Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Angelica and Paul

Because I shoot so many sessions, I don't always have time to blog them, and most of the sessions are blogged some time after they are photographed. I also tend to prefer to wait to blog sessions until my clients have had a chance to share with their own friends and family first.

Angelica knew exactly which dress she wanted to wear in my studio wardrobe as she had seen it in my portfolio. She had the longest and most beautiful hair, and was so excited for her maternity session. We talked about what her husband should wear, and then we met at the field a couple of weeks later.

During their session, we talked about childbirth and labor. Paul is actually a nurse and has a little experience in labor and delivery, so he knew exactly what to do if Angelica had a fast labor. He was a little concerned about when she would actually go into labor since if it happened during a shift, he would need to get coverage to leave...which isn't always as easy as you might think. 

During the session, Angelica and Paul interacted as if I weren't even there. I loved Angelica's confidence and their tenderness towards one another, and it was such a gorgeous evening that night. 

 I shot this session when I was pregnant with my last child the first week in September 2015. Fun fact: Angelica and I were due 2.5 weeks apart. We actually ran into each other in our pediatrician's office in November 2015 with our newborns and their son was SO cute. Here are a few favorites! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Millini & Cedric

Millini contacted me in November to discuss my offerings and knew that she wanted to work with the same photographer for maternity, birth, and newborn. She came into the studio for a consultation, and we spent an hour getting to know one another. She told me that she would be giving birth at DeKalb Medical Center and attended by Dr. Brad Bootstaylor of SeeBaby Midwifery. I have worked with Dr. Bootstaylor and SeeBaby midwives multiple times for births, and have greatly enjoyed it. At the consult, Millini decided to book all three sessions with me, and this studio maternity session is the first in the series. 

Millini and Cedric are the sweetest. They weren't sure if they would be able to have a baby due to some challenges, but when they found themselves pregnant they were elated. Millini loves the vintage look and fell in love with an off the shoulder lace medallion gown in the studio wardrobe, as well as a simple lace gown with straps. I absolutely loved working with these two for their maternity session. Cedric has one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen, and is just one of those incredibly sweet and genuine people. Millini is the same way, and it was special to watch the two of them interact during their session.

You will not see Millini's birth story and images shared on the blog in the future. I do not share birth stories on my website other than the few that have been shared in order to protect what I consider to be the most sacred of experiences. The only people sharing their birth story with the world should be the person who gave birth, not their photographer. I am simply a guest who is honored to be in the room to document one of the most important days in the lives of clients. Clients interested in The Birth Session Experience come into the studio for a complimentary consultation and view birth stories with me in the studio, with client permission. As of this blog post, I am fully booked for the remainder of 2017, but there are still waiting list spots available for select months. 

I look forward to posting and sharing images of Millini and Cedric's long awaited baby boy on the blog soon! 

*This session photographed before the installation of the all white studio floors

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Jessica & Daniel

Jessica contacted me in the middle of April to see if I had availability for a maternity and newborn session. She was expecting their first child, a baby boy! I responded and let her know that I had one opening left for April, and that it was three days away. She jumped at the chance to book her session, and came to the studio for a maternity fitting with her husband.

Jessica and Daniel have a pretty significant height difference! She is all of 5'2", and he is super tall at 6'6". She was a bit concerned that the dresses in the studio would be too long for her and not work well, but I assured her that many of the pieces work for a wide range of heights. We also have what seems like an unlimited supply of safety pins to temporarily fit clothing to more petite bodies! Jessica ended up choosing two dresses that she loved and looked gorgeous on her. Her husband opted to borrow one of the men's chambray linen shirts that we have on hand for men so he wouldn't have to worry about shopping with the session being so soon. 

We met at the field, and it was such a gorgeous evening. I LOVE shooting in the field year round, and it's absolutely beautiful when it's both cloudy and sunny - but I definitely just adore sun soaked images, and that's exactly the kind of evening it was. 

During the session Daniel kept crouching down out of habit. I let him know this wasn't necessary and to embrace the height difference. For some images when couples are snuggling, I do encourage dads to get as close as possible but ask them to do this how they naturally would. For some men that's bending at the back, others bend their knees. I want your images to be true to who you are both individually and as a couple. 

Here are just a few images from our fun evening shooting in the field. I absolutely loved working with this couple for maternity and newborn (check back tomorrow to see their newborn session!) and am looking forward to seeing them again for their son's First Birthday Session! 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A winter maternity session in the park

Jessica contacted me in July to schedule her maternity session in the park because she wanted to be sure she had a spot on my calendar. Advance planning is definitely the way to go for guaranteed availability! When she came to the studio for a fitting, we got to know each other a bit and talked about what her husband should wear. I also gave some direction about what type of shoe she should choose to best complement her dresses.  

