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Family Pictures with Newborn and Toddler
This playdate in home family portrait session ? with newborn brother and his big sister.? Family lives down the street from us in a brick and beam loft. Big sister goes to school with my son and she was a little confused as to where he was when I came to meet her baby brother.? Born at home this newborn came into a beautiful and loving family a healthy and thriving boy.?
Big sister was both fascinated and uninterested in the new family addition – as most older siblings at that age are.? I like to pay special attention to the older siblings (having been one myself). Their world has been upended and it?s important to acknowledge that.?
This is a fairly typical playdate family portrait in home session where we go with the flow and meet the kids where they are.? We let things unfold naturally. This is, in my opinion, the best way of doing a family portrait session ? keeping it authentic and honest.
Ideas for Sibling Photo Shoot
When a new sibling in introduced into the family, the older kids are equally important. I like to chat with families before I arrive, to get a sense (if we have not already met) of who they are and how they are coming into their new role.?
I always want the older siblings feel special too. We all know about the regressions and behavior changes that happen. It?s because big brothers and big sisters can feel insecure and neglected which may lead to being uncooperative and sulky.? We don?t want that! When I arrive I make sure to focus on them and give them agency in the process; sometimes by asking for their opinions and wanting them to show me their rooms and what big kid things they are learning.
If they don?t want to participate in the family photos, I don?t force it.? They usually come around. If a grandparent or other relative is around to help with the new baby, let them have some time with the older sibling.
Beds, couches or a cozy blanket on the rug are all good places to have your older child interact with and even hold your newborn.
Newborn and Sibling Photography
As you can likely tell, I prefer to have newborns in the arms of the people who love them rather than isolated (for example in a basket).? We don’t need to tell them to smile at the camera.? It’s about you interacting with the people who are most important to you.
You may not look your best (especially with a newborn’s feeding schedule) and the older sibling may not be perfectly behaved. Remember that ultimately these images are for you to look back at later. For your children to look back on later and to see them in the frame with you. They will be amazed at how tiny they were. And probably at how young you were.
Interested in having an in home playdate family portrait session to document the first few weeks of your newborn?
We can make that happen!? If you are expecting your second or third now its a good time to start thinking about it.
