The first portraits of your new baby with their older siblings will probably be some of your lifelong favorite photos, and no parent should miss out on them. But I also get that the idea of trying to manage a photo shoot for kids and a newborn at the same time sounds exhausting enough to make you hesitate about doing it at all. Good news! There are plenty of ways to get the Mechanicsburg PA newborn lifestyle and sibling photos you love without all the stress, and here are my top tips.
Have a Separate Session for Sibling Portraits
I’ve found this to be such an improvement that it’s now the way that I do all of my newborn portraits with siblings! We start with a photo shoot that’s just for the newborn and parents, so that we can really focus on keeping the environment quiet and calm so that your newborn stays soothed and sleepy.
Then, we have a separate add-on session at your home with the whole family. This way, you get plenty of the solo newborn portraits that you’ll always cherish as well as beautiful photos of your baby with their built-in best friends, their siblings, without having to compromise on either.
Bring In Some Extra Help for Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Lifestyle and Sibling Photos
Your sibling add-on photo shoot will be a fun memory for the family, but these sessions can also be a lot to manage, between the photos and your new baby as well as keeping your older kids on track.
Especially if you have more than one child besides your newborn, and/or if your other children are in the toddler stage or tend to be very active, it may be helpful to have a grandparent, a friend, or a sitter come over to help. It’s not a must-have, but it won’t hurt to have an extra set of hands if you need them!
Embrace Authenticity
One of the most beautiful parts of Mechanicsburg PA newborn lifestyle and sibling photos taken in your home is that they’re authentic to your home life. You get to preserve these beautiful snapshots of your first days with your sweet child, with your beloved family home in the background. Life isn’t perfect, and your portraits don’t have to be either!
Maybe there’s a spit-up and you have to change your baby or the bedding, maybe your older kids are getting rambunctious…don’t worry, it happens! Put stress aside and remind yourself that these portraits are genuine and beautiful, and that one day, all of that chaos will be a precious memory.
Planning Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Lifestyle and Sibling Photos
If you have a little one on the way, we can start planning your Mechanicsburg PA newborn lifestyle and sibling photos right now! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat.