Including Siblings in Your Richmond Hill Newborn Photoshoot
Richmond Hill Newborn Photoshoot
Welcoming a new baby into the family is an incredibly special time, and what better way to celebrate than by including their siblings in your newborn photoshoot? However, navigating the dynamics of including siblings of various ages and stages can be a bit daunting. But don’t worry! I've got you covered with some tried-and-true tips for ensuring a stress-free and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
1. Young Siblings (Ages 1-4):
When it comes to younger siblings, timing is everything with your newborn photoshoot. It's essential to start with them first to avoid any disruptions later on during the session when we're trying to get baby nice and sleepy for posing. Plus, let's be real, expecting a toddler to sit still for 2-3 hours in a studio can be a tall order. By capturing sibling and family portraits first, we can then have another parent, grandparent or caregiver take the older sibling(s) out for a treat or home for playtime and a nap. When posing with a younger sibling, we opt for floor shots to ensure safety and minimize any risks. This typically looks like having the oldest sibling lay down on a fluffy texture and hold baby with an arm around them, their head supported on sibling’s shoulder. If there’s more siblings, then I snuggle them into baby on the opposite side.
2. Older Siblings (Ages 5-9):
While older siblings may have a bit more patience, it's still best to start with them first to avoid boredom setting in. Sitting still for an extended period can be challenging for any child, regardless of age. However, older siblings typically have an easier time sitting comfortably (think: criss-cross-apple-sauce style) on our studio floor and holding baby steady in their arms for plenty of support. We assess their interest and ability to hold the baby before deciding on the best posing approach. If the older sibling has little interest in baby, I will take a solo shot of them sitting on the floor and then composite the baby into the shot later in post-production. Being a Richmond Hill Newborn Photographer for over a decade has given me a few tricks up my sleeve!
3. Much Older Siblings (Ages 10+):
For much older siblings, they have the option to stay for the entire newborn photoshoot or leave early, similar to their younger counterparts. As parents, you'll likely have a good sense of whether they can hang for the duration or not. With older siblings, we can explore more advanced and creative posing options, or just keep it simple! They can comfortably sit on chairs or stools while holding the baby in a cradled or advanced position, or any of the poses I mentioned above.
Other Tips: Just like with our family sessions, we highly recommend implementing a reward system to keep everyone motivated and engaged. If there’s certain songs or videos the sibling loves, let me know ahead of time and we can use that to entice them to relax a bit and even get smiles!
Including siblings in your newborn photography session is a wonderful way to celebrate this special time as a family. By following these tips and considering the ages and needs of each sibling, we can ensure a stress-free and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
As always, let me know if you have any concerns and we can plan your session around what works best for you and your family!