FAMILY PORTRAITS

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Oliver

Blake contacted me in advance of her due date to schedule a newborn session for her second son when he arrived. She and her husband had just relocated to Atlanta from Austin, Texas and loved the simple and natural light style in my portfolio.

On the day of their session, the family arrived at the studio and I began with Oliver's newborn portraits. Big brother Harley was having some challenges adjusting to his new role, and didn't want to hold his brother or lay next to him. Toddlers decide what they want to do, and trying to force or threaten doesn't work. Bribes sometimes do, but parents should be prepared for their toddler to not cooperate how they envision. I will work with your toddler and do my best, but I won't lay them on the floor alone with your baby for them to hold if they don't want to cooperate. Your baby's safety and comfort isn't worth that risk. In Harley's case, he was happiest to sit next to his brother and play with some of our studio toys with his parents just out of the frame watching carefully and ready to intervene if needed. Not what Blake had envisioned for sibling photos, but she did love how it worked out in the end. 

Blake chose to dress her family from their closets and stayed true to their own personal and casual style. She also brought the cutest little outfit for Oliver that she wanted him to wear for their baby announcements that also reflected the cool hipster style the whole family has. 

Here are some of my favorite's from Oliver's session. Doesn't he have the most adorable blonde eyelashes?!

Image of a sleeping, newborn boy, wrapped in a white blanket, curled up. 
Black and white, stacked images of a sleeping, newborn boy, curled up and wrapped in a blanket. 
Macro image collage of a newborn, boy's eyelashes, lips, hands and toes. 
Image of a sleeping, newborn, boy, on his back and wrapped in a light tan blanket, with his feet curled up on his stomach. 
Black and white image of a sleeping, newborn, boy with his hands on his stomach. 
Close up image of a sleeping, newborn, boy's face and eyelashes. 
Black and white image of a sleeping, newborn, boy, with his arm's crossed on his chest. 
Black and white image of a new family of four. The mother is holding her infant son while the husband is holding their two year old son. 
Side by side images of a mother holding her newborn son. In the first image, the infant is looking at the camera and in the second image, they mother is smiling down at him. 
Side by side image of a father holding his newborn son in his arms and smiling down at him. 
Side by side images of a 2 year old boy playing with wooden blocks next to his newborn baby brother. 
Image of a newborn, baby boy, wearing a gray jumper and a dark gray hat and laying on a cream flokati, taken at the natural light studio of Lily Sophia Photography. 

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 Newborn Photographer | Lincoln

I first worked with Millini and Cedric for their studio maternity session, which can be viewed by clicking here. 

Lincoln was born at DeKalb Medical Center at exactly 42 weeks by family centered cesarean section attended by Dr. Brad Bootstaylor and the SeeBaby midwives. I know this because I was there in the OR to document the entire beautiful experience. His mama was such a trouper and they were so proud to bring him into the studio for his newborn session! 

Because Lincoln was two weeks overdue, much of the skin protecting vernix was gone when he was born. Babies who are born later tend to lose most of their vernix in utero, and tend to peel more after birth. Lincoln was one of those babies. Millini loved his peeling skin because it told a part of his story, and asked that I not completely edit it out. She also wanted to be sure to document his umbilical cord stump as it is the last physical connection between her son and herself. Not everyone likes a photo of the umbilical stump, and that's totally ok! We will talk about your preferences when you arrive for your newborn session if it has not yet fallen off. 

Millini chose a simple white gown from the wardrobe and worked with Margaret to add on makeup services. Cedric wanted to be more casual in a simple white v-neck tee with jeans. Every family is different, and I send a newborn preparation packet with wardrobe suggestions for dad based on his personality and comfort level. I've had dads be most comfortable in a button down with a sport jacket, and others in a simple tee. The most important thing to me is that you feel comfortable and love the way you look and feel. That will translate to your final images. 

Here are some of my favorite images from this long awaited baby boy's newborn session. 

If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer here in Atlanta, 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. 

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | Fun family sunset session in the park

    Oh, this family. How I love them!  I was so excited to shoot their family session since I last saw them for their son's newborn session, which can be viewed here. 

    Emily came to the studio for a style consult and fell in love with a floral maxi dress. A lot of clients think that they need to wear a neutral palette, and while this is lovely and beautiful - it's not the right fit for every family. I welcome colors, and work closely with my clients to choose the best colors and setting for the most beautiful results. Color can work well if they are carefully chosen and planned, and that's what I'm here for! I will personally walk you through every step that you need some help with to make sure your images are the best they can be.

   Emily had her hair and makeup done by Margaret, the lead of our HMUA team, and I helped select an outfit from Matt's existing wardrobe. Penelope and Raphael borrowed pieces from my studio wardrobe, and we pulled together a fun and classic look built around Emily's fun floral dress! My biggest rule of thumb is to ALWAYS dress mama first. It's so important that my clients feel beautiful because when they feel beautiful, they shine in their family photos. And we all know that most of you are the ones taking the pictures and not in them with your families. Let's change that, and make sure you look amazing at the same time. 

My family sessions are meant to be fun and relaxed. If we manage a photo where everyone is looking and smiling, that's great, but it's not the ultimate goal of family sessions. What I want for all of my family clients is to have images of real and authentic moments that show love and joyfulness. It means tickling your children and swooping them up into your arms. It means eskimo kisses and bear hugs, and taking some moments to quietly hold your babies tight. It's okay if your toddler is a bit grumpy or isn't into the session. We'll work with it, and there are lots of "tricks" in my bag to help them forget about being grumpy and have fun. All you have to do is be a family, have fun, and love each other. Sound easy? That's because it is!   

PS - I always, always grab my moms and dads for a few photos with just the two of them. Most of the time the last photographs of just them together were taken at their wedding! Your family would not exist without the both of you, so taking some time to celebrate your love is so important too!