Atlanta Family Photographer | Logan is TWO!!!

I first worked with this family when they were expecting their son for their maternity session in the studio, and again for his newborn and First Birthday sessions. Adrienne and Dave are some of the most loving parents I’ve met, and that’s very evident when I’m around them.

Adrienne emailed to ask if we could schedule a family session for Logan’s second birthday. He’s an October baby! My birthday is in October, and so are the birthdays of my two younger children. While we’re on the subject of October… we are almost fully booked for weekend dates in October. We still have a handful of weeknights open at this time. If you’re hoping to have an outdoor session, please don’t delay in contacting us to get on the calendar. November is also starting to fill up with just a couple weekend dates remaining, and a handful of weeknights as well.

Adrienne has worked with our HMUA team for her previous sessions, and this time was no exception. Our lead artist, Margaret, worked with her and we met at the field location that evening. Logan had fallen asleep on the way… so he was a little bit disoriented and shy at first. He also had a death grip on … a toothbrush. Definitely one of the most unusual objects that I have ever seen in a session!

As a mom of three, I know how stressful it can feel to plan your session and then have it seemingly go sideways if your child (or children!) are in a less than stellar mood. I always tell my clients to come into their sessions with a laid back and relaxed attitude. Children know when their parents are stressing out, and it can sometimes make it worse if they decide it would be fun to push a few of your buttons. Putting pressure on children almost always backfires. Here’s the deal: you cannot FORCE a toddler to smile and look happy, and why would you want to? Every time you look at your images you would see that the smile wasn’t real and you would remember how miserable everyone was that day. Instead, I give my little clients the time and space to warm up to me. If they want to snuggle with you, we go with that. Once they’re more comfortable, I’ll quietly give you some prompts of things to do with your child. I also step pretty far back and let things unfold naturally to capture your unique family dynamic in the most authentic way possible.

As for that toothbrush… well, Adrienne asked me to leave it as it was. Editing it out would not have been realistically possible with many of the image, but she told me that she knew she would laugh about it someday, and that it was a great story to share with him when he was older. That being said: if you don’t want your child to have an interesting object, bring neutral wooden toys if you think they’ll need something to hold. Whatever you bring for them: you need to be okay with it being in the images. Some children won’t give it up. :) In Logan’s case, we were eventually able to get him to trade his toothbrush for a lollipop towards the very end. And as you can see…. the sugar definitely transformed his mood and made him into a little camera ham!

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 | John is TWO!

I first worked with Myra and John for their maternity session at the field when they were pregnant with John. You can see their maternity photos by clicking here. I saw them again the next to photograph John’s First Birthday Session (click here to view those images). Myra contacted us to schedule a family session for John’s second birthday this year and opted for the park location again. Whenever I have families repeat the park location, I switch up where I shoot in the park! The park is really big, so I could easily photograph a family here several years in a row and it would look different each time. Myra also asked to add on makeup services with one of our hair and makeup artists, and we paired her with Brielle.

We sent Myra our style guide and Pinterest inspiration board for her to look through. Since she had worked with us a few times before, she was pretty confident in her choices. The day of her session she did bring two options for herself because she wanted my opinion on which would work better with the outfits she had chosen for her son and husband. I took one look and pointed at the option that worked best. I am MORE than happy to give input to clients for their sessions - and we can do this with a scheduled style consult beforehand at the studio, via email, or even the day of from an armful of options that you bring. If you choose the day of, you just need to ensure that the clothing fits well and is ready to wear for the session. Myra chose to have John wear suspenders… I absolutely love suspenders on little boys and think they are just about the cutest thing ever. Too bad my own three year old son refuses to wear them!

During their session, we had a lot of fun laughing, tickling, and being silly. John is such a sweet little boy and his parents are wonderful! Photographing their family session for his second birthday was so much fun, and the happiness and love are so evident in their images. Here are 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Rylan's Sitting Session

I first worked with Sindi and Erroll for their maternity session with their first daughter (Haylen) in the studio. I went on to photograph Haylen for her sitting milestone and First Birthday sessions! You can see where it all began with their first maternity session by clicking here. Sindi emailed me to let me know they had added another little girl, Rylan, to their family and wanted to schedule her sitting milestone images!

I sent Sindi the style guide and Pinterest inspiration board just so she’d have them, but she’s worked with us SO many time at this point that I knew she wouldn’t need them. Sindi is definitely one of my most fashionable clients - she loves peplum tops, and looks amazing in them. The dresses she chose for Haylen and Rylan were also absolutely adorable, and everyone looked great together, as you’ll see below!

When the family arrived at the studio for Rylan’s session, I was so excited to see them! I couldn’t believe how big Haylen had gotten since her first birthday. Sindi and Erroll warned me that Haylen was full of energy and were worried about her “crashing” the session, but I told them not to worry. I’m a mom of three kids all two years apart give or take a few weeks. At one point I had three children under the age of 4… trust me, I can handle all the energy your children lob my way, and we’ll have a fun time too! At two years old, Haylen definitely had her own opinions and vacillated between wanting to participate and wanting nothing to do with it. That’s normal and expected! I simply work around it and create my flow based on who’s happy and wants to be photographed. Your job as a parent is to try not to stress (I know, easier said than done!) and smile no matter what. Kids know when you’re stressed and most kids enjoy pushing their parents’ buttons. Don’t give them any buttons to push, and you’ll be surprised!

