Atlanta Family Photographer | Liz, Isaac & Frances

I was one of the very first people to meet Frances after she was born when I photographed her Fresh 48 session, which you can view by clicking here. I’ve since gone on to work with this family several times as Frances has grown. Liz contacted me in mid summer to schedule fall family photos for late October, and I was super excited to get to see them again. Frances has one of the best little spunky personalities, and the whole family is just so fun to be around. I also really love the honor of being the go to photographer for a client over the years. Developing relationships and getting to know your children as they grow is a such a privilege, and I don’t take it lightly!

Liz has worked with our HMUA team for nearly all of her sessions with me, and this time was no exception. She requested to add on hair and makeup services for this session as well, and we paired her with Margaret, who she had worked with before. I sent over our style guide and Pinterest board as a refresher, but I knew that she would be just fine as she knew the drill from having worked with us so many times.

Liz chose the park location for their session since they live intown and wanted to avoid dealing with traffic. We met on a nice fall evening, and I loved the adorable blue and green plaid print dress and black patent leather Mary Janes that Frances was wearing! The whole family looked wonderful and were comfortable and relaxed in their outfits. Frances is quite the little explorer, so we spent some time watching her run around. The key to a successful and stress free family photo experience are these three words: Roll With It. This means that you leave your expectations behind and come ready to play and have fun. Children don’t sit still. It’s not in their nature, and you can’t see their true personalities shine when they’re forced to sit and be quiet. There may be dancing, there may be singing, and there will definitely be tickling and snuggling during sessions. There may also be an accidental collision in all the fun… when you look through these images, I’ll give you one guess to find the one where that happened and where the collision was. It ended up being one of the favorite gallery images and I laugh every time I see it!

My goal for your family photos is capture your unique family dynamic, the personality of your child shining through their happy faces, and the love shared between all of you. We simply cannot accomplish that with an awkward and stiffly posed arrangement of your family members on a bench. So come ready to have fun, and willing to play games, and let the magic happen. Wanna see what that magic looks like? Have a little look.

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 Photographer | Eden is ONE!

I first worked with Avis and Thomas for their maternity session in the studio, which can be viewed by clicking here. They welcomed Eden on Halloween, and I will never forget opening an email from Avis that day with the announcement that she was here and an attached photo of all of them wearing costumes in their hospital bed!

When Avis contacted us schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Eden, I was SO excited! Because of food sensitivities, Avis decided to work with our recommended baker to create a vegan cake. Our recommended baker is local to the studio and can deliver your cake directly to the studio so you don’t have to worry about picking it up or forgetting it. Smash cakes are NOT required for First Birthday sessions, but many clients do love including them as it’s a chance for their baby to have some fun without the pressure of being watched by lots of people. Parents also enjoy being able to watch and take in all the funny moments without trying to document it all themselves. If you choose to include a cake in your baby’s First Birthday session, we’ll go over our recommendations for cake type, icing type, color, design, etc. Our goal is to make everything as easy for you as we possibly can!

We also sent Avis our style guide so that she could plan her family’s wardrobe choices. She emailed over a few photos of outfits for me to look at, and I confirmed that her choices looked great! On the day of the session, I arrived at the studio to take delivery of the cake, and welcomed the family shortly thereafter. It was so wonderful to see Thomas & Avis again and to meet their beautiful little girl! She was a little bit reserved, but very curious to know who I was. Because she wasn’t frightened of me, we started the session off with a few images of just Eden. I loved the cream dress her mom had brought for her and accessorized with adorable burgundy shoes and a bow headband! Those accessories were tied together with daddy’s shirt color and mom’s shade of lipstick. They looked amazing, and did such a great job! Thomas was a much more willing participant for this session - I won him over during their maternity session. ;) I loved watching them with their daughter, and we all had so much fun.

After we finished our family and solo portraits portion, Avis dressed Eden in her special birthday outfit. I thought her tutu and pearls paired with a simple white onesie were absolutely adorable. Eden was already walking, so we spent some time playing together on the floor, and running around all over the place. Once we finished with that, I pulled out the high chair, and the cake fun began!

Eden was immediately interested in her cake, and mom and dad came over to join in as well. I will never forget Thomas taking a bite of the icing and the look of shock on his face. I asked him if everything was okay and he nodded. He said “I just can’t believe this cake is vegan! It’s really good!” Avis looked at him and tasted it and said, “Oh my gosh this is amazing!” Our baker really is incredible - her cakes always get taken home for enjoyment no matter how smashed up they get during the session. I order birthday cakes and special event cakes from her - nobody else in Atlanta comes close to the flavor and amazing design she creates.

Here are a handful of my favorite images from Eden’s first birthday celebration!

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 Photographer | Benicio is six months!

I first worked with Erised and Dan for their maternity session at the gardens location and loved photographing them again as a new family of three for Benicio’s newborn session. You can view their maternity session images by clicking here. Believe it or not, I still haven’t blogged his newborn session! I routinely photograph 20-30 clients per month, so I just don’t have enough space on the blog (or time to write them!) to feature every single session.

