Tips for Newborn & Sibling Portraits from a Lynchburg Newborn Photographer
Big love begins in the smallest moments
Photographing your newborn and their sibling captures the beginning of a bond you’ll treasure in your heart and on your walls for years to come. But if you’re a mom of a toddler or preschooler, you might be a little anxious about how that older brother or sister will behave during the newborn photo session. Toddlers are full of energy and big feelings, and the idea of getting them to cooperate for newborn photos can feel daunting. Take a deep breath, mama. You are not alone, and it is possible to get beautiful sibling portraits! In fact, as a newborn photographer in Lynchburg, VA who has worked with many young families, I can assure you that with some patience, planning, and a few tricks, we will capture those heart-melting shots of your children together.
I specialize in newborn photography and family portraits, so I’ve learned a lot about encouraging toddlers and preschoolers to cooperate during a baby’s photo session. Below, I’ll share some of my favorite techniques that have proven especially effective for families with toddler or preschool siblings. These tips will help make your sibling newborn session in Lynchburg feel relaxed and even fun. Remember, it’s normal for not every moment to go perfectly with little ones – but with the right approach, we’ll still get beautful portraits you’ll treasure.
Start with a Calm Newborn: Swaddle Right Away for Soothing
One of the first things I do in a newborn session is to ensure baby is calm and comfortable – and a simple swaddle works wonders. Starting the session by swaddling your newborn helps them feel cozy and secure, often leading to a happy, sleepy baby. A calm baby sets the tone for the whole session. When your infant is content (or peacefully snoozing), it’s much easier for your toddler to relax around them. There’s no startling cries or flailing little limbs – just a snug, serene bundle. This means we can begin with some sweet, calm photos immediately, which is a great confidence booster for everyone.
Swaddling your baby right away also allows us to jump into sibling photos early, while the newborn is settled. Your toddler can gently snuggle up next to their swaddled baby brother or sister without the baby fussing. Starting wit a calm baby in a wrap sets up both siblings for success. I often find that once a toddler sees their tiny sibling looking like a cute “burrito,” they’re more curious and willing to cooperate. It’s a gentle introduction that helps everyone ease into the session.
Keep Sibling Time Short and Sweet
Little kids have short attention spans – especially toddlers! Expecting a two- or three-year-old to pose perfectly for an hour is unrealistic (and would be no fun for anyone). That’s why I plan for family and sibling photo time to be short and sweet. In practice, this means we focus on getting those family and sibling shots early in the session to maximize that brief window when your toddler is most cooperative (before boredom or the “wiggles” set in).
I typically start with family and sibling portraits right after getting the newborn swaddled and calm. We’ll attempt a few adorable poses (more on those below) while your older child is still happy and engaged. IIf your toddler is only willing to participate for a few minutes, that’s okay – we won’t force it. Quality over quantity is key for sibling photos. Often, a short burst of engagement is all we need to capture a beautiful moment. After we’ve tried a handful of sibling poses, we let that child take a break. They can go play, have a snack, or even head home with Dad or Grandma while we continue the newborn’s solo portraits.
Keeping sibling time brief not only holds the toddler’s attention better, it also takes the pressure off you (and them). You won’t be spending the entire session wrangling your toddler into every shot. We get what we can in those first few minutes, and then anything extra is a bonus. This approach makes the session more enjoyable for big siblings, and for parents! I want your older child to leave the session remembering it as a fun experience, not a long ordeal of being told to sit still. Short and positive interactions go a long way toward that goal.
Flexible Scheduling: The option to split Family and Newborn Portraits on Separate Days
One of the things I love most about newborn photography is creating a relaxed, stress-free experience for families. That’s why I always offer the option to split the newborn session and family portraits into two separate sessions. This gives parents and siblings the space to fully enjoy each moment without feeling rushed, and it allows me to capture both those fresh, sleepy newborn details and the special family connections in the most natural way.
By dividing the session this way, we can keep things calm and enjoyable for everyone. Your toddler isn’t expected to wait through an entire newborn session, and your baby gets the quiet space they need for those cozy, sleepy poses. It’s a win-win for growing families.
This approach has worked wonderfully for many families in Lynchburg, Forest, Madison Heights, and surrounding areas—especially those with toddlers who thrive on routine. Planning two sessions can help avoid overwhelm and allows us to focus fully on one thing at a time, creating a gallery full of beautiful, heartfelt images.
Two sessions, one beautiful result: timeless portraits that reflect your family’s unique story.
Sweet Moments, Soft Spaces: How We Keep Sibling Poses Safe
When it comes to posing newborns with their big brothers or sisters, safety and comfort are top priorities. My favorite trick is using a comfy bed setup for sibling shots. It creates a safe space for your toddler to interact with the baby. No worrying about them accidentally dropping the newborn, and it feels just like home, which helps kids relax.