I typically start my milestone sessions with the entire family if the baby is experiencing shyness or stranger anxiety. Since Rylan wasn’t shy AT all, we started with solo portraits and then added parents and family into the mix. I am very efficient when photographing sessions involving older babies and young children. Babies get tired out easily from stimulation, and toddlers lose patience, so I work quickly to make sure we have a varied gallery full of options!

Rylan is such a sweet little girl, and SO cute. I was amazed at how different she looked from her big sister! Genetics are such a crazy thing. It’s so fun to see whose features each baby has and to hear who they look the most like as a baby. It changes with age too - I’ve had parents tell me their newborn looks EXACTLY like dad, only to tell me at six months they look just like mom.

I really love to use our white Eames chair for a few images in each milestone session so that you can see how much your child has grown in between their sessions. Sindi also requested that we be sure to use it because Haylen’s sessions had included it also. It’s really an amazing thing to watch the progression of growth and have one object that’s exactly the same to really compare and contrast! If the modern style isn’t your peference, we have some classic linen options too. We’ll discuss your preferences when you arrive!

Real quick mention: when you see photographs of babies (and even younger kids!) in chairs and on the bed in my studio, mom or dad is right there next to them, just out of the frame. Baby safety is PARAMOUNT around here, and I have measures in place with every session to ensure it!

Isn’t Rylan just the most adorable baby girl?! I cannot wait to see her next month for her 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 & Child Photographer | Twice the fun!

Every year we host our annual Motherhood Experience special edition sessions, and they’re usually held in mid to late April. Our HMUA is there to pamper mamas with light makeup application, and it’s such a fun time for all! I love welcoming mamas and their little ones to the studio and photographing them.

This particular mama has been bringing her fraternal twins to me since they were newborns, and I’ve photographed many full milestone and family sessions for them since. These images are from last year’s event, but I’m just now getting around to posting them! Janell comes every year for our Motherhood Experience and Santa sessions, which are the only two volume events the studio has annually.

The Motherhood Experience sessions last about 10-15 minutes, which is all the time we need. The focus is the emotional connection you share with your babies, and lots of snuggles are involved. I quietly direct mamas with simple suggestions to prompt natural interaction and document what unfolds. There are so many sweet and quiet moments - and some crazy and chaotic ones too! Here are a few from Janell’s session with the twins!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Caroline, Blair & Slade

I LOVE when I get an email from a client telling me that they’re expecting their second baby! I first worked with Caroline and Blair when they were expecting their daughter, Slade, more than two years ago. You can view their field maternity images by clicking here, and you can view Slade’s studio newborn session by clicking here.

When Caroline emailed, she let me know they were having a boy this time and they wanted to schedule their maternity session in the field again. Their first session took place at the height of summer, so the field looked very different in April as opposed to August. Because they lived in north Alpharetta, I suggested a different field location that was closer to them to make it easier for Slade since the session time was close to her bedtime. They were totally on board with that suggestion, so we scheduled their date.

Caroline knew she wanted to borrow from the wardrobe again, and because I had worked with her before I had a pretty good idea of which dresses would work well for her. When she arrived, my assumptions were confirmed after seeing her belly shape. The shape of your belly will affect which dresses I recommend for you! No two bellies are the same, and every woman will look different in the same dress. We’ll chat about if there are any parts of your body that you would rather have covered. Some women don’t want a sleeveless or strapless dress, and that is totally fine. Others prefer solids over florals. My main consideration is whether the dress works for your skin tone, followed by how it fits. Above all, you should feel beautiful and comfortable in the dress - and if those four things are checked off, we have a winner!

Caroline loved what I pulled for her, and chose two of the dresses. Once she had chosen her options, I pulled out dresses for Slade for her to consider. I wanted to make sure that Slade’s dresses coordinated well with her choices, so that’s why I waited until Caroline’s dress decisions were made. She absolutely loved one of our toddler dresses for Slade that is a peachy pleated dress. It’s so comfortable and actually fits a wide variety of toddler body shapes because of the cut and style. Since I had not seen Slade since her newborn session, I also pulled a backup dress just in case the first choice wasn’t the best color for her skin tone.

Caroline had worked with our lead HMUA, Margaret, for her previous sessions and it was a no brainer for her when it came to whether to add on hair and makeup services again. She absolutely loves working with Margaret, and this time Margaret designed a gorgeous updo for her that showed off her beautiful features and kept her hair up and out of the way. When you’re handling a toddler, or if you get hot easily, an updo can be the perfect solution! Our HMUA’s will discuss your preferences and style in great detail with you and craft a look for you that enhances your best features but keeps you looking like you. We want our clients to recognize themselves in their photographs!

I needn’t have worried - when Slade walked up I was immediately mesmerized by her gorgeous green eyes and peaches and cream complexion. She was a bit shy, and a total daddy’s girl. In fact, so much of a daddy’s girl that she didn’t want to go to Caroline at all. We worked around that as best as we could. When I shoot a family maternity session, I save mom and dad images for the end. I want to make sure we get as many family and child images as we can and once they’re over it, we’ll hand them an activity to occupy them and photograph just the two of you. In this case, they handed her an iPhone with a quick show to watch and that did the trick perfectly. I do caution parents not to let their young children see their phones or to offer them as a reward or bribe because it almost always backfires terribly. I have lots of techniques and tricks, and as long as you’re willing to follow my guidance for natural interaction with your little one(s), we can often distract them and they start having lots of fun… which results in the sweetest and most natural images of your family truly being a family!

