Last Updated on 05/06/2025 by Armands Sprogis
Newborn and Sibling Photoshoot Ideas Guide
You get an enquiry from a family about a newborn session. You’re super excited. Then they mention they’d love some sibling photos too. Especially when the older sibling is just under two, or maybe between two and three years old. That’s when you might start to feel a little twitch coming on.
I totally get it. This is a common request in my newborn studio here in Edinburgh. Parents often have high hopes for these sibling shots. They picture hugs, kisses, and sweet, angelic expressions. The only catch? The sibling usually has a very different idea of how they want to interact with their brand-new baby brother or sister.
Today, I’m going to share everything I do to prepare for sibling and newborn photos. From how I set up the studio, to what I communicate with families, and how I manage expectations. I’ll walk you through what to do when things aren’t going to plan, and how to approach sessions when older siblings are involved.
Preparation for the sibling and newborn photo shoot.
Sibling and newborn sessions come with a set of challenges. It always looks much easier in photos to be done than in reality. Preparation for the session would be key here.
Let’s address key considerations here.
Prepare the family.
Let the family know ahead of time not to pressure their child during the session. Phrases like “Smile,” “Be good,” “Listen to the photographer,” or “Behave” can actually backfire. The more they hear these instructions, the less likely they are to cooperate. Reassure the parents that you’re experienced with little ones and that it’s best to leave this part to you. Through gentle guidance and play, we’ll get there naturally.
Ask the family to bring along a few of the sibling’s favourite toys or books. Not only can these help during the session, but they might also be lovely to include in a few of the photos. Familiar objects often bring comfort—and sometimes cooperation.
Snacks are also helpful. Ask parents to bring a few of the child’s favourite treats—think of it as positive bribing material. Some parents even bring a new toy hidden in the bag as a reward if the sibling completes all the photos. Results vary, but it can sometimes work wonders.
It’s also a good idea to check in with the parents about their approach to treats. Some may be fine with offering sweets, while others prefer more natural or sugar-free options. Tailor your approach to what the family feels comfortable with.
What outfits to wear for newborn sibling photos?
Here is what to wear video I made for general newborn sessions. These rules would apply for siblings too.
What Siblings Should Wear for Newborn Photoshoots
- Ask parents to prepare at least two outfit options for the sibling
- Choose outfits that match the overall tonality of your images, whether light or dark
- Two outfits are helpful in case of spills or accidents during the session
- Siblings should arrive in everyday clothes
- Keep session outfits packed in a clothing bag to avoid wrinkles
- Change the sibling only when it’s time for their part of the session
Clothing Guidelines
- Solid colours work best
- Avoid large logos or bold prints
- Subtle patterns like small florals on dresses are fine
- Avoid tops with animals, superheroes, or cartoon faces
- Aim for simple, clean, and timeless styles
- In some sessions, siblings may go shirtless — this depends on your personal style and approach
What newborns wear for sibling photos?
- Normally, I don’t recommend parents bring their own outfits for newborn sessions as these can be way too big and the baby simply disappears in them.
- In the studio, I provide a selection of newborn outfits for boys and girls. These include knitted rompers and nappy cover pants
- I also have a few newborn-sized tutus for girls
- Alternatively, newborns can simply be wrapped in a soft wrap for a timeless look
How to get a sibling to cooperate for newborn photos.
Play the game with them.
Make the session fun and engaging. Working with very young siblings, especially those under two years old, is never easy. At this age, they often don’t fully understand the role of being a big brother or sister and tend to be very self-focused. Parents usually hope for that perfect, angelic sibling photo, but it takes patience and creativity to get there.
Ask parents about siblings, what they like, what is their favourite book, sweet etc. Anything that could help you to make a bond with them. Plan your session. Before the session, ask parents about the sibling’s interests—what they like, their favourite book, favourite sweet, or toy. Anything that can help you build a bond with them. Plan your session around these details and try to get sibling photos done early on, once the newborn is settled.
I find that if I wrap the newborn right after feeding, I can start pretty much straight away. This way, I get some photos done early, and later in the session, I unwrap the baby for other poses. Over the years, I’ve tried lots of different approaches, but usually only a couple of them really work to get the shots I need.
Newborn and sibling photography ideas
Under two year olds
There is one sibling pose that every parent wants—the classic laying-down-on-the-carpet shot. Unfortunately, this pose almost never works because the little sibling simply doesn’t want to lie down. If they do, it usually lasts just a couple of seconds before they’re up and moving. So, what can you do instead?
