We’ve all heard of the terrible twos, right? And regression in older siblings when new babies join the family? Well, I’m here to tell you that even though all kids are different, these are very real experiences for many families, and the fear of a child acting out can deter a lot of parents from scheduling a newborn session. Getting the small humans together for a photo may feel like herding cats, but there are several strategies we can use depending on their ages.
As newborn photographers, we’ve got tricks when it comes to newborn and sibling photo posing during the session. We also have tricks we apply during the editing process to turn those chaotic moments into cherished memories, so you’ll remember the sweet moments without all the fuss.
Check out Everett and his little brother Sawyer in our example below! Everett has the best kind of energy, but that also meant he was in no mood to lay still holding his brother. Figuring out how to pose siblings that are still babies can be challenging, especially if they can’t sit up by themselves. Kids are not real good at sitting still for a long period of time in one spot and posing on demand. So we don’t push that. We let them walk and try to allow them time to connect, like holding hands, hugging, kissing each other on the cheek or forehead, or simply sitting next to one other.
We were able to get these two boys positioned perfectly because luckily for us, Everett loves chairs. When it comes to newborn and sibling photo posing, sometimes props are the best way to bring siblings together in a way that feels natural. Check out the video below on how we set up newborn and sibling photo poising for these two brothers.