Atlanta Maternity Photographer | Erised, Dan & Benicio awaiting the newest addition!

Erised texted me as soon as she found out she was pregnant with her second baby. She wanted to be on our calendar immediately because she knows how far in advance we book and didn’t want to take any chances.

This was quite the difference from when she was expecting her first child! She contacted us at the LAST minute to book her maternity and newborn sessions. We were fortunately able to squeeze her in, and she had the baby shortly after the maternity session took place! Erised already knew she wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session for her second baby. Because she had also booked a six month milestone and First Birthday session for her first baby, our First Year Collection was the perfect choice for her! Ask us about this when you contact us if you know you want to document your baby’s entire first year. We have limited availability for the Collection membership each month. The perks are many, and our members love the many benefits they enjoy. What are those benefits? Well, just to name the top two favorites: priority weekend booking, and the fact that you don’t have to do anything once you’re signed up - Caroline (our studio manager) will reach out and get you booked for each upcoming session. It’s a set it and forget it situation, and truly the perfect solution for our busy families!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Erised had contacted us very early on in her pregnancy, we were able to schedule a weekend date for her maternity session and she had a few options to choose from! We schedule maternity sessions to take place between 26-32 weeks, and will make suggestions for where in that timeframe would be best based on your height, if you’re having twins, and if this is not your first baby!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, our shooting calendar is typically full several months in advance. We have a LOT of repeat clients who reserve their fall family sessions for the following year so they’re on the calendar. Reserving your session early gives you more date options and flexibility!

If we are completely out of weekend dates, our clients just plan to leave work earlier on a weekday. To give you a really good example of what I mean, I’ll share that as of thing blog post, we are 70% booked for fall weekend evenings. There are quite a few advantages to scheduling on for a session during the week though! Sessions on weeknights are much less crowded! It’s important to know that ALL outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset. We do offer sunrise sessions at certain times of year (mostly in August/September) but not when sunrise is at 6 AM. You need a fully functioning photographer, and 6 AM is definitely not my best time, ha!

If you’re a planner and you want to know what time your session would start on any given date, run a Google search for “sunset time on X date in Atlanta, GA” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour from that time, and you have your general session start time. If you’re booking a sunrise session, we’ll meet about 5 minutes ahead of the sunrise!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Erised’s session paperwork to her. Booking your session is handled online, and your information is secure! Once that was submitted, Erised was locked into our calendar and good to go! We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! Free parking is available in the lot and on the street.

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Wardrobe fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before your maternity session! We want to make sure that you have ample time to make final decisions as well as coordinate the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your belly likely won’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your selections. If you fall in love with a dress that BARELY fits, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore at your session. Even if if doesn’t zip all the way, that’s not necessarily a problem. I always have fitting clips at the ready and can sometimes rig something to work even if it’s too small. After all, we’re not photographing you from behind when you’re pregnant, so nobody will ever know if your dress didn’t zip up all the way unless you go out of your way to tell them!

Using the studio wardrobe is not required. It’s simply here for you to use should you want to. 95% of our clients do borrow from it and love the convienence of not having to shop for something they’ll only wear once. If you’re planning to work with us past your maternity session, you’ll get a feel for everything we have available and know which dresses you love for future sessions! The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!).

I highly suggest all new clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other. Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time. Virtual meet and greet options are also available via Zoom or FaceTime.

Erised looked through the wardrobe and settled on one of our favorite dresses - an off the shoulder cream lace dress with a nude lining. She had purchased a blue dress of her own from a boutique and decided on that as her second option.

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH TODDLERS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions with an efficient flow. Outdoor couples or family maternity session should take NOT take 4 hours. When a young toddler is involved, it becomes even MORE important to not have a crazy long session because toddlers don’t have the attention span or the patience for that.

So…. we are going to knock out ALL the images with your toddler right off the bat so that we get those. The average toddler will be the most cooperative and interested for about the first five minutes before they’re over it. There are some toddlers who break the mold, but this is RARE.

When you show up, be ready to move quickly. I’m going to direct you and literally tell you what to do and when to do it with your toddler. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interactions that you see in my images is 100% authentic. Small children don’t follow direction well (or at all), so I just let them be themselves and have the parents be the ones working around their toddler. I’ll give you simple instructions and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is ZERO stiff and formal posing where everyone has to be perfectly still for twenty eternal seconds. Sitting still for that long is NOT possible (or realistic) with toddlers and I refuse to set my families up for “failure”.

YOU as parents have a huge impact on how your session goes. Come to your session ready to have fun and play with your little one. Have a willingness to try unorthodox things to distract and delight your toddler. Keep the expectations for your toddler at ZERO and never let them see you sweat. ;) A session with toddlers will feel frenetic and chaotic at times, but just keep going and trust that I’m getting gorgeous images regardless of how impossible that might feel in the moment.

Your dynamic with your family is unique, and we will capture images that showcase it!

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I plan for an hour for outdoor portraits - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. We aren’t actively shooting for that entire hour - some is taken up by changing to your second look, walking to our next spot, or just taking a short break to hydrate and take a breath. It’s important to be on time to your session. While I shoot efficiently, I cannot prevent sunset.

If you’re a repeat client, you’re likely going to feel very comfortable right away and have zero warm up. If you’re a new client, it’ll take you a bit longer, which is 100% normal! Most of my new clients get there in 10 minutes or less. Remember: you will never be left hanging or wondering what to do next. I will be helping you every step of the way.

Most of what I take at the very beginning of a new client session gets tossed. The initial few minutes of every session is pretty much a warmup designed to get you used to being in front of my camera. You’ll also catch on to my direction for how to move and position your bodies throughout. Don’t worry, it’s all shockingly simple, and I’ll demonstrate and adjust as needed!

HOW IT WENT

On the day of the session, it was cloudy and overcast. This is never a problem at this particular field location because of how wide open it is and makes for some really pretty skies in photos. Unless it’s raining, we shoot sessions regardless of sun or clouds. Overcast skies have a different look than a sunny clear evening, and they’re both equally beautiful in their own way.

As predicted, Benicio was wiggly and active, and we started off with family images that included him. Once those were done, dad strapped him into his stroller with a snack so we could get some couples images. Bringing a stroller is not possible at our mountain location, but for the field and park locations it is. Having a safe place to keep your child from running off when they are not in the photographs is ideal - and for many families, a stroller is perfect.

After a few images of Erised alone and with Dan, Erised changed into her own blue dress and then we moved to another area of the field. Erised and Dan didn’t have high hopes for Benicio continuing to participate, but I did. I knew that playing some games and distracting him by putting him on daddy’s shoulders had a pretty good chance of drawing him back in, and I was right!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s field maternity session below - I can’t wait to share the images from baby boy #2’s newborn session!

PS: If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, a BIG congratulations!!! This is an incredibly important and special time in your life. I would love for you to contact us to discuss what we offer and how we can serve 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Jillian

I first worked with this lovely family when I photographed them for their maternity session at the field location. You can see the gorgeous images from that session by clicking here.

I really love working with clients for both their maternity and newborn sessions, as many of our clients choose to do! By the time baby arrives, we’ve gotten to know each other already, and you’re comfortable in front of my camera as soon as we start your newborn session.

WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE MY MATERNITY AND/OR NEWBORN SESSION?

It is NEVER too early to reserve your session! I know most pregnant mamas are super busy with preparations, and have a LOT going on. Most of our clients reserve their sessions with us at the beginning of their second trimester to ensure that they have a spot on our calendar, and some reserve during their first trimester if they’re comfortable doing so.

So why so early? The truth is , we take a limited number of newborns due each month. We cap the number because this guarantees that each of our clients receive the attention and unparalleled level of service they deserve. Once we are full, we are full for that month and maintain a wait list for last minute requests.

If you’re reading this and your baby is already here, don’t despair. Sometimes reserved newborns arrive earlier or later than their estimated due dates, so we might have the ability to take on a last minute newborn session as long as we know that we can serve everyone at the level that we strive for. Contact us right away, and we might be able to schedule you!

SIBLING PARTICIPATION IN NEWBORN SESSIONS

When older siblings are involved in newborn sessions, we always ask what their schedule is because it’s important! We want them to be well rested and happy. Some kids don’t nap anymore so it’s not a factor. We schedule newborn sessions in the morning to start between 9:30 and 10ish AM. The first hour and a half of session time is devoted to photographing your baby alone, so big kids do not arrive until this portion is finished in order to keep the studio quiet.

Big kids and dads generally plan to arrive about 90 minutes after I’ve gotten started with baby only. I am typically finished with baby’s solo portraits when they arrive, and we head right into the sibling and entire family portion once everyone is dressed. Once your big kid is finished with the photographs they’re in, they are free to play until we’re finished with dad/baby and baby/parent images. At this point, dad and big kid(s) depart the studio and I finish up with mama/baby and any remaining baby images needed.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR NEWBORN’S SOLO PORTRAITS

Jennifer and Jillian arrived, and I took her out of his carseat and got started right away while Jennifer relaxed. We have Google Fiber wifi available for our clients, and many opt to take a short nap on the comfy couch! She had already decided on her dress for her newborn session when she had gone through options during her maternity fitting, so it was all steamed and ready for her to put on when the time came for her to be in the photos.

