One of the sweetest parts of a newborn session is capturing your baby in the arms of the people who already love them most. Whether that is just mom and dad, or a big brother, those family images have a way of becoming the ones you reach for first.

• Full and VIP sessions include the whole family. Parents, siblings, and grandparents are all welcome, and I build dedicated time into the session for family groupings.
• Mini sessions are for baby-only portraits. The one-hour format is focused and intentional, and does not include time for family photos.
• Bring siblings toward the end of the session. Newborn sessions move slowly, and a toddler who arrives at the end is much fresher and more cooperative for photos than one who has been waiting for two hours.
• Keep clothing simple and coordinating. Soft neutrals and earth tones photograph beautifully in the studio. Avoid busy patterns and large logos. I send a full prep guide before every session with specific suggestions.
• You do not need to know how to pose. I guide every grouping and every pose from start to finish. Just show up and I will work with you to get a pose that captures your family.
• Book your session before your baby arrives. Newborn sessions fill quickly, and the ideal window for photography is within the first two weeks of life.

Whether I can include family members in your session depends on the package you choose.

Full and VIP Sessions: Yes, Family Is Welcome

My Full and VIP newborn sessions are designed to capture more than just your baby. Parents, siblings, and grandparents are all welcome during these sessions. I build in time specifically for family groupings so that by the end of your appointment, you have a complete set of images: baby portraits, parent and baby images, sibling photos, and whole-family moments together.

In my experience, the sibling photos tend to be some of the most treasured images from the entire session. There is something about seeing a two-year-old lean in to kiss a sleeping baby that no parent ever wants to forget. I take time during every Full and VIP session to make those moments happen naturally, without forcing poses that feel stiff or staged.

A few practical things to know if you are planning to include family members:

Siblings do not need to stay for the whole session. Newborn sessions move slowly, and a toddler who has been patient for two hours is not going to be at their best for photos. I usually recommend bringing siblings in toward the end of the session, after I have already captured the baby-only images. That way the sibling is fresh, the timing is right, and nobody is waiting around.

Wear simple, coordinating colors. Soft neutrals and earth tones photograph beautifully against my studio backdrops. I always send a prep guide before your session with specific suggestions, but the short version is: nothing too busy, nothing with large logos, and layers always work well.

You do not need to do anything except show up. I will guide every pose and every grouping. Parents especially tend to be relieved to hear this. You will not be left standing awkwardly in front of a camera wondering what to do with your hands. I take care of all of it.

Mini Sessions: Baby Only

My mini newborn session is designed specifically for baby-only portraits. At one hour, the session is focused and intentional, with time for careful, unhurried work of getting a newborn settled and posed. There is not enough time built into the Mini session to include family groupings without shortchanging the baby portraits.

If family images are important to you, and for most parents they are, I would encourage you to look at the Full session. The difference in scope is significant, and those family images are something you will want to have.

Not Sure Which Session Is Right for You?

If you are still looking for family photos and your baby is 1-3 months old a mini session is the perfect answer. Babies at this stage are alert and even smile occasionally. I suggest a mini family session where we capture family photos and a few individual photos of your baby. I am happy to talk through the options. You can reach me at 425.232.5263 or book directly at ijphoto.net. If you are still expecting, now is a great time to get your session on the calendar. Newborn sessions book up quickly, and the ideal window for photography is within the first two weeks of life.