When the family arrived at the studio for Benicio’s six month milestone session, I was so excited to see them! Erised is one of my favorite people and we always have a good time chatting. Benicio is one the HAPPIEST babies on the planet, and is absolutely adorable. It was so wonderful to see Erised and Dan as parents to an older baby and to see how they had acclimated so well to being parents. The first few months were challenging as they navigated sleep (isn’t that the case for so many of us?!) but with some experimenting with nap schedules and moving him to his nursery they finally experienced getting to sleep through the night! I still remember when all three of mine started sleeping through the night. It was such an amazing and strange experience to wake up that morning feeling completely well rested. If you’re expecting, people will try and scare you by telling you that you’ll never sleep again. Don’t listen to them. You will, in time! And someday, you’ll be the one dragging them out of bed in the morning. My oldest is 7, and I’m starting to experience the sleepy protest of “But Mom! I don’t WANNA wake up for school!” already.

Erised had followed the style guide and had brought along several things for Benicio as options. She’s a fan of shopping at Baby Braithwaite here in Atlanta, and that’s where his sweet little knit blue rompers are from. Other great local options for unique baby and child clothing are Feather Baby in Decatur, Janie & Jack, Baby Gap, Baby Zara, and believe it or not - H&M! For the Southern mama, Feltman Brothers and Beaufort Bonnet Company have pieces with smocking and Peter Pan collars.

I typically start my milestone sessions with the entire family if the baby is experiencing shyness or stranger anxiety. Since Benicio wasn’t shy AT all, we started with solo portraits and then added parents and family into the mix. Milestone sessions are efficient because babies this age get tired out easily from stimulation, so I work quickly to make sure we have a varied gallery full of options!

Benicio is such a chunky little guy, and Erised wanted to remember all his little rolls. In between outfit changes, we put on one of the studio cloth diapers over his regular diaper and photographed him in our Eames style chair. When babies see me throughout the year, I really love to use the Eames chair for a few images in each session so that you can see how much your child has grown in between their sessions. It’s really am amazing thing to see! I also want to note really quickly that when babies are in chairs and on the bed in my studio, mom or dad is right there next to them, just out of the frame. We take baby safety very seriously around here, and have measures in place with every session to ensure that!

Isn’t Benicio just the most adorable blue eyed little guy?! I cannot wait to see him next month for his 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 Baby Photographer | Quinton is ONE!

I headed to the office one morning and when I checked my inbox, I started reading emails. The first email was from a client who needed to reschedule her session for the next evening due to being sick with a stomach virus. She had a prime October Saturday, and I let her know that I was more than happy to reschedule her session but that it would have to be a weeknight since I was completely booked through December for weekend outdoor dates. She was totally fine with that, and we moved her to a couple of weeks later on a Tuesday evening.

Then I came across an email from Sarah, asking if I had ANY availability at all for a Family/First Birthday session and if she could be put on the waitlist for a cancellation. Fate, kismet, whatever you want to call it! I was expecting a client, so I forwarded her email to Caroline (our studio manager) and Caroline took care of calling her. She was thrilled to hear that we had an opening that same evening and immediately snapped it up. We sent her our style guide to dress her family, as well as our cake tips.

I met the family in the studio parking lot the next evening, and we headed to the park location. It was pretty much the most perfect weather ever, and the light was gorgeous. I really loved what she had chosen for them to wear - Quinton’s little leather pants were to die for! A lot of clients wonder if they need to wear pastels and neutrals in order for their images to look amazing - the answer is no. When it comes to color - I love it! It’s just a matter of choosing the right colors and mixing the colors and patterns for the most cohesive and visually appealing look. Neon will never make a comeback or be a good choice for a session. ;)

Big brother Matthew was all over the place, and his parents were concerned that he wouldn’t cooperate for any family images. I reassured Sarah and Vincent it was normal for that age, and that we would win him over eventually. When a child doesn’t want to participate or needs a break, we give them one! Pressuring children or forcing them to do something they don’t want to is not my style. Gentle persuasion by the way of having lots of fun where a child decides they want to join in is more my speed. Vincent assumed responsibility for chasing Matthew around while I photographed Sarah and Quinton. Sure enough, Matthew eventually became interested in what was going on and wanted to play games with me too. We made it work! Let me make it clear that I am not a magician when it comes to young children. It requires a team effort between all the adults involved. I will meet your child exactly where they are at and tailor my response and engagement with them to that level. With lots of patience and love, we’ll hopefully get them laughing and having fun in no time if they’re a little bit shy or not into having their picture taken. A willingness on your part to be silly and laugh is absolutely essential. And please, do not judge me if I act crazy during our time together. I do lot of silly faces and voices to win the little ones over! :)

After we finished with the family portion, we ended with the cake part. Quinton didn’t want to touch his cake unless his mama was holding it, so that’s exactly what we did. Check out the image of his reaction to his first taste of sugar - too funny!

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 Photographer | Noa's Sitting Milestone in home lifestyle session

I first met this gorgeous family when they came to the studio for Noa’s newborn session. At that time, Tiffany asked if I ever traveled to homes. She really wanted to book a newborn session at home, but I only offer lifestyle newborn sessions in homes as my newborn setup is too large and complicated to travel with. They also wanted the solo semi posed portraits of just Noa, so they ultimately chose to come to the studio for their newborn session with the intention of an in home session when Noa was older. If you’re hoping to document the three major milestones (Newborn, Sitting, and First Birthday), you should definitely look at our First Year Collection! There are some amazing perks that are exclusively for First Year Collection members… and we get to hang out throughout the year! Just ask about it when you inquire!