Jillian was the sweetest little gal, with the best expressions! Before we get started, I always ask moms of baby girls what their preferences regarding the use of headbands and tiebacks are. You should know that I do NOT do headbands the size of Texas and make selections that are proportionate to your baby’s head size. Jillian was a VERY alert and awake baby, but she was super calm for the most part. Sometimes babies don’t want to sleep, but no worries - I roll with whatever I’m given. Babies who are calm and awake give us lots of opportunities for eye contact with the camera, and I love these images too! As I was finishing up with Jillian’s solo images - all with her wiiiiiide awake, dad and big brother Jonah arrived. Jonah remembered me from the maternity session and was very comfortable with me. The rest of the family got dressed, and we transitioned right into the images that included Jonah.

NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

Jillian was STILL awake (and still calm!) at this point, which I actually love for family images. I want to reiterate that awake babies are always photographable, as long as they’re calm. If your baby is awake and crying, we’ll take some time to figure out what they need. My first priority is keeping your baby safe and comfortable, and sometimes they just need to nurse or snuggle with mama for a bit!

I typically start the family portion of newborn sessions with the sibling photos FIRST because these are often the most important ones to families. 9 times out of 10 your older child will be the most cooperative at the very beginning of their time in the studio.

Baby safety is my FIRST priority above all else, so I won’t place babies near older siblings if they are not calm and still. Every kid is different, and I’ll assess how they’re doing when deciding which images we’ll do. Since Jonah was great and listening and following directions, so he was safely able to hold his sister and support her neck. What you can’t see in the photographs is that their parents was inches away from them ready to step in if the need arose.

At this point, Jillian couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer and pretty much passed out. I moved quickly to finish up the parent images and then took her back to the newborn area to finish up solo portraits since we still had enough time remaining. Some babies will fight sleep for a while, but they will go to sleep eventually. If your baby is one of these, don’t stress or worry the they’re not being “good”. There is absolutely no such thing as a bad baby. I have endless patience when it comes to my tiny clients, and we’ll work together to get your baby relaxed and asleep. She was out COLD after being awake for so long, so it was a very quick 10 minutes finishing up!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

We make it super easy for our clients! About a week after their session, Jennifer viewed the proof gallery and chose her collection. When her final images were completed, she chose which ones she wanted for artwork. The digital files of chosen collection images are also included as well. After artwork is ordered, it takes about 1-2 weeks (longer for our gorgeous heirloom albums due to their handcrafted construction) for everything to be ready to go at the studio. Mats and frames can be added to prints as well and are a client favorite!

THE PROCESS FOR ALBUM DESIGN

Our albums are absolutely beautiful and made by hand here in the United States. They are typically ready for pickup at the studio 2-4 weeks after ordering. Clients look over the cover options while they’re here in the studio for their newborn session and snap a few photos of their favorites for reference. We also have samples to look through to know what to expect in terms of size, embossing, and general aesthetics.

Once your final gallery is delivered, you’ll select your favorites that you want included in your album! You’ll have to choose between the black & white vs. color version of each image. Once you send your favorites list back, I’ll start the design process, and send you an online proof. You’ll log in, review the album design and approve for print. Very rarely do clients request changes, but if you have any, that's totally fine! The revised proof will be sent back to you to review.

At this point, you’ll decide on your cover option. We have absolutely stunning linen and leather cover options. Our linen covers can be debossed with gold or silver foil, and our leather covers can be blind debossed. There are standard debossing font options, or we can create a custom design for the ultimate bespoke album. Grandparent companion albums can be added on too - they’re the sweetest 5x5 size and an exact copy of your album (minus debossing). They make such a wonderful gift that will be so appreciated and cherished.

After your album is ordered, we wait for it to come in - and once it’s here, you’ll come pick it up. Every week we send out an email to clients who have orders ready. This email has a link to a calendar of our pickup days and time windows throughout the week ahead for contactless pickup. All you have to do is click on your desired time window to reserve your pickup time.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Are you expecting and interested in reserving newborn session with us? We would LOVE to chat about your family, the experience we offer to our clients, and how we can best serve your needs. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Baby & Family Photographer | Sara & her boys

Sara is a loooooong time multiple repeat client who was sent to me by another long term repeat client! I first worked with her when she was expecting her oldest son, and have proceeded to photograph her growing family over the past few years. One of my favorite parts of what I do is being able to develop long lasting relationships with my clients who return year after year for all their important moments. I deeply appreciate the trust families place in me when chosen to be their photographer and do not take it lightly.

WHAT TO WEAR: MY OWN CLOTHING OR THE STUDIO WARDROBE?

The choice is yours! We send all our clients a style guide and offer the use of our studio wardrobe, as well as my personal assistance in styling the family. We can set up an in person visit at the studio in advance of your session to go through our wardrobe options, and you can bring things along with you that you’re considering. I’ll go through all the choices with you and make suggestions after listening to your feedback and preferences. If you don’t have the time to come to the studio, or would simply prefer a virtual visit, we can do that as well. I’ve exchanged many an email with clients going over options!

In Sara’s case, she has worked with me so many times that she didn’t bother to schedule a studio visit or come in beforehand. She knew without a doubt that I’d have something she could wear even though she’s barely 5’1”. I’ve dressed mamas who are heights of 4’10” all the way up to 6’2” and have a wide range of options that can fit sizes 0-16 in our studio collection. When she arrived at the studio with her boys, I already had some neutral options pulled out that I knew would look great on her skin tone and that would fit her well. Sara looked through them, picked her favorite, tried it on, and boom - done.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR MOTHERHOOD SESSION

Motherhood sessions in the studio are centered around the relationship and loving bond that you have with your little one(s). You get to be their favorite person and break out the snuggles, tickles, and fun games. Sara is a long time repeat client! I first worked with her when she was expecting her oldest son, and have proceeded to photograph her growing family over the past few years. So many of our clients are long term repeats! One of my favorite parts of what I do is getting to develop long lasting relationships with my clients who return year after year for all their important moments.

If you have more than one child participating, we will be sure to have entire group photos as well as you with each child alone. There’s a big variety in galleries, and I have a tried and true workflow that is adjusted based on the personalities of your kids and how they’re responding to the session. All you’ll need to do is follow my directions for interaction with your children! I’ll also give you some tips on how to avoid the dreaded self inflicted double chin. ;)

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS SUPER HIGH ENERGY OR DOESN’T WANT TO COOPERATE?

There is something that I say to clients a lot around here and it’s this: “The more chaotic the session feels, the more amazing the end results are.” It’s the truth. Sometimes during a session, it can feel like your child is bouncing off the walls and that there is no possible way I’m getting anything from it. Let me reassure you with this fact: it takes 1/800th of a second for me to freeze a moment. All those little moments that happen so fast in between the craziness are where the magic happens and your gallery is created. We can often tone down the craziness too once they’ve gotten some energy out with some techniques that I use. Don’t worry, I promise that all you need to focus on is being in the moment with your little ones, and I’ll take care of the rest!

If you're considering a session for yourself and your children, I would LOVE for you to reach out to discuss your vision and we can get you taken care of.

Enjoy a handful of my favorites from this family session with Sara and her sweet boys!

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 | David is six months!

Dana contacted the studio to book a family/six month milestone session in the studio with her husband and son, David. She had been sent to us by a colleague that has worked with us many times over the past couple of years. We love word of mouth referrals, and are so fortunate that so many of our clients are sent our way by these personal referrals from existing clients. All that being said, we love our new clients who find us on other avenues like Google searches and Instagram too! ;)

OUR STYLE GUIDE AND ASSISTANCE WE OFFER

After Dana chose a date from what we had available on our calendar, we sent over her session paperwork. Once it was remitted, she was locked into our calendar, and we sent over our style guide for her to look through. Our style guide is a helpful short and sweet .pdf that guides you through best practices for dressing your family with color and pattern combinations. If you want more assistance with styling, you are more than welcome to schedule a complimentary style consult at the studio or to send over quick phone photos of what you’re considering! Dana requested to come to the studio and look through what we had available. When she came in, she fell in love with one of our white lace dresses, and we discussed in detail what David and her husband could wear that would coordinate well. I am here to help in any way that I can! I know as a mom of three that planning a session can sometimes feel overwhelming, and I want to alleviate that as much as possible for you!

MILESTONE SESSION FLOW

We discuss your priorities for milestone sessions, and the majority of parents want the focus to be on their baby, with family and parent images mixed in. Little ones don’t have a long attention span and can tire out quickly with all the stimulation, so I work very efficiently with a natural baby led flow.

9 times out of 10, six month olds need a little time to warm up when they’re getting used to the sound of the camera and to me. This is why I almost always start out milestone sessions with the family and parent images. Being in your lap and arms makes your baby feel very safe and secure, and once they start showing interest with me and start to interact, that’s when I start getting closer. David was such a sweet little guy and it didn’t take him long at all to warm up to me and start smiling! Once we had gotten images of the three of them together, I quickly moved into the solo portraits because David was really comfortable and SUPER happy.

Important note: If you arrive to your session and your little one is not feeling it, don’t stress. I have endless patience and empathy, and we will do whatever it takes to get them comfy. All I ask is that you come in ready to play and have fun to get the giggles going, and the rest will naturally work out!

Baby safety is paramount in my studio. David was still a bit wobbly at sitting up alone, so his parents were right outside of the frame ready to catch him as needed. I have SO many positions to put your baby in (parents mostly do the positioning at my direction with help from me if needed) regardless of where they are gross motor skill wise. So if your little one isn’t quite sitting up alone, that’s ok! There are a ton of other things that we can do and your gallery will still have a wide variety of images.

OUTFIT CHANGE: YEA OR NAY?

Dana had brought two outfits along for David from Feltman Brothers and they were just SO CUTE. I think two outfits for your little one in a session is just fine, but with the understanding that it might not happen. It all depends on your baby! I ask that if you bring two outfits we start the session with your baby in your most favorite first. That way we are sure to get images in that outfit no matter what. Some babies hate being changed, and others just get tired too fast to change - but we definitely can do our best to accommodate a second outfit! We can also use some of my tried and true distraction methods to make changing as seamless as possible if your little one usually protests.

