12 SIBLING NEWBORN PHOTOSHOOT IDEAS WITH TIPS FOR GETTING GREAT PICTURES
Inside you'll find adorable newborn and sibling photoshoot ideas along with everything you need to make your pictures look just as sweet as the examples.
Suddenly, Baby appeared to lurch forward from her seat on her big brother’s lap.
“Are you holdin' on good, Buddy?” I questioned with uncharacteristic calm as I put a supportive hand on the situation.
Both my mom and sister’s eyes widened as they instinctively prepared to lunge in for the catch.
Yes, mom anxiety may run in the family, but these sweet moments between my little ones are too precious to squelch with too much paranoia.
I never could have anticipated how beautiful it is to see my loved ones love my babies. And to see my babies love each other.
That’s why, when I created The Short Years Baby Book App, I knew we had to give you lots of opportunities to include photos and memories of your little one with their siblings.
And today, I'm sharing some inspiration to help you capture all the sweetness.
10+ Newborn & Sibling Photoshoot Ideas
Whether you incorporate sibling photos into your newborn sessions or just do some on your own at home, here are some cute ideas to incorporate into your photoshoot.
Of course, the poses you're able to do will vary a lot depending on how old the sibling is, so I've included a variety of examples for posing your newborn with their big brother or sister whether they're a toddler, preschooler, or school age.
Newborn Baby Photo with Very Young Siblings (Toddlers)
With toddlers, of course, safety is key. Find a stable place for your baby to lay such as the middle of a large bed or even on the ground. Then, your toddler can sit or lay nearby without actually being responsible for holding their new little sibling.
PC: @jamiesyang
Newborn Baby Photo with Younger Siblings (Preschool Age)
Here are some ideas for posing younger siblings with their newborn baby brother or sister.
PC: @roseanna.and.co
Newborn Baby Photo with Older Siblings (Elementary Age and Above)
You have a lot more freedom with posing responsible older siblings with your newborn baby as they're most likely able to hold the baby themselves.
My little guy is obsessed with his baby sister.
One day, I found him sitting next to her play-mat with a sketchbook, drawing her portrait.
This is one of the hidden gems of having a baby.
Big brother drawing baby sister's portrait in his sketchbook
When he got a cough, he had to keep some distance from Baby for a few days. All week he walked around saying "aghhh, I gotta get better so I can hold Baby!"
Even still, he wouldn’t be denied his sister time.
He kept begging me to hold her up from across the room so he could sing, babble, and coo to her.
I never want to forget the sweet moments between my little ones, and I know you don't either.
But getting great photos of your newborn with their brother or sister (and replicating the cute ideas you find online) can be a challenge, so I've broken the whole process down into four simple steps to make your baby photoshoot go smoothly.
4 Tips for a Better Sibling Newborn Photo Sessions
When our second child was born, I couldn’t wait to have my photographer friend come over and take newborn photos of him and his big sister.
We started by doing his solo newborn pics first, but getting him to settle down and go to sleep for the precious poses I'd picked took way longer than expected.
By the time we were ready to snap the special sibling photos I’d dreamed of…
My two-year-old was bouncing off the walls.
It was then that I realized that while I’d been focused on getting the newborn photos, my toddler’s lunchtime had snuck up on me.
And no doubt, she was bored from waiting for her turn for pictures.
Now with four children in our family, I’ve learned a lot about how to make photographing your newborn with their siblings go more smoothly.
And today, I’ll show you how to do just that, so you can get all the sweet photos you’ve been envisioning!
1. Select Outfits for Newborn Sibling Photos
You know life is going to be a little chaotic with a newborn in the mix, so try to decide on outfits for each family member ahead of time (even before your baby arrives if possible).
In selecting your outfits, think about what room you’ll likely be shooting in. You’ll want the colors you select to coordinate with the background and room décor.
Do you want your kids to match or coordinate?
Some parents prefer perfectly matched outfits, but I love to have each family member in colors that coordinate, but with each outfit piece is distinct, just like each personality is different.
Have your kids try on their clothes ahead of time to ensure they fit.
If you need to purchase any additional pieces, give yourself plenty of time for shipping delays and the possibility of something you order being too large or small. Check with your friends who have children at similar ages to see if they have that missing wardrobe piece you could borrow for the shoot.