When Caroline viewed her proof gallery, she emailed to tell me she was so shocked at how many wonderful images I photographed of Slade. Slade was a typical toddler and running around non stop, so they were a bit concerned that she wasn’t cooperative enough. I hear this at almost every family session, and I reassure parents that everything is going just fine. I have worked with just about every personality type of child (and adults) and can handle just about anything that is thrown at me. And yes, I’ve had literal objects thrown at me (by toddlers mind you - no adults have done that yet!). Kids are small humans with big emotions, and I get it. I have three of my own! If you have a child that’s not into having their photograph taken, or is just having a rough day, don’t stress. I’ll give them the space they need, assess what’s working when it comes to engaging them, and make a plan from there. Just give them your love, patience, and support - and the session will work itself out.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Caroline’s maternity session! I can’t wait to share baby boy’s newborn session with you here on the blog. Check back to see those next week!

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 | Ethan is ONE!

I first worked with Ethan’s parents for their maternity session in the park, which you can view by clicking here. He came into the studio at six months old for his sitting milestone session, and you can see those images by clicking here. So many of my clients choose to work with me throughout their baby’s first year (and subsequent babies!) and then schedule annual family portraits after that. I absolutely love getting to watch my littlest clients grow over the years!

Keyianna scheduled Ethan’s First Birthday session in the studio. First Birthday sessions almost always include parents too unless they opt to not be in them. I HIGHLY encourage parents to participate because these photos are a gift to your child. They will look at them someday and see all the love and laughter that surrounded them. Plus, we’re also celebrating the fact that you made it through your baby’s first year. That’s a pretty big accomplishment, so I say we recognize it!

You won’t see a cake smash in these images because there wasn’t one. Not every client chooses to include a cake, and it’s entirely a matter of personal preference. Some clients don’t want to give their babies any sugar for a few years, others just don’t really love cake, and others like to do something a bit out of the box and use a cupcake or pile of donuts. If you do decide to use a cake, we’ll send you our cake tips sheet for best practices. Believe it or not, the kind of icing you choose to use matters! Pro tip: avoid whipped icing - it’s by far the most difficult to get off of your child. Take it from me: I have seen it all!

We also sent over our style guide to Keyianna to help her in choosing what they should all wear. She found it super helpful and easy to read, and needed no additional help pulling their outfits together. Most parents celebrating a first birthday have two outfits for their baby. I always encourage parents to make sure one of the outfits shows off their baby’s toes, and chunky legs. When your baby is a full fledged toddler, you will miss these terribly. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone down the rabbit hole looking at photos of my own children as babies. They’re now 7, 5, and 3, and I still don’t know how the heck it happened so fast. I am so grateful that I was at least able to freeze those memories forever so I will never forget their chubby baby fingers and wispy hair.

Ethan was a curious little guy and not hesitant around me at all. My flow for these sessions varies and depends on your child. Some babies need to be in their parents’ arms for a bit and warm up to me. Others are ready to go as soon as they walk in. If your baby is walking, I’ll make sure to photograph them doing that! My main goal is to forever preserve your baby just as they were at the age of one. I want you to look at the photos and see their personality, how adorable they were, and their expressions. You will compare these photos to how they look as they grow and make note of what features they retained and which faded.

Because Ethan wasn’t shy, we rotated through family, solo, and parent images and then ended with an outfit change and more solo portraits. He immediately decided to stand up, and was SO PROUD of himself. I laugh every time I see his face. (it’s the very last image if you can’t wait to see it) Don’t worry - dad was standing right next to the chair out of the frame ready to catch him if needed. Safety is the highest priority during sessions, and a parent is always right there to spot.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from Mr. Ethan’s session! I can’t wait to see him again next year!

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 | DJ's Second Birthday!

I adore working with Senika and DJ, and I have had the honor of doing so since Senika was pregnant with him! Senika books a family session every year for DJ’s birthday, and comes to our Santa event every year also. I’ll be photographing DJ for his third birthday coming up in July, and I cannot wait. He is the happiest, smartest, most fun little guy - and his mama is just as amazing.

Senika asked to borrow a dress from the wardrobe for her session, and I pulled out one of our more relaxed pieces. Because DJ’s birthday is in July, it’s pretty hot outside in Atlanta, so I wanted her to be cool and comfortable. She LOVED it, and mentioned she had the perfect shoes to wear with it too. Because she had chosen a neutral dress, that left DJ’s outfit choice wide open. I like to call dresses that are solid neutral colors a “blank canvas” - because you can pair them with pretty much anything! She chose to dress him in lime green pants and a plaid shirt with some of the cutest little blue tennis shoes I have ever seen.

On the evening of their session, we met at the park location and Senika had brought along a fun balloon and a cupcake. DJ loves to run and play ball, and play with sticks, and Senika had also brought his favorite ball as well. Her goal with his birthday sessions is to capture his personality and the things that he loves to do. So, we incorporate those things into his sessions to make that happen! We had a lot of fun running around and playing, and of course….like most little boys, DJ found a stick. I went with it, and it ended up being one of Senika’s favorite pictures.

A quick note about balloons - I welcome them, but also remind my clients to bring their patience. Balloons have a mind of their own on a string indoors, and I can’t control the wind if we’re outdoors. We’ll do the best we can, but it may involve some creativity on our parts! Because of the breeze that evening, Senika had to hold the balloon so that the number would be the correct way, but we both loved how it worked out.

