I adore working with this sweet family! They recently welcomed their second baby girl to the world and brought her to my Saratoga Springs studio for newborn portraits. We had a wonderful time capturing baby Ellie and her big sister, Brynlee. Brynlee was excited to show off her baby sister! Their parents were so patient and lovely - and I even got to meet the girls’ grandmother. All in all, it was a gorgeous newborn session for Ellie!

Newborn portraits with a big siblings can be a stressor for parents. They wonder what will happen if their toddler doesn’t cooperate or doesn’t want to be around the baby. After doing this for 12 years (and as a mom of two myself), I promise you that I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve. Being a big sibling is a huge adjustment, especially for little ones. Oftentimes, when they come into my studio, it’s their first time becoming a new big sibling and they may not have a lot of experience in their new role yet! That’s completely understandable and it’s important to me that I allow those big siblings to feel comfortable, confident, and seen during their time in my studio.

When they come to the studio, the most important person for me to connect with at the beginning of the session is the sibling. It’s so important for them to have something that feels like it’s all about them, so I take time to show them the toys in the studio, to have a peek at the snack cart and pick out what they’ll want to enjoy when we’re done with portraits. Sometimes they want just a solo portrait by themselves, and I always say yes to that! All of this comes together to help them feel like they are seen & heard, and they feel a bit of control over what would otherwise be a new and unfamiliar situation.

Families can let me know if they want to start with just them and baby, or the whole family. I even make sure to ask the big siblings what they think. It goes a long way to be thought of - even at a young age. Additionally, I have lots of fun prompts to help big siblings engage with their new baby – from cuddling to pretending to sleep to looking for glitter boogies in the baby’s nose. I can even hide a squeaky toy in my palm and go to squeak their belly, getting the biggest smiles and so much laughter! Some little ones need more help than others - but I promise you, no matter what, we’ll make magic together!

In this session, big sister Brynlee did amazing with her baby sister Ellie. She especially enjoyed pushing her in the little rattan stroller and I’m so happy I was able to capture these early moments for their parents to treasure forever.

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