
There’s just something timeless about in studio photography when a family welcomes a brand new baby. The calm atmosphere, soft natural light, and intentionally designed space at Studio Ivoire created the perfect setting for documenting this sweet season for the Thomas family as they welcomed baby Abe.
Hi, I am Dolly Delong, a Nashville family and newborn photographer, and I’m so glad you’re here. Sessions like this one always feel especially meaningful because this was actually my third newborn session with this family. Lauren and I actually go way back from our days working together in the college recruiting world, and earlier this year I also had the joy of photographing their spring maternity session as they prepared to welcome baby Abe. I’ve now had the honor of photographing each of their babies as newborns, from Wren to Bo and now sweet little Abe. Watching families grow over the years and continuing to document these milestones is truly one of my favorite parts of this work.
If you’re currently searching for an elevated, connected approach to in studio photography for your growing family, I’d truly love to help you plan a session that feels calm, intentional, and full of genuine connection.
And if you’re a fellow photographer trying to stay visible online while balancing client work and family life, The Family Photographer’s Marketing Society was created to help photographers stay consistent with Instagram and email marketing without the burnout.
Now let me walk you through this beautiful in studio photography session at Studio Ivoire and why this space continues to be one of my favorite locations for newborn and family photos.

Studio Ivoire has such a soft, editorial feel while still feeling warm and inviting for families with young children. The bright natural light, creamy tones, and elegant details give every gallery a timeless feel. At the same time, nothing in the space distracts from the people in front of the camera.
For this in studio photography session, the neutral setting allowed every bit of focus to stay on the connection between this growing family of five. Baby Abe was peacefully snuggled in his parents’ arms while Wren and Bo brought the sweetest mix of curiosity, energy, and personality to the session.
One of the things I loved most was how relaxed everyone felt. That’s always the goal with in studio photography. I want families to feel like they can settle in, slow down, and simply enjoy being together.
I also shared Wren’s newborn session on the blog, and you can revisit those sweet early days here.
Photographing this family again felt incredibly special. I still remember photographing Wren and Bo as newborns. Getting to document baby Abe’s arrival now felt incredibly special and full circle.
Wren stepped so naturally into her role as big sister. She stayed close to Abe throughout the session and loved checking on him between photos. Bo brought so much playful energy and personality, which honestly made the session feel even more authentic and joy filled.
And truly, having Jojo there helping behind the scenes made everything run so smoothly. She entertained the kids and helped keep little hands happy and occupied throughout the session. It also gave Mom and Dad space to breathe, relax, and truly enjoy the experience. It’s always such a gift when grandparents are part of the session day in ways like that.
These are the kinds of moments I love most with in studio photography. The images are beautiful, yes, but they also hold the feeling of what this season actually looked like.

One thing I always encourage for newborn and in-studio photography sessions is professional hair and makeup, if possible. Lauren chose to work with Kati from Kati Edge, and it added such a calm, polished start to the morning.
When moms are freshly postpartum, the last thing they need is additional stress before stepping in front of the camera. Having your hair and makeup professionally done gives you space to breathe and feel cared for before your session begins. It also helps you walk into your session feeling confident, relaxed, and prepared.
Kati did such a beautiful job creating a soft, natural look that photographed perfectly in Studio Ivoire’s light-filled space.
If you want to learn more about Kati and the services she offers, take a peek here!
There’s a reason families continue to gravitate toward in-studio photography for newborn sessions. The environment stays simple and uncluttered, allowing connection and emotion to take center stage.
Some of my favorite moments from this session were the quieter ones:
The beauty of in-studio photography is that it never feels overly trendy. Years from now, these images will still feel clean and timeless. The focus stays exactly where it belongs: on genuine family connection instead of elaborate props or distractions.
The Thomas family chose outfits that complemented Studio Ivoire beautifully. Soft blues, creams, and subtle textures worked perfectly against the studio’s bright neutral backdrop.
Lauren’s dress photographed so beautifully while still feeling comfortable enough for holding baby Abe throughout the session. Wren’s floral dress added the sweetest touch of softness, and the boys’ blue tones tied everything together without feeling overly coordinated.
This is always what I encourage with in-studio photography sessions. Coordinated instead of perfectly matching. Soft movement, timeless colors, and clothing that allows everyone to comfortably snuggle, move, and interact naturally.

One of the greatest gifts of this work is getting to walk alongside families through so many stages of life. From newborn sessions to growing families and everything in between, it’s such an honor to continue documenting these milestones year after year.
Being invited back to photograph baby Abe after documenting both Wren and Bo as newborns meant so much to me. These are the relationships and stories that remind me why I love family and newborn photography so deeply.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this sweet family and preserving these memories for them.

If you’re dreaming of a relaxed, connected newborn or family session, in-studio photography at Studio Ivoire is such a beautiful option. The light, the calm atmosphere, and the timeless setting make it perfect for documenting your family in an elevated but approachable way. You can learn more about this beautiful studio space here: Studio Ivoire
And if you’d like help planning outfits and preparing for your session, don’t forget to download my free Family Photography Session Style and Planning Guide so you can feel prepared and excited going into your session.
And if you’re a mama looking for something a little shorter and more relaxed, I offer mini sessions year-round as well. Let’s connect and chat!
For my fellow photographers, if you’re balancing client work while trying to stay consistent with marketing, The Family Photographer’s Marketing Society was built to help you stay visible with Instagram and email marketing in a sustainable way.
Whether you’re welcoming your first baby or your third, I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t wait to help you capture something meaningful.

Dolly DeLong is a Nashville-based family & branding photographer AND a creative business owner who educates other family photographers (aka creative business owners) on systems, SOPs, workflows, and marketing (aka how to run the backend of your own family photography business as a one-woman show)! Dolly loves serving families with her bold, elevated, and radiant photography. She also loves educating other creative business owners on how to set up systems and workflows to help them save time in their businesses. Dolly produces weekly blog posts, podcast episodes on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast, and weekly YouTube Episodes.
Dolly shares her expertise in Marketing, Email Marketing, and Business Systems with family photographers in an encouraging, supportive way, because she believes anyone can find joy in systems, workflows, and intentional SOPs! Plus, BONUS: Systems are where the magic happens! You can streamline and automate the backend of your creative business with ease!
Dolly’s faith and love for her family motivate her to help other business owners find the joy and freedom she’s seen in running a successful small business.
Whenever she has a spare moment, she enjoys watching TV, loves eating way too many sweets, and listens to podcasts while running or walking. Fill out her contact form to work with Dolly DeLong Photography for a family photography session.
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