Earlier this year I had the joy of photographing a newborn session in Croydon, South London, for a family who had just welcomed their second baby — a sweet little boy, only 12 days new. With a two-year-old big sister in the mix, the session was full of tender moments, gentle chaos, and plenty of love.
A relaxed, family-led approach
Whenever I photograph newborns with older siblings, I know how important it is to keep the atmosphere calm and flexible. Toddlers can be unpredictable, and the arrival of a new baby often brings a lot of new emotions. I am a mum myself to two boys with a 2-year age gap so I know from experience what a big change the arrival of a second baby can be for families and how chaotic life can sometimes feel with a toddler and newborn. For this session, I made sure to allow breaks whenever big sister needed them and kept the mood easy-going so the whole family could simply enjoy the experience.
Big sister moments
Like many second-time parents, Mum was a little nervous about how her daughter would respond to the new baby. Not every sibling immediately showers affection — and that’s perfectly okay. My goal is never to force interactions but to invite them in a natural way. Over the course of the morning, big sister had her moments of curiosity and closeness with the baby, which we were able to capture beautifully. One of her favourite parts of the session was reading books. This is something I often suggest with toddlers – it’s a great way to capture your everyday life and also helps an energetic toddler stay still for a few moments!
Using light creatively
After a quick tour of the house, I chose to shoot most of the session in the family’s master bedroom, where the light was soft and flattering. However, because big sister has a rare visual impairment, we were mindful to keep natural light levels lower by adjusting the window blinds during certain shots when she wasn’t wearing her protective glasses. Mum and I had discussed this beforehand and I had explained to her that limiting natural light may result in slightly more grain their photos however this was an important adjustment that allowed big sister to feel comfortable throughout the session.
A morning of connection
In the end, the session was filled with a mix of quiet cuddles, sweet sibling moments, and family connection – as well as lots of mum-to-mum chat about life with two little ones! Baby brother was snuggled and adored, big sister got her time in the spotlight, and Mum and Dad now have a gallery of memories that capture this fleeting, tender chapter of life at home.
If you're expecting a baby - whether it's your first, second or fourth - and would like to capture the new phase you're about to enter, find out more about my newborn photography, download my pricing guide and get in touch to enquire!
Pauliina is a London-based lifestyle family & newborn photographer and a mum to two boys. Find out more at https://www.prootsphotography.co.uk/ or follow @prootsphotography on Instagram.