Dana changed David into the most adorable blue knit overalls with no issues, and we were able to pick right back up with photographing his session. I used one of our studio chairs and then placed him on his back for some of those AMAZING feet grabbing images. As a mama to three children, one of my absolute favorite things was when my babies discovered their feet. I think it’s just the cutest thing ever, and I strive to get one of these images for all my mama clients when it’s possible. Most babies will not just spontaneously do this while in studio: but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get them to grab on for the photos that almost always work to get the shot!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from David’s milestone session. If you’re interested in scheduling a milestone session for your baby, we would love to chat with you! It is NEVER too early to get on the calendar - so even if your baby won’t be 6-8 months for a while, that’s ok! Our weekend dates routinely fill up 3+ months in advance, so go ahead and reach out now to see if we’re the perfect fit for your family’s 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 First Birthday Photographer | Sophia is ONE!

Amanda contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday session for her daughter, Sophia with the whole family included as well. We sent Amanda our style guide, Pinterest inspiration board, and our cake tips sheet to review as well! The sheets we send over are super easy to read through. Our style guide is applicable to pretty much any type of session you have with us. If you need more assistance, we’re here for you! We can schedule a visit in the studio to go over your wardrobe (whether you are borrowing from the studio wardrobe or wearing your own) or exchange a few emails in advance of your session.

THE BEST TIME TO DRESS FOR YOUR SESSION AND WHY

Some moms find it it easier dress their child beforehand because they’re in that fun (ha!) stage where a change instantly equals a temper tantrum, and it’s just not worth the hassle. You know your little one best, so I defer to your judgment in that department! If you choose to dress them before heading over, I STRONGLY suggest having your child in a bib or something to protect their clothing just in case a random bout of carsickness occurs, or they manage to find a chocolate m&m lodged somewhere in the car seat. You may scoff at this and think it’s ridiculous overthinking…but this actually happened to one of my clients. Fortunately, they had NOT dressed their child in their planned outfit for the drive over so a few baby wipes later, and they were good!

WHERE TO GET YOUR SMASH CAKE IF YOU’RE INCLUDING ONE

Amanda brought along a simple white cake with buttercream icing that had a pink border. She made it herself! I love when mamas make their baby’s first cake, but if you don’t want to do that, there are plenty of other options available to you. Publix, Kroger, and Whole Foods are all great options to pick up a simple smash cake or cupcake. If your baby has egg allergies or needs a vegan option, we highly recommend She Takes the Cake as our preferred baker and are happy to connect you with her! She offers a delivery service where she’ll drop your cake off at the studio in advance of your session so it’s one less thing you need to worry about the day of, and her cakes are GORGEOUS. Over the past four years, I have worked with Christina to develop the optimal buttercream consistency: soft enough to interact with and smash, but not so sticky that it gets everywhere and makes cleanup a nightmare for parents. Pro tip: most babies don’t enjoy being wiped down, so the less elbow grease you have to apply to get icing off their skin, the better.

Regardless of where you choose to get your baby’s smash cake from, we’ll send our cake tips to you. We also list a popular place in the Atlanta area that we do NOT recommend getting your baby’s smash cake from because of the icing’s incredible stickiness reminiscent of GLUE. Below is a list of our top tips!

• SIMPLE is the name of the game - the focus should always be on your baby, not their cake. Avoid fondant or tons of added objects for decor.

• 6 inch diameter size or less and no more than two layers at the max. If it’s too high, it limits angles for photography since their face can be obscured.

• Real flowers are beautiful on cakes, but you should plan to remove them after initial photographs - they will most likely end up on your baby’s mouth. This goes for anything on your cake - candles, decor, etc. It ends up being a distraction from the task at hand and can also obscure adorable facial expressions during their session.

  Neutral icing color (off white, cream, or pastels) is best - steer clear of neons or super bright colors that may permanently stain clothing and cause color casts in your photos

• Don’t use shaved coconut as a topping - it’s beautiful, but there there has not been a single baby that has liked it, and it usually ends exploration of the cake as soon as they put it in their mouth.

• Use buttercream icing. AVOID whipped icing and fondant. Whipped icing is a slippery greasy mess that is resistant to being wiped off skin and results in a screaming baby while desperate parents on the eleventeenth baby wipe mutter under their breath, “For the love of all things, why won’t this stuff COME OFF?!?!?!.” Fondant is very thick, and difficult for babies to break through with their fingers and eat. How do I know this? Because I’ve had sessions where parents brought cakes like this watched the mentioned scenarios unfold.

• Skip writing a message on top of the cake (save it for the party cake instead) - it doesn’t photograph well.

FIRST BIRTHDAY SESSION FLOW

First Birthday sessions are what I call my 3-in-1. We have solo portraits of your little one, family portraits, and cake smash portraits all in one session. I started the session photographing Sophia with her parents, and she was just the CUTEST little baby girl. She was a little bit shy at first but gave me lots of smiles. When I have a baby that is on the shy side, I always start the session with them in your arms because this helps them know they are safe and secure, and that everything is ok. Once she was comfortable with me, we moved to solo portraits of Sophia. Sophia doesn’t mind being changed in the least bit (a rarity!) so she wore two dresses throughout her session, and mom changed her into a sweet little First Birthday onesie for the cake smash.

A NOTE ABOUT FIRST BIRTHDAY ONESIES

I love personalized onesies and think they are a great option for babies, but there is a major caveat to be mindful of before you go all out! You cannot see the onesie when baby has the cake in front of them and sometimes they aren’t cooperative to allow for us to get an image with the onesie in full view before we get started. I always try to get at least one image where you CAN see the onesie before we start with the cake, but at this point most babies are over being photographed and need the distraction of a cake being put in front of them to continue.

THE CAKE SMASH

Amanda changed Sophia into her onesie for the cake smash, and as mentioned, I took a few quick photos of her in our Eames chair to fully show it off. After we finished with that, I pulled out one of our antique high chairs (we have three in the studio!). I demonstrate exactly how to present the cake to your baby (sounds silly, but how you do it does matter!) I physically model what I need clients throughout during my sessions as needed, so you never have to worry about what to do or how.

When Sophia saw her cake, she immediately dove right into it, and mom and dad joined in on the fun too. If your baby isn’t super interested in their cake, parents getting into the photographs can help a lot. Babies love to “feed” their parents, and modeling feeding each other cake for your little one goes a long way. Once they’ve become sufficiently interested, parents can slowly back out of the frame and I’ll get those solo images of them enjoying their cake!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from sweet Sophia’s 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 Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Alayna

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Alayna was referred to us by two of her good friends who have worked with us, and came into the studio for a very last minute fine art maternity shoot at 37 weeks pregnant! She added on hair and makeup services, which we highly recommend for the ultimate luxury experience and for the best photos!

Makeup for this type of session is best applied by a highly skilled professional who has an understanding of studio light and editorial work. Please do NOT go to the makeup counter at the mall or have a friend who is “pretty good” do it, or attempt to create a glam look that you’ve never done before with a YouTube tutorial. If there was ever a time to invest in having your hair and/or makeup done, this is it. Our HMUA team is comprised of amazing women with vast experience working on production/commercial sets, and they are skilled with all skin tones - including women of color.

Just as a note: we really don’t suggest waiting until 37 weeks to schedule your session since you never know when babies will decide to make their appearance, but in this case everything worked out and baby boy stayed inside!

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art maternity sessions are photographed in our intown Atlanta studio with studio lighting. No natural light is used, and they are scheduled over a 90 minute-2 hour block. In contrast, our natural light (non newborn) portrait sessions are scheduled for a one hour block. The additional time is to allow plenty of time for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Since we are not reliant on natural light, our fine art session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can schedule for later evening hours after you’re off of work. It’s important to only schedule a late session as long as you know you won’t be tired in the evening from your day! Currently, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so please don’t wait until the last minute to try and book as we may not have availability for you. Most of our clients reach out to us when they’re at the beginning of their second trimester to get a session scheduled between 26-32 weeks of pregnancy. We want you to have a nice round belly but still be able to move well before you become encumbered by it.

Once you have connected with us and selected a date from what we have open, everything else is handled online in a secure and streamlined process. We’ll also send over a short list of what you should bring along with you to your session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks. We’re just down from Ponce City Market, and our studio is really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available as well as street parking if the lot happens to be full.

WHAT’S NEXT: YOUR PRE SESSION CONSULTATION

Why do we require a pre-session meeting? Because over the past 8 years we have found that clients who have spent some time with me (face to face or virtually!) before stepping in front of my camera are WAY more comfortable right out of the gate on their session day because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This is especially true for fine art maternity where you may be wearing next to nothing for part or most of it.

We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a lot of clients that drive to us from far away (90+ minutes) and sometimes from the neighboring states of Florida, the Carolinas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, so an in person meeting isn’t always possible! Many clients do bring a few of their own things to wear, and our studio has a limited wardrobe of bodycon dresses and crop tops, bodysuits that can accommodate a pregnant belly, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have beautiful Italian silk fabrics for draping and tossing in mostly neutral colors. Our studio wardrobe is complimentary to our booked clients, and is well loved. If you choose to schedule an in person meeting with me, you’ll be able to see and try on our pieces. If you’re planning on wearing anything of your own, you’ll bring that along with you as well, and we’ll design your session flow together!

