How to Prepare for Newborn Photos With Siblings (Without Losing Your Mind)

Here's the thing about including a toddler in your newborn session: it will probably not go exactly as you planned. And the images you get will probably be some of your absolute favourites.

After 15 years of working with children of all ages alongside newborns, I have seen every version of the sibling experience — the child who demanded to hold the baby the entire session, the three-year-old who wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of it, the six-year-old who turned into a surprisingly natural model the moment the camera came out.

The key is preparation, timing, and managing your own expectations.

Start Talking About It Before the Session

For toddlers and older kids, the concept of "we're going to take photos of our new baby and you're going to be in them" is more digestible if it's introduced a few days before — not the morning of.

Simple framing works best: "We're going to a special place to take beautiful pictures of our family, and you get to be in them too." If they've seen images from a previous session (like maternity photos), even better — they already have a concept of what this means.

Avoid over-explaining or building up too much anticipation. Brief, positive, and matter-of-fact tends to land better than elaborate preparation.

The Day-Of Timing

Bring siblings toward the end of the session, not the beginning.

This is the single most important tactical decision for a session with multiple ages. The baby-only setups (which require the most time and settling) should be done first, while the sibling is not yet in the studio. Once the essential images are captured, siblings can be brought in for their section without any risk to the core gallery.

For practical logistics, this sometimes means siblings arrive with another adult (grandparent, family friend) mid-session, rather than sitting in the studio for two hours waiting.

What to Tell a Toddler About Being Gentle

Before the session, have a brief, concrete conversation: "The baby is very small and we need to be very gentle. Gentle hands, soft voices." Role-playing with a stuffed animal can help — demonstrating "gentle" in a tangible way.

During the session, I help guide this in real time. I'm experienced with the supervision that sibling shots require and I'll never put a newborn in an unsafe situation.

For the actual sibling shots: I typically start with the older child sitting down with baby placed carefully in their arms or beside them, with a parent's hands just out of frame providing support. These shots are taken quickly and efficiently — the goal is capture, not a prolonged hold.

What If the Sibling Refuses?

It happens. A two-year-old who was completely on board yesterday decides on session day that they want nothing to do with it.

Options: give them five minutes to warm up (sometimes they come around), offer a small distraction (a favourite snack, a special toy they bring), or accept that the sibling shots won't be the styled version you imagined — and let the candid reality of the situation document itself.

Some of my favourite sibling images are the ones where the toddler is clearly not quite sure about this entire enterprise, sitting beside the baby with an expression of supreme ambivalence. Those images are real, and they're often hilarious and beautiful.

Age-Specific Notes

Under 2: These sessions require very close parental supervision. Keep it short. The images are beautiful but the tolerance window is brief.

Ages 3–5: The most unpredictable age group — wildly cooperative or completely unwilling, and that can shift mid-session. Build in flexibility. The moments between setups are often the best images.

Ages 6–10: Often surprisingly natural in front of the camera, especially when they feel included rather than managed. Give them some agency ("do you want to hold baby on the left or right?") and they typically respond well.

Teenagers: Occasionally resistant but usually fine once they're there. Treat them like participants, not props.

FAQ

Do siblings cost extra?
For Packages I and II, sibling portraits are included in the family add-on (+$54). For Packages III and IV, family (including siblings) is included.

What if my toddler accidentally hurts the baby during the session?
My sessions are closely supervised. A parent is always within reach of the baby during sibling shots, and I position everyone safely before releasing for a photograph. Toddler curiosity is managed with calm guidance, not alarm.

My older child has special needs and may find the environment difficult. Can we still include them?
Absolutely — let me know in advance so we can plan the session structure thoughtfully. I'm experienced with adapting to different needs and energy levels.

Including siblings in your session? Let me know in advance and I'll plan the session structure accordingly.

Fernanda Bautzer Photography · Calgary · Newborn & Family.