Welcoming a new baby into the family is a special time, and capturing those first moments with a newborn session is something parents treasure for years to come. However, when you have older siblings, a newborn session can feel a bit more challenging. Balancing your attention between your newborn and your older child(ren) while ensuring everyone has a positive experience can require a bit of planning. Don’t worry! With a few simple steps, you can prepare for your session and create beautiful memories with all your children.

Here are my top tips for parents with older siblings to help ensure your newborn session runs smoothly:

1. Prepare the Older Sibling in Advance

It’s important to make the older sibling feel included and excited about the session. Talk to them about how they will get a chance to be in some of the photos with the baby. You can even show them some examples of newborn sessions that include older siblings so they can visualize what to expect.

  • Tip: Frame the session as a fun, family event where they get to play an important role. You might say, “You’ll get to be a big helper and hold the baby for some of the pictures. How fun is that?”

2. Make the Older Sibling Feel Special

While the newborn is often the center of attention, it’s essential to make the older sibling feel special. Include them in the photos, both alone with the baby and with the whole family. This helps them feel proud of their new role as a big brother or sister.

  • Tip: I love to take individual portraits of each sibling with the baby to make this feel special and to capture their unique bond.

3. Keep Expectations Realistic

Sometimes, younger siblings may not be overly enthusiastic about the baby or may not want to participate in the session. That’s okay! I can work with their current mood and capture authentic moments that show the true dynamic of your family at this stage.

  • Tip: Don’t worry if things don’t go exactly as planned. We’ll work with what the older sibling is comfortable with, and sometimes the most candid moments turn out to be the most cherished ones!

4. Be Flexible and Have Fun

While I’ll work with you to capture those perfect posed shots, I also love capturing the in-between moments when kids are just being themselves. Those authentic, candid interactions often tell the most heartwarming story.

  • Tip: Feel free to let go of any stress and enjoy the experience. The more relaxed everyone is, the more natural the photos will feel.

Your newborn session is about more than just capturing your baby’s first days. The family portion is about documenting the love and connection within your family, including the new dynamic between siblings. By taking a little time to prepare your older child for the session and creating a calm, positive atmosphere, we’ll capture the beautiful images that you will treasure. You can learn more about newborn sessions with Jennifer Mae Photography at the newborn detail page.

Are you ready to book your newborn session and include your older child(ren) in the fun? Contact me today, and let’s plan a session that you’ll love.

Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Sessions (FAQs)

how does scheduling a newborn session work?

Since the actual arrival of your baby is typically unpredictable, your due date is penciled in on my calendar and space is reserved for around the time of your due date. Once your baby has arrived, we will then schedule a date & time for the session.

Please note: Newborn sessions are typically scheduled on weekday mornings.

what do I need to bring to a newborn photoshoot?

For a newborn session with Jennifer Mae Photography, pretty much everything needed for your session is available in the studio. I have a short list of things to bring I give parents before their session: diapers/wipes, if baby is bottle fed – bottles and formula, your wedding bands, and a pacifier is baby is taking one.