Newborn and Sibling Photography Session
My Client
The client, Chem and her husband, are a young couple who visited my studio for a Newborn photoshoot, bringing along one of their other children. Recently, they welcomed their Fourth daughter into the world. Their third daughter, aged Four, was adjusting to the new arrival with a mix of curiosity, excitement, and classic big sister vibe.
Chem reached out seeking a natural, emotive photography session to capture the early days of her newborn’s life, but also to preserve the special bond beginning to form between her daughters. She emphasised wanting something simple and natural and the photos that would feel authentic and warm, not overly posed.
Their vision was clear, natural lighting, minimalistic styling, and a soft, serene palette of whites, creams, and neutral textures. This would emphasise the emotional connection and gentle purity of this life stage.
Pre-Session Consultation and Planning
During our initial email exchange, we talked extensively about the mood and aesthetic Chem was envisioning. I asked questions to uncover what she hoped to feel when looking back at the images in ten years. Her responses centered around love, and connection with the family members that could come to the shoot. She wanted to avoid bright props or forced poses. The final decision was to style the shoot around natural textures, neutral palettes, and organic style.
Styling
The entire family followed a cream and white wardrobe guide I provided. Here’s a breakdown:
- Baby girl: Wrapped in a muslin swaddle in ivory, with delicate bonnets and tie backs on her head. For a few frames, we removed all accessories to capture that pure newborn skin, Chem also came with a beautiful off white dress to match her sisters.
- Big Sister: Dressed in a soft, off-white linen dress with subtle embroidery. Barefoot, to enhance the organic, at-home feel.
- Mum : Chose a flowing, cream maxi dress made of a cotton fabric. The texture photographed beautifully, adding a simple smooth look while keeping to the minimalist theme.
- Dad : Wore a plain beige shirt and blue jeans, simple and understated, ensuring focus stayed on the emotional connection.
I also used a few minimal props: a vintage cream wool blanket, a soft woven basket for the little one, and a white flokati rug. Everything was chosen to subtly enhance the setting without overpowering the natural aesthetic.
Session Day
They all arrived just after 10:00 a.m. to my studio, excited and ready to get started with the shoot.
- Beginning with Baby Girl
We began with solo shots of the baby girl. She was sleepy and content after a feed, swaddled loosely in the muslin wrap. I placed her on the posing stand, near the window, with natural light falling gently across her cheeks.
Using a Canon R6 with a 35mm f/1.2 lens, I kept the aperture wide to achieve a dreamy shallow depth of field. Close-ups of her tiny fingers curled near her face, her delicate lashes, and her curled toes highlighted the vulnerability and beauty of this early stage.
The key was capturing texture—the soft knit of her wrap against the rumpled bedding, the fine peach fuzz on her shoulders. Whites and creams are perfect for this—they reflect light evenly and keep attention on the subject without visual distractions.
Big Sister Moments
Next, we introduced the big sister into the scene. Her parents were slightly anxious about how she’d respond, but we took a playful, unstructured approach.
We invited her to “help” by gently touching the newborns toes and whispering to her. These natural interactions made for magical frames and cute moments where she looked at her sister with a mix of wonder and joy.
At one point, she spontaneously laid beside the little one and tucked a small blanket around her. The resulting photograph of the two girls, face to face, framed by soft folds of cream fabric, became one of the family’s favorites.
Family Portraits
With both girls calm and enjoying the photoshoot, we transitioned to the family shots. Mum and Dad sat on the posing blocks in the studio, the little one was cradled in Chem’s arms, and her big sister sitting on her dad’s knee with beautiful big smiles throughout. I encouraged them to look at each other, not the camera, then to look at the camera to get the more natural glances between the family towards the newest family member.
For me the standout images are how much love her big sister had for her family, giving her new sister lots of gorgeous cuddles and her Mummy!
Photographing in a palette of whites and creams ensured skin tones looked warm and luminous. I edited the gallery with soft highlights and low contrast to keep the mood gentle and cohesive. Grain was added selectively to enhance the timeless feel.
Candid Parenting Moments
Between setups, I captured some in-between moments
These unscripted images often hold the most emotional weight. A favorite candid shows Chem gently trying to relax and calm the little one down after a small unsettled period she had during the photoshoot.
Editing and Post-Production
My editing process was to use warm and natural tones with no over editing. I used warm white balances and a desaturated cream tone to unify the gallery. Greens were muted, and any blues were softened to maintain a soft glow. The skin tones were slightly edited very delicately no heavy retouching, just enough to ensure clarity and glow.
Using textures played a big role in post-processing. The grain, linen, muslin, and flokati created layers of softness that gave the images more dimension and not looking to flat
Each photograph told a small piece of the family’s story, the love shared each time a new baby enters your life, the bonds I get to see between sisters, brothers and parents that is just beginning to bloom is just a huge honour.
Client Response
Chem’s and her husband’s response after viewing the photo gallery were overwhelmed in the best way. Chem wrote in her feedback:
“These photos are everything we dreamed of and more. You captured not only what we look like in this moment but how it feels to be a family of four. The whites and creams are so calming and clean we’ll treasure these forever.”
Takeaways and Tips for Other Photographers
1. Preparation is Everything
Guiding clients on wardrobe and environment can dramatically elevate the quality of the session. Provide visual mood boards and a checklist to help them style their space.
2. Light is Your Best Tool
Natural window light, when paired with soft tones, creates a painterly, timeless look. Sometimes using artificial lighting where needed.
3. Editing to Support the Mood
Stick to a neutral color palette throughout editing. Don’t over-process. Let the tones of cream, white, and soft beige carry the emotional tone.
4. Capture the Details
Zoom in on textures—baby skin, soft linens, tiny fingers. These micro-moments can carry immense emotional value.
Conclusion
This session was more than just a newborn photoshoot it was a quiet celebration of family. Using natural tones like whites and creams elevated the emotional resonance of the images, allowing the love and tenderness between this young family to shine through. The success lay in preparation, intuitive shooting, and a deep respect for the authenticity of their connection.
Photographing newborns and siblings requires patience, subtlety, and a good eye for emotion. But when done with care and intention, it can result in timeless art that families will cherish for generations.
I loved the results from this newborn session!