During our meeting, we will discuss your vision for your maternity session. My clients have varying preferences and desires when it comes to the types of images they want. I have some that really want fine art nudes/implied nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time with just the belly showing. Some clients really love the look of fabric draping and want to incorporate a few of those, and others don’t. The choice is ultimately yours!

I’ll also ask your preference for the studio temperature during your session since that also varies between clients as well. I want you to be comfortable in every aspect while you are here!

CAN MY HUSBAND/CHILDREN PARTICIPATE?

While the majority of our clients choose to be the only participant for their fine art maternity sessions, your partner is more than welcome. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. Most families who want a family focused maternity session find our natural light sessions to be a better fit.

YOUR FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION: WHAT TO EXPECT

I’ve been photographing pregnant women for over 8 years now and truly LOVE it. When you arrive to the studio for your session, you’ll change into a robe that you’ve brought with you and you’ll be prepped by one of our amazing HMUA’s if you’ve chosen to add on services like Alayna. Everything in the studio will already be set up and ready to go when you’re finished with hair and makeup prep!

Once you’re finished, you’ll change into your first outfit. All your outfits will be lined up and ready to go based on the roadmap that we created during your pre session consult so there’s no wondering what to put on or wasting time.

If you’re feeling a bit nervous about not knowing what to do, don’t stress! I will walk you through everything during your session - from how and where to stand, to how much to tilt your head, and I’ll also coach you on your facial expressions! Our fine art sessions are much more geared towards what I like to call “power” posing. You will look strong, confident, and beautiful. Mothers are a force to be reckoned with, and these images are going to combine that strength with the beauty and femininity of your pregnancy. If you’re having difficulty being verbally coached, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my entire face for demonstration purposes! I promise that you will never be left handing and awkwardly trying to figure out what to do next.

In total honesty: if you’ve never had a session with studio lighting, it will most likely feel intimidating at first. Our lighting is on wheeled stands with large modifiers on boom arms. Once you’ve gotten used to it all, it won’t take you long to start having fun! After the first lighting set, you’ll find that you’ll get into your groove and you’ll have learned what to do from my prompts or adjustments.

We will take breaks throughout for you to get some water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a second. If you need anything, all you have to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up whenever you’re ready to resume!

Alayna was pretty nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a session like this. If that’s you too, don’t worry: that’s the case for almost all of our fine art/editorial maternity clients, so you’re in good company! She looked absolutely STUNNING with her hair and makeup, and was excited to get started. We created some absolutely gorgeous images with a mix of her pieces and studio wardrobe pieces. She brought her own non-maternity jeans and black lace bra/thong, and used our pieces for everything else in her gallery. Our HMUA stayed for a few minutes to assist with fabric tossing, which took a few attempts to create the perfect image!

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Alayna saw her final images she absolutely loved them and was so excited to share them with her friends who sent her my way. Those friends also emailed me to express how amazingly beautiful they found the photos, and to thank me for taking good care of her.

It is my opinion that fine art editorial photography is most powerful in black and white. However, your selected final images will come in both color and black and white versions for you!

The majority of our clients end up ordering their favorite image for a piece of wall art (metal and acrylic prints are a favorite for this type of photography) or put them all into a beautiful heirloom album.

If you’re considering a maternity session for yourself, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child. 

I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session with studio lighting is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer any questions you have!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Alayna’s editorial maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely beautiful?!

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 Newborn Photographer | Baby Piper

I first worked with Kyra and her family when they were expecting their second daughter for their maternity session at the park location. I love working with clients for both their maternity AND newborn sessions, because by the time their newborn arrives, we’ve gotten to know each other and established a relationship. This means my clients are super comfortable in front of the camera from the moment they arrive in the studio.

WHEN TO SCHEDULE YOUR MATERNITY AND/OR NEWBORN SESSION

It is NEVER too early to book! I know most expectant mamas are busy with all the baby preparations, but don’t put off scheduling your session! Most of our clients contact us early in their second trimester to guarantee that they have a spot on our calendar, and some even let us know in their first trimester if they’re comfortable doing so. We take a limited number of newborns due each month. This ensures that we are able deliver our unparalleled level of service to each our clients. Once we reach our monthly newborn cap, we are full for that month and maintain a wait list. All is NOT necessarily lost if you’re reading this and baby is already here. Our reserved newborns often arrive earlier or later than their estimated due dates, so there are some months that we DO have the ability to take on a last minute newborn session. Contact us right away, and we just might be able to schedule you!

NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH A SIBLING INVOLVED

When older siblings are involved in newborn sessions, we always ask what their schedule is because it’s important! We want them to be well rested and happy. Newborn sessions in the studio start in the morning between 9 and 10 AM, and it’s important to know if there’s a nap schedule to take into consideration. The first 90 minutes of session time is devoted to photographing your baby alone. This is the perfect time for you to take advantage of our add on hair and makeup services since you’ll be sitting on the couch doing nothing anyway! Adding on services does NOT lengthen your session time as I’m actively photographing baby only regardless.

Big kids and dads generally plan to arrive about 90 minutes after I’ve gotten started with baby only. I am typically finished with baby when mama is done in hair and makeup, and we head right into the sibling and entire family portion. Once your toddler is finished with the photographs they’re in, they are free to play until we’re finished with dad/baby and baby/parent images. At this point, dad and big kid(s) usually depart the studio and I finish up with mama/baby and any remaining baby images needed.

Reversing or changing my typical session flow of starting with newborn solo images does not work very well in my experience. What tends to happen is that your newborn becomes overstimulated and fussy, and never quite settles as well as they would have had we started with just their solo images in a quiet studio before their sibling’s arrival. When planning your session start time, we’ll discuss your toddler’s nap schedule and their best time of day.

Kyra and Piper arrived, and I took Piper out of her carseat and got started right away while Kyra got settled into the hair and makeup chair. She had already decided on her dress for her newborn session when she had gone through options during her maternity fitting, so it was all ready to go!

Piper was the cutest little thing, with an amazing head of hair. Kyra let me know she did want me to use our studio tiebacks and headbands for the images. I always ask moms what their preferences regarding that are. The most important thing to know is that I do NOT do headbands the size of Texas and choose headbands from our collection that are proportionate with your baby’s head size. Piper was such a great sleeper, and even opened up her eyes for me a few times. As I was finishing up with Piper’s solo images, dad and big sister Juniper arrived. Juniper really liked the dress from the studio wardrobe that had been picked out by Kyra, and was comfortable with me already since she remembered me from their maternity session. After everyone was dressed, we transitioned right into the images that included Juniper.

NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY

Piper was awake at this point, which I love for family images because it really showcases how babies are aware of their family members and highlights the interaction between them.

If we are able, I start with the sibling photos FIRST because these are often the most important ones to mamas. 9 times out of 10 your toddler will be the most cooperative as soon as they arrive - not 30 minutes later. So, it’s my goal to photograph those sibling images done first, followed by each parent with their children, and followed by the whole family together.

Baby safety is my TOP priority, so I won’t place babies near older siblings if they are not calm and still. Every kid is different, and I’ll assess how they’re doing when deciding which images we’ll do. Since Juniper was listening and willing to be still next to her baby sister, we were easily able to safely accomplish a few different images. What you can’t see in the photographs is that her parents were inches away from them ready to intervene if needed.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION

We make it super simple for our clients! About a week after their session, Kyra viewed the proof gallery and chose her collection. When her final images were completed, she chose which ones she wanted for artwork. The digital files of chosen collection images are also included as well. After printed artwork is ordered, it takes about 1-2 weeks (longer for heirloom albums due to their handcrafted construction) for everything to be ready to go at the studio. Mats and frames can be added to prints as well and are a client favorite!

OUR PROCESS FOR FRAMED ARTWORK

Our framed artwork is ready within 2 weeks as long as there are no supply issues due to the pandemic. Sometimes a particular moulding will be on backorder, but you’ll be informed of that before the order is placed! That’s right, no frame shops are involved - I handle the entire production process from print to frame. When a client chooses the image they want framed, we’ll discuss the best size for where they plan to hang it in their home.

Once the the size is chosen, the print is ordered! After it comes in, we then “dress” the print together with the best moulding (frame). We’ll choose the best frame from our line for your image and home decor/personal style preferences. We’ll also decide on the mat width - I’m a fan of 3-5” inch mats depending on the size of the print.

The larger the print, the larger the mat width should be to balance it out. Then the frame, mat, and GORGEOUS museum glass are ordered. I am obsessed with museum glass! It seems strange to describe glass as being beautiful, but it really is. You can hardly see the glass in the frame looking at it because of how crystal clear it is, and I love the UV protection that it affords the printed artwork. If you don’t know what museum glass looks like, you will when you’re at the studio, because most of our framed prints hanging on the walls have it.

When the frame, mat, and museum glass arrive at my studio (typically within a week ordering!), I mat the print, and assemble the entire piece. The last step is to finish the back of the frame with paper and hanging hardware. ALL you have to do is hang it up on your wall and then enjoy looking at it for decades. I promise you will find yourself standing in front of these photos and be instantly transported back to the time they were taken. Your children will love looking at them also. How do I know this? From personal experience: I have a beautiful gallery wall in my own home, and I catch myself standing there looking and marveling at how quickly they have grown even though it feels like it was just YESTERDAY that the photos were taken. I catch my husband there too, usually at night when he’s setting the house alarm. Sometimes I’ll come up next to him and put my arm around him, and we’ll look at them together quietly with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for our children and our family. My children really love looking at them too. They have commented that it makes them feel loved when they look at the portraits of us all together.

