Incorporating Siblings into Your Newborn Session | Cape Cod Newborn Photographer | Lifestyle Newborn Photography

February 2, 2024

Incorporating siblings into your newborn session

I have always loved photographing newborn sessions. There is nothing sweeter than a fresh new baby. It wasn’t until Emma was born that I realized how much sweeter those sessions could be when you included siblings. Mind you, not all siblings are excited about their new baby brothers or sisters. And it doesn’t matter. The chaos, the snuggles, the curiosity, the indifference- it’s all so incredibly innocent and pure. So if you’re welcoming a new little love to the bunch, trust me. Incorporating siblings into your newborn session is a must.

You’re probably thinking to yourself: There is no way we would be able to have the picture-perfect session. But you would. And you will.

I get it. Maybe you have really crazy kids. Maybe your kids don’t like being in front of the camera. Or maybe you’re worried you would be too stressed to be able to enjoy your session or exude a calming presence.

I’m here to assure you that your session will be beautiful, simply because its yours.

Tips for sibling success

Embrace your children’s personalities.
- If they are quiet and reserved, I encourage lots of family snuggles and not a lot of posing. Not until he or she warms up a little. I like to let kiddos lead my sessions, anyway.
- If they love attention and have a lot of energy, I usually kick off the session with letting them jump on the bed or play with some toys. These kiddos will usually cooperate for some posing, but I try to keep it minimal.
Take turns giving siblings individual attention
- I break up my sessions into multiple grouping sets. I photograph the family as a whole two separate times, at the beginning and at the end. In between, I document individuals of baby, baby with siblings, and baby with each parent. I like to encourage parents to play or cuddle or grab a snack with siblings during these different grouping sets. It helps the session and the dynamic feel more balanced, and also provides additional candid photo opportunities.
There’s nothing wrong with bribes.
- Sometimes kids need a little extra encouragement when it comes to taking photos. Bring the candy!
Let them help you get ready for your session.
- My daughter is always more likely to show interest or take part in photos for me if I let her help pick out Emma’s outfit or choose where we take photos. Ask what colors they want to wear, let them choose a prop (blanket, stuffy, etc), show them different kinds of photos we can take of them with their sibling and ask which one is their favorite.
Refrain from trying to rein in their behavior.
- I like to keep my sessions go with the flow; especially, when they involve kids. We are bound to run into some negative behavior or extra zoomies. There is also the chance your older children aren’t going to want to participate. I encourage you to let the session unfold naturally. Sometimes our kids need the space to join in on their own. The great thing about my sessions is that they are lifestyle sessions. While I try to stick to a general flow, all of my sessions are unique to each family. In short? There are no rules.