Sibling bonds are one of the most special connections to capture in a baby photoshoot.
Whether it’s gentle cuddles, giggles, or a proud older sibling holding their baby brother or sister, these moments become treasured memories.
If you’re wondering whether your baby’s photoshoot can include their sibling(s)—the answer is absolutely, yes! Here’s everything you need to know about making sibling portraits a beautiful, stress-free part of your session.
Why Sibling Photos Are So Special
There’s something magical about capturing the early bond between siblings. These images will be cherished for years, becoming part of your family’s story.
- They showcase the unique bond between siblings from the very beginning.
- Your older child gets to feel included and important in the session.
- These moments fly by—your babies won’t stay this little forever!
Including siblings in a baby photoshoot means you’ll have gorgeous, natural moments to look back on, capturing this stage of your growing family.
How We Make Sibling Photos Fun & Natural
The key to beautiful sibling photos? Keeping it relaxed and fun!
- A baby-led approach – We never force poses and always work with your children’s energy levels.
- Gentle prompts instead of stiff poses – Encouraging interactions creates the most natural images – I always try to avoid asking a child to smile for the camera. That’s a one way ticket to a strange expression – instead I focus on finding out what makes them laugh and go with that. I’d encourage you to check any embarrassment at the door and be prepared to be just as silly as you like to get those natural smiles. I’ll be right there, being daft with you!
- Short and sweet sibling moments – We capture these first, while attention spans are still high and change props regularly if required to keep the novelty factor going!
I’ll always go with the flow of the session, ensuring that siblings feel comfortable, happy, and included in a way that feels natural and stress-free.
What If They Don’t Want to Cooperate? (Because, Kids!)
Worried about whether your toddler or older child will actually sit for a photo? That’s completely normal! Most young children won’t sit still and smile on demand, which is why we approach sibling shots with patience, creativity, and playfulness.
Top Tips for Parents:
- Keep it low pressure – If we make it fun, they’ll naturally engage!
- Bring a small bribe – if your child is old enough to understand the concept of delayed gratification, a snack, a sticker, or the promise of a treat afterward works wonders. If they’re still very little themselves, this isn’t likely to work as they’ll just want whatever we’re promising to them right now. Instead, I find silly games such as making a toy swoop in for a kiss work the best.
- Warm-up time is key – Sometimes, letting them watch the session first so they can get used to the process and environment makes for better results later.
Even if they’re a little shy, wiggly, or full of energy, we’ll still create beautiful, natural sibling images.
What We Capture in a Baby & Sibling Photoshoot
Sibling photos are just one part of a baby photoshoot. We also make sure to include:
- Solo baby portraits – Capturing their milestone moments beautifully.
- Parent & baby moments – A chance for you to be part of the memories, too if you’d like to be (and I’m definitely going to encourage you in a no-pressure way to get in front of the camera as I think you’ll be happy you did!).
- Full family shots (if wanted) – A beautiful way to celebrate your growing family.
Sibling moments add extra personality and love to your baby’s session, but we make sure to balance it with individual moments, too so you get a great range of images in your finished gallery and you make the most of your studio time.
Ready to book your session – head on over to my Baby Photography Page for the full info and the calendar link.
What to Wear for Sibling Photos
Outfit choices can make a big difference in how sibling photos come together! Here are some top tips:
- Keep it simple and coordinated – Soft, neutral tones work best.
- Avoid busy patterns – They can distract from the connection between siblings.
- Comfort is key – Happy, relaxed kids = beautiful photos.
If you’re unsure what works best, I’m always happy to offer guidance!
How to Prepare Older Siblings for the Photoshoot
If your older child is excited about the session, amazing! But if they’re a little shy, unsure, or energetic, here’s how to help them feel comfortable before the session:
- Tell them about it in advance – Let them know they’re going to be in special pictures with their baby sibling.
- Let them bring a comfort item – A small toy or blanket can help if they feel nervous.
- Make them feel important – Tell them they have a special job in helping to make beautiful pictures!
Making it feel like a fun experience rather than something formal helps keep them engaged and excited to take part.
Frequently Asked Questions about Baby Photography
If you’ve still got questions about my studio and baby photography, then just check out the info below. Don’t see your questions answered here? Just get in touch and I’m always happy to help.