We ended the session with cupcake time… and all of a sudden as DJ was finishing up his cupcake, clouds rolled in. I had checked the forecast and there was no rain in it… but sure enough, those clouds ended up being a very fast moving summer thunderstorm! We ran to our cars just in time before the sky opened up. Fortunately, we were all finished with the session at that point so it was all just fine.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from DJ’s session. Such a big difference from his First Birthday Session! Oh, did you want to see those too? No problem - just click here!

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

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

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Amelia's in home six month milestone session

Fact: I travel to homes too for lifestyle sessions. (but not if you have or had a cat in the home, because I will literally have to be taken to a hospital due to my severe allergies)

I first worked with Kristen and Dave for their maternity session at the field location with their two pups Riggs & Tink. You can view those images by clicking here. I was so excited to head to their home in Brookhaven and meet their daughter, Amelia!

Amelia is the most darling little thing! She is the perfect mix of her parents and has such beautiful blue eyes. When I arrived at the house, I looked around to see what kind of lighting I had to work with, and decided to photograph in 3 of the rooms there. Every home is unique, and because I work with the available natural light, every session will look different too. When we plan your in home session, you’ll send over some quick phone snaps of your home at a couple of different times during the day so we can determine the best time to schedule your session and know ahead of time which rooms we’ll be photographing in! I chose to photograph in one of their darker rooms in the house, and you’ll know instantly which two photographs in the below collage were taken in that particular room. Those photos prove that (a) you don’t have to have TONS of light and (b) emotional connection is what makes a beautiful photograph.

We started in the living room, headed to the master bedroom, and then upstairs to Amelia’s adorable nursery. Lifestyle sessions are all about having fun together as a family. You will play, you’ll tickle, you’ll snuggle in. Amelia particularly enjoyed playing peek a boo with Daddy on the couch, and he treated us to some singing as well which made Amelia so happy! (PS: I can’t carry a tune to save my life, so don’t worry if you can’t either - we’re in the same club) During our time together, I’ll make sure that you look great (no unflattering angles or self inflicted double chins) and give you simple guidance as needed. Your only job will be to have your home ready to go when I arrive (clutter cleared away, etc) and be ready to have fun!

Want to book an in home session? Contact us to discuss your vision and we’ll get to planning!

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 | A mommy and me session with Dawn & Cady

I first worked with Dawn for her maternity session in the studio and you can view those images by clicking here. I was SO excited when she scheduled a mommy & me session because I so enjoyed working with her, and couldn’t WAIT to meet her baby girl!

Dawn has such a joyful and bubbly personality, and her baby girl, Cady, is such a sweetheart with the biggest brown eyes. Dawn and Cady showed up in a navy and white color scheme, and I loved the floor length gown. It was so wonderful to spend time with the two of them and see how Dawn has settled into her role of Cady’s mama.

Complimentary matching black and white images are provided to my clients to match the color images they select for their collections, and I chose to only share the black and white versions here since I love them so much. Enjoy! I’m looking forward to seeing this mother and daughter duo again for another mommy and me session this coming weekend!

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 In Home Family Photographer | Myka & Harris

Fun fact about Myka and I: we were pregnant at the same time, and our sons are 27 days apart! We have yet to schedule a playdate with our boys though since when we meet up it’s adults only. I enjoy every second I spend with Myka - she has such a creative and free spirit, and is an saavy entrepreneur herself. (Follow her over at highbrowhippie on Instagram!)

Many people are surprised to learn that I photograph in home sessions. It’s true, I do…and I love them. If you’re not sure if an in home session is right for you, just give us a call. We’ll talk about your vision, your home, and give you our professional input and suggestions!

When I arrived at the house for this session, Harris said hi, and I commented to Myka on how calm and quiet he was. Myka shot me a look, which I wasn’t really sure how to interpret. Harris disappeared and seconds later, came roaring back into the room with his Tonka Truck. I immediately took my words back, and quickly realized Harris was just like my son…. energetic, full of zest for life…and not so quiet.

Myka’s gorgeous home is filled with beautiful natural light, and I loved the architecture throughout. After a quick walk through, I decided to shoot on the stairs and downstairs and we got started. In home lifestyle sessions are fun and relaxed. I encourage you to go about activities that you would do even if I weren’t there, and I mix in some directed natural posing as well. Anyone who has a two year old boy knows that they don’t sit still, which is why I call it “directed natural posing”. If you’re not sure what that is, it’s basically me giving you a prompt of what to do with your child and photographing what unfolds. Super easy! :) Harris loves playing games and giving high fives, so engaging him was no problem. We got lots of beautiful images of the two of them snuggling and interacting just like they would if I weren’t there to document it. That’s what I strive for with in home sessions. We will talk about the areas of your home that are most meaningful to you, the things about your child and your relationship that you love and want to capture, and your favorite activities to do together as we plan your session.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and your watching your not so little boy get dressed for his senior prom? 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 | Lindsay, Matt & Peyton at the park

I was SO excited for this session with Lindsay, Matt, & Peyton. Lindsay wanted to schedule family photos before her husband Matt deployed for another tour of duty, and she chose the park location for their session.

I first worked with Lindsay and Matt for their maternity session at the gardens when they were expecting Peyton. I ran into them when they leaving the hospital at the same time I was arriving to photograph a birth of another client. Fun fact: my client went into labor which pushed their induction, so they were leaving because of that! I photographed Peyton as a newborn right before his daddy deployed. I saw them again for Peyton’s First Birthday session, and then again for Mother’s Day and Santa. I LOVE this family, to say the least. They’re amazing, and such wonderful people!!!

I sent off the style guide to Lindsay, and we met up the evening of their session at the studio. I have clients follow me to the location we’re shooting at within the park so they don’t have to worry about getting lost or trying to find it. Just another way I keep my sessions as stress free as possible!

When they arrived, Matt was in uniform as he had come from work. Lindsay asked if we could take a few photos with him in uniform, and I was happy to do so. I know I speak for many when I say I’m so thankful for their service. It’s not just the men and women in our armed forces who serve, it’s their families too. Military families sacrifice so much to serve our country, and I am endlessly grateful to them.

Matt changed into his clothing for the session, and we started shooting. With toddler boys, I have found the best sessions are the ones in which we play! Wrestling, tickling, hide and go seek, running, walking, riding on daddy’s shoulders, you name it. Keeping them occupied and having fun is key, and we’ll get genuine smiles and laughter from it. I want your child’s personality to shine, and in order to do that, they need to feel 100% safe and comfortable. Play is the number one way to achieve that.

When Peyton was “over” the session and just wanted to collect sticks, I took the opportunity to photograph Lindsay and Matt as a couple. I try to do this during every family session. Before you had children, it was just the two of you. Someday your kids won’t be living with you anymore, and it’ll be just the two of you again. Your love deserves to be documented too, so let’s do that!

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and they’re prepping for the SAT’s? 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 Baby & Family Photographer | Anjali is three months!

Nilam and Mitch are parents of three fun and amazing kids. As a mom of three myself, I know just what to expect with multiple children of different ages, and I absolutely love it.

This sweet family had worked with another photographer for several years - for newborn and milestone and family sessions for their older two children. That photographer was scaling back on photography work to focus on other areas of her life, and chose to send them my way. I’m always honored when another photographer sends a client to me, especially when it’s a client they’ve had for over five years!

On the morning of their three month milestone/family session for their youngest daughter, Anjali, Nilam arrived with her three children in tow. She was a bit flustered and let me know her husband was on his way. She had thrown a few possible outfits into a bag but wasn’t sure what everyone should wear, and I could tell she was feeling stressed out. She let me know that Mitch had handled the booking process, and that she hadn’t known she could come in beforehand for a style consult. I told her not to worry, and pulled out multiple outfits from my client wardrobe and we had all three children dressed in no time. She looked through the options I had pulled out for her and picked one that she loved. Mitch arrived shortly afterwards, and he was all set with what he had brought from home. They expressed amazement that I had been able to dress 4/5’s of the family.

While I can’t always do that since my wardrobe for children is limited, I am more than happy to assist you with styling your family! If you’re a busy mom who just can’t make the time to come by the studio, no worries. We can chat through email and text, and we’ll get you squared away. We have a super easy to follow style guide that we send to all our clients too, and are available to answer any questions you have throughout the entire process.

We started their session with solo images of Anjali. Three month olds are limited in what they can physically do on their own since they cannot sit up unassisted, and will need to be held by other session participants for a portion of the session.

The rest of the session was very much like a carousel of organized chaos. I have a shot list in mind that I mentally tick off, but so much is dependent on if your other children want to participate. Arjun and Lakshmi thought I was hilarious, and we enjoyed playing games throughout. Nilam and Mitch remarked on how they could see I was a mom of three because I understood the dynamics and rolled with whatever the children were giving me at that particular moment. Listen, being a photographer with a focus on babies and children is not for the faint of heart. It requires endless patience, a loving heart, and adaptability for a constantly changing situation. Anyone who has a toddler knows how they can decide to throw a temper tantrum at any random moment over something that we cannot figure out. Anyone who has a baby knows that sometimes they get fussy for some inexplicable reason. I get it, I’ve been there - with my own children, and with my clients! So if your session feels like a runaway train because your child isn’t “cooperating” like you had hoped, don’t worry about it. Seriously, just let it go. Relax, and let ME do the heavy lifting. :)

Since this session took place, they’ve been back for Anjali’s 6 month and 9 month sessions, and we’re in the process of planning her one year session outdoors. I so love this wonderful family and am looking forward to working with them for years to come!

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 | Clarissa & Isabella

Clarissa has been a client of mine since she was pregnant with Isabella, and it’s pretty safe to say I absolutely adore the two of them. From maternity to newborn to many milestones, I’ve photographed them many times! Getting to know Clarissa over the past couple of years and watch her grow into such a wonderful mother has been an honor and a privilege. Each client who chooses to work with me had a wide pool to consider - so when you choose to work with me and share some of the most special moments of your life with me… I don’t take it lightly at all.

Because Clarissa and I have worked together so many times now, she didn’t need any help with styling herself and Isabella. She fell in love with the field location, and I suggested we hike up to the mountaintop afterwards. Her session took place in late August, so she knew it would be hot but it was definitely worth it!

We met the evening of her session at the field. I absolutely loved the dresses she had chosen for them to wear and knew they would be absolutely gorgeous in the setting! Isabella is a friendly little girl but a little shy at first, so I took the opportunity to hang back with a longer focal length and have her interact with her mommy. Once she was used to my presence, I switched lenses to be closer up. Isn’t she absolutely darling?!