Many of our families really love having the nursery documented when their baby can actually interact with toys and enjoy their room! The sitting milestone session is the perfect time to do that, and is SO much fun. Unfortunately, I cannot travel to homes that have cats due to a severe allergy, but I love dogs. Miles, the labradoodle, is one of the best furbabies I have ever met. I was so excited to see the family and traveled to their home in Brookhaven for this session. The sitting milestone can also be the six month milestone - but not every baby is sitting up unassisted but not yet crawling quickly at 6 months. It was most important to Tiffany that Noa be sitting, so we scheduled the session for when she was sitting up well which was around 8 months for her. Some parents want it to be at the six month mark regardless of sitting ability, which is totally fine! The choice is yours. I’ll photograph your baby exactly as they are and capture their personality and fun moments between all of you.

When I arrived at their home, Tiffany showed me upstairs to the nursery, which she had designed and decorated herself. She had chosen for Noa to wear this ADORABLE romper from Zara, which always has gorgeous and classic pieces for babies and children. Tiffany and Joe weren’t quite ready yet, so Tiffany handed me Noa and they went to finish getting dressed. I started photographing Noa, and we had so much fun visiting while waiting for her parents to join us.

Once Tiffany and Joe were with us, we moved into family and parent images. When I shoot in home sessions, I will assess your home and determine the best place to shoot in light wise. It’s key to schedule our time together when the room(s) you want to showcase have the most light coming in AND that work with your baby’s nap and eating schedule. If you have a west facing window, we won’t want to schedule for when the sun is shining directly into the window, but when it’s still slightly above so that the light isn’t harsh. We’ll discuss all of this in advance, and it will simply require a few phone snaps sent our way at different times of the day so that we can choose the best time for the most beautiful results. As a note, every home will photograph differently depending on the available natural light and the decor.

Tiffany and Joe loved Noa’s gallery, and chose to print several. They also used a few for their Christmas card as well! Milestone sessions are rarely just ever about the baby, as I encourage at least one parent to participate. Sometimes mamas like to give dads a break from photographs and have him skip the six month session. It’s a fun way to really get those beautiful motherhood snuggly portraits without having your baby running in all directions or squirming all over the place!

Take a look at some of these gorgeous images from Noa’s in home session - didn’t Tiffany do an amazing job with her nursery?!

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 Photographer | Troi is ONE!

‘Toya contacted me to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Troi. I had first worked with her for Troi’s newborn session, and was so excited to see them again! Troi was a tiny preemie born at 26 weeks, but proved to be a mighty fighter who is a happy and healthy one year old today. You can read more details and see images on her newborn blog post by clicking here.

‘Toya brought a simple buttercream frosted cake with colorful pastel sprinkles. If you choose to include a cake (nope, it’s not required!) we have a list of great options for you in the Atlanta area if you want to outsource that part. Our baker is such a talented person and can accommodate many food allergies as well as create vegan cakes for those who may desire or need that as an option. She’ll drop the cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of. Using her services is not required as your local grocery store can also make a gorgeous cake for your baby! Regardless of where the cake comes from, we will walk you though best practices for icing type, cake flavor, texture, and colors, if you choose to incorporate a cake into your baby’s session! The main goal is to keep the focus on your baby so the cake isn’t competing with them for attention when viewing the image.

I was SO excited to see Troi again! At first she was a little bit shy but that quickly dissipated with a game of peek a boo. First Birthday sessions double as a family session too! After we finished with Troi’s solo images, we moved into the family and parent portion of our session. By this time, most one year olds are ready to call it a day. Their attention spans aren’t very long! It’s for this reason that we save the cake for last!

‘Toya had bought a fun little outfit for the cake smash portion, so after an outfit change we moved into that. If your baby is fussy and getting tired, 9 times out of 10 their cake is the perfect distraction and pick me up. As you can see from the images, Troi was a fan of her cake and enjoyed the first taste of sugar she’d ever been permitted.

(While we typically use our antique high chair for cake smashes in the studio to make it less work for mom and dad, sometimes babies don’t like to sit, and that’s totally fine! We adapt to each baby’s unique personality and preferences and tailor the experience to their needs.)

Enjoy some of the images from this cutie’s session!

If you're getting ready to celebrate your baby’s First Birthday (congrats on almost a WHOLE year of parenting!!!), 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 | Something Different

I’ve had the honor of working with Holly & Eddie since they were expecting their oldest child four and a half years ago. I’ve photographed so many sessions of their family I may have actually lost count. In 2019, we are offering complimentary video to the First Year Collection members! Enjoy watching one of the sweetest little families you ever did see. I dare you not to smile at little Miss Willow’s spunk and Oliver’s sweet charm.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | The M Family

I first worked with Shannon for her maternity session with her second baby a couple of years ago and was so excited to get to meet her baby when we scheduled their family session! Of course, he wasn’t a baby anymore at two years old… but I love seeing clients again no matter how much time has passed. I absolutely LOVE photographing families and frequently do.

