By Alison McKenny Photography – Newborn Photographer in Suffolk & Cambridge

As a Suffolk newborn photographer with 14 years of experience, I often hear new mums ask: “Should I bring my older children to our newborn photoshoot, or leave them at home?”

This is a great question! And my answer is always yes—bring them! Including siblings in your newborn session creates beautiful, timeless memories that reflect your family as it truly is at this moment. Plus, a sibling’s bond with a new baby is something so precious to capture. Let’s explore why bringing along your other little ones can make for some truly special family moments.

How Many Children Can You Include in a Newborn Session?

In my studio, there’s no cap on the love we can capture! Recently, I had the privilege of photographing a family with six young children—yes, six under the age of eight, including a 15-month-old and a three-year-old. While I’ll admit I felt a bit nervous (even with all my years of experience), these little ones surprised me in the best way. They were curious, affectionate, and truly a joy to work with. The result was a gallery of images that their family will cherish for a lifetime.

Why You Should Include Siblings

Bringing along siblings, no matter how young, allows us to capture those first connections and tender moments between your children. It shows the family bond, siblings gently holding the new baby, giggling at their tiny features, or even giving a big sibling hug or kiss! These moments reveal each child’s unique personality alongside their new sibling, creating memories you can look back on fondly.

How We Manage a Calm and Organized Session

To keep things calm, especially with very young children, I prioritize all the family and sibling shots first. This allows Dad, a grandparent, or friend to take the older kids for a short break—there’s a lovely park nearby—while Mum and I finish the newborn photos in a quiet, relaxed environment. I schedule up to four hours for a newborn session, so there’s plenty of time for family shots, sibling portraits, and calm solo photos of your newborn.

Experience That Eases Every Worry

With over a decade of experience photographing newborns and families of all sizes, I’ve worked with children of all temperaments. Whether they’re full of energy or a little shy, we’ll always capture something magical for your family. So if you’re a family in Suffolk or Cambridge wondering about booking a newborn session, rest assured we can create the perfect atmosphere for each of your little ones!

Including your whole family in a newborn photoshoot is an unforgettable way to preserve this chapter of life. Let’s capture these moments together!

Contact me to find out more about Newborn shoots in my studio.  I’m happy to answer any questions you might have!