Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Chris & Hong

Chris contacted me to schedule a maternity session in the field for his wife. He is a hobbyist landscape and wildlife photographer and also shoots Canon, so we had a fun discussion with technical camera terms and the best portrait lenses. Chris and Hong have literally traveled all over the world, and it was awesome to hear about their latest trip to Patagonia. After the session, he ended up picking up a 50mm lens at my recommendation for when their baby boy arrived so he could photograph him. 

Funny story about this session...it took three tries to make this happen. The third time really was the charm. The first date we went to the field, and there was no rain forecasted but when we arrived it started pouring. We agreed to try again in a few days. The day of, there was rain forecasted, but we all mutually agreed to give it a try and met at the field... and it started pouring before we even got out of our cars. FINALLY the next week the weather cooperated, and it was worth the wait. Believe it or not, my sessions are rarely rescheduled due to weather. When clients book outdoor sessions, we always schedule a backup date in the calendar too. It may seem a little crazy to have two dates blocked off on the calendar since that limits my availability to other inquiries, but my clients are my top priority. I don't want you to stress about what will happen if your session has to be rescheduled - because you'll already know the date of the reschedule and have it blocked on your calendar too! As sessions take place, the backup dates are released from the calendar so we frequently have last minute availability for outdoor sessions as a result. So if you waited until the last minute to book an outdoor session, call us and see if we have a last minute opening for you or get on our waIting list. We go down the waiting list in the order of interest when a backup date opens and it's first come first serve. 

I loved working with Chris & Hong, and here are some of my favorites from their 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 | Priti & Paras in the Gardens

Can you believe it's September already? My next studio open house is coming up on September 25th from 2-5 PM. Come check out the studio and meet me, or if you're a previous client, come say hi! You can click this link to sign up. 

This year has flown by, and I have loved working with so many clients here in Atlanta over the past few months for their newborn and maternity sessions! 

When Priti contacted me, she was so excited to learn that she could borrow from the studio wardrobe for her maternity sessions. She was very busy at work and didn't have the time or desire to go shopping for something to wear. She picked out two gorgeous and comfortable dresses for her session in the gardens, and we discussed what her husband should wear. 

I love the gardens location for the sweeping stone staircase, Grecian columns, hedged paths, and beautiful architecture. This particular session was actually shot in March on a cold day, and it is gorgeous year round! I love so many of the images from their session, and am sharing a few of my favorites from their session in this post! 

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 | Shannon

Things are quite busy here in the studio with bookings all the way through September 2016! As a result, I don't always have the time to blog my sessions.  However, I do love posting recent session photos to my Instagram account. If you're on Instagram, let's connect! 

Shannon came to the studio in Grant Park for her maternity session on a cold January day. She brought nothing except herself, and made herself comfortable with a drink from the studio fridge as she sat in the hair and makeup chair. I've partnered with a fabulous HMUA who will meet you here at the studio if you want to add on her services to your maternity or newborn session. Margaret understands exactly how to apply your makeup and do your hair to make your images absolutely stunning - but the best part is that you still look like yourself!

After Shannon's hair and makeup were ready to go, we did a few test shots to make sure nothing needed to be adjusted. Then came the fun part of selecting the different dresses. I always enjoy making suggestions of dresses to wear from my studio wardrobe for my clients, because I know what will look beautiful on different body types. Client personality comes into play too, as some clients love a boho look, others love ethereal, and others love a little glamour. I've got something for everyone!

 Dresses: from studio wardrobe, HMUA: Margaret Snider

Isn't Shannon gorgeous?!

I'd love to work with you to create gorgeous images of your pregnancy. We will have lots of fun: guaranteed. I really enjoy getting to know my clients, and even if you're not comfortable in front of the camera or in your new pregnant body, you'll feel like we're old friends by the end of our time together. Reserving your maternity session early is recommended in order to guarantee my availability, but I will do my very best to fit you in if you waited until the last minute. 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 | Intimate Studio Sessions

With the weather in Atlanta reaching extremes during winter and summer, I'm happy to offer pregnant mothers a reprieve for their maternity photos inside my gorgeous natural light studio. Many clients want to document their pregnancy wearing pretty intimates, and the images are absolutely lovely, tasteful, and stunning. My studio wardrobe also has quite a few options for clients to choose from!

This mama is expecting her baby boy in January, and she was so much fun to work with. She's a wedding photographer, and I love when other photographers trust me to craft images for them. She is so in love with her little boy, and can't wait to hold him and see his little face for the first time. I'm so excited for her!