For clients who order framed artwork from us that contains a 16x20 or larger print, we deliver their finished artwork right to their front doorstep within a 20 mile radius of the studio. If you don’t have large framed artwork as part of your order, you’ll come to the studio and pick up your order when it’s ready. Every week we send out an email to clients who have orders ready to be picked up. The email outlines the designated pickup days and time windows throughout the week and pickup is safe and contactless. Clients (or their designated errand runner!) reserve their pickup time in advance, and the process is super easy and convienent!

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

Are you expecting and interested in reserving a session with us for your baby's newborn session? We would absolutely LOVE to chat with you about your family, what we offer, and how we can best serve you. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Maternity Photographer | The S Family at the Park

Kyra contacted us at the beginning of her second trimester to ask about how we ran our studio (specifically, our COVID precautions since she was a higher risk pregnancy) and after speaking with us, knew she definitely wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Because Kyra had contacted us early on in her pregnancy, we were able to schedule a weekend date for her maternity session. We book MONTHS in advance, so the sooner the better when it comes to having date options to choose from. If we are out of weekend options, clients just plan to leave work earlier on a weekday. Weeknight sessions have their own perks: one of which is that our locations are much less crowded! As a note: ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset and sometimes we offer sunrise sessions at certain times of year (mostly in August/September). If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time! If you’re booking a sunrise session, we meet about 5 minutes before sunrise!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Kyra’s session paperwork to her. We handle our entire booking process securely online, and it’s all very streamlined. Our studio has been described by many as a “well oiled machine” and we are proud of that fact! After Kyra sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if the lot is full).

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to ensure you have ample time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby likely won’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and are in love with it, we’ll have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore at your session. Our clients can choose up to two looks.

As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not at all required but about 95% of our clients do borrow from it! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting - as Kyra did! If able, I strongly recommend that all clients (even those who are planning to wear their own clothing) come in to see me in advance of their session so that we are able to meet each other. If you can’t make the time to come by the studio, virtual options are available via Zoom or FaceTime! Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Kyra came in for her fitting, she commented on how many dresses we had. It’s true - we have a LOT. Like many of our clients, she was a little worried that we might not have anything that fit her well that she loved. Our studio wardrobe has outfitted women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16. We talked about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I pulled options for her that I knew would work well with her skin tone. She also chose a dress from our little girls’ wardrobe for her daughter to wear as well.

You do NOT have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing, but you’ll need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead time allows us to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband the photos from her phone, Kyra decided on a moss green off the shoulder dress and a purple dress with a shawl to cover her arms.

MATERNITY SESSIONS WITH KIDS: WHAT TO EXPECT

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 4 hours. When a child is involved, it becomes even MORE important to not have an overly long session because they just can’t deal with it. Four hours is an insane length of time to shoot a standard natural light portrait session that isn’t a newborn session, and it’s why a lot of first time dads to be come in assuming they’re going to hate the entire experience and it’s something they have to grit their teeth to “get through”.. Nope. Dragging it out is not how I roll.

Instead, I’m going to lead you and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interactions that you see in my images is 100% authentic. In the interest of total transparency, most of my subjects can’t quite get there on their own unless they have worked with me before. So….I do initial work of getting you positioned juuuuuuuust so, adjust your hair and clothing if necessary, and THEN give you a simple action prompt that sparks that natural interaction. Little kids don’t follow direction well (or at all), so we just let them be themselves! I’ll give you simple instructions and you’ll interact with them just as you normally would. There is no stiff and formal posing where everyone has to be perfectly still for twenty eternal seconds - that is NOT possible (or realistic) with small children!

Once you’re relaxed and in the zone, that is when the magic begins. There is no need to be nervous about not knowing what to do, because the truth is: you don’t have to when you’re with me. Your dynamic with your family is unique, and it SHOULDN’T look like every other session out there. I don’t do cookie cutter sessions. Instead your session will show all of you loving each other in your own way, and highlight the beauty of your pregnancy and the love you have for your new baby on the way.

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t needlessly long. I allot an hour for outdoor portraits - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. (Pro tip: be sure to be on time to your session). I shoot efficiently and can do so very quickly in a pinch when needed, but I don’t possess the superpower of being able to keep the sun from setting.

Fact: When we start your session, you’re going to be a tad nervous and probably feel a bit awkward for the first little bit. This is 100% normal. I regularly shoot 20+ maternity sessions per month (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 8 years now. I have seen it all.

I’d say that most of my subjects start relaxing in 10 minutes or less. As such, the photos I take at the very beginning often don’t make it into the final proof gallery. The very first little bit is intended to be a warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction for how to move and position your bodies. Once you’re relaxed and having fun, that is when we start getting those keepers for your proof gallery!

I like for moms move around as little as possible and structure my session flow around them. Pregnant moms are often sore, their feet and hips might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag them all over the place. Instead, partners are be the ones in and out of the frame as directed. Breaks are taken as needed for mamas to drink some water or just take a breather.

We started out our session in the most beautiful summer sunset light, and I spent some time photographing Kyra solo and pulling in the rest of the family for some images from time to time. Juniper was having a rough evening and wasn’t particularly into being in the photos, so we gave her plenty of space and then she eventually came around! One of the things that you’ll notice in this gallery is that Juniper is also in two outfits. This actually wasn’t the original plan, but Juniper let us know that she wanted to wear her own clothes. I believe in respecting children and letting them have input too. Once she was wearing her own outfit, her mood changed so much and she started having fun. I could see Kyra’s relief that Juniper was happy and participating - and her little outfit and boots are just adorable and worked well!

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, a BIG congratulations!!! This is such a special time in your life, and it’s truly an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat.

Have you watched the video on our website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, check it out - you can click here to see it. It’s a quick 90 second investment of your time, and will provide a general overview of what it’s like to work with me. Bonus: you’ll actually get to see my whole face in the video unlike when in the studio with me due to my mask! ;)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this family’s park maternity session below… and come back in a few days to see the gorgeous newborn images of their second daughter!

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 Fine Art & Editorial Maternity Photography | Analy

Modern Maternity sessions (as shown in this blog post) are offered through Illume Maternity! Please visit www.illumematernity.com if you are interested in exploring this type of session for your maternity portraits.

Analy came into the studio in the middle of her third trimester for a fine art maternity shoot. Analy is a really special client - I first worked with her when she was pregnant with her first baby, Julia. Shortly after Julia was born, she was diagnosed with biliary artresia and was placed on the liver transplant wait list. During the waiting process, Analy discovered she could donate a portion of her liver to her daughter, and was ready to do so. They held out for as long as they could in hopes another liver would come through with Analy being Plan B, but when Julia’s liver deteriorated to the point they could no longer wait, Analy and Julia were taken into surgery for the transplant. You’ll notice the surgery scar on Analy’s belly from donating part of her liver to her daughter. I think this is such a powerful testimony to the love of a mother, and that editing out would have been absolutely ridiculous to do. The scar is beautiful because of the incredible story behind it, and Analy was gracious enough to share with all of us!

ANALY’S STORY (IN HER OWN WORDS)

Our daughter, Julia, was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver condition that occurs in infants. The bile ducts inside and outside of the liver are scarred and blocked; the bile cannot drain into the intestine and builds up, leading to liver damage.  Inevitably, babies born with BA will need a liver transplant at some point in their lives.  

This means that they end up on the liver transplant waiting list and if a donor liver does become available or a perfect match is not found, then little can be done to save their lives.   We happened to be at one of the best locations not only for Biliary Atresia treatment, thanks to the amazing Hepatology team at CHOA Egleston, but also at one of the few locations in the country that offered the option of living donor transplants.  CHOA and Emory University Hospital partnered up and gave us the option for a living liver donor.  After two full days of expedited testing, they gave us the most wonderful news: I was a perfect match for Julia!

As parents we know we would do anything for our children because our love for them is beyond unconditional.  Julia already had my full love and heart, why not give her a portion of my liver too?  

I was officially her plan B and quickly became her plan A when a donor liver never came.  Her condition took a turn for the worst in the blink of an eye and we couldn’t wait any longer.  At only 7 months old, Julia underwent a lifesaving transplant and received a portion of my liver and a second chance at life.  How amazing is it that research, medical advances and the loving medical professionals at CHOA & Emory allowed us to save her life?

Julia is now 3 years old.  She loves astronomy, dancing, painting and always has a smile on her face.  We know our story is a happy one because we have her with us but, unfortunately, that is not always the case with other Biliary Atresia families.  A lot of babies never receive their gift of life so it’s important to not only be aware of the fact that there are babies out there whose life depends on organ donation but also become one of those incredible & selfless individuals who are willing to save them by becoming an organ donor.

Life is fragile, this we’ve learned firsthand, but one of the most beautiful things about it is that we have it within us to give others a second chance.

Little is known about Biliary Atresia; we don’t know what causes it, how to prevent it, and there is no cure for this horrible disease that has claimed the lives of so many babies.  Our family has set up a fund at CHOA Egleston to help fund their Biliary Atresia Research Program.  They are one of the only centers in the country with a dedicated research program for BA and they’re making great strides in learning more about this disease.  If you find it in your hearts to make a donation and help us give other BA babies worldwide a second chance at life, please make a contribution to the BA Hero Fund at CHOA to help fund BA Research.  You can follow our family’s journey on Instagram at mighty_julia_ba and find the direct fund link here.   

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Our fine art maternity sessions are shot in the studio with studio lighting only over a 90 minute-2 hour period to allow for changing the lighting setups and for our mamas to change. Because we shoot with studio lighting, session start time is much more flexible than our natural light studio sessions. We can start in the later evening hours after you’re off of work as long as you know you won’t be overly tired at that time of day. As a reminder, we only shoot ONE session per day in the studio to allow for our COVID sanitation protocols, so don’t wait until the last minute to book!

