A maternity photoshoot is a beautiful way to capture the fleeting magic of pregnancy, but when you’re expecting your second or third child, it’s also an opportunity to create lasting memories with the whole family! Including older children in your family maternity photos makes the experience even more meaningful and fun by showcasing your growing family dynamic and celebrating the upcoming arrival of a new baby sibling.
In this guide, I’ll share tips on how to include your new baby’s older siblings in your maternity photos and ensure that everyone enjoys the session so you walk away with unforgettable memories and of course, beautiful photos!
Choose the Right Time for the Photoshoot
When planning family maternity photos to include siblings, it’s important to schedule the session at a time when your kids can be well-rested and in good spirits. For many families, mornings or after-nap times work best. A well-rested child is more likely to be happy and cooperative, which makes the session smoother for everyone.
Of course, you will also want to take into account golden hour and the time of year. In the Summer months, golden hour is often past the bedtime of older siblings. Ask your photographer for a location that has good light earlier in the day. I like to suggest bringing along an aunt or grandma to help wrangle the kids after the family photos so that we can get some beautiful photos of just you and your husband and solo shots of you in a beautiful gown closer to sunset. You can even bring pajamas for the kids to change into so that they’re ready for bed when you get home. A little planning ahead ensures that the day of the photoshoot is fun and stress-free for everyone involved.
Get The Kids Involved Early
To make family maternity photos with siblings feel more special, involve your older children in the process early on. Talk to them about the photoshoot beforehand, explaining what will happen and how much fun it will be. If you plan to incorporate props in your session, like tiny baby shoes or clothes, or toys, consider letting the baby’s older siblings choose the items they’d like to hold for the photos.
When kids feel included, they’re more excited about participating and more likely to cooperate. Making it an exciting event builds anticipation and helps them feel important in this special family milestone.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Younger children, especially toddlers, often have short attention spans, so keeping their involvement in the photoshoot relatively brief can help maintain their interest. When planning your family maternity photos with siblings, I like to focus on the full family shots early in the session when the kids are fresh and engaged and incorporate fun games to keep kids interested and participating while we get other combinations, like Mommy and Me and siblings poses.
By starting with the family group shots, we ensure those are taken care of while allowing time for some more playful, candid moments afterward. If you choose to bring along another adult, like an aunt or grandma, they can look after the kids while we focus on solo shots and couples moments. This approach helps prevent restlessness and keeps the session flowing smoothly.
Let Kids Be Themselves
One of the best parts of family maternity photos with siblings is capturing authentic moments that showcase your unique family’s personality. Instead of expecting perfect poses from your children, let them be themselves! Candid moments of laughter, interaction, and curiosity often result in the most heartwarming images.
As a photographer, I love to capture the natural moments that unfold throughout the session. Whether that’s your children hugging your belly, whispering secrets to their unborn sibling, or laughing with each other and playing nearby while you and your husband share a moment. Allowing the kids to move around and express themselves will make the experience more enjoyable for them and result in truly genuine photos.
Make It A Playful Experience
Maternity photoshoots should be enjoyable for the whole family which is why I like to keep the mood light and playful! I use prompts that encourage laughter, games, and tickling to keep your kids engaged. When the session feels more like playtime, the photos will reflect the natural joy and love that your family shares. This approach also helps keep the kids happy and cooperative throughout the shoot.
Here are a few of the interactive poses that I love to incorporate to keep kids engaged during my family maternity photos with siblings:
- Give Mom’s belly a hug/kiss: A classic and adorable pose where siblings gently hug or kiss mom’s belly, symbolizing their connection with their new baby brother or sister.
- Whisper a secret to Baby/listen for Baby’s heartbeat: similar to the above prompt, it often creates a sweet pose during which to capture the perfect shot of a little one being still next to Mom’s belly and sharing a moment with their soon-to-be-born sibling.
- Reading a story: Bring along a favorite book and capture the sibling reading to mom and the baby. This makes for a tender, intimate shot that highlights the family bond. Plus it is a sweet moment that can easily be recreated at your newborn photo session (LINK HERE) for an adorable before and after look.
- Cuddling and playing together on a blanket: This one gets everyone close together and allows for closeups of sweet moments.
These playful poses keep siblings entertained while creating beautiful moments that reflect the joy and anticipation of welcoming a new baby into the family.
Bring Snacks and Comfort Items
When preparing for family maternity photos with siblings, it’s a good idea to bring along snacks and drinks to keep the kids energized and happy throughout the session. Hungry kids can quickly become irritable, so having easy, non-messy snacks on hand can make all the difference.
Additionally, consider bringing along a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or toy. These comfort items can help calm anxious children and even be incorporated into the photos, adding a personal touch. For more tips on how to prepare kids for photo sessions, check out this blog!
Celebrate the Big Sibling Role
Family maternity photos with siblings are a great opportunity to celebrate your older children’s new role as Big Brother or Big Sister. Highlighting this role in the photos can make them feel special and included in the experience. When my mom was pregnant with my youngest sibling, (I’m 1 of 7 if you didn’t know) my youngest brother at the time was not very happy about giving up his place as the “baby” of the family. He finally changed his mind when we helped him think of all the things he could “teach” his new little brother. Consider incorporating props like signs that say “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” or the things that your older kids are excited to “teach” their new baby sibling. These small touches help your child feel proud and excited about their role in the family and make the photos even more meaningful.
Capture Family Bonds
While maternity photos often focus on the baby bump, (it is the reason for the session after all) it’s also important to capture the current relationships within the family before things change when the new baby is born. Photos of siblings hugging each other, parents interacting with the kids, or everyone holding hands and playing can create touching, timeless images that reflect the love between family members as they are in this unrepeatable moment in time.
These relationship-centered shots add depth and meaning to your photos, making them a true reflection of your family’s unique dynamic and some of my favorite to photograph.
Relax and Enjoy the Moment
Finally, the most important tip for capturing beautiful family maternity photos with siblings is to relax and go with the flow. Kids can be unpredictable, but that’s part of the charm! Some of the best photos come from unplanned, candid moments where your children are just being themselves. You can trust me as your photographer to capture the magic while you focus on enjoying the experience of being together as a family before the new baby arrives.
Including older children in your family maternity photos with siblings is a wonderful way to create lasting memories and celebrate this exciting milestone in your family’s story. By following these tips, you’ll ensure the photoshoot is fun, meaningful, and full of love — resulting in beautiful images you’ll treasure for years to come.
Looking for a maternity photographer in Chattanooga?
Whether you're expecting your first baby or adding another to the crew, I'd love to be your maternity photographer. I'm a family and maternity photographer in Chattanooga who loves to work with children! Send me a message and let's connect!
See more photos from this family maternity session with siblings on beautiful Nickajack Lake in Eastern Tennessee.
Hi, I'm Christian!
(Michelle is my middle name) and I am a Chattanooga photographer who will make getting beautiful photos of your family fun and easy! My style is vibrant and natural with a focus on fun so no one gets bored! You'll love your photos so much that you'll want to share them with everyone you know!
Let's connect - I'd love to tell your story!
