How to Get Adorable Baby Pictures with Older Siblings

Bringing a new baby into your family is an exciting experience that you naturally want to capture on film. If you have an older child, however, getting great pictures of them together can be a little challenging. This is especially true if your older child has mixed feelings about the new baby. Here’s what you can do to make your photo session go as smoothly as possible so you can get baby pictures that make very special memories.

Poses & Props

Perhaps the easiest way for a younger sibling to “hold” their new baby brother or sister is to sit on a chair, bench, or sofa to provide extra support. This is important if your child is between three and eight years old. Younger siblings are likely too small to hold the new baby, but can sit on the sofa or on a blanket on the floor next to them.

Bring your nursing pillow or another supportive pillow that can be placed underneath a decorative throw to help hold your new baby up. Your older child can sit behind the pillow, which may be able to be scooted into their lap, to give the appearance as though they were holding the baby even though the pillow is providing the support.

Rewarding Your Older Child

Talk to your older child about the pictures and that they’re important to you. Offer your child a reward for a good attitude and a successful session. Perhaps your child could be given a small toy that they’ve been wanting, or you can go out to get ice cream together as a family after the shoot. Often when older siblings are jealous of all the attention the new baby is getting, a simple fix can be lavishing some extra attention on your older child. You may even be able to arrange for someone else to care for the baby for a short while after the photo shoot and spend some one-on-one time with your older child — something they may enjoy more than a toy or ice cream.

Funny Pictures

If your older child has mixed feelings about the new baby, you may want to turn it into a funny photo shoot. Perhaps your older child could pose with their back to the baby and their arms crossed, looking back over their shoulder with a pouted lip. Or, you could print a cute card that says “Return to Sender” and have a photo of your older child affixing the card to the baby’s blanket or a stamp to their forehead.

Get Creative with Your Baby Pictures

Your newborn will grow so fast that it will be hard to remember what they were like in the beginning. These baby pictures are precious, but don’t be afraid to get creative with them. Let your family’s personality shine through, and let your older child feel as though they are a part of this momentous new stage of your life — because they are!

Book your spot for high quality, fun, and classic baby photography ideally before your baby is born and set the date for just a week or so after your due date. Because babies can come unpredictably, discuss with your photographer how they can accommodate you if your baby is born at a different time. Contact James Hill Photography at (404) 289-6383.