Make sure kids are comfortable with what they’re wearing. Do a trial run to make sure their outfit won’t cause a meltdown.
Do you want your newborn swaddled in a blanket? Wrapped in a sleeper? Or dressed in their own little outfit? Also, consider what other photo props will help elevate the shot. When it comes to styling your photos, it all comes down to finding a look you love. So, check out some newborn photos (like the ones above) to get ideas for what fits your style best.
2. Prepare for the Sibling Photo Session
With that first sibling photoshoot, I knew we didn’t want to take too much more time from our photographer.
So I sprinted downstairs, threw together a plate of cheese and crackers for my toddler, covered her cute dress in a towel, and let her eat and chat with Nana before we attempted sibling photos.
Once she was happy and fed, we got the sibling photos done just in time for our newborn’s next feeding.
Our first of many sibling newborn photoshoots!
Now, I know to make sure my kids have had a snack or meal shortly before the photoshoot. We wash up from eating and then have them get dressed, so their clothes don’t get dirty.
Have a fun goal in mind to get through the photoshoot. You can say something like, "Once we do our big smiles and get the pictures taken, we will be able to go outside/play Candyland/watch a show." Insert whatever you know will incentivize your child.
While I don’t use it regularly in my parenting, I am not above bribing my children when it comes to photoshoots!
Play upbeat music your kids love during the photoshoot. Say silly things to make them smile and laugh. As stressed as you may be, do your best to keep the tone of the room light and relaxed.
Have a couple of “waiting activities” for the older brother or sister. Newborn shoots can be quite long and big siblings may find themselves waiting while Baby needs to be fed, changed, and photographed alone.
If you’re at home, have a designated spot they can go play (without getting messy if they need to come back for more photos) On the other hand, if you’re shooting away from home, be sure to pack some quiet toys/activities for your children to do during these lag times.
3. Make the Siblings Feel Special
Welcoming a new baby to the family is undoubtedly one of the most joyous occasions you’ll experience, but the reality is that it can be a challenging transition for big siblings, no matter how much they adore their new baby brother or sister.
Big sibs likely already feel like they’re getting less attention and having a newborn photoshoot that seems to revolve around the new baby can make those feelings even more amplified.
Make sure they know what an important part of the photoshoot (and the family) they are! Use language like, “Let’s get a picture showing everyone what an amazing big brother you are!” or “We'll show Grandma these pictures so she can see how kind you are to your new baby sister!” This can help make them feel special in their new role.
You can even incorporate an older sibling into planning the photoshoot, so they feel included. Kids love having choices and getting a say in what happens in the family. Try asking for their input on decisions like, "Should baby wear this headband or this one?"
4. Choose Your Poses (& Be Flexible)
Think through what your “must have” shots are and what poses you want the most. Get those done first! When you’re dealing with children and newborns, time is limited! The reality is, you’ve got a limited window to work with before somebody needs to eat, needs a diaper change, or is just plain over it.
When we did newborn photos with our fourth baby, the priority shots for me were one of our family all together and one of the three big kids with the new baby sister together. We got those first while everyone was fresh. Then I knew even if everything else went sideways, we at least had those two poses captured.
Look through newborn and sibling photo examples like the ones in this blog post and on Pinterest. What poses do you like (and which ones will work based on the older sibling's age)?
You might feel comfortable with an older child holding your newborn, especially if on a bed, cozied up in the corner of a couch, and with a parent just outside the shot.
For “big” siblings that aren’t so big, there are lots of alternatives if you don’t feel they’re ready to hold their newborn sibling, place the baby in a bassinet with the older sibling leaning in to look at them or planting a kiss on baby’s cheek.
Be flexible. Expect that something will go wrong. Someone will spill applesauce on their nice shirt. Someone will cry. While your photos might not be “perfect,” they will be a perfect representation of this messy, beautiful season you are in. And when you look back on them in ten years, you will delight in every last detail.
5. Upload your latest pics of your baby with their sibling in The Short Years Baby Book App
Juggling sibling photos with a newborn is no joke, but with a bit of forethought and strategy, your photoshoot will be a success!
Once your beautiful pictures are complete, be sure to upload them to The Short Years Baby Book App, so you never forget how precious your little ones were together.
Wishing you many sweet moments with your family!
xo
Tracey