Often, I’ll have the older sibling lie down next to the swaddled baby on the bed. This way, both are secure and on the same level. Your toddler can gently put an arm around the baby or just lie beside them and smile. If the child is a bit older (preschool age), they might sit on the bed while carefully holding the baby in their lap with a spotter just out of frame. But many times, for wiggly toddlers, lying down poses are the safest bet. They can’t accidentally topple the baby, and they usually think it’s pretty fun to be allowed on the “big bed” for pictures!
The bed setup also lets us get a variety of poses of the siblings together. And because it’s so comfortable, kids often forget that a portrait is even happening, it just feels like cuddle time. Safety is always the underlying goal: there’s always a spotter (often mom or dad) right nearby, even if just out of the frame, and plenty of padding. A cozy bed pose almost never fails to produce at least one frame of sibling sweetness!
A Variety of Adorable Poses: Flexibility is Key
Every child is different – what one toddler happily does, another might refuse. That’s why I go into sibling portions of a newborn session with a variety of pose ideas and a flexible mindset. We’ll try several different setups to see what engages your older kiddo best. The goal is to capture a variety of images – from traditional posed smiles to candid interactions – so you have lots of choices and we increase our odds of getting the shot you’ll love.
Some favorite sibling poses I often use include:
Lying down side by side: As mentioned, both siblings lying on their backs or sides on a safe surface, facing each other or facing the camera. This is often the easiest and safest pose, and it looks adorable with both little faces in view.
Lying down on their backs on a soft blanket: This setup lets us get photos from above, capturing a sweet top-down view of the siblings together
Kissing or gentle snuggles: I might encourage big brother or sister to give the baby a tiny kiss on the forehead or to “show me how you can softly snuggle.” These tender moments are so heart-melting on camera.
Interactive prompts: Sometimes I’ll ask the sibling to count baby’s toes or point to baby’s nose, or even pretend to make the baby laugh. Capturing those interactions (like a child gently touching the baby’s tiny fingers or proudly showing baby a toy) can be precious and genuine.
Whole family poses: Including parents with the siblings can help, too. For instance, big sister might sit on mommy’s lap while mommy holds the newborn, so everyone is close together. This way the toddler feels secure with a parent, and we still get both children in the frame. Later, I can crop in for a beautiful portrait of just the kids together.
We’ll go through these pose ideas briskly, following the child’s lead. If your toddler isn’t into one pose (for example, refuses to lie down), no big deal – we’ll move to another. Flexibility is key. The idea is to keep things feeling like play. By offering a variety of poses and little games, we increase the chance that one of them will click with your child’s mood and personality. And when it does, that’s when the magic happens and we get a genuine smile or a sweet sibling interaction captured. Plus, having a mix of posed and candid shots gives you a beautiful gallery that tells the story of their new sibling bond from different angles.
[Insert photo of older sibling kissing newborn on the forehead]
Making it Fun: Toys, Games, and laughter for Genuine Smiles
Toddlers are most cooperative when they’re having fun. During our session, I pull out all the stops to turn picture time into play time! One of my secret weapons is a simple cat toy. Yes, the kind with a little feather or jingle bell on a stick. It might sound silly, but it never fails to get kids giggling. I’ll wave the cat toy near my camera, bounce it around, or make it “dance,” and suddenly your toddler’s eyes light up with amusement. Those natural grins and laughter as they watch the silly toy? That’s what I’m aiming to capture. Who knew a cat toy could be the secret to genuine smiles!
Of course, that’s not the only trick in my basket. I might also break into a favorite song or a round of “Baby Shark”, play peek-a-boo from behind the camera, or pretend to sneeze loudly (toddlers find fake sneezes hilarious for some reason!). If your child has a favorite character or song, let me know and I’ll incorporate it. I’ve been known to ask goofy questions like “Oh no, do I have a monkey on my head?” to get that coveted belly laugh. Whatever it takes to turn the session into a game, I’m up for it.
Additionally, I often encourage big siblings to be “helpers.” For instance, I might ask them to help me tuck the baby’s blanket, or hold a soft stuffed animal next to the baby for a photo. Kids love to feel important and giving them a job makes them proud and distracts from any pressure to “pose.” If your toddler wants to show me their own toy or do a special trick, I’ll happily take a picture of that too. The more comfortable and heard they feel, the more cooperative they’ll be.
The bottom line is, we keep the atmosphere light, silly, and child-friendly. There’s no shushing or scolding to “smile for the camera.” Instead, I engage with your child at their level and I’ll get a little goofy if I have to! This approach not only results in real smiles and joyful expressions, but it also ensures your toddler feels safe and happy during the session. And a happy big sibling makes for much smoother newborn photos.
[Insert photo of toddler laughing while next to newborn baby]
Creative Post-Processing: Cropping and “Head Swapping” for Perfect Shots
Even with all the planning and tricks, we know that getting everyone to look perfect in a single frame is a tall order. Toddlers might be smiling in one photo while the newborn is squirming in another, or maybe a parent had to sneak a hand into the shot to keep baby safe. Here’s where a little post-processing magic comes in. I use creative editing techniques like intentional cropping and even head-swapping between images to produce the final perfect portraits where everyone looks their best.