Once you have contacted us and selected a date for your session, it’s all handled online through our secure and streamlined process. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her to the session and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).

PRE SESSION CONSULTATION

We will schedule a time meet in advance of your session - either in person here at the studio or virtually via Zoom or FaceTime. We have a limited wardrobe of bodysuits, bodycon dresses, bodycon crop tops, bandeau bras, and tulle gowns. We also have a small collection of mostly neutral colors of Italian silk chiffon fabrics for draping and tossing! If you elect for an in person consult, you will have the opportunity to try on our pieces as well as bring your own for me to go through, and we’ll create a session roadmap together!

During our consult, we will speak at length about your vision for the session. Our clients are all over the map when it comes to the types of images they want to create during out time together. Some want fine art nudes mixed in with strategic hand placement covering the breasts, and others prefer to be clothed the entire time. Some want to have a few with fabric tossing, and others don’t. We will also talk about your preference for the studio temperature during your session. Many of our clients choose to be the only participant in our fine art sessions, but your partner is more than welcome as well. Children can be included in a couple of images but should only be present in the studio for the time they are in photos. Because of all the specialized equipment that is set up and the length of the session, it’s not possible for them to be here in the studio for all of it. We’ll discuss all of these things at length (I’ll be taking notes throughout!), and you’ll have the opportunity to ask me any questions you have!

****The most IMPORTANT reason that we require a pre-session meeting is this: Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time!  This especially proves true for sessions where you’ll be wearing next to nothing for part of it. ***

FINE ART MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for 7 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;) When you arrive to the studio, we’ll get started. I will walk you through everything the entire time - from where and how to stand, to how much to bend your elbow, etc. I’ll also coach you on your facial expression. If I can’t verbally coach you through expressions, I’ll whip out one of my clear masks so you can see my face for demonstration! :)

It can feel a bit intimidating at first standing under a giant light modifier that flashes with every frame, but you’ll soon start to have fun with it! You will hit your stride, and you will look absolutely stunning. You may also decide that being a supermodel is way too much work and they deserve every penny they earn. ;)

Most of the the images that I take at the very beginning of your session are just for the warm up to get you comfortable (and to adjust the lighting settings as needed!) We will take breaks if you need them for water, a snack, restroom break, or just to sit down for a minute. If you need something, all you need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

Analy was definitely nervous at first since this was her first time ever doing a fine art session like this. She joked that she didn’t remember how to wear heels because she never wears them anymore due to being at home all the time. We had a lot of fun cracking jokes and using the hair fan for some beautiful movement in her hair. Analy refers to the hair fan images as her “Kim K moment”. The hair fan looks super intimidating because it’s on the larger side. Don’t worry, I promise not to blast you with the tornado speed setting. ;)

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR SESSION

Once your proof gallery is ready, we’ll review the images and you’ll make decisions! One of the images will be fully edited for you as a sample so you can know what to expect. We’ll discuss your specific retouching requests (our most common requests are for stretch mark removal and for very slight body slimming in certain areas). When Analy saw her images she was blown away and couldn’t believe how beautiful she looked. While I personally believe that fine art editorial photography is the most powerful in black and white imagery, your selected images will have both color and black and white versions! The majority of our clients choose their favorite image for a piece of wall art or put their favorites into a beautiful heirloom album to pass down to their child.

If you’re sitting here reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you. We can discuss whether a fine art maternity session is the right fit for you as opposed to our natural light sessions, and answer allllll the questions you might have.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this amazing mama’s maternity session below! Isn’t she absolutely stunning?!

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 | Dawn & Cady

::clears throat and steps up onto my soapbox::

It’s so important for MAMAS to be in photos with their babies. That means you, mama, if you’re reading this.

So often, we are the ones who document the special family moments. Sometimes it’s because we don't want to be in the picture. We don’t feel pretty, we haven’t lost the baby weight, we don’t prioritize ourselves as being important enough for photos… and the list goes on and on for all the reasons why. I get it. I have three children and they're all two years apart and I’m just as guilty of it as most. While the selfie option is better than no photos at all with your little one(s), I absolutely LOVE it when mamas take matters into their own hands by deciding to prioritize being IN the photos and book a session with me.

Dawn is such a fabulous long time client of mine who drives nearly an hour to Atlanta from her home in the north metro suburbs for her sessions. I first started working with her when I photographed her maternity session, and have gone on to photograph yearly sessions of her and her daughter, Cady. It’s been such a joy to watch Cady grow from a tiny baby to a big kid with a personality to match.

WHAT TO WEAR: IS COLORFUL CLOTHING OKAY?

Dawn emailed to ask if I thought wearing brighter colors for their session would be “too much”. She had fallen in love with a mommy and me set of dresses, but wanted to be sure they would photograph well. We get this question a LOT. While there are some colors that we will steer you clear of (ie: neons) because of color casting, color is GREAT if that’s what you want to do. The majority of our clients to prefer to stay in the neutral range since it’s very timeless, often the most flattering to skin tones, and much easier to coordinate multiple family members. We are here to assist you with making suggestions of what to wear, and are more than happy to look over what you’re thinking and give you our honest assessment of how it will photograph. Our studio is designed in neutral tones, so your colorful outfit won’t clash with our studio! As you’ll see from the photographs - their dresses looked amazing and oh so cute!

MOMMY AND ME SESSIONS: WHAT TO EXPECT

Mommy and me sessions in the studio are all about loving and interacting with your child(ren). It really is just as simple as that. You get to be mom and have FUN. We’ll play some fun games designed to draw out natural interaction, you’ll dance together, you’ll have a tickle fight. The possibilities are endless. I’ll be behind the camera waiting for the magic to unfold - and it will, it always does. We have a saying here in the studio, and it’s this: “The more chaotic the session feels with your little one, the more amazing the photos are.” It’s true, I promise. Sometimes it feels like your child’s energy is a bit amped up, and that we can't possibly be getting anything good. Let me take this opportunity to remind you: it takes 1/800th of a second for me to create a beautiful image. All the little microburst moments in between the wildness are where the magic happens. You worry about having fun and present with your little one(s), and let me handle the photos!

This session makes me smile when I look at it because there is so much love and joy! We had such a wonderful time creating these images.

If you're considering a session for yourself and your children, I would LOVE for you to reach out to discuss your vision and we can get you taken care of.

Enjoy a handful of my favorites from this family session with Dawn & Cady.

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 | Meg & Isaac are six months!

Tiffany has been a client of ours for a couple of years, and welcomed fraternal twins into their family last year! Documenting milestones is very important to her, so she booked maternity, newborn, six months, and one year - we love our frequent flyers and have a First Year Collection available to those interested with lots of perks! You can contact the studio to learn more about the sessions we offer! We have quite a bit of experience photographing twins, and we include the whole family in the session too. We don’t limit our milestone sessions to just your baby, and strongly encourage parents and siblings to participate too. These are the photos that your children will reach for when they are older.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

When the twins were about four months old, we contacted Tiffany to set everything up for them. We sent some date options to choose from and then once she had decided on that, we sent over everything she needed to secure her date. Our booking process is handled entirely online and it’s a very simple and streamlined process.

Once Tiffany remitted her electronic paperwork, we sent over our styling guide and resources for her to review. Even though she’s worked with us for several sessions at this point, we always send it again just in case a client can’t find it in their email! It’s a short and sweet e-mail outlining best practices, and helps our clients dress the whole family for their session. Designing a beautiful and cohesive look for your session that also looks like YOU is easy when following our guidance. For clients who want more assistance with styling, we’re available to help! Clients can either schedule a complimentary short visit to the studio and bring all their options, and I’ll assist them in putting it all together with their clothing or a mix of their clothing and studio clothing. For those who cannot make an in person consult work for their schedule or would prefer virtual, they simply send over photos of what they’re considering and we go from there with an email exchange! Clients are constantly amazed at how quickly I can select from their options and put it all together. This is all part of the service we offer to those who have chosen to work with us. We work to make your session experience as stress free and as easy as possible, because your portrait session process should be enjoyable and fun!

SOME NOTES ABOUT milestone SESSIONS WITH SIX MONTH OLDS

Our sessions with any baby are photographed very efficiently, and some clients are surprised by how quickly I am able to shoot. There’s a really good reason why: and that is that most babies don’t give us much time! The majority of little ones under the age of one are easily tired out from being overstimulated, so moving quickly is essential in order to make the most of our time together. I block off an hour for non-newborn portrait sessions, but that’s just to ensure we have enough time if baby needs a diaper change or a feeding break. I work hard to get everything I need in the first 20-30 minutes of a session and then play the rest by ear depending on how your baby is doing. Some babies will give me 45 minutes of total shooting time, but that’s definitely not the norm and is often the result of an intermission snack break after the initial 20-30 minutes of a session! ;) If they’re happy and doing well, we keep going. If they are OVER.IT. then we stop as long as I feel we have what we need. . Don’t worry though - if your baby melts down at 15 minutes into the session and I don’t feel like I have enough for a great gallery, we’ll take some time to see if we can soothe them back to happiness again. Sometimes that means I put down my camera and play peek a boo, or they take a nursing/snuggle break, or we look out the window or in the mirror. The key is to remain calm no matter what so your child feels safe and secure even when they’re unsettled. I have lots of techniques and tricks up my sleeve when it comes to photographing little ones, and with collaborative teamwork we’ll figure it out together!