Shannon and her husband live in the Peachtree City area and have two adorable and energetic little boys. I sent over the style guide and wardrobe inspiration board to her so she could look through it. We provide as much or as little assistance with styling your family as you need. Some of my clients could open their own fashion boutiques and need zero help from me (these guys would qualify), while others want the assurance of knowing what they’re choosing to wear will work well for their session. Shannon chose a monochromatic look with fun details like her motorcycle jacket and boots that paired well with her husband’s beanie and plaid shirt. Hats are more than welcome during sessions - I strongly suggest avoiding hats with brims as they’ll shadow faces and hide expressions. If you have a hat with a brim you absolutely love, bring it and we’ll incorporate it into a few images!

The evening of their spring session in March was overcast and cool. Overcast days are just as beautiful for photos too! The two major benefits to overcast days are (1) gorgeous even light (2) no limitations on which direction you’re facing since you won’t be blinded by the sun.

It’s awesome living in Atlanta because for the most part, shooting year round outdoors is no problem. It’s pretty rare we have days that are so cold you can’t be outdoors for a shoot - and those days are mostly in December-January. But, it’s the south after all…. just last week it was 71 degrees while I was shooting here and it reached 75 on another day in December. You just never know.

Family sessions are full of fun and play. I ask parents to check their expectations at the car, and to be willing to play games and follow my prompts for activities. I know firsthand how easy to become frustrated when you feel like your family session isn’t going well. I know how much planning, time, and effort goes into the entire thing. I’m a mom of three kids myself, so I really do get it. When my clients trust me and go with the flow, they are always pleasantly surprised by the resulting gallery if they felt like the entire session was chaos. If your children are a bit wild and running around, that’s perfectly ok! Usually this also means they’re full of joy and personality, and we’re going to get images where their sheer happiness is clearly evident. I also like to remind parents during sessions that all I need is 1/1000th of a second to get those sweet and quiet moments. Which might literally only last half a second before they’re running around again. Sometimes it may not seem like those moments are happening, but I promise they are!

The mountain location is a favorite for families because kids have a lot of fun exploring, and the scenery is different than the norm. There are lots of different areas to photograph in, and we keep moving constantly to keep the interest of your children. It’s about a mile hike from our meeting place to the top, and my little boy hiked it successfully by himself with no assistance from me when he was twenty months old. So, it’s definitely on the easier side for families and pregnant women, but there is definitely some physical effort involved. In the summer and fall months it can be extremely hot since the mountain is all rock surface with nowhere for the heat to go. I share these facts with you so you can make an informed decision on whether it’s the best location for you!

I love photographing at the mountain location since it’s such an unique place. When’s the last time you climbed a mountain and watched the sun set or surveyed land for as far you can see in all directions? Been a while? Come do it with me in the near future, and you’ll have some gorgeous photos to show for it too! ;)

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

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Luke turns ONE!

Ashley contacted the studio a couple of months before her son’s first birthday to book a First Birthday session and wanted it to be outdoors at our park location. She needed a weekend date due to their work schedules and had seen our recommendations about booking 3 months or so in advance for a guaranteed weekend date. While we can (and do) fit last minute inquiries in sometimes, there are also times that we cannot. We hate for anyone wanting to work with us to be disappointed, so if you’re able to: go ahead and reserve your spot on the calendar as soon as you know you want a session in the future especially if there is a specific date you’re hoping for.

We sent over our studio style guide to Ashley along with our cake tips sheet. She responded that she didn’t want to do a cake, and wanted to do a pumpkin pie… and would that be alright to do?

Okay, stop right there. PUMPKIN PIE?! I responded letting her know how excited I was about a pumpkin pie smash! I’m all about doing things differently and putting unique twists on things. My only suggestion was this: lots of whipped cream! I’m still waiting for the client who wants to incorporate a stack of donuts instead of a cake. (maybe that’s you?!)

Our style guide is SO simple, straightforward, and easy to read! Clients find them incredibly helpful, and we are here for any additional questions you may have. Should you want to utilize the studio wardrobe or input on what you’re thinking of wearing from home, that’s what we are here for! We are always available to help and more than happy to do so.

The afternoon of their session, the family of three arrived at the park . I typically begin with family images to let babies warm up, but Luke wasn’t a shy baby at all. I loved his bright blue eyes and sweet smile. I’m such a sucker for toothy baby smiles! We had fun playing games while I photographed him, and then we moved on to family and parent images. Family sessions with me are not difficult! I promise to coach you on what to do and make sure you’re in the right place. Then all you need to do is be the mom and dad your baby loves so much…. and the rest falls into place while I step back and photograph you in your element. After we finished with those, Ashley changed Luke into his second outfit and we began the pumpkin pie smashing.

Ashley had made the pumpkin pie herself and brought along a container of Cool Whip. She spooned out a big dollop of it, and commented that she wasn’t sure that he would like her pumpkin pie. Well…. he proved her wrong! He LOVED it - and it was so much fun to watch him dig in.

You may be wondering if you have to include a cake or a pie in your First Birthday session. Answer: Nope! Not every First Birthday session includes a cake and that’s totally okay. It’s up to you and what your preferences are. First Birthday sessions are about celebrating your baby and their first year - and YOU as parents for making it through! While a cake is often lots of fun and results in some super adorable images, it’s definitely not a absolute necessity. You decide what’s the best fit for your vision and we’ll make it happen!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this fall 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 Maternity, Newborn, and Family Photographer | Our Annual Blogging Break!

Every year we take a step back from administrative tasks to enjoy the holidays fully, and blogging is one of them! The studio is open for limited hours and we still have a couple of last minute spots remaining for sessions. Just contact us if that’s what you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to fit you in!