I recommend booking your baby’s photo session about 4-6 weeks in advance to secure your preferred date and time, especially if you’d prefer a Saturday appointment. However, if you’re looking for a last-minute appointment, feel free to get in touch—I’ll do my best to accommodate you!
After your session, I’ll professionally edit your images, and within two weeks, you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery. You can view and select your favourite photos, and ordering is simple—just add them to your basket and check out!
Your baby’s safety is my top priority. I always ensure that poses are natural, equipment is secure, and the studio environment is clean and safe. My extensive experience means you can relax, knowing your little one is in good hands. When you see photos where a baby is off ground level – on a chair or bed for example, you can be sure that there are a pair of parent’s hands just out of shot making sure that they are well protected!
My studio is fully equipped with a wide range of props and accessories, but you’re welcome to bring items that hold special meaning to your family. This could include a favourite blanket, toy, or family heirloom – if you’re not sure if something would work, I always say to bring it anyway and we can work it out on the day. You’ll be able to let me know which, if any, of my props you’d like to include in your session when you receive your options form the day before your session. That way, I can have everything ready and waiting for you so we don’t waste any time!
Babies have their own schedules, and that’s absolutely fine! I’ve been working with little ones for over 15 years, so I know how to handle unsettled moments. They’re also not brilliant at letting us know what exactly is going on with them – for example if they’re about to cut a painful tooth – so on rare occasions, if we can’t get them to settle to be at their best during their session, we just put a pin in it and come back to things a different day. In the normal run of events though, we’ll give them time to adjust to their new environment, take breaks as needed and ensure your baby feels happy and secure before capturing those beautiful moments.
Absolutely! Including siblings or family members in your baby’s photo session is a wonderful way to create treasured family memories. You’ll be able to let me know if you’d like to do this when you receive your options form the day before your session. I have lots of posing options available depending on the ages of the children involved so there’s always a way to get great sibling pictures.
Baby photo sessions are booked in my studio to last for an hour so we have plenty of time for outfit changes, different backdrops, and ensuring your baby is comfortable throughout. The session’s pace is entirely flexible to suit your baby’s needs. However, it’s worth knowing that most babies won’t tolerate taking pictures for more than twenty minutes or so (obviously it depends on your little one’s mood on the day) as they can quickly get overwhelmed with the new experience, flashing lights, new person and general excitement. Don’t worry though, I work fast and we can still generate an amazingly full gallery of images in this time frame – it is one of the first things I learned as a baby photographer!
Baby photography sessions can be tailored to any stage of your baby’s first year, but there are popular milestones to consider. These include 4 / 5 months (smiling and getting really strong at tummy time), 8 / 9 months (sitting up independently), and 12 months (standing or first steps). Each age captures unique moments you’ll cherish forever! Obviously all babies differ in the times that they hit these milestones so you’re always welcome to get in touch and talk through when is the best time to schedule your session to create the images that you want.
Choosing your baby’s outfit is an exciting part of preparing for their photo session. I recommend comfortable clothing in solid colours that won’t distract from their adorable expressions. Avoid logos and busy patterns to keep the focus on your little one. Generally (and it obviously does vary from baby to baby) little people aren’t the biggest fans of getting undressed and dressed, so I probably wouldn’t normally recommend more than three outfit changes per session and definitely bonus points if you can layer things up so we can remove one layer and be ready to go in the next outfit! Not sure what will work best? You’re welcome to bring a couple of outfit options, and I’m always happy to help you decide on the day!
This is quite a common question that I get when folk are booking their baby photography club photo shoots. The answer is as many as you want.
I’m down with creating whatever images you would like as part of your photo shoot – I don’t limit you to one style of photography. For some people, this means they have several outfits that they want to include so go right ahead as far as I’m concerned.
However, where this system can fall down is when it comes to your baby’s tolerance for getting changed. Therefore, if you have multiple outfits to include, we get them all out before we start the session and prioritise them. That also lets me see what I’m working with and get out any complementary blankets and props that I think would work well with them. When we have the in priority order, we then work out if we can layer stuff up to minimise the changing fuss. Then we get going and get through as much as we can before your baby gets the hump with us changing them! Simple as that…
My online gallery should be fairly familiar to you if you shop online but in case you need a bit of extra assistance, you can click on the button below to access a help document that walks you through how to access your gallery, choose your favourite images and place an order. Of course, if you are having problems, just get in touch and I’m always happy to help.
