I won't lie to all of you nice people reading. Sometimes when you mix a newborn photography session with an older sibling(s) who are also in their younger, rambunctious years...it can get a little hairy. BUT, that doesn't mean that you can't still create absolutely beautiful memories for your growing family. Here's a few tips on how to make it work and even be able to enjoy the process. 

1. Keep calm and trust in your photographer. 

This is probably the most important one. The worst thing you can bring to your session is stress. The energy of the adults in the room set the stage for the success of your session. It's your energy that matters the most, not your toddlers. Read that again. Expect your toddler to be banging around with full energy, expect your newborn to cry, expect little ones to be shy, or the complete opposite. Expect everything except for a young child to be able to sit still and sweet and pose for an hour. Because, they can't do that and it's not fair of us to expect them to. Instead, just stay calm and we can work on engaging them by simply talking and interacting with them and not losing our sh#t when they don't cooperate. If you've hired an experienced newborn and family photographer (like me), you an just let go and trust that your photographer will find the moments to capture and you will still end up with a full gallery of beautiful family portraits. 

2. Plan an escape route. 

For the big siblings that is. It's really important that older siblings have the space to take a break from the scene. What I love about doing in home lifestyle newborn sessions is that it allows the opportunity for big brothers and sisters to go off with one parent or even a grandparent for a little snack or tv break when they've had enough. And if needed, we can bring them in and out throughout the session. Although normally I try to get the big sibs finished up first. It's also important to get some peaceful images of the sweet newborn in the fam and that can be tricky to do if a short little someone is jumping all around the room. So even if you're planning a studio session, it's important to choose a place where your other littles can take a proper break. 

3. Embrace the chaos. 

If you have just had a newborn baby and you already have one or more little humans kicking around your house...chances are, your life is a little chaotic at the moment. Because that's just how life is at the is stage and while it can be exhausting at times, it's also incredibly beautiful, and is a time of your life that you'll always remember with big full heart. So why not show that in your family photos? The chaos can create fun and joyful images if you let it. And, it gives you a true documentation of life as you once knew it when you've looking back years from now. This stage goes fast and it will feel like a blur when looking back on it. Trust me, I've been there. No truer words have ever been spoken than the term "the days are long but the years are short". 

And this beautiful family below is the absolute poster family for all of these things said above. They got the memo loud and clear and as a result, we created all of these beautiful family memories that will tell their story for generations.