I could talk for an hour about I approach sessions with young children, but I won’t. In a nutshell: I navigate through the session at the pace of your child. My sessions are very much about playing snuggling together, and NOT necessarily looking at the camera. Telling a toddler to look at the camera and smile very often backfires in one of two ways. (1) Painfully forced smiles or (2) Refusal to look and smile. Let’s take the pressure to perform off, and let everything unfold totally naturally. I can’t tell you how many times parents have seen their gallery and expressed amazement at the images because they thought their session was going horribly. You can’t see what I see… and it only takes 1/800th of a second to capture an image that make you catch your breath every time you look at it.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re watching them walk down the aisle at their high school graduation? 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 | A Decatur in home family session

I was SO excited for this family session! I first worked with them at their maternity session (view the session by clicking here) and then again at their newborn session (view the session by clicking here). We switched it up this time and scheduled the session to take place in their home with casual dress. Believe it or not, I love jeans and a white t-shirt just as much as I love a pretty studio dress!

The time of day that I schedule your in home session is determined by the best light in your home and the schedule of your little one(s). Sometimes that will be in the morning, and other times in the afternoon. We want happy kids, so it’s best to schedule for right after a good nap and a meal! For this family, that was right around 11 AM.

When I arrived at the house, did a quick walk through to determine where we would be photographing the family. My priority is the best light! One I had determined the rooms we would be in (living room and master bedroom) I moved a few things with permission that would be distracting in the background. I want your images to be as true to life as possible, but I doubt you want to be staring at a neon colored bottle in the background of your images! :)

I spent the next hour with the family watching them interact and giving them suggestions of how to play with their children. I knew Busola practices yoga, and asked if she could do some fun things with her son, Ayo on the couch incorporating that. Ayo LOVED it, and the joy on his face was just so cute. I love images of families truly at play - especially with their mamas. How often do we get to see ourselves like this with our children? Your home is the safest place your child knows (next to your arms). After we finished up downstairs, we headed up to the bedroom, and I asked if Ayo could jump on the bed. I think Ayo thought I was the coolest photographer ever when his parents said he could! He worked some energy out, and then the family cuddled up on the bed together. It was at this point that little miss Liya spit up all over her outfit, requiring an outfit change. I asked them to hold off on redressing her because I saw the opportunity in front of me. The resulting images of her mama lovingly playing with her on the bed are some of my favorites from the session. Busola redressed her in the sweetest little knit pink romper, and we finished up all of the family images. I then asked Busola and her husband if they’d like a few images of just the two of them, and they were all for it! They handed their children over to their babysitter who was downstairs, and I took a few images of them together. I absolutely love how much fun the two of them have together. Their personalities are so different, but the common factor is how positive and joyful they both are. They are the type of people that make you have a great day just because you interacted with them.

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 needs!

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 Q Family

I first started working with Erised & Dan for their maternity session in the gardens location when they were expecting their son. You can see their maternity images by clicking here. I went on to photograph their son’s newborn session and six month milestone session (view by clicking here) in the studio. Erised wanted an outdoor fall session at the field for family Christmas cards and to further document Benicio’s growth. I’m so looking forward to photographing Benicio’s First Birthday session in a couple of weeks!

We sent over the studio style guide to Erised, and I encouraged her to have everyone wear color if she wanted that. She debated for a while on which direction she wanted to go for wardrobe, but ultimately decided on a more casual look for everyone. I absolutely LOVED the colors she chose! When they arrived at the field, she pulled out a couple of different options for Benicio because she wanted my opinion on which would be best with what she and Dan were wearing. Lots of families will bring along different options if they’re not 100% sure, and this is totally okay to do! I’m also available via email or a quick 15 minute studio appointment to go over your choices for everyone and offer my input and suggestions on anything to mix up or change. Your family portrait experience should be FUN and not stressful, and I’m here to help!

Benicio is pretty much one of the happiest little babies I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He loves his parents, and he loves people in general. I just love his cute little yellow moccasins that picked up the yellow from his mother’s dress. His little bottom tooth and bright blue eyes are just absolutely adorable. (His other bottom tooth broke through just days after our time together!)

Babies love being outdoors and are always interested in their surroundings. It’s very easy to keep them happy and distracted for outdoor sessions, and we always have a lot of fun. I direct parents as we go throughout our session, and the things I direct you to do are very likely things that you do with at home. SO much of a family session is play based, regardless of your child’s age. Sometimes families freeze up when a camera is on them and they’re just not sure what to do. So many parents express relief (and amazement!) that a session with me is as easy as it is! Show up ready to play and goof off with your kids, and we will get those real moments filled with laughter, real grins, and sparkling eyes. When you’re having fun, you relax, and your individual personalities shine through - which creates the optimal environment to capture your family’s unique and beautiful dynamic!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this lovely family’s family session at the field!

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 | Nick, Jasmin & Olivia in the Gardens

Nick and Jasmin had just moved here from Virginia, and didn’t know of any photographers in the Atlanta area. Jasmin looked around online, looked through my website, and fell in love with my maternity sessions in our gardens location. She contacted us and then told her husband that she had found the perfect photographer for their maternity session, and then he contacted us too! We straightened out the crossed wires after speaking with both of them and booked their maternity session on a weeknight. The gardens are not available on weekend evenings, so if you want your session to take place there, you will need to arrange for your schedule to accommodate a weekday.

When the family came in for their maternity fitting at the studio, I was delighted to meet all three of them! Big sister Olivia was absolutely adorable and reminded me of my middle child with her spunky personality. She was so excited to be a big sister, and said she would share her toys with her new baby sister once she was here. Nick will be surrounded by women, and he couldn’t be happier about it!

Based on the olive green dress that Jasmin was wearing when she arrived, I could tell she leaned towards bohemian inspired style and pulled out a few options for her. She had a lot of fun trying on the different options and Nick seemed to have fun giving his feedback on each! She settled on two dresses and let me know that she already had the perfect outfit for Olivia so they were all set.

