkable how different your baby can look when they’re peacefully asleep vs. wide eyed!

I started out the session photographing Elle and Austin together for sibling images. As long as it’s safe, I start with the sibling photos because these are usually the highest priority for clients. Most of the time, your toddler will be the most cooperative upon arrival to the studio - not 30 minutes later when the shock and awe of being in a new place has worn off. I work efficiently to photograph siblings, each parent with their children, and whole family before your toddler’s patience runs out!

My TOP priority in the studio is safety. I won’t place babies near their older sibling(s) if your toddler is not calm and still and capable of following direction. Each toddler is different, so I’ll make the judgement based on my assessment of your child. Elle was loving and sweet to her brother, and followed my direction well, so I was able to safely place Austin next to her. What you can’t see from these images is that both of her parents were just inches away ready to jump in if needed.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

We make it super simple for our clients! About a week after their session, Laura viewed Austin’s proof gallery and chose her collection, which included an album. When the session images were completed, she chose which ones she wanted for her album! The digital files of chosen collection images are also included as well.

Most clients look through the different album options that we have available as samples in the studio and snap photos of the cover options with their phone before leaving. I handle album design and proofing virtually, and it’s a super easy process for my clients to log in and look through the proof! Most clients approve their proof immediately, and others ask for a couple of changes, but once it’s approved to print, I sent it off to be printed!

After your album is ordered, it takes about 4-6 weeks (due to their handcrafted construction) for it to be ready for pickup at the studio. If you’re interested in having your favorite image on the wall to enjoy instead of or in addition to an heirloom album, I have a stunning line of frame moulding for you to look at here at the studio as well. Ask about our design mockup service when choosing to purchase frames from - I am here to make your decision making a snap!

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Are you expecting and interested in reserving a session with us for your baby's newborn session? We would absolutely LOVE to chat with you about your family, what we offer, and how we can best serve you. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Austin’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.