On the day of the session, it was a cloudy and chilly December day. It's a common misconception that you need to have sunny weather for your session to take place. I shoot in overcast weather when the sun is hiding, and I actually love the resulting images from overcast days. Also keep in mind that I'm photographing my subjects and their connection to one another...not the sunset!  

On my way there, it started to sprinkle. I wondered how heavy the rain would get and crossed my fingers that we would still be able to shoot. At the studio, I selected the best options for Taylor that they had brought with him to go with Jessica's wardrobe choices. We decided to make our way to the park location and take the risk of being poured on. That risk paid off into such an intimate and beautiful session that was so much fun. When we wrapped up, Jessica commented that she couldn't believe how easy and fun the entire experience was. This is something that I hear often from my clients, and what I strive for. I have the honor of photographing some of the most special times in the lives of my clients, so I want them to remember the experience as being absolutely wonderful from start to finish. 

I absolutely loved the dresses that Jessica chose from the studio wardrobe for her session, and am so excited to share these images. I cannot wait to meet Jessica and Taylor's sweet baby girl later this winter when they come in for her newborn session and first portraits as a family. 

If you're pregnant and considering a maternity session in the winter, don't be afraid to take it outdoors! I work quickly, and we can always wrap you up in a blanket in between as needed. If you absolutely hate the cold and it's just not a possibility for you, the studio is kept toasty warm and is also an absolutely gorgeous setting for maternity sessions. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | To bare the belly or not?

Many of my clients want to show off their belly in a discreet way for their maternity session images. My studio wardrobe has several split front gowns available to accomplish this, and we will talk about what your vision is and how much you want showing. Not every pregnant woman wants her legs to show, or wants her entire belly to show. There are lots of things we can do in terms of draping to achieve the vision you have for your images. If you have stretch marks or a scar from a navel ring that you feel self conscious about, these are things that can be removed in the editing process if you so desire.

I also have many clients who want more of a budoir feel for their images and wear a chemise, robe,  or just a bra and panties. I do not post more revealing images online on my portfolio or social media in the interest of privacy and discretion. 

Don't want any bare belly photos? That's totally okay too! Your comfort and vision is what I honor. The beauty of the split front dresses are that they can also be worn closed... and the studio wardrobe has many, many other options where no bare belly is shown.

If you're pregnant and looking for a photographer for your maternity and/or newborn sessions, I would love to work with you! We will create images that you will love for a lifetime and pass down to your children.  Want to learn about my philosophy and how I work? View this short 1.5 minute film which sums it all up.  Want to stop by the next studio open house? Sign up here.  Ready to reserve your session? Contact me to begin planning! 

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

Atlanta Maternity Photography Studio | Kristina & Tony

Kristina contacted us at 36 weeks pregnant asking if there was any availability for a studio maternity session. She knew exactly which dresses she wanted to wear from the studio wardrobe from reading through the website. and we scheduled her to come in that same week. Even though my general scheduling guideline is for maternity sessions to take place between 30-34 weeks, this is not a hard and fast rule. Sometimes shorter clients or clients carrying multiples want to schedule between 24-28 weeks. Others wait until the very last minute and schedule at 40 weeks pregnant. The risk of scheduling a session past 37 weeks is that you'll miss out if you end up delivering early. This happened to me with my third baby. I had my session scheduled for a Saturday and he decided to come the Wednesday before at exactly 37 weeks. I'm still a little bit sad about it because he was my last baby, and I have maternity images from my pregnancies with his older sisters, but not with him.

When Kristina and Tony showed up at the studio, I was delighted to see that he had chosen an outfit that worked perfectly. He informed me he had researched and looked at the website before selecting what he would wear. If it had been a test, he would have passed with flying colors. 

There was quite a big height difference between the two: 15 inches to be exact. Kristina was 5'2", and Tony was 6'5". Big height differences are not a big deal, as I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to that!

Kristina brought a gorgeous flower crown with her, and it went perfectly with one of the dresses in my wardrobe. This is a split front dress, which means that you can choose to wear the dress open or closed. Every client is different in terms of preference, and I photograph what you are comfortable with! 

All of the dresses that Kristina is wearing below are available in the studio wardrobe for clients to use for their sessions. 

If you're in or near Atlanta (some clients have driven 4 hours each way for their sessions!) and looking for a maternity and/or newborn photographer, I would love to work with you! Contact me today to begin planning - it's never too early to book. If you wait until last minute, I can't guarantee availability as I limit the number of sessions I shoot per month. 

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