On the evening of their session, we met at the gardens, and Olivia’s dress and floral crown were indeed perfect! I always start with family and child images just in case they decide they’re over the session and don’t want to participate anymore later on. That way our bases are covered no matter what! The gardens are a fun location to shoot in since there are so many different places to shoot in that provide a lot of variety. We will often be working around other photographers and their clients, so if you’re hoping for seclusion and privacy during your session, this is likely not the best location choice for you. I can assure you that nobody is paying any attention to anyone else as we’re all there for our own sessions!

The family had a lot of fun playing together and walking around the gardens. As we walked, we chatted about all sorts of things and I learned that one of my photographer friends in the same town their from is a co-worker of Jasmin’s mother! I also learned that Jasmin and Nick met in high school but didn’t start dating until after college. I can honestly say that one of my favorite parts about what I do is getting to know my clients and listening to their stories. I am constantly reminded of what a small world we live in and how much we can have in common with others from my conversations with them.

When Jasmin changed into her second dress, I took the opportunity to photograph Nick and Olivia together for some daddy-daughter images. I am so close to my own dad, and my husband is the same way with our daughters, so I think these images are really important to create. When Jasmin came out, she was holding Olivia’s flower crown and asked if it wold be silly to wear it. I told her I loved the idea, so on her head it went, and it was perfect with the dress and the garden setting!

I LOVED working with this sweet little family of three (soon to be four!) and can’t wait to see them again in the future!

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 | Baby Evelyn's Nine Month Milestone

Caitlin contacted the studio to book a milestone session that focused heavily on her nine month old daughter and herself. She also requested to add on hair and makeup services as a special treat. She and her husband had just relocated from Savannah back to where she grew up north of Atlanta, and were very happy to be back!

When Caitlin arrived at the studio, we started chatting about life in Savannah. During our conversation, I discovered she had worked with one of my best friends in the industry for her daughter’s newborn session! Such a small world. I’m always amazed by how many of my clients know someone else that I know - whether it’s a client, a friend, or even a family member!

We started looking through the studio wardrobe, and as Caitlin was trying on outfits, her husband and daughter, Evelyn, arrived along with Grandma. I introduced myself, and since Evelyn was a bit shy at first, held off on starting the session for a few minutes so that she could acclimate to her new surroundings. I never rush my littlest clients. A new and unfamiliar place can be a bit scary for them, so keeping the environment relaxed and quiet so they feel safe is the best approach!

Caitlin had brought a special outfit for Evelyn to wear during the session. It was a soft pink knit romper that she paired with adorable Peter Pan collared blouse - very Southern but also so timeless! Evelyn had some of the most striking blue eyes I’ve ever seen and a mop of curly hair. We started the session with just her sitting on the bed and daddy right next to her out of the frame to catch her if she decided to speed crawl off the side. As you can see from the series of images, Evelyn wasn’t too sure about me at first but warmed up quickly. I asked her daddy to hop on up as Caitlin had asked to include him as well. When we finished up with those, Caitlin had chosen her dress and joined in. At the midpoint of our session, Evelyn became very antsy and fussy, which we quickly determined was due to being hungry!

Hungry babies = session break. After enjoying a delicious bottle and some snuggles, we were back in business! I don’t ever want parents to worry about needing to stop for a snack break. Babies don’t always operate on their normal schedules, and we’ll adapt to their needs. My first priority is your baby’s safety and comfort, so we’re going to roll with whatever they decide to throw at us on their session day. :)

We finished up the session with some gorgeous mommy and daughter images that I absolutely love, and family images of the three of them having fun. Caitlin asked to have a few images taken of just her husband and herself, which I gladly accommodated for them. Before you welcomed your little one(s), it was just the two of you. After your children leave the home, it will be just the two of you again. Your relationship is also important and deserves to be documented through the years too!

Here are a few of my favorites from sweet Evelyn’s milestone 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 | The S Family in the park

Katie contacted the studio to schedule a family session. Their family lives right by the studio, and she was referred by another client of mine whose son attends the same preschool as hers. She also asked to add on hair and makeup services as a treat to herself, and we sent over the style guide to help her with guidance on what she and her family should wear.

Originally, we had scheduled their session for the weekend of Halloween, but rain forced a reschedule. They were about to leave for an international vacation and both have demanding and variable work schedules, so we moved the session to November during Thanksgiving break, with assurances that they’d still be able to get their Christmas cards out in time!

The day of their session approached, and it was a gorgeous and sunny evening… but also super cold! Every family is different when it comes to cold weather in terms of tolerance. If your session is scheduled during cold weather, dress in layers! We’ll take breaks to warm up if needed, and I will work SUPER fast as well. I encourage even more running around than usual to help younger kids warm up and forget about the fact it’s cold, and it’s generally quite effective!

A note about colder temperatures: I reschedule sessions automatically if it’s going to be below 40 degrees because I don’t want my clients to be miserable. If you’re worried about your nose being red or lips being a little purple from feeling cold, no need to be - that’s something I take care of in post processing when I edit!

When the family arrived at the park location, I introduced myself to their sons. They were a bit shy at first, which is pretty normal! My approach is to respect each individual child’s need for space and to meet them wherever they’re at. As the session continues and they become more comfortable, I slowly ramp up the games and my “pep”. By the end of our time together, we were playing all sorts of fun games and everyone was laughing and having a good time despite the cold.

