How old should siblings be to join a newborn session?

Any age works. I have photographed sessions with siblings as young as 18 months and as old as teenagers. I simply adjust how I work with each child — toddlers get short bursts of involvement, older children often surprise you with how gentle they are.

Do sibling photos take up most of the session time?

No. Sibling portraits are usually done in the first 20 to 30 minutes, once the newborn is calm and settled. The rest of the session focuses on the newborn alone and parent portraits.

What if my toddler refuses to cooperate?

This happens and it is completely fine. I never force a child into a photo. In most cases, curiosity wins out and they come round on their own once they see the baby. If they don't, we have beautiful newborn photos regardless.

Should I bring snacks or a favourite toy?

Yes to both. A familiar toy can help a shy child feel settled. Snacks are useful after the sibling portraits are done — keeping a toddler happy while the newborn session continues is much easier with a snack in hand.

Can both parents be in the family portraits?

Yes. I always include parent portraits with both parents, and family portraits with all children together. These are often the images that end up as wall art.

Do I need to book a different type of session for sibling photos?

No. Sibling and family portraits are included in every newborn session at no extra cost. Just let me know when you book that you have older children so I can plan the session flow.

Sibling Newborn Photography Carlsbad | Lovely Baby Photography

Including siblings in your newborn session gives you photos of all your children together from the very first days. I have been photographing sibling sessions for over 17 years, and these are consistently the images parents tell me they love most.

When your second (or third, or fourth) baby arrives, one of the first things parents ask me is whether their older child can be part of the newborn session. The answer is always yes, and honestly, the sibling photos are often the ones that end up on the wall.

I am Stacey, and I have been photographing newborns and their siblings at my Carlsbad studio since 2009. I have worked with toddlers who wanted to hold the baby for exactly two seconds, four-year-olds who could not stop kissing the baby’s head, and teenagers who acted too cool for photos and then melted the moment I put their baby brother in their arms. Every sibling combination is different, and that is what makes these sessions so good.

How do I prepare my older child for the session?

The best thing you can do is keep it simple. Tell your child they are going to visit the baby photographer, that they get to hold the baby if they want to, and that there will be toys and snacks. That is usually enough.

I would avoid building it up into a big event or putting pressure on them to smile or behave a certain way. Kids pick up on that pressure instantly, and it makes them less cooperative, not more. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed they will be.

A few practical things that help: make sure your older child has eaten before you arrive, bring a favourite toy or tablet for downtime, and dress them in something comfortable. I have a wardrobe in the studio with outfits for siblings up to about age eight, so if you would rather choose something here, that works too.

What actually happens with siblings during the session?

Sibling photos happen at the beginning of the session, when everyone is fresh and at their most cooperative. We do the sibling and family shots first, and then your older child is free to play, watch a movie in the studio, or leave with your partner while I continue with the newborn-only poses.

The sibling portion takes about 15 to 20 minutes. I work quickly because I know the attention span of a two-year-old, and I have plenty of experience making it fun. Stickers, high fives, funny noises, whatever it takes. After 17 years of working with little kids, I have a lot of tricks and none of them involve forcing a child to sit still and smile.

If your older child is not feeling it, that is fine. I never push. Sometimes the best sibling photo is the one where the toddler is just looking at the baby from a distance, curious and cautious. Those are real moments, and they are worth capturing.

What about very young siblings?

When the sibling is also a baby or a very young toddler, safety is my first concern. I never place a young child in a position where they could accidentally hurt the newborn.

For siblings under about two and a half, I often create composite images. I photograph the newborn in the setup first, then photograph the sibling in the same setup separately, and combine the two images in editing. The result is seamless, and you genuinely cannot tell the children were not together at the same time. It is one of the safest and most effective ways to get beautiful sibling portraits when both children are very small.

For older siblings who are steady enough to hold the baby, I guide them into a safe, supported position and stay close throughout. The older child’s comfort matters as much as the baby’s safety.

What kinds of sibling poses work best?

I keep sibling poses simple and natural. The photos that parents love most are rarely the perfectly posed ones. They are the ones where the older child is genuinely looking at the baby, or where the baby has grabbed their sibling’s finger, or where everyone is just settled and calm together.

That said, the classic setups I use most often are:

Older sibling sitting with the baby supported safely on their lap or beside them
Both children lying down side by side, usually on a soft blanket or bed setup
Older sibling standing next to the newborn’s basket or prop, looking in
A close-up of hands, where the older child’s hand rests gently next to the baby’s

I adapt everything based on the child in front of me. A confident five-year-old gets different poses than a shy two-year-old. The goal is always images that feel natural and that you will want on your wall for years.

When should I book if I want sibling photos?

The best time to book is during your pregnancy. Newborn sessions ideally happen between days 5 and 21, when the baby is at their sleepiest and most settled, and I need to reserve that window in advance.

When you get in touch, let me know the ages of your older children. That helps me plan the session structure so we can make the most of the sibling time without anyone getting overtired or frustrated.

I take one session per day, so there is never any rushing. If your toddler needs a snack break or your baby needs a feed, we pause and pick up where we left off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep older siblings engaged during the session?

I have been working with small children for 17 years and I have a lot of experience getting them to cooperate without force. Stickers, games, silly voices, and sometimes just giving them a job to do. If they need a break, they take one. The studio has toys, books, and space for them to play between setups.

What should siblings wear?

Soft, neutral tones work best. Cream, beige, dusty pink, sage green, and light grey all photograph beautifully alongside a newborn. Avoid bold prints, logos, or anything too bright that will pull focus. I have a studio wardrobe with outfits for siblings up to age eight if you would rather choose on the day.

How long does the full session take?

A newborn session with siblings runs about two to three hours total. The sibling portion is usually 15 to 20 minutes at the start, and the rest of the time is dedicated to newborn-only poses and family portraits.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. I recommend booking during your pregnancy so we can plan your session window. Newborns photograph best in the first three weeks, and spaces fill up quickly. Contact me through the contact page and I will come back with available dates.

You might also find it helpful to read about when to book your newborn session before your session.