When you book your newborn photoshoot, you almost always want to bring your toddler to the studio too. You’ve probably imagined introducing your newborn to their sibling thousands of times, and it feels so heart-melting to see them together. Those sibling moments are often some of the most meaningful newborn photos families will ever have.
But toddlers are not adults. They won’t cooperate the same way we do, especially in a brand new environment. To create sweet sibling photos during your newborn photoshoot in Edmonton, preparation is very important.
As an Edmonton newborn photographer who has photographed hundreds of newborn sessions, here are my biggest tips to help toddlers feel comfortable, safe, and ready for the session.
Table of Contents
1. Mentally prepare your toddler for the newborn photoshoot
Most toddlers at this age can already understand simple communication. Before your newborn session, always let them know:
“We are going to take photos with baby.”
Even if they don’t fully understand what a newborn photoshoot is, they will at least feel mentally prepared for a new environment.
Many toddlers naturally feel nervous around strangers or in unfamiliar places. Crying, hiding behind parents, refusing to leave mom or dad, or becoming extra shy are all very normal reactions. Preparing them ahead of time can help lower their stress level and make the experience feel safer for them.
Simple conversations before your newborn photoshoot can make a huge difference.
You can even talk positively about the studio beforehand:
- “We are going to meet the baby photographer.”
- “We will take photos with baby.”
- “You can hold the baby.”
These little conversations help toddlers feel included instead of surprised.
2. Stay physically close to your toddler during the session
During the sibling and family portion of the newborn session, I always encourage parents to stay very close to their toddler.
As your newborn photographer, I am responsible for your baby’s safety. I always have an assistant beside the newborn to protect them throughout the session. But naturally, parents often focus most of their attention on the new baby, which is completely normal.
Inside the studio, though, I actually want parents to focus more on their toddler emotionally.
If your toddler feels nervous about the new environment, comfort them. If they become bored, play with them. If they need reassurance, stay close.
The first few weeks after bringing home a newborn can be a huge emotional transition for older siblings. Suddenly, they are hearing:
- “Be careful.”
- “Be gentle.”
- “You’re the big kid now.”
Sometimes toddlers may feel insecure or left behind during this stage. Here are some professional tips for introducing your newborn to your toddler.
During your newborn photoshoot, I want your toddler to feel:
- safe
- included
- loved
- noticed
When toddlers feel emotionally secure, they are much more willing to cooperate naturally during sibling photos.
3. Set realistic expectations — safety always comes first
You may see beautiful Pinterest photos where older siblings are sitting perfectly while holding the newborn and smiling at the camera. But real life with toddlers is different, and safety will always come before any pose.
Before every newborn session, I ask parents one important question:
“Does your toddler understand that the baby is not a toy?”
Usually, parents know the answer immediately.
However, I always evaluate the situation myself during the session as well. Every toddler is different.
I normally begin sibling photos with the toddler lying down while I ask them to stay still. Then I gently place the newborn in their arms while my assistant stays extremely close beside the baby for safety.
After photographing this setup, I can usually tell how aware the toddler is about protecting their younger sibling.
If I feel the toddler understands well and stays calm, I may try a few sitting poses while both parents and my assistant remain very close. But if I feel the toddler is still too young or doesn’t fully understand newborn safety yet, I simply skip those poses.
Safety is always more important than getting a specific image.
And honestly, lying-down sibling poses are often some of the sweetest newborn photos anyway.
4. Don’t make your toddler stay for the entire newborn session
Newborn sessions are usually very long. In my Edmonton newborn photography studio, sessions are often around 4 hours because I photograph baby-led sessions with full setups.
Newborns naturally need:
- feeding breaks
- diaper changes
- burping
- comforting
- settling time
All of this takes time.
For toddlers, though, sitting through a long newborn session can feel extremely boring and exhausting.
That’s why I always let parents choose whether they want sibling and family photos:
- at the beginning of the session
- or at the end of the session
This gives families flexibility to plan around the toddler’s schedule.
Some parents:
- bring toddlers later after daycare
- ask grandparents to help
- or have one parent play with the toddler in another area of the studio so they can move around and burn some energy
This usually creates a much happier experience for everyone.
Always remember: humans naturally react strongly to a child crying. If a toddler becomes overtired after waiting for hours, the entire studio environment can quickly become stressful for parents, baby, toddler, and photographer.
Keeping toddlers happy and relaxed almost always leads to better photo experience. If this blog helps you, you may also want to check out our guide on how to prepare for a family and newborn photoshoot session.
Final thoughts
Toddler behaviour during a newborn photoshoot is never about being a “good” or “bad” child. They are simply very young children trying to adjust to:
- a huge life change
- a brand new sibling
- a new environment
- and a long photography session
That’s why preparation matters so much.
When toddlers feel safe, included, and emotionally connected to their parents, they are far more likely to cooperate naturally during the newborn session. And honestly, those real interactions between siblings are usually the most meaningful images.
If you are planning a newborn photoshoot in Edmonton and wondering how to prepare your older child, don’t stress too much. Every toddler is different, and part of my job as an Edmonton newborn photographer is helping your family through the process calmly and safely so we can create beautiful memories together.
Samantha, the visionary behind Little One Photography, is a passionate photographer with a special gift for capturing the essence of newborns and families. As an awarded newborn photographer, she has honed her craft to create timeless, emotive portraits that families cherish for generations. Samantha’s warm personality and patient approach put even the tiniest clients at ease, allowing her to capture genuine moments of connection and love.