I could type a book about how I handle family sessions, but I’ll spare you! You just need to know two things. (1) I’m a mom of three children myself who are all basically two years apart give or take a few weeks and who all have very different personalities. So I have been in your shoes! (2) Know that family sessions with me are organized “chaos”. I shoot my family sessions efficiently, which means that participants who need a break get one while others are being photographed. I’m always moving and there is no standing around doing nothing time. If the kids need a snack, we’ll likely place them on the ground right by you and knock out some mom and dad couples shots! My family sessions are very much about interacting together through play, and NOT necessarily having everyone look at the camera with a big old smile. I know Grandma might want that “perfect” family portrait with everyone smiling, but that’s simply not the goal or the heart of my approach at all. So, what is? Love and connection that showcases your family’s unique dynamic in tangible form.

Want to capture your family just as you are now before time completely slips away and you’re packing their bags for college? We fill up several months in advance for weekend dates, and are already booking for spring and early summer! 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 Baby Photographer | Niko is ONE!

Josie contacted the studio to ask about scheduling a First Birthday session. She wanted to schedule the session to take place before her son’s actual birthday party and use images for the invitation and party decor. Some clients come in sometime in the first month after their baby’s first birthday. It’s entirely up to you!

Josie also asked if including a cake was an absolutely necessity. I responded that it was not, and it was up to her whether she wanted to include one. While a lot of our clients love the experience, some prefer to skip it. The focus of the session is on your baby and capturing them how they are at this age - not on a birthday cake. So, if you don’t want to incorporate a cake, no worries at all!

When they walked in on the day of their session, I immediately recognized Josie’s handbag - the Market Day Tote from Everlane! If you haven’t heard of Everlane, you should definitely check them out. It’s a super cool company with some really great design. Josie was shocked that I recognized her bag and declared that nobody in her family appreciated her bag, and that it made her day that I knew where it was from. I’m a fan of understated simplicity paired with functionality in fashion, so Everlane is right up my alley!

Niko was a little bit shy, so I kept chatting with his parents. I have found that when a baby isn’t receptive to you, it’s best to win them over through their parents. When they see that their parents are talking to me, a small level of trust begins to build from there. As we were talking, I learned that they were both journalists and worked crazy hours sometimes to meet deadlines. Writing is a creative art that I have a lot of respect for since it’s not always possible to crank out a piece oh whatever topic. So when they explained that sometimes they’d stay up until 3 AM because inspiration had hit and they were furiously writing away, I completely understood.

We started the session as a family unit so Niko would feel safe and comfortable. He started smiling as we were all laughing and joking, and I slowly raised my pep level to match where he was. We continued on with parent images, and then things really started getting fun with tickle fights and peek a boo games. Niko loves his parents, and it was just so much fun to watch the three of them together. When Niko was totally warmed up to me, we moved quickly to the solo portraits. Josie had brought along Nik'o’s favorite stuffed animal. I love and welcome the usage of your child’s little “friends”! Incorporating them into your session will make it that much more meaningful years from now when their little lovie is long gone.

Niko needed a diaper change, so they took the opportunity to also quickly change his shirt as well for another look. By this point, he was totally comfortable with me and being in the studio and was all over the place exploring. I love when babies reach this point because then their personality really shines through… and that’s exactly what I strive to capture during sessions!

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

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

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Michelle, Kalyan & Henry

I first met Michelle and Kalyan in their labor and delivery room. It’s not exactly the normal initial meeting that I have with my clients, but I was there to photograph the birth of their baby and they had literally just booked me the evening before while heading to Northside for their induction. So, there wasn’t time to meet beforehand!

Since Henry’s birth, I have photographed multiple sessions for their family over his first year. When Michelle texted to let me know that she was expecting again, I was SO excited for their sweet family! Michelle and Kalyan are such loving parents and some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. Michelle had not done a maternity session during her pregnancy with Henry and decided she wanted to do one for this pregnancy. We scheduled her maternity session for the park location and reserved her newborn session as well with hair and makeup add on services for both. Michelle has worked with our HMUA team since Henry’s newborn session and absolutely loves working with all of them!

A week before her session, Michelle came to the studio to look through the wardrobe. Since she’s been in the studio a few times, she already knew exactly which dresses she was thinking about wearing. The dresses she had in mind ended up being exactly what she chose. Every time she comes in and looks through she’s always thinking ahead to the next one!

The evening of their session, we met at the studio parking lot and headed to the park. Henry was FULL of energy that night much to the bewilderment of his parents. They could not figure out why he was so excited and running around at full speed. I’m used to it and basically expect it, so it didn’t throw me at all. I reassured them that everything would be fine, and to run around with Henry and make it a game. When they saw their gallery later, they told me that they were amazed because Henry didn’t seem to stop for one second. I love the images that they chose of Henry - pure glee! He’s a little boy having a blast, and it shows. Those real smiles during moments of genuine fun are what I love the most.

Kalyan handled chasing after Henry and I just rolled with Henry and his proximity. There is no set standard flow for any session I photograph involving babies or children. I’ve been working as a professional photographer for six years now, and if I have learned anything - it’s that you must be flexible and meet the little ones where they’re at. They may not be in the mood for photos one minute, and then two minutes later they’re ready to engage. I’m always ready for that and waiting for it! A great example of this is when a child doesn’t want to be in the photos and protests. I ask mom and dad to simply ignore them and we take a few couples images. Their child watches from the distance and realizes that we aren’t including them! Their little brain starts spinning at the injustice, and sure enough, almost every single time runs back over not willing to be left out.

Enjoy some of my favorites from this family’s session - and check back in a few days to see their adorable 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.