The question of how best to include older siblings in a newborn photo session is a concern that many of my clients have.  So today, I thought I'd take a moment to explain why I love having older children at newborn sessions and how I ensure that it all runs smoothly!

Why I Love Having The Older Kids Involved

Bringing a baby home can be a big adjustment for everyone. This is especially true for older siblings. Sometimes they love the idea of having a new baby brother or sister, and sometime they don’t! And after almost twenty years as a newborn and family photographer, I have seen it all!

My goal is to make your older child feel special at the photoshoot. I spend a lot of time preparing them for photos and tune into their feelings about this big change in their life. What I’ve found, is that even if they are reluctant at first, they appreciate the attention and the time to “hold” and examine the their new baby.

Safety First

I understand how precious and fragile new babies are, and that even the most well intentioned toddler may not be up up to the task of holding a newborn! Most of the time, I’ll get photos of the new baby and older siblings by placing the baby safely on the bed in my studio and inviting the other children to sit next to him or her, or “hold” the baby by laying down next to it and snuggling up. The parents are always just an arms length away to assist when needed!

Make It Fun

Family photo sessions should be fun for everyone!  That is why I have a lobby full of toys and playthings for older brothers and sisters to do while I’m working with their new baby brother or sister. I usually start my sessions by showing the older kids where the toys are and letting them play. Eventually they will get curious about what I’m doing with the baby and want to watch…. that is when I invite them to be in some pictures. And I also have lots of stickers and lollipops to dole out after the session as a reward!