I currently have limited openings for maternity clients in January and February, so if you'd like to reserve a maternity session, contact me today to begin planning! Newborn and birth clients have exclusive access to petite maternity studio session reservations. I can't wait to work with you and create stunning images of this incredibly beautiful time in your life. 

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

Norcross Maternity Photographer | Eddie and Elysia

Eddie and Elysia drove to Atlanta from their home in Norcross for their maternity session. This was our "get to know each other" session before the birth of their baby girl, since I'm their birth photographer as well! They're having a homebirth with Dawning Life Midwifery, and I'm so excited to document that for them. 

We met in a park with beautiful trees that filter the evening light beautifully, and they were naturals at interacting, and needed very little help. The necklace that Elysia is wearing in these photos belonged to her grandmother who her baby girl is being named after. I just love when my clients incorporate such rich history in their photos to make them that much more meaningful. 

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | How to make your maternity session more meaningful

If you have a ring or a necklace passed down from your mom or your great great grandma, that's a beautiful thing to include in your maternity session.

Every photo has a story, and additions like this only make the story that much richer and meaningful to you when you look back on them! Isn't that part of the reason you hire a photographer to photograph you? You want to look at a photo and feel emotion, and see things in the photo that are special to you. Incorporating family jewelry is an amazing way to do this.

I love to hear the stories of my clients when they explain what the meaning behind special items are. In the photos below, the necklace my client is wearing belonged to her grandmother. When I commented on how unique it was, and asked her if it had any special meaning, she told me the story. It belonged to her beloved grandmother who passed away when she was a teenager, and they were naming their baby girl after her! How special is that? I now suggest that clients think about any jewelry they may have that has been handed down to them.  Wouldn't it be so special if a mom expecting a little girl chose to wear her grandmother's pearl earrings and then her little girl wore those same earrings on her wedding day?

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

Atlanta photographer | A list of random things about me

I don't know about you, but I like to get to know people and learn who they are, what they love, and what they're interested in. After all,  life is about relationships.

• I'm 6 feet tall without shoes. Fortunately, my husband is 6'5", so I'm still shorter than him in heels! 
• Speaking of heels,  the last time I wore my beloved stilettos to a wedding I swore I would never wear them again (but I will). I literally could not feel my feet by the end of the night. Sometimes fashion before comfort just wins, regardless. 
• I have one younger sister, who means the world to me. She is one of the most amazing and inspirational people I know, and has a positive attitude despite being a dialysis patient due to kidney failure.
• I think the best ice cream in the world is Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter. I have always loved the combination of chocolate and peanut butter and used to put peanut butter on my ice cream as a topping when I was a kid. Wait....I still do.
• I love historical fiction. This is probably why I loved the American Girl Dolls so much growing up. I can't wait to pass down my dolls to my own daughters when they're old enough for them!
• Fall is my favorite season. My birthday is in October, I love wearing scarves, sweaters, and tall boots, and the golden autumn colors are just so beautiful. 
• Fall reminds me of s'mores. Another junk food treat that I adore.
• Have I mentioned I have a sweet tooth?
• One of my most amazing and sobering life experiences is standing in one of many large holes created by a mortar in World War II while overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.  It really gave me perspective in what the soldiers went through while fighting for their countries in that war. 
• My favorite beach destination is the Florida Gulf area in Destin. The drive through the quaint little Alabama towns is just so peaceful and pretty! 

What about you? What's the first random about you that pops into your head?

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Kerry & Bob

Kerry was expecting her second baby boy in March, and elected to have a lifestyle maternity session indoors. Her house was a photographer's dream with lots of beautiful natural light pouring in her windows, and amazing detailed furniture! 

Kerry wasn't quite sure what to wear for her session so had pulled out several choices for me to look over when I arrived. Even though she's having a boy, I fell in love with this beautiful pink sweater that was included in her options. It was perfect for her complexion, and looked absolutely gorgeous with the colors of her bedroom. I always love when clients ask for my input in their wardrobe selection since I can offer my advice from a photographer's standpoint. Some clients even text me their ideas for wardrobe beforehand, and I'm always happy to give advice and feedback! Wardrobe consultation is complimentary and part of the client experience. The best advice I have for my Atlanta maternity session clients is to wear something that you feel beautiful in. If you feel great, it will show in your photos - Kerry's photos are stunning! 

Kerry & Bob welcomed their baby boy on March 4th! Welcome to the world, baby boy! You're super blessed with amazing and loving parents and big brother!  

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