See you again on the blog in 2019!

Atlanta Family Photographer | Party of SEVEN!

I was SO excited for this session with this sweet family of seven! I LOVE working with families who have older children - I don’t just photograph babies and toddlers. Older children are so much fun to work with and it’s definitely a change in pace. My strategies are also somewhat different with tweens and elementary aged children, but one thing remains the same: respect and consideration for your child and their comfort is paramount. I want them to walk away from their session feeling that I saw them for who they were. I want YOU to walk away from your session with beautiful photographs of your children and family that show your love for each other. I want you to smile whenever you see them and think “Yep, this is completely us.”

Mom and I coordinated things beforehand and she arranged to borrow dresses for all the girls and herself from the studio wardrobe. We even had a grey hoodie and navy blue shirt for one of her sons on hand too. When she told me he lived in sweatpants and t-shirts, I knew that would be a perfect match for his personality and comfy tastes while also photographing well!

I could sit here and type a novel about how I approach sessions with multiple children, but I won’t. Just know that it’s somewhat of an organized chaos, and I run through the session in such a way that participants who need a break get one while others are being photographed. Family sessions are about playing together, and NOT necessarily looking at the camera. While it’s wonderful to get that “perfect” family portrait with everyone smiling and looking for the Christmas card or for Grandma, that’s not the goal or the heart of my approach at all. So, what is? A photo is worth one thousand words… and there are quite a few below.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? Contact us and we’ll chat about your session goals, your vision, and our approach to see if we’re the perfect match for your family photography!

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

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

Atlanta Family Photographer | The K Family

Mandi was at a group gathering when one of her friends pulled out her phone to share images from a recent family session. Mandi looked at the photos, gasped, and asked who took them. It’s funny, because I am known more for my maternity and newborn work in these parts, but I absolutely LOVE photographing families and frequently do so!

That’s the story in a nutshell of how she came to contact me! I really love when friends of clients see their images and decide that they’d also like to work with me. It usually feels like I already know them when we work together.

Mandi and her husband live in the Peachtree City area and have two sweet little boys. I sent over the style guide and wardrobe inspiration board to her so she could look through it. We provide as much or as little assistance with styling your family as you need. Some of my clients could open their own fashion boutiques and need zero help from me, while others want the assurance of knowing what they’re choosing to wear will work well for their session. Whatever category you may fall into: know that I’m here to take care of you!

The evening of their “fall” session in October was a toasty 89 degrees. When we met at the mountain location, Mandi sheepishly said that she knew it was going to be hot but that since she was using the images for her Christmas cards she didn’t want to be in summery clothes. Fall and winter in the South can be so off the wall! I reassured her that it was fine, and we would roll with it! I checked on everyone multiple times during the session to make sure nobody was overheating and that they were drinking enough water. Aside from dad sweating a little bit through the back of his shirt, it was no big deal!

Family sessions are full of fun and play. I ask parents to leave expectations in their car, and to be willing to play games and follow my prompts for things I ask them to do. It’s so easy to become frustrated when you feel like your family session isn’t going well. I know how much planning and effort goes into it - I’m a mom of three kids myself, so I REALLY get it. When my clients trust me and go with the flow, they are always pleasantly surprised by the resulting gallery even if they felt like the entire session was chaos. If your children are a bit wild and running around, that’s perfectly ok! Usually that also means they’re full of joy, and we’re going to get images where that sheer happiness is clearly evident. I also like to remind parents during sessions that all I need is 1/1000th of a second to get those sweet and quiet moments. Sometimes it may not seem like those moments are happening, but they definitely are!

The mountain location is a favorite for families because kids have a lot of fun exploring, and the scenery is different than the norm. There are lots of areas to photograph in, and we keep moving constantly to keep the interest of your children. It’s about a mile hike from our meeting place to the top, and my little boy hiked it successfully by himself with no assistance from me when he was twenty months old. So, it’s definitely on the easier side for families and pregnant women, but there is definitely some physical effort involved.

I love images taken on the mountaintop - and we all enjoy watching the gorgeous sunset together. When’s the last time you climbed a mountain and watched the sun set? Come do it with me in the near future, and you’ll have some gorgeous photos to show for it! ;)

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

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

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

Atlanta Maternity & Family Photographer | Back for round two!

I first worked with Jessica & Danny when they were expecting their son, Everett. They booked their maternity and newborn sessions at the very last minute, and we were thankfully able to fit them in. You can view their field maternity session images by clicking here, Everett’s newborn session images by clicking here, and Everett’s First Birthday by clicking here.

This time around? Jessica texted me in her first trimester to tell me they were expecting baby #2! I squealed in my kitchen when I read the message, and was just so excited for them! A few weeks later she let me know that baby #2 was a GIRL! I really love getting to know my clients, and hearing about events in their lives and how they’re doing even if we haven’t seen each other in a while. Jessica let me know she wanted to be sure to get on the books for maternity and newborn so she didn’t put it off. Booking in the second trimester is definitely recommended to ensure our availability and that you have the best chance of booking the date and location you’re hoping for!

A couple of weeks before their maternity session, Jessica came to the studio to look through dresses. I had just added a couple of new pieces from Free People and had bought one of them specifically with her in mind because I knew she would look amazing in it. I was right, and she fell in love with it also - it was made for her! Jessica is also one of my petite clients - she stands at 5’3”. So rest assured that whether you’re tall or short, we have something for you in the studio wardrobe should you wish to borrow from it!