You need to pay for your photo shoot when you book it. If your session is more than two weeks away, then you have the option of paying a £20 deposit with the balance being due the week before your session. Otherwise the full balance is due on booking.
Of course, when you book a first birthday photo shoot, you are welcome to cake smash, tub splash, do both or do neither. Whatever works for you. I have some first birthday props such as number 1’s that you’re welcome to include.
My studio is really flexible and I have lots of different backdrops and lighting options to choose from. They’re very easy to switch between so we can simply create lots of different styles of images for you within one session – I recommend choosing three (you’ll be able to do this from your options form the day before your visit) to create a beautifully varied image gallery.
When you buy a digital file from me, the copyright stays with me as it would with pretty much all other photographers out there. However, that’s just a legal term that I retain as the creator of the image. You’re able to print and share the image as much as you’d like to – the only things that you can’t do is sell the images or claim that you took them. Other than that, they are yours to do as you wish with.
This is question that I get asked a lot and it’s a really tough one to answer as it depends on so many things. If I’m photographing a baby and they’re in a great mood, then you have lots of photos where if they are finding things a bit difficult then you get less. Gun to my head, if I had to offer an average image count, then I’d say that you can expect to find about forty fully edited images in your finished gallery but that can vary wildly so it’s probably not a very useful statistic for you.
My prop and accessory collection do change a bit over time as I like to keep things fresh but to give you an idea, I have a ton of bunting (and that really does keep on growing as people come up with new ideas), some very cute miniature chairs, an ivory vintage suitcase and a whole Harry Potter themed mini set (complete with owl) if you are a little bit of a Potterhead.
That’s totally up to you – you just need to bring along things that you love that you’d like to see your baby photographed in. If you’re having more than one family member in the pictures, it’s a great idea to coordinate – even if its just in colour or tone (you don’t need to twin, though you’re welcome to). I have some outfits at the studio (think pettiskirts and rompers for girls, and nappy covers and knitted trousers for boys) that you’re welcome to borrow and some people like to have photos of their little ones wearing nothing but a smile. It really is about whatever works for you. There’s always time for outfit changes if you want to.
You’re welcome to bring along anything that you’d like to include in your photo shoot – including any props or accessories. In fact, it’s a great idea as it makes your session really unique to you. I’ll do my best to work with anything you bring along to create your personal images.
Other than your normal baby bag (like you’d leave the house without it!), you don’t need to bring anything to your session. You might like to bring along changes of outfit and any props and accessories that you’d like to include but it’s not essential, I have everything we need at the studio.
Once your baby is crawling, it does get harder to persuade them that sitting still for photos is a fun idea so there is definitely a lot of chasing and resetting once the initial surprise of an unfamiliar environment has worn off. That said, it’s a good work out for us and there are still tons of great photos to get. If you’re interested in using a lot of props, then it’s best to get in while they can sit unsupported but before they crawl but a mobile baby isn’t an issue at all in the studio.
Yes of course, I have a giant beanbag they can lie on and a specially designed cushion that allows them to sit up. If I’m being entirely honest, if you’ve missed the newborn window of two weeks, then I think you get better value from a session if you wait until they have good neck control and can get their head up when they are on their tummy (even if it’s just for a moment or two).
I love dogs and they’re welcome at my studio. When you’re combining a dog and baby portrait, the only advice I have for you is to wait until your baby is able to sit up unsupported as otherwise it’s very difficult to pose them together. Probably don’t bring them if you are having a cake smash as that’s probably just a disaster waiting to happen – even the best trained dog is probably going to be unable to resist all that cake!
We won’t get good pictures if your baby is ill or unsettled and so it’s normally best to cancel if you know that your baby is under the weather. If you could give me as much notice as possible then that’s always appreciated although you can’t always tell in advance of course. I don’t offer refunds for sessions but you’re always welcome to reschedule if you need to when your baby is not feeling their best.