When Tiffany arrived at the studio, and she her husband changed and then set about dressing the kids in their outfits. We don’t recommend dressing your children for the car ride! Changing them when you arrive avoids the possibility of an outfit being unusable for the actual session if an accident with food or spit up happens on the way to the studio. It also eliminates the risk of badly wrinkled clothing from seatbelt straps for both kids AND adults.

I started with photographing just the twins. Meg had some stranger danger anxiety, and was more comfortable with mommy, so that’s what we did until she felt safe enough with me to be photographed alone! We also took the time to photograph the twins together and with big brother as well. What you cannot see in these images is that I had a parent on each side of the bed ready to intervene if they rolled over. It’s a queen sized bed, so it would take about two rolls to get completely off the bed from where I position babies - but we all know how fast babies can be when you least expect it, so we ALWAYS have a parent diligently spotting. Safety first!

Six month old babies are often just beginning to show their personalities and expressions. Meg & Issac were more serious babies who flashed grins at me every once in a while. Every baby is different when it comes to how much they smile during portrait sessions. No matter what, I will be photographing your baby (or babies!) just as they are right NOW at this moment in time.

After I finished photographing the twins together and individually, I moved on to photographing them with their individual parents and immediate family photos of all of them together. Big brother Abel was hamming it up for the camera, and we all had a lot of fun together during their session.

the big question: SHOULD WE PLAN for ONE OUTFIT OR TWO?

For twin sessions, I really recommend just one outfit for the entire session. If you want to try for two, we need to start with the most important outfit first. I always discuss with parents what their desired “must have” images are in order of priority and go from there. The MOST important outfit to you is the one that I will have you wear to start the session with, and then we’ll go from there! This is an insurance policy just in case your babies won’t tolerate being changed into a second outfit and are done being photographed before you get a chance to change. The truth is: babies are unpredictable little humans. We never know how long they’re going to give us with anything. Some little ones really don't enjoy being changed and it’s stressful for them and for you to change them into a second outfit. You know your baby best, so you can be the judge of whether trying for a second outfit is a good idea, or if you’d rather play it safe with one outfit! :)

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Meg & Isaac’s six month milestone session! As a gentle reminder: it is NEVER too early to get on the calendar for milestone sessions especially if you want a weekend date since those fill months in advance. Our First Year Collection members have scheduling priority and we take care of reaching out to schedule when it’s time to - one less thing to worry about in the whirlwind of your baby’s First 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 First Birthday Photographer | Analeigh is ONE!

Vanessa contacted the studio to schedule a First Birthday portrait session for her daughter, Analeigh.  She also asked to schedule an appointment to look through out studio wardrobe for herself.. We scheduled a time for that, and sent over our easy to follow style guide and cake tips sheet for her to look through beforehand.

Our style consults are complimentary to our booked clients, and we offer virtual appointments for clients who just need help dressing from their own closets. (more on that in a bit!) For in person styling consults, clients can bring clothing from home that they’re considering wearing and we’ll look through studio pieces too. Some clients end up wearing studio clothing, while others wear their own or a mix of the two. Vanessa tried on a few dresses but ultimately fell in love with a simple white lace embroidered dress, and we discussed what her husband and Analeigh should wear as well!

Planning a portrait session for your family can definitely feel overwhelming, and I’m here to take that AWAY by providing assistance to you and holding your hand as much as you need me to. If coming into the studio isn’t an option for your schedule (we completely understand busy lives!) that’s not a problem! Many of our clients choose to coordinate over emails instead. It’s really as simple as taking a phone snap of your outfit considerations and sending them over. I’ll use markup to circle things and respond with detailed feedback and suggestions!

On the morning of their session, when the family arrived, Analeigh was very curious and smiley! Not every baby is as outgoing as Analeigh is, but we structure our portrait sessions to allow extra time for your baby to warm up and feel secure if that’s needed!

We started the session with Analeigh alone for solo portraits since she wasn’t shy, and eventually moved to parent and entire family images. I asked her parents to snuggle her, and play with her, because that’s really all we need to do to capture beautiful images of your family. We will definitely get that “everyone looking” photo, but it’s all the in between moments that are special and pull at the heartstrings when looking back at them. Once we were totally finished with the solo and family portraits, Vanessa changed Analeigh into one of our studio camisoles and pulled out the high chair for the cake smash! This particular cake was from Publix, which is a great option here in Atlanta. If you want to save yourself the hassle of having to pick up and transport a cake before your session, you can choose to work with our exclusive studio baker! We only refer our clients to her for the most beautiful (and delicious!) cakes, and she works with SO many of our clients. She’ll drop off your cake right before your session and it will be here waiting for you. One less thing to stress about and wrangle into the studio the day of your session. Bonus: our baker can accommodate vegan requests for those who have egg or dairy allergies!

Analeigh LOVED her cake, and promptly bent over to lick it. Smart girl - maximum icing for minimum effort. ;)

When Vanessa viewed her proof gallery, she just couldn’t narrow down the ones she loved the most, because she loved them all. She ended up choosing to keep the entire gallery with a gorgeous framed and matted print of their family in black and white. (Yep - you’ll get color AND black and white versions of your selected images!) After she chose her print for the frame, we had a virtual appointment to decide on the perfect frame moulding for it. We have a large offering right there in the studio to choose from, and I absolutely love our framing line offerings. Your custom artwork is matted and framed with love by ME right here in the studio!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from Analeigh’s session! She was just the cutest little girl with the biggest eyes and most joyful smile, and I so loved working with her family!

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 | Laurel & Eran

Laurel contacted us at the end of her second trimester to ask about how we ran our studio (specifically, our COVID precautions since she was a higher risk pregnancy) and after speaking with us, knew she definitely wanted to book both a maternity and newborn session.

Have you watched the video on our website that really covers our whole process and who we are? If you haven’t, you really should - click here to see it. It gives you a really good general overview of what it’s like to work with me and what my philosophy behind photographs is.

THE BOOKING PROCESS

Laurel’s husband had a non-traditional work schedule, so she let us know that she would need a weekday evening for their session and chose the park location. We have more weeknights available than weekend dates, so she had more date options to choose from! Many of our clients choose to take a half day from work or just leave a couple of hours early to schedule a weekday evening session depending on what time the sun is setting on their session date. ALL of our outdoor sessions take place about one hour before sunset. If you’re not sure of what that time is, you can literally google “sunset time on X date in Atlanta” and you’ll get the sunset time. Subtract an hour, and you’ll have your general session start time!

Caroline, our studio manager, sent over Laurel’s session paperwork. We handle EVERYTHING securely online in a very streamlined process. Our clients find the whole process super simple and love it. After Laurel sent back her paperwork, she was locked into our calendar. We then scheduled her maternity fitting to take place about 2 weeks before her session. We also sent over a short list of what she should bring along with her the fitting and directions to our studio location. We’re located right on the Beltline next to two.urban.licks just down from Ponce City Market, and it’s really easy to get to! There is a free parking lot available (and street parking if it happens to be full).

THE MATERNITY FITTING

Maternity fittings are scheduled 1-2 weeks before scheduled sessions! We want to make sure you have enough time to decide on what to wear from your top favorites and can pull together the other outfits for your partner and/or children. Your baby shouldn’t grow too much in two weeks to not be able to fit in your final choices. If you try on a dress that BARELY fits and want to choose it, we’ll go ahead and have you choose a backup option for it just in case it doesn’t fit you anymore when we get to your session date. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Our clients can choose up to two looks. As a note, usage of the studio wardrobe is not required but about 95% of our clients do choose to borrow from it! Even if you don’t, it’s great for inspiration and to see what looks great on you! So many of our maternity clients also find what they want to wear for their newborn session when they’re in for their fitting. If able, I strongly encourage clients who are planning to wear their own clothing to come in with that clothing for me to see beforehand and so that we are able to meet each other as well. Clients who have spent some time with me prior to stepping in front of my camera are much more relaxed because I’m not a total stranger they’ve just met for the first time! 

When Laurel came in for her fitting, she was surprised by the number of options available to her in the wardrobe. She had been concerned we wouldn’t have options for her as she’s taller. I have dressed women ranging in heights from 4’10” to 6’3” and size 00-16 - so no need to worry because we likely do have something! We talked about her style preferences and favorite colors, and I started pulling options for her. She tried each of them on and I assisted by taking an iPhone photo of her in each one that she loved so that she could show her husband later.

You do NOT have to decide at the maternity fitting what you’ll be wearing, but you do need to have your final choices in at least 4 business days before your session date. This lead times allows us to have your options cleaned if needed if another client wears one of your choices in the same week. The vast majority of our dresses will fit both pregnant and postpartum moms (and even those moms who are several years postpartum!). After looking at all her options and showing her husband, Laurel decided on a gorgeous blue gown that brought out her eyes and a gorgeous lace overlay dress.

