Newborn photography with siblings in Northern Virginia

If you are searching for newborn photography with siblings in Northern Virginia, chances are that you are adding on to your family of three. My name is Stephanie, your professional and highly rated newborn photographer in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Working with young siblings can be quite challenging. As a former Au pair from Germany with lots of childcare experience and a mom myself, the following tips and tricks have helped make newborn photography sessions with siblings a success.

Learning about the siblings prior to your newborn photo shoot

As your full service newborn photographer in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., I find it important to meet my clients prior to their photo shoot. Whether it’s through a virtual call or an in-person meeting over a cup of coffee, being able to get to know your family is the key to a successful session. Siblings always receive my full attention. Learning about their personalities, their favorite toys, their teacher’s name…can help me gain their trust and connect with them quickly.

Miss Maggie is the third baby girl for this adorable family who resides in Annandale, Virginia. Mom’s necklace showcases the first letter of each of her girl’s names. What a special way to hold them close (and a great gift from a husband to his wife/mother of his children).

Newborn photography with siblings in Northern Virginia : Starting with the family photos first

When working with siblings, I prefer to start with the family photos first. Your kiddos will still be curious about the “stranger” in their home and I like to take advantage of it. This, however, depends on your schedule as well. For families who have older kids in school, I wouldn’t mind starting with the newborn/parent photos first and have siblings join upon their return. The girls (3 and 5 years old) in the featured session stayed home the morning of their newborn photo shoot. Their dad took them to school as soon as I had finished photographing the entire family. Once they left, I put all my focus on mom and Miss Maggie.

Northern Virginia newborn photographer: Safety first

Keeping baby swaddled for newborn photos with siblings allows for an easy, adorable and safe workflow in your newborn session. With baby being snug like a bug, we don’t have to worry about arms and legs all over the place. This is especially important working with toddlers, as they may not want anything to do with their new brother or sister and just push them away. I typically have siblings either sit up while leaning into a couple of pillows for more comfort and support, or lay down on the floor with baby in their arms. Safety always comes first!

Dimples!!!!!

Conclusion

Though including young siblings in your newborn session can be challenging, this absolutely doesn’t scare me. As your professional newborn photographer in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., I am eager to learn about your munchkins and capture sweet moments of and with your family. Whether you are looking for an in-home or studio newborn photographer, I’m here to guide you. I cannot wait to start planning your photo shoot. Contact me today.

In the weeks to come, I will be featuring other amazing photographers whose work very much inspires me. Check out Jasmyn’s most recent blog post about Phoenix baby stores. I’m sure you’ll be finding some goodies for your little one.