Including the Whole Family in a Newborn Photo Shoot | DC Newborn Photographers
I often get asked questions about families wanting photos of other family members when we schedule the newborn session. My answer is always yes! With lifestyle family photography, it would be weird NOT to include siblings and caregivers.
Are you interested in seeing what a newborn session looks like with the whole family? Check it out!
the newborn session is led by the baby (or the sibling)
Baby doesn’t want to be put down? That’s okay! Baby is hungry? Totally fine. Baby didn’t get a lot of sleep? We still get great photos!
If there are siblings, usually one of the children has more needs at any given moment. If the baby is settled, content, and happy, at one point there may be an older sibling that wants attention. At least one of these scenarios will likely happen during your newborn session and that’s totally okay!
we will spend time getting each parent with the new baby
This can be documenting what it looks like during a feeding, or putting them in a new outfit that one of the caregivers or parents picked out. This can look like taking a moment of rest. This can also look like mama looking beautiful in a dress because let’s face it, it takes SO much effort to get ready once you have children (let alone a young baby!)
If there is a sibling, you know that if one of the parents is with the baby, the other parent is likely with the other child. This is a great time to get photos of the other parent with the other child!
we will spend time in different areas in your home
Since newborn sessions are typically scheduled in the morning, we will use the morning light coming through the windows. Think the master bedroom, kid’s room, and other family / living room areas.
Moving around in different areas adds visual interest to your gallery and captures your home where you raised your beautiful family!
if your family is calm and quiet, your gallery will depict calmness. if your family is playful and engaged and busy, your gallery will depict playfulness!
I don’t force children and families to do anything uncomfortable or that doesn’t feel like them.
My job as your lifestyle family photographer is to help guide and pose you to incorporate your connection, family, and environment to tell your story at any given time. For this family, it’s capturing a young boy and his baby brother.
portraits of the kids
There will usually be some moments that your baby is content, fed, and happy and I make it a priority to get portraits of the baby. This can be in a diaper or onesie, in a cute outfit, or can include a special blanket or item that was made or given to your baby.
If there is a sibling, I typically try to get your older sibling to interact and trust me and there are usually some really great images that come from that.
I hope this was helpful to share what a session can look like with other family members.