Cropping techniques are incredibly handy for simplifying family portraits or sibling shots. For example, say we take a beautiful photo of your toddler next to the newborn, but to make that happen, Dad’s arm had to be just off to the side holding the baby in place (safety first!). I can crop or frame the final image so that only the sweet faces of your toddler and baby are visible, and that supporting arm is out of the shot. The result looks like an intimate moment just between the siblings, even though we had a helping hand in reality. Cropping can also remove any background distractions caused by a wiggly kiddo or a toy that made its way into the frame. By zooming in on the connection like a tiny hand holding a finger, or a shared smile, we keep the focus on what matters most in the portrait.
These editing techniques are a safety net. They take the pressure off during the shoot – we don’t have to force a toddler to smile at the exact moment the newborn decides to cooperate. We capture a range of frames and know that later we can pick the best pieces of each. Many parents of toddlers find this reassuring, because it means even if your little one never sits still for that one perfect photo, I can create it from the bits of cooperation we do get. At the end of the day, you’ll have stunning images where everyone looks calm and happy, even if behind the scenes we were singing Baby Shark and making funny faces to get there!
Patience and Positivity: Trust the Process (Embrace Imperfection)
Above all, the most important ingredient for a successful sibling newborn session is patience both on my part and yours. I always tell moms and dads: Trust the process. We might have a detailed plan and lots of tricks, but we also have to embrace a little chaos when working with young children. And that’s perfectly okay! Not every moment will go as planned: your toddler might throw a mini tantrum, or the baby might need an unexpected feeding break. Don’t worry and don’t judge yourself or your child. I have seen it all, and I remain calm and patient no matter what. We will get back on track once the child’s needs are met, and we’ll keep the atmosphere positive.
It’s important for parents (especially moms who often feel the stress) to know that you don’t have to apologize for your toddler being a toddler. Tantrums, silliness, shyness: it’s all normal. I approach each session with a reassuring, go-with-the-flow attitude. If we need to take a pause so you can cuddle your older child or give them a snack, we will. If we need to sing a few songs or let them run in a circle to blow off steam, that’s what we’ll do. There is no rush and no pressure for perfection here. Some of the most beautiful images come from spontaneous, unplanned moments once everyone relaxes again.
I also prepare my clients in advance that setting realistic expectations is helpful. Your toddler might not cooperate for every pose, and that’s fine. We only need a couple of great sibling shots, not twenty. Often parents are pleasantly surprised at the portraits I show them later, because in the moment it might have felt a bit wild. But trust me, amidst the commotion there are genuine smiles and loving glances that I see and capture with my camera. It’s my job to weave the story together, and I’ve had years of experience as a newborn and family photographer doing just that with lively little ones.
For families with toddlers or preschoolers, these kid-friendly approaches really do work. I’ve had families come in nervous, saying “I’m not sure we’ll get anything, my two-year-old is so active,” and by the end, we have multiple frame-worthy shots. The key is that you can relax and trust me. Trust that I have endless patience, a bag of tricks, and the expertise to handle whatever happens. Even if it feels like a circus while we’re shooting, I promise you will end up with beautiful, heartfelt portraits that make it all worth it.
Cherish the Moments – Let’s Capture Your Growing Family
Whether you prefer the comfort of your own home or the simplicity of a studio setting, I offer both lifestyle in-home newborn sessions and classic studio portraits—so you can choose the experience that feels right for your family. No matter the setting, my focus is always on creating a calm, connection-centered session that captures the heart of this special season.
Every family’s journey is unique, and that includes the dynamic between your new baby and their big sibling. However unpredictable toddlers can be, one thing is certain: the bond forming between your children is something truly special. My goal is to help you cherish those early sibling moments with photos that reflect the love (and even the silliness) of this stage. With a warm, patient approach and a lot of experience working with young families, I’m here to ensure your newborn session is a positive, stress-free memory for you and your kids.
If you’re in the Lynchburg area (or anywhere in Central Virginia) and thinking about newborn photos, I’d love to work with you. Andria Fontenot Photography specializes in newborn photography in Lynchburg, VA, and I’ve helped many families just like yours navigate sessions with toddlers and babies together. You can trust that we’ll go at your children’s pace and still create gorgeous images of your family’s newest chapter.
Ready to capture those fleeting moments of your children getting to know each other? Let’s chat! Contact me to book your newborn and family session in Lynchburg, Forest, or the surrounding areas. I’d be honored to help you document these precious days in a relaxed, meaningful way. No matter how wild life with a toddler and a newborn may feel, we’ll make sure you come away with stunning portraits and a heart full of joy. I can’t wait to meet you and your growing family and create something beautiful together. ❤️