One effective alternative is posing the sibling on a beanbag. I place the newborn on the beanbag and instead of having the sibling do tummy time, I sit them next to the baby. This tends to work well and feels more natural for little ones. If the sibling tries to get away, I ask parents to bring along some bribing material. At my studio, I always keep some smarties handy. I place them gently on the newborn, and the sibling loves to pick them up. We keep playing this little game until I get the shots I need.
Posing under two-year-olds on the floor.
This very often would mean some sort of compositing in Photoshop. I would photograph the baby separately and then ask the sibling to walk into the shot next to the basket prop and pick up the toy or smartie from the bucket. Has always worked pretty well. More work in post-processing tho.
If you feel confident, you can keep the baby in the basket while a sibling is there, but then you need more helpers.
Posing two to four-year-old siblings with newborns.
The challenge here is the opposite of under-twos. These guys definitely know what they want to do and what they don’t want. So you have to play the game of them thinking that they are in charge, but at the same time, you can get the results. Success rate here definitely varies. It depends on how strongly opinionated they are. This age group can be pretty shy at times too.
Here is a great example of a hyperactive three-year-old who didn’t want to engage with his newborn sibling at all. I noticed he really loved his toy car, so we decided to play a little hide-and-seek game with it. I hid the car under a layer on the sofa, and my goal was to capture a nice expression from him while positioning him so I could clearly see his face. This playful approach helped break the ice and gave me the shot I needed.
This was his reaction to the question to get a photo of him and the baby :)
Here is how it worked out for us.
Beanbag poses.
You can’t really sit a two-year-old next to a newborn because the height difference is just too much. Instead, I usually have them lie down on their tummies and cuddle the baby. This approach normally works pretty well. We can bring back the smartie game, but with a twist: this time, I ask them to pick up the smarties with their lips so it looks like they’re giving kisses. I might place a smartie on the baby’s cheek or near their ears for this. Another fun idea is to have the sibling stay in place while I gently toss a smartie toward them and they try to catch it with their mouth. This often results in some great smiling reactions.
Ask parents if the sibling is normally smiley or pretty serious. Sometimes siblings are just serious and don’t want to smile. That is how their parents see them. In that case, there is no point to do wide smiley photos as that is not how they normally are.
Lay down on their back poses.
This one is still pretty challenging for this age group, but I would say 50/50 this can happen. I would ask Dad or Mum to lay down with them and it works better. Keep the gap between parent and sibling so you can photoshop the parent out. For a lifestyle session, you probably would want to keep them in.
Floor poses for 2-4 year olds.
I pretty always do some sort of standing or sitting pose. The thing is, two-year-olds can be super active, running around mentally and all that. If I see this, then it is definitely a floor pose. We play the game of hiding a toy or a sweet. They would stay next to the bucket and look for it. The baby would be photographed separately. Sweets can work too.
Four year olds and older sibling photo ideas
Here you have much more room to play. This age group responds well and follow directions. You can experiment and try new poses. Below are some ideas for you to try.
Posing newborn with groups of siblings.
I love photographing the energy in groups of siblings—the way each child wants to help and feel important. Usually, I trust the baby with the eldest sibling and pose the younger ones around them. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph quite large groups of siblings, and honestly, I find it easier to work with a group than with a single two-year-old. When they’re together, they want to work as a team, and the younger ones often copy what the older siblings do.
Safety during newborn and sibling photos
Safety during newborn photoshoots is the most important aspect—always, without exception, make sure the baby is safe. Pose the baby carefully and never rush. It’s essential to have both parents involved: one watching the sibling and the other spotting the baby. This is especially important for siblings under four years old, as you never know how they might react.
Wrapping the baby is a great idea because it adds an extra layer of security and comfort. When doing seated images with a sibling holding the baby, I always ask the mum or an assistant to support the baby from behind. I take one shot with the helper visible and another without, so I can easily composite the images later for a seamless final photo.
Few more tips for sibling portraits.
- Take a mixture of sibling looking into the camera and sibling looking at the newborn photos.
- If you would like to evoke more reaction from siblings, maybe ask one of the parents be behind you and hide. Play peek a boo or I ask them to take a toy and we play the game of parents placing a toy on my head. I pretend I don’t like that. Kids love it.
- If parents have told you what sweets kids like, buy some. Just in case if parents forget them at home.
- For newborn and sibling cuddling photos, please keep the nappy on. The last thing you want is a newborn havingan accident on a sibling and game over with a big tantrum :)
Thank you for visiting my blog. Feel free to visit my other education posts.