We book the studio for an hour for a baby photo shoot although in reality, little people would never actually shoot for much more than half of that. When they’re really small, sometimes the window can be just 15 minutes before they’ve had enough – don’t worry though, we can still get lots of great images in that time. The rest of the time is there if we need extra for feeding, settling and getting changed.
You should aim to bring your baby along when they are at their best so have napped and eaten – though babies are notorious for changing their schedule just when you think you’ve got it nailed. Quite often that means that a start time of 10 or 11 is ideal and after lunch and afternoon nap means the afternoon sessions start at 2pm and 3pm. That said, there’s no fixed start time as far as I’m concerned – just whenever is best for you and your little one.
Absolutely – parents and siblings are welcome to join in with the photos.
A baby photo shoot includes your three favourite digital images and costs £95. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend – you simply view and order from your online gallery. Parents and siblings are welcome to join the session as well.
When you book a baby photo shoot, we have the studio for an hour where, in reality, a baby wouldn’t usually shoot for more than 20 minutes or so. We have that extra time for allowing for feeding, settling and generally gently encouraging them. That said, if your baby is really inconsolable (and days can happen when they just won’t settle down), we simply reschedule for another time. Trying to pursue photography with a baby that has really had enough of the whole affair is just stressful for them and for you, so if it comes to it, know that we can book another day to take care of things when they will no doubt being in a happier mood.
This is a tricky one as there is something special about all of your babies development stages. However, if you miss the short window for newborn images or just don’t fancy them, then I recommend waiting until your baby can lift their head when they are on their tummy before coming to visit for photos. Prior to this stage, they’re very limited in terms of what they can do (I’m not criticising!) and although I have a specially designed pillow that allows them to sit up, until they have good neck control they tend to just slump. If you wait until they’re a little bit stronger, then you’ll get much more variety in your finished images.
I keep your images for 18 months following your session date and after this point, they are permanently deleted so if you are purchasing digital copies, I can’t stress enough to back them up safely.
My studio is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
I present all of your images in colour and then I’ll add in black and white copies of some that I think particularly suit it. Of course, if you’d rather have an image in black and white then just ask and I’m happy to switch it over for you.
I have a range of backdrops you can use for your child at a photo shoot and you can make a choice on what you would like when you arrive at the studio. However, if you’d like to take a look in advance…
Each of your images is professionally edited and so there will be a bit of a delay before you can see your images while I get everything ready for you. This can vary according to a number of factors but generally, it’s about a two week wait before your images are uploaded to your private online gallery. I’ll be able to advise you better on exact waiting times at your session.
Sessions take place at my warm and cosy studio in Crawley Down, West Sussex. You can find out more about it including the address and directions at My Studio Page.
There’s no minimum spend or nasty pricing surprises with any of my photography. You’ll already know the price of your photo shoot and what’s included and if you’d like to order more, you simply do so from your online gallery.
I believe in complete transparency when it comes to pricing so you won’t get any nasty surprises. You’ll already know what your session fee includes in terms of images, and you can simply order more from your online gallery if you’d like to – there’s no sales or viewing session to attend.
Here are the prices for additional digital images and prints.
About two weeks after your session, I’ll have your images edited and uploaded to your private online gallery. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend. I’ll email you a link and a password and that will take you straight to your finished images.
Any digital images that you purchase will be sized at 10×8″ at 300ppi so perfect for printing up to this size or slightly larger (you have more flexibility on size when it comes to canvases as they are printed at a lower resolution).
Sorry but no. Obviously you can use your phone for making and receiving calls but I don’t allow any videography or photography inside the studio. If you are caught recording or photographing the session, you will be asked to leave and the session will be terminated without refund. All in all, that’s a horrible situation for us all to be in so please respect my copyright.
Baby Photography
You can book a stand alone baby photo shoot for £95 including three digital images or you can take a look at my Baby Photography Club which includes
- Sessions at 4, 8 and 12 months
- The last session as a cake smash / tub splash if you’d like it (no extra charge)
- Your favourite image from each session in a wall frame at the end of the year OR a free digital image from each session
- Online private image gallery after each session (no sales / viewing appointments)
- £39.95 for the sessions and the wall frame
