Bringing a new baby home is a huge adjustment for the whole family—especially for toddlers. Adding a photo session into the mix, where they’re expected to cooperate for two to three hours, can feel like a big ask. But don’t worry! With a little preparation, we can set your toddler up for success and create beautiful sibling moments.

Here are my top tips for making the newborn session a fun and positive experience for your toddler:

1. Keep Their Routine Consistent
Try to keep your toddler on their regular sleep and meal schedule the day before and the day of the session. A well-rested and well-fed toddler is much more likely to engage and enjoy the experience.

2. Talk About the Session in Advance
Prepare your toddler by talking to them about coming to the studio and taking photos. If they haven’t met me before, show them a picture of me so I’m a familiar face when they arrive. This helps ease any hesitation.

3. Get Them Involved
Toddlers love to feel included! In my studio, I have a wooden camera and invite them to be my “assistant” during the session. Giving them a small role helps them feel important and engaged.

4. Make It Fun with Playful Prompts
Throughout the session, I’ll interact with your toddler by asking silly questions like:
• Can you point to the baby’s belly button?
• Are baby’s feet stinky?
• Can you touch baby’s nose?
• Should we sing to baby?
These little prompts keep toddlers engaged while capturing sweet and natural sibling moments.

5. Skip the Bribes
While it might be tempting to promise a reward for “good behavior,” I’ve found that keeping the session fun and interactive works much better than bribing. Toddlers respond best when they’re having an adventure, not when they feel pressured to perform. (The exception? Cake smashes—sometimes a few hidden puffs in the cake do the trick! But that’s a topic for another blog post.)

6. Dress Them at the Studio
Accidents happen—spilled drinks, snack stains, or last-minute messes in the car. To avoid outfit mishaps, dress your toddler once you arrive at the studio. This keeps them looking fresh for photos!

7. Plan Around Nap Time
The best time for a newborn session is when your toddler is well-rested. I schedule all my newborn sessions in the morning at 9:30 AM and start with family and sibling photos first. That way, by the time we get into the longer newborn portion of the session, your toddler is free to relax or head home.

By following these tips, we can create a stress-free experience and capture the sweetest sibling moments. My goal is always to make the session feel like a fun and engaging adventure for your toddler while capturing the beautiful connection between them and their new baby sibling.

I can’t wait to photograph your growing family! Let me know if you have any questions or concerns before your session.