Family Portraits During Your Newborn Session

Your first family portrait with your newborn is more than just a photo – it’s a celebration of this new chapter in your lives! This image captures the beginning of your journey together as a family, filled with love, hope, and excitement for the future.

We take special care to create a relaxed environment where everyone feels comfortable. Family and sibling poses are done first so that you can relax for the rest of the session and siblings don’t have to stay too long in a hot studio.

That said, I know it’s not always possible to find a babysitter for your newborn session, so I have created a separate playroom in the lobby of my studio for older siblings to enjoy!

The Family Portrait

I have three backdrops to accommodate a close-up family portrait. You can choose from black, grey or white. Black shirts are flattering for all body types and look amazing with all of the background choices. For the white and grey backdrops, pastels and soft colors look beautiful! (Avoid bold patterns and shirts with words.) A solid color shirt looks great for older siblings. Baby will be swaddled for this pose, so there is no need to pack an outfit.

I recommend dressing Mom first, and then coordinate the rest of the family. Because a postpartum Mama needs to feel beautiful and comfortable, first and foremost!

Family portraits are parents and siblings only, as I do not offer extended family photos.

The Sibling Portrait

Sibling poses are done next, on a simple fur rug. The most stress-free pose is to have your older child lay on their back next to baby. This is the easiest pose to do, as it puts very little responsibility on the older sibling. Again, the baby will be swaddled to keep their arms and legs relaxed.

I will choose a swaddle color to match their siblings outfit. In most cases this is the same swaddle used for the family portrait. When choosing a top for your older sibling(s), try to avoid shirts with words as they tend to wrinkle and look messy or become unreadable.

For older siblings, we may do a sitting up pose on our classic white backdrop instead.

An Important Note About Younger Siblings:

Introducing a new baby to a toddler-aged sibling can be an emotional time, and we understand that they may need a little extra attention during the session. Their whole world has just been changed and it can be a lot for their young minds to process so soon.

We focus on making them feel special and involved, whether it’s by giving them a moment to hold their new sibling or simply letting them be themselves. Patience is key, and we aim to create an atmosphere where your toddler feels comfortable and excited to be part of this special moment.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have! I look forward to photographing your beautiful family soon.