Jessica also elected to add on hair and makeup services and worked with Margaret, who is our lead HMUA so she could relax and enjoy herself beforehand! The day of our session, I was up in the studio working on a few things when they all arrived. Jessica worriedly informed me that it was currently POURING outside, and asked what we were going to do. There had been absolutely ZERO indication of potential rain in the forecast. That’s Atlanta weather sometimes! I suggested that they get dressed and we’d see if the rain would pass. Often Atlanta will have random pop up storms that pass through as quickly as they started. Fortunately for us, about 15 minutes later it was clear again outside so we headed down the street.

So what about those fifteen minutes we “missed out on”? Here’s the thing: sessions with me aren’t about how much time we spend together. It’s about how we spend that time. I’m super efficient with how I work, and in this particular case we had a toddler involved. With toddlers, we don’t have any choice but to work fast and keep it exciting for them. They don’t have a long attention span, and we might only get fifteen minutes out of them before they’re over it. When we arrived, we got straight to it, and they had the same gallery that they would have without those fifteen minutes we spent waiting for the rain to pass.

I absolutely love this family and their gallery - I wish I could share them all, but then you’d be scrolling for hours! Aren’t Jessica’s dresses just absolutely perfect for her? I adore the beautiful half updo with the fishtail braid that Margaret created for her too. Enjoy scrolling - and check back tomorrow to view their beautiful baby girl’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 | A park session with Jessica, Sascha & Justus

Jessica contacted the studio requesting to schedule a family session. Her family had just moved here from Germany, and she wanted some photos in Atlanta to remember their time here. She also wanted some photos for their annual Christmas card!

The family requested to come to the studio in advance of their session to meet with me, and I was happy to. We talked about wardrobe, and Jessica asked if it was okay to wear Converse tennis shoes. I laughed and said, “OF COURSE!” While many of my families opt to wear clothing that looks “dreamier” and involves a neutral palette and long dresses, this is absolutely NOT the only look that looks great for a family session. It all comes down to your preference. I love colors in clothing too, and will help you coordinate your colors and patterns in your clothing choices for a look that is cohesive. Please, be true to who you are. If wearing a long dress isn’t your thing, then don’t wear one! Wear jeans and duck boots with a puffy vest if that’s what you love and feel cute in. We are here to personally help you pull everything together for your family - all you have to do is ask.

This particular family session was unlike any other I have ever photographed because while Jessica and Sascha spoke English, their three year old son, Justus, did not. I have worked with many clients who brought in family members who did not speak English, but they were all adults. I didn’t worry about this too much because my family sessions are honestly about families having fun and interacting together. When young children are involved, I typically give guidance to the parents, and not to the kids.

When we arrived at the park location, we all had a good laugh about the weather! Germany is quite different than Atlanta in the fall… and this particular fall day was literally in the high 80’s. Jessica couldn’t believe how hot it was in early November, and I told her that it’s pretty normal for the south. We got started with our session, and Justus was quite the ball of energy. He wanted to run everywhere and sitting still was not on his agenda. That’s par for the course with young children, and it’s my job to keep up with them. I used some of my favorite tricks for family portraits and just absolutely love what we created. It is such an accurate representation of their fun and laid back approach to life. I also loved their outfits and the hats that dad tied in as well.

At the end of our session, Jessica and Sascha were exhausted from chasing Justus around! Jessica was a little worried about whether I had been able to get any good family images. This is a common question from parents, because it’s often so crazy and chaotic for them that it feels like we can’t possibly be getting anything that’s frame or Christmas card worthy. I assured her that we most certainly had and that I knew she would be pleased with her proof gallery. She emailed me later that evening thanking me for the fun session and expressing how excited she was to see their proofs later that week.

When they viewed their proof gallery, she emailed saying how amazed she was at all of the images and that they would have such a difficult time choosing their images for their final gallery. They actually chose to add in a few extra images which is always an option if you can’t quite narrow it down.

Here are a few of my favorite images from this November family session! We currently have just a few remaining dates for November sessions. If you’re hoping for a fall session, contact us to discuss details and get on our calendar! I can’t wait to meet 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Family Photographer | A Mommy & Me session with Abby & Liam

Abby scheduled a studio mommy and me session for her son Liam’s three month milestone. Three months is such a fun age, and the baby smiles and expressions are absolutely adorable! At three months, babies don’t have a lot of range of motion or motor skills, so mommy and me sessions are perfect for this age! With your baby in your arms, you’re able to support their neck and head, and we’re able to get all sorts of expressions from your baby and the sweet interactions between the two of you. Three month olds know exactly who mommy is and love to look at you! They also are interested in the world around them and will give me direct eye contact with the camera.

When Abby booked her session, we sent her our Pinterest inspiration board of ideas for what to wear, as well as our style guide. She knocked it out of the park with a gorgeous grey tulle maxi skirt and an ivory crepe top. What you choose to wear is totally up to you! If you’re more of a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal, that’s great. That will photograph beautifully as well. What matters most is that you feel both comfortable and beautiful. We’re more than happy to assist you with what to wear by going over what you’re considering either in an email exchange or quick studio visit. Clients are also more than welcome to borrow from the studio wardrobe should they wish to utilize it.