SESSION EFFICIENCY

I always shoot my sessions efficiently, because I don’t believe that an outdoor couples or family maternity session should take 4 hours. That’s a crazy length of time to shoot a portrait session, and it’s why a lot of first time dads to be come in thinking they’re going to hate the entire experience. Nope. That’s not how I roll. We’re NOT going to drag this out. Instead, I’m going to guide you both through the entire experience and literally tell you what to do and when to do it. My focus is on the emotional connection between my subjects, and the interaction you see in my photographs is 100% authentic and real. In the interest of total transparency, most of my couples can’t quite get there on their own. So….I do the work of getting you positioned just where where you need to be, tweak hair and clothing where necessary and THEN give you an easy to follow prompt that spurs natural interaction. THAT, my friends, is when the magic happens. So, please don’t be nervous about not knowing what to do or think to yourself, “We will never look like those couples”, because the truth is: you don’t have to. Your dynamic with your partner is unique to the two of you, and it SHOULDN’T look like any other maternity session. What it WILL look like is the two of you loving each other the way you do best, as well as highlight the love you have for this brand new baby that you’re welcoming into your family and haven’t actually met yet. Oh, and you’ll also look absolutely gorgeous. ;) 

MATERNITY SESSION FLOW

I already mentioned that sessions aren’t torturously long. I allot an hour - and once the sun is gone, we’re done. (Pro tip: be on time, because while I can shoot efficiently and very quickly in a pinch, I simply don’t have the power to make the sun stay up in the sky). When we first get started, you’re going to be a little nervous and feel awkward. This is 100% normal and par for the course. I’ve got you. There are months that I shoot 20+ maternity sessions (studio and outdoor), and I’ve been photographing pregnant moms for over 8 years now. I think I’ve earned the right to call myself a bit of an expert at it! ;)

I’d say that most of couples start hitting their stride in roughly 10 minutes or less. Sometimes the photos I take at the very beginning will meet my standards and they’ll make it into your proof gallery, but most often not. The very first little bit is just the warm-up for you to get used to being in front of the camera and following my direction. Once I can see you’re relaxing and starting to have fun, then we’re going to start getting some of those perfect keepers for your gallery!

I have moms move around as little as possible in each spot in the location that we go to. You’re pregnant, your feet might be hurting, and there’s just no need to drag you all over creation and make you feel like you went to advanced step aerobics by the time you’re done. Instead, your partner will be the one jumping in and out of the frame as directed. I always remind my clients that if they ever need a break or to sit down, all they need to do is let me know. We’ll pick right back up when you’re ready to go again!

We started out our session in the most beautiful fall lighting, and I spent some time photographing Laurel solo and pulling Eran in for some images from time to time. The two of them were just so cute together, and we had a lot of fun. Once they started having fun and laughing (which didn’t take long), I was able to get some of the most stunning images. We did eventually make our away over to a secondary spot that I like to shoot silhouette images at, as these are a popular request of clients (and I LOVE them).

At the end of their session, we said our goodbyes, and I sent over their proof gallery the next week. They LOVED their images and had such a hard time narrowing down what they wanted, because they were “all so beautiful”, as Laurel said.

If you’re reading this and considering booking a maternity session, YAY! Firstly, HUGE congratulations!!! This is such an incredibly special time in your life, and it’s such an honor to photograph couples expecting their first, second, third, or seventh child.  I would love for you to contact us to chat about your vision and what we can offer you.

Enjoy a few of my favorite images from Laurel & Eran’s park maternity session 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 family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Atlanta Newborn Photographer | Baby Jack

Allison contacted the studio to learn more about booking a  newborn session after her son had arrived. She had decided she wasn’t going to do a newborn session because she was concerned about COVID, but when she saw how fast her son was growing, she didn’t want to miss out on such a special time, so she started investigating her options. After speaking with Caroline (our full time studio manager) and learning about our COVID safety protocols, she loved what she heard and proceeded to book a session here at the studio.

Our in home sessions have been indefinitely suspended for safety reasons, and we are currently only offering studio sessions: the only thing you need to worry about is just getting here.  In home sessions actually require a lot more work: cleaning, moving distracting elements out of rooms, turning the heat up to get it warm enough in the house, and the list goes on. Here, you walk into a sanitized studio at the perfect temperature, with the perfect natural lighting (and studio lights at the ready should they be needed), and kick back and relax!

On the morning of their session, Allison and Alex arrived at the studio with Jack. Allison had brought some options from home but looked through the studio wardrobe and fell in love with one of our casual boho lavender dresses. She felt pretty and comfortable - both super important factors!

Baby Jack was a super sleepy guy, and I never actually saw him open his eyes the entire time he was at the studio! He had the sweetest little button nose and flashed quite a few grins throughout, and was a total dream to photograph. I use neutrals here in the studio, and I choose them based on your baby’s skin tone. Neutrals are timeless and will still look beautiful 50 years from now, and keep the focus on your baby and all their unique details. My posing and wrapping is also very baby oriented and kept very natural. I never force babies into any position they don’t want to be in. Your baby’s safety and comfort is my top priority when they are in my care.

After we finished up with Jack’s solo portraits, he took a feeding break and had a diaper change, and we moved on to the parent and family portion of the session! I absolutely LOVE watching first time parents with their brand new baby! For some of my clients, their baby is the first baby they have ever held and they’re still getting the hang of moving them around. Most of my first timer parent clients are a little bit nervous because they still aren’t used to handling their baby while standing up and moving around. Think about it: when you’re at home with your new baby, most of the care you are giving your baby is while seated or with them on the changing table!

 However, even if you don’t have much hands on baby experience, there is NO need to be nervous in my studio with me. The TOP priority is your baby’s safety and the comfort of everyone, so we will adapt as needed and I will verbally walk you through the entire session along with demonstrations if needed. There’s more than one way to hold a baby - so if you don’t feel secure or confident holding your baby one way, we’ll switch it up to a way that you are! 

I’ll also make sure to tuck back stray hairs and adjust clothing as needed so YOUR focus can be holding and admiring your new baby while following my gentle direction. The family portion is typically the “easiest” part of our time together - because all you have to do is admire this amazing little human that you’ve welcomed into your family. Another major bonus of commissioning me for your baby’s first family portraits: I’ll make sure you don’t give yourself a self inflicted double chin while looking at your little one.  ;) 

Enjoy some of my favorite images from this guy’s newborn session! I recently just photographed him for his SIX MONTH sitting milestone session! Allison and Alex loved their newborn session so much that they enrolled in The First Year Collection, which is a wonderful way to document your baby’s first year. Be sure to ask about it if you’re interested in learning more - it’s a client favorite around 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!

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 mommy & me session at the studio

A lot of my clients like to be as “equitable” as possible with their children, so it was no surprise when this mama contacted us to schedule a mommy and me session with her second child like she’d had with her first around the same age. I’m always a fan of mommy and me sessions, because it’s just a wonderful opportunity to spend some snuggle time with your little one in front of my camera. We have a lot of fun playing games together, and it’s a very quick (think around 30ish minutes) session depending on your little one.

We schedule sessions with little ones to take place at a time of day that’s best for them - usually after a great nap and a full belly! Currently we are only scheduling ONE session per day in the studio as per our COVID safety protocols. This may change months from now, but for now it’s what we think is best to ensure proper sanitation of the studio and for the air purifier to have adequate time to run to take care of any aerosols in the air. Have more questions about our specific COVID safety procedures? We’d love to answer them, so just head over to our inquiry form and we’ll give you a call to discuss.

This little gal looks a LOT like her big brother did at that age with the same big beautiful blue eyes, and her mama hasn’t changed one bit since that session either. Oh, did you want to see that session? Just click here - it was photographed in our old Grant Park studio a couple of years ago!

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 First Birthday Photographer | Brock & Hendrix are ONE!

Dad contacted the studio to inquire about scheduling a First Birthday session for his twin boys, and told us that it would be the family’s first professional portrait session as well. He’s a professional filmmaker here in the Atlanta area, and I love working with others in the imaging industry. He connected us with his wife from there to handle all of the little details (what to wear, cake tips, etc), and we were all set for their session!

When the family arrived, I immediately noticed how different the twins’ personalities were. Hendrick was more outgoing, with Brock being on the quieter side. I approach all shy babies the same way: with very quiet and slow movements. Little ones have every right to feel safe and secure, and I am not going to frighten them by trying to amp up a situation and jump around being loud. I meet your baby exactly where they’re at and we go from there. I have worked with every personality type that I can think of, as well as special needs kids, and treating them with loving respect goes a long, long way. Because the boys were a little unsure, we started the session with family images so they would be in the arms of their parents and see that I was nothing to worry about. After that, I pulled out some of our wooden blocks (sanitized!) for the boys to play with, and they warmed up from there.

Parents are often surprised by how short our First Birthday sessions are and at how quickly their babies tire out. The majority of our babies last 45 minutes at the max, and I move very quickly to keep them interested and engaged. I work efficiently so that I can create all the images needed before moving on to the cake smashing fun. As a note: we have many families opt to skip the cake part, so if you're considering first year portraits, please don’t feel like it's a requirement to have a cake. This family had picked up their smash cakes from Publix - which is a great option here in the Atlanta area. If you want something more custom and don’t want to have to worry about transporting your cake(s) to the studio, we have the perfect baker to refer you to! We exclusively refer her to all our First Birthday portrait clients, and she delivers the cake straight to the studio so it’s waiting here for your session. Her cakes are gorgeous, taste delicious, and she can accommodate vegan cake requests as well!

We moved on to the cake smashing fun and set up some fun balloons that the family had brought along. Mama was hoping they would wear their special birthday hats that she had ordered for them - and she followed my special “trick” to have a better chance of that…. as you can see, it worked! The twins were immediately interested in their cakes and enjoyed exploring and tasting the icing. After they were finished with their cakes, their parents cleaned them up while I took care of cleaning up the studio. We always recommend bringing a couple packs of baby wipes from home (the wipes cut through the buttercream perfectly) as well as some towels and washcloths if your baby requires some more heavy duty cleanup as we have a full bathtub right here in the studio if required!

Enjoy the images from this fun twin birthday session! It’s NEVER too early to get on the books for your baby’s First Birthday - we book up several months in advance, and currently only shoot ONE studio session per day. We highly recommend contacting us as soon as possible ESPECIALLY if you want to schedule for a weekend day!

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.