Abby had her makeup done by Margaret of our HMUA team. Add on services are available for every type of session, and are highly recommended! We have such an incredibly talented team of hair and makeup artists, and they’ll work with you and your preferences for a look that is natural, polished, and enhances your best features within your comfort level.

When Abby walked in, we got started right away. Liam was very interested in me and such a smiley baby. He thought my funny noises and peek-a-boos were just hilarious. Abby is such a loving mama, and had no problems snuggling her little boy as directed. Liam became a little fussy midway through our time together, so I suggested a quick snack break. Once he’d polished off a bottle, he was ready to go again. Babies run the show here at the studio! If your baby needs a little break for a snack or some snuggles, please don’t stress about it. You are not wasting time or ruining your session by attending to your baby’s needs and comfort. We’ll pick right back up where we left off as soon as your baby is ready to go again.

All clients receive their final gallery images in both color and back and white. I loved Abby and Liam’s session images in black and white, so have chosen to share some of my favorites 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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A Studio Maternity session with Tonya, Lance, & Briana

Tonya contacted the studio to ask about booking a maternity and newborn session for their little surprise second baby! She explained that their first child had arrived prematurely, so she had put off scheduling sessions in case it happened again. She’s not the only one we have heard this from! You can book your sessions confidently and know that if your baby unexpectedly arrives before your maternity session takes place that what you have paid will transfer to your newborn session. We scheduled a time for Tonya to come in and try on dresses from the studio wardrobe that same week.

The day before our maternity fitting was scheduled, Tonya let us know that she was in the hospital for complications and unsure of when she would be released. We told her to keep in touch with us and that we would determine next steps when she knew what was going on. Her husband, Lance was able to convince the staff to let her go home for a few days with close monitoring the day before our scheduled maternity session. So instead of a separate fitting, we just planned for her to arrive earlier than our scheduled session time to choose her dresses! This actually happens regularly because we have so many out of state maternity clients who travel to Atlanta for their sessions. We have yet to have a situation in which we weren’t able to dress a client in something that they loved. Our wardrobe has a wide variety of styles to suit every taste, and can accommodate sizes 0-14(16). We also send a stye guide to all of our clients to help them with choosing pieces from their own closets for the entire family.

Tonya, Lance, and Briana all arrived at the studio and big sister Briana expressed interest in wearing something from the wardrobe as well! I pulled a few dresses for her and she really liked a blush lace one that we had. Briana is 12, so we simply pinned one of our adult dresses to fit her! Tonya loved a blue off the shoulder dress and opted for an open belly sand dress as well. We have a few dresses in the wardrobe that have the ability to show your belly off if this is something that you want to incorporate into your session. If you’re worried about stretch marks or pregnancy acne on your body, please don’t be. These are things that we can take care of and your skin will look like it did pre-pregnancy in your final images!

After the ladies had chosen their dresses, we moved right into photographing. They were such a fun and easy family to work with, and we all had a great time. I pulled Briana and her daddy into a few photos with just the two of them as well to include in their proof gallery. I’m so close to my own father, and really value our father-daughter relationship, so when I can document that for others, I always do.

Here are a few of my favorites from this family’s studio maternity session! Check back tomorrow to see their adorable new addition!

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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | A Mommy & Me Session with baby Miles

Miles’ mom contacted the studio to schedule a session for his nine month milestone. I photographed their family just a few months prior in the fall when Miles was six months old at our outdoor park location. (You can view that session by clicking here) They had such a great experience the first time that they knew wanted to work with me again. I love watching my little clients grow as they return over and over again for sessions. At his six month session Miles wasn’t quite sitting completely unassisted for long periods of time, but at THIS session he was almost walking! It’s so crazy how fast babies can develop, isn’t it?

We sent over our Pinterest style inspiration board as well as our style guide for Miles’ mom to look over. I just about DIED when she walked into the studio and opted to have Miles go shirtless to show off his chubby baby belly. He had white suspenders and the most adorable shorts too. Mama wore a simple navy blue shift dress that contrasted while with Miles’ lighter palette.

If you’re feeling stressed about the idea of planning what to wear for your session, please don’t! We work with every client closely and offer our assistance every step of the way. Our studio wardrobe is available to borrow from as well, and we’re happy to schedule time for you to come in and go over what you’re thinking of wearing. If you don’t have the time in your week to do that, we’ll conduct it by email exchange instead! We want your portrait session with us to be fun and something to look forward to!

Every parent schedules their baby’s milestone sessions at different times. Some prefer to document the typical newborn, 6 (or sitting unassisted), and 12 month dates. Others like the every three months option with newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Each session is be tailored to your baby’s age and developmental abilities to have a great variety of images that capture your baby just as that are in that stage. As a reminder, if you have very specific dates that you are hoping for, it’s best to contact us to schedule now rather than waiting to ensure we have availability for you! Our calendar fills up FAST.

During our time together, I asked Miles’ mama to do her best to hold him close. He was a wiggly little thing and very interested in exploring the studio. I love his smiles and scrunched up nose - he is such a happy little boy! When I photograph babies with their parents, I focus on real moments. I’ll give you some guided direction for what to do to capture the best images of the two of you together. Patience and willingness to try different things is key to a successful session. A little baby distraction if they get fussy goes a long way.

Here are just a handful of my favorites from Miles’s session!

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

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

Atlanta Baby Photographer | A Mommy & Me Milestone Session

I have worked with this sweet mama since her maternity session, and love seeing her multiple times per year for sessions! She contacted me to set up a fall family session at the park location with the intention of using the images to document her sons's six month milestone AND have Christmas cards! She also elected to work with Margaret again for add on hair and makeup services.

We booked her session, and sent over our style guide to Jessica.  She (as usual) knocked it out of the park with a gorgeous tulle skirt and lace top. Griffin look spiffy in his outfit from Janie & Jack and sweet little moccs from Freshly Picked. 

The evening of their session, it was the perfect temperature outside. I love fall in Atlanta because it tends to be on the warmer side so nobody is freezing cold during sessions! Of course, this can change, but for the most part fall sessions are pretty comfortable for everyone. Since Griffin wasn't quite sitting up confidently on his own just yet, we started with mommy and me images. Jessica had brought along his baby blanket, and we had him on his belly for a few of those. If your baby can sit up for a few seconds at a time, we have a few tricks to get some images of them sitting up alone as well! If your baby can't sit up at all, no worries! There are so many other things that we can do and you'll have a beautiful and varied gallery regardless. We have many mamas who want a true six month session when their baby is six months old and just as many who want to schedule a milestone session for when their baby is sitting unassisted. It's totally up to you, and either will capture your baby in all their cuteness just as they are at that point in time. 

Enjoy the images from Jessica and Griffin's session! I can't get enough of those suspenders and that bow tie! 

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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby Photographer | Baby John is ONE!

I first met Myra & John when they contacted us last year for a very last minute maternity session in the field. You can view those images by clicking here. Myra called us again to ask if we had availability for an outdoor session for her son's First Birthday session! I absolutely LOVE working with my clients as their little ones grow, and was so excited to meet John and see his parents again. Seeing maternity clients a year later as parents is really something special. Going from seeing them loving a baby they haven't held quite yet to seeing them as parents who made it through that first year ... I can't really describe it, but you can see what I mean by looking at the images. If you're a parent coming up on your child's first birthday, can I just say CONGRATS!? That first year is absolutely amazing and wonderful, and also incredibly challenging too. Sometimes I think the cake should be for mom and dad! ;) Speaking of cake - this First Birthday session doesn't have one! Choosing whether to include a smash cake as part of the session is entirely client preference. 

We sent over our style guide to Myra, and she asked to add on hair and makeup services with Megan again. I came to the studio a bit early to go through what Myra had brought for baby John as options. I loved everything she brought along, and she settled on this adorable white sweater with jeans and white tennis shoes. (In a few of the images, you'll see his sweater popped up to show his little baby belly which I absolutely LOVE) 

We headed down the street to the park location and got started! John wasn't walking on his own just yet, so Myra and John played the "pass the baby" game. You know, the one where your baby decides he wants the other parent to hold him every ten seconds? Yep, that one. Every baby loves to play this game... so if it happens during our time together, don't stress! We'll still get what we need! 

We had such a fun time together, and I switched things up often to keep John's attention. Most one year olds will give us about 30ish minutes for a session, and I keep that in mind going in. Once your baby is done, they're done - and they will let us know! Your job is to have fun with your baby, snuggle with them and each other, and I'll take care of the rest.

To see how much fun we all had, have a look at a few of my favorites! 

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 birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | A Family Maternity session at the field

Ashley contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a family maternity session at the field location. She was excited to be expecting baby #3, a girl after two boys! We let her know we had a couple of dates available and then scheduled her maternity fitting appointment at the studio. 

Ashley let us know that she was pretty tall (5'11" to be exact) and that she was concerned we wouldn't have anything that would fit her. I'm a member of the tall girls club at exactly six feet with no shoes, so I TOTALLY understood her worry! I hate when dresses that are supposed to be floor length look like a midi dress on me and when sleeves that should be wrist length barely make it to 3/4 of my arm. Our wardrobe has been personally curated by me and fits a wide variety of heights and weights fitting size 0-14/ some 16. Our most petite female client was 4'10", and our tallest was 6'2". They all found something they loved and that worked well for their shape and tastes. If you prefer to wear your own clothing, that's totally ok! The wardrobe is not by any means a requirement. It's simply there as a perk to you should you wish to use it. We'll send our style guide to you to help with choosing the best clothing from your own closets and provide input should you want some. We love helping our clients look and feel their best in whatever way we can. 

The evening of their session, we met at the field location! Her boys were the cutest, and her husband wasn't really excited about photos. I asked him to give me 15 minutes of his time and then I'd cut him loose. He agreed, and was glad that most of our time together was simply him being a dad and husband. The vast majority of my dad clients don't really love having their photos taken. While I can't promise I'll convert them to loving it, i CAN promise that I'll make it as easy as possible on them. Just with a positive attitude and willingness to have fun, and the rest will take care of itself! 

During our session, it was SO hot outside, but we were fortunate that a breeze swept through a few times. I love movement in images, so I took full advantage of how it was moving Ashley's dress and captured some of my favorite maternity photos that I've ever taken with the wind and a dress. Ashley chose those for her final gallery, so it's safe to say she loved them as well! Here are just a few of my favorite images of this family's session! 

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

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