Preparing for a Newborn Photo Session with Siblings

Tips for preparing for your newborn photo session with older siblings

Bringing a new baby home is an adjustment for everyone, especially older siblings and pets, and there are a few tips I have to help prepare everyone and set some expectations.

As a Lancaster newborn photographer who has worked with countless families over the years, I have seen it all. Despite your home not being perfectly clean or everyone not being on their best behavior, rest assured we will capture some precious photographs of your family in this new season of life.

During your in home newborn session we always take our time and follow baby’s lead. If baby is fussy and needs a pause for a feeding or diaper change, that’s totally fine! If your toddler melts down and needs a snack or some quiet time, no problem! If you’re not quite ready when I arrive, please don’t stress. I’m a mom of three and I’ve been in your shoes. If you need me to hold your baby or play with your toddler for a moment while you finish getting ready, I am all for it!

I always make sure to introduce myself and allow everyone to warm up to me before I start taking photos. Usually I’ll ask siblings to show me around or give me a tour (and it’s helpful for me too so I know which spaces we’ll be taking photos in). I may even let them take a photo or two of their new baby sibling with my assistance :)

Beforehand: Don’t hype up the session too much but mention it in casual conversation so you can help set expectations. “In a few days a photographer will come to take some special photos of our family with your new baby brother/sister. Let’s look at some photos of you when you were a baby.”

1. Talk About It: A few days beforehand let them know about the session and talk about how exciting it is to be a big brother or sister.

2. Let Them Choose: Give them outfit choices. Or perhaps set aside a few outfits for baby and let them choose which one baby will wear first.

3. Give Them a Job: Tell them they are the helper of the photographer and if they want they can give a tour of baby’s room or the rooms where we might take photos.

4. Set Expectations: I’m not opposed to a bribe or reward after the photo session. Explain that they can have a special treat (perhaps a snack, activity, toy, or game) after photos.

5. Bring a Helper: While it’s not required, I’m very open to having a grandparent or family member present for the session as a helper. If it helps ease stress and make things easier for you to be present for your session, I’m all for it! And I’m always happy to snag a couple photos with Grandma or Grandpa too.

6. Pets Welcome Too: I know that pets are a part of your family too and if you’d like to include your dog or cat in photos, I’m fine with that! The only thing I ask is if at any point your pet seems distressed or anxious about my presence I would suggest moving them to a separate space for the duration of the photo session. I never want to risk anyone’s safety, and I completely understand how a pet might not be comfortable with a stranger in their home and could become uneasy or protective of the new baby.

During the session: We go with the flow, usually starting with family & sibling photos and take breaks as needed. I emphasize presence, comfort and connection over posed perfection.

1. Be Flexible: Every kid is different and while some might be super proud to show off their new baby sibling, others may not be interested at all. We will let them take their time to warm up. If something isn’t working, we can pause or have the sibling take a break with dad while I take photos of mom and baby by themselves or vice versa.

2. Give Them a Task or Activity: Ask them to get a swaddle for baby or show them a favorite stuffy. Maybe they can help brush or comb baby’s hair or help give them a pacifier or bottle. Perhaps they have a favorite song they could sing for baby. Snuggle up and read a book together or let them play with their favorite toys.

3. Take Sibling Photos First: Usually I’ll try to take photos of the whole family together first before toddlers get wiggly and lose interest. Depending on the age and number of siblings, sometimes I’ll have them lie down together to compare sizes- “How much bigger is your hand/foot than baby’s?” or I’ll have them show me how they hold and cuddle baby (with assistance from mom and dad).

4. Try to Avoid Screens: In my experience, allowing a toddler to be on a screen usually backfires and creates a meltdown if they are asked to turn off the screen at any point. I’m ok with playing music on a phone as long as they aren’t tempted to watch the screen or think it means viewing a video.

5. Timing is key: I schedule newborn sessions mid-morning around 10 a.m. when babies and toddlers tend to be happiest. If possible make sure everyone’s belly is full beforehand to help avoid hangry kids.

6. Embrace the chaos: Don’t worry if everyone is not on their best behavior. I am extremely patient and the goal is to capture the beauty of real, genuine, candid moments as they unfold. If one idea isn’t working, I am great at redirecting attention and switching gears if needed.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family, maternity, newborn and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA and beyond. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

---

A Sweet Baby Girl Newborn Session in a Harry Potter Themed Nursery

As a Lancaster newborn photographer, one of the things I love most about newborn sessions is the chance to see the thought and creativity that parents put into decorating their child’s nursery. This couple is a huge fan of Harry Potter and they were able to incorporate all sorts of unique elements into their daughter’s nursery related to the series. From the accent wallpaper to the owl lamp to the framed artwork on the wall, there are signs of Harry Potter in every corner! I think my favorite part is the book mobile with the Flying Keys or Winged Keys hanging from it. I had a lot of fun taking photos through the hanging keys.

This little lady slept through most of her photo session but she did get hungry so we took a feeding break and I got some photos with her eyes open. I absolutely adore when newborns are completely zonked out after they’ve become milk drunk and they can snuggle up in a little ball in your arms. We even managed to capture a little sleep smile and a huge yawn, which happen to be two of my photo goals for every newborn lifestyle session!

And now for a little honest behind-the-scenes: There was a little mishap on my part during this session when my camera shutter completely stopped functioning. In a frenzy I had to rush home (thankfully just a 15 minute drive) and get my backup camera. This has never happened to me before in my nearly 15 years in business! The family was so patient and understanding and you would have no idea from these photos that we took a little half hour break during the session.

Enjoy the photos below of precious baby girl Rowan in her Harry Potter themed nursery! To all the fans out there, see how many different Harry Potter connections you can find! And if you want to get some Harry Potter themed decor for your own nursery or for yourself, they told me they got quite a few things from Pottery Barn Teen and the Harry Potter Collection is linked here.

Fun fact: This family was featured in the Lancaster Newspaper in an article about top trends in nursery decor and features some of my photographs.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

---

How to Prepare for a Newborn Lifestyle Session

An in-home newborn lifestyle session in Lancaster, PA with baby Izak and his parents and big brother Ezra.

Tips to Prepare for Your In Home Newborn Photo Session

One of my most frequently asked questions from parents for in home newborn lifestyle sessions is how they can prepare for photos. I always start out by saying there is no need to worry about tidying up (you just had a baby!) and if anything needs to be moved around, I am happy to do that when I get there. You would be surprised at the beauty that can be captured in just a small corner with good natural light!

1. Open curtains and blinds: I typically photograph in the nursery and another space that gets nice light such as a living room or bedroom. If it’s nice outside or you have a sun porch, I’m also happy to take photos outdoors. I do have a light stand I bring to sessions for dark spaces so if your room needs an extra boost of light, I’ve got you covered! Usually overhead lights and lamps cast a yellow glow so typically I will leave the lights off.

2. Keep it warm: Babies are happiest when they are warm and cozy so make sure the spaces we are in are nice and warm ahead of time. I typically recommend keeping fans off so they don’t make baby cold when/if we do outfit changes.

3. Feed the baby: If possible, I recommend getting in a feeding before I arrive; however it is not the end of the world if that doesn’t happen because I understand how families are functioning on very little sleep. We will go by baby’s cues and if they are hungry or need a burp or diaper change, we take time for that. If they are bottle fed, perhaps have a bottle on hand ready to warm up.

4. Choose outfits in advance: I recommend laying aside a few outfits or favorite swaddles that you might want baby to wear during the session. I love using various cozy textures with newborns such as chunky knit blankets or stretchy muslin swaddles. For moms I recommend something comfortable and nursing friendly (if you are nursing). I do not recommend black simply because it shows every hair or speck of dust. I feel that lighter softer neutral colors typically photograph best with baby. This is not a hard and fast rule however, and ultimately you should wear what feels like you! Just keep in mind that the colors you wear will reflect off of baby’s skin so if you wear bright pink for example, their face is probably going to have a pink hue.

5. Minimal and meaningful props: As a newborn lifestyle photographer, I prefer a more documentary approach to newborn sessions so I don’t prefer to incorporate a lot of props. That said, I do bring along a moses basket and some faux fur mats and swaddles that you may use for your session. I do encourage you to think about any heirloom items that you might want to include such as a stuffy from your childhood or hand knitted blanket from a special family member.

6. Helpers welcome: If it is helpful to have a family member present during the session to help you get ready, prepare some coffee or lunch for afterwards, or just have an extra set of hands, feel free to invite them over!

If there are older siblings involved, often I’ll ask them to give me a tour of baby’s room, or their room or play room so they can get used to me. I’ve got three children of my own and am very experienced and comfortable with toddlers. I also completely understand the weariness of being newly postpartum and not knowing what day or time it is. I have been photographing newborn sessions in Lancaster for at least ten years now and I can assure you that despite all your worries, I will make your session a calm and stress-free experience.

Below are some photos of this brand new family of four! Little Izak did absolutely great for his session, and he mostly slept and peeked at us for a few photos towards the end. Seeing a tiny baby in an oversized chunky knit sweater is just the cutest! And I love the soft pastel color palette they chose for their outfits contrasted with mom and dad’s tattoos.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

---

A Colorful Newborn Lifestyle Photo Session with Baby Marino

It goes without saying that I am a huge color fanatic. When you step in the front door of our 1950’s mid-century bi-level home you will see right away that bright bold colors are my favorite. From the golden wall arch behind our emerald green couch to the teal accent wall by the piano and a shelf covered in vibrant artwork, plants and jewel-toned pom pom garlands, color is everywhere. So you can imagine how excited I was to photograph this newborn lifestyle session for my fellow color-loving friend and photographer Tasha.

Baby Marino was born in October and he is very much adored by everyone in the family, including the pups. He was pretty chill the whole time, mostly sleeping and made a few funny faces and big yawns which are always the best to capture. Big sister Estella was excited to have me as a visitor and there was some music and dancing of course. She also brought out her camera and took a few photos.

I love the deep rich teals (my favorite color!) and jewel tones throughout their home. Tasha painted the blue ombre accent wall in Marino’s nursery herself and it feels like the Caribbean to me. I had to incorporate some fairy lights of course to make it feel magical. Hope you enjoy the photos of this beautiful family of four!

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

---

Harrisburg Newborn Photography: Baby Naomi

Photographing baby Naomi’s newborn lifestyle session was so delightful. First of all, she was the most peaceful, agreeable newborn I’ve probably ever photographed. She basically slept the entire time, despite all of the laughter and conversations going on around her. She even got some puppy kisses, along with big sister kisses of course. Also, the Parmer home has the most wonderful natural light, which made this newborn lifestyle session a dream to photograph. And there’s no doubt that there is a lot of love in this home.

As I edited these photos I was reminded that two years have already passed since I was in Hannah’s shoes, adjusting to becoming a mother of two. Remembering back to that time, I think my biggest struggle was feeling sad that I wasn’t able to give my eldest daughter the time and attention that she wanted (or was used to having as the first child). But a wise friend reminded me that my daughter had my undivided attention for the first couple years of her life, whereas my second child would never have that. Finding a new balance is hard, but I think having a sibling is one of life’s biggest blessings. And as a mother I know that there is always going to be enough love in my heart for both of my kiddos.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

---

Lancaster Birth Photography: Eliora's Natural Hospital Birth Story

One of my goals for 2019 was to photograph a birth. Other than the births of my two children, I have never been present for such a sacred moment as this. I have always loved story telling with my camera and since birth is something I am passionate about I knew I would enjoy documenting it. After all, giving birth is one of the most momentous, miraculous and amazing things a human woman can do and I wanted to show just how incredible it can be.

I put the word out on social media that I was hoping to photograph a birth for a nominal fee and was surprised at the response of willing moms who came forward. One of the moms who reached out to me was Beth who was expecting her fourth baby girl at the end of August. When I discovered she lived just a few blocks from us here in Cabbage Hill, Lancaster City, I felt it was meant to be.

I don’t have the best words to describe what it was like to photograph the birth of Eliora but it moved me (to tears) watching this beautiful mama work to bring her fourth baby girl into this world. Beth endured a long tiring labor so beautifully without complaint, even laughing and making jokes throughout (and without any painkillers or epidural I might add). I should also mention that Beth had been having pretty intense contractions for a few days before she even went into labor so I can only imagine the exhaustion she must have felt.

I met Beth and her husband Jack for the first time in the delivery room. Jack had the most peaceful, calm presence the entire time. I learned that he could sense the strength of her contractions by how hard she was squeezing his hand. She later told me that this was by far her most difficult and long labor. Her pregnancy was considered high risk because of the baby having a two vessel cord instead of three (meaning less blood flow/food to baby) but Beth showed no sense of worry or fear. Honestly I could not believe how calm and quiet she was the entire time because with both of my labors I was making a LOT of noise by the time I was nearing transition.

For me it was amazing to watch how Beth knew her body so well and how Jack encouraged her and trusted her to do her thing. Watching little Eliora come into this world was by far the peak moment. She was born with a perfect knot in her umbilical cord (see photo below), which I’m told is extremely rare. The crazy thing is, my daughter was also born with a perfect knot in her cord, so once again I felt a sense of divine connection and knew that photographing my first birth story with Eliora was meant to be. What an incredible labor of love to witness and photograph, and one I’m sure never to forget.

Note: I decided to tell the story in black and white for consistency. I don’t think any of these images are too graphic but if you’ve never seen what a placenta looks like, be forewarned you will see one below. Shout out to the amazing nurses at Lancaster General Women and Babies Hospital for providing excellent care and to Dr. Eichenlaub for the delivery (and not minding a photographer in the room).

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

---

Media Newborn Photography: An In Home Newborn Lifestyle Session With Baby Henry

Say hello to baby Henry! This was my first newborn lifestyle session of 2019 and it could not have been more perfect. It took big brother Oliver a little while to warm up to the strange lady with the camera, but once he did he was excited to show me his toys and how much he loves chocolate chip cookies (me too!). I love that the family dog was even able to pose for a few photos and give baby Henry some puppy kisses. I have to say, baby Henry made my job as a photographer pretty darn easy. He was alert and happy pretty much the entire time and even dozed off for a little while towards the end before pushing out a big poop, newborn style. And look at his little forehead wrinkles!

I am looking forward to photographing many more newborn lifestyle sessions in the near future. I know for myself as a mom those first few weeks can feel like such a blur and then you blink and your baby is not so tiny anymore. I am so very thankful for the images I have from our newborn lifestyle session when my son was a few weeks old (he turns one this month!). Even though I was exhausted the morning the photographer came and still feeling overwhelmed as a new mom of two, I look back at those photos fondly and I’m so glad we have them to treasure.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

Lancaster Newborn Lifestyle Photography: Baby Jameson

Welcome to the world baby Jameson! I didn't get to photograph this little dude until he was about 6 weeks old since I gave birth to my own son just a couple weeks after Jameson was born. His mom tells me he loves to eat and he's getting to be quite the little chunker. His parents, Nyssa and Alex, live in a beautiful Lancaster City home and I love their vintage, eclectic style. The one thing that stood out to me from his nursery is the amazing vintage rocking horse that Nyssa found on Craigslist. Apparently it was the first item she bought for the nursery after she found out she was pregnant. I really love photographing in home newborn sessions and I foresee doing many more of these in the future. Send all the tiny babies my way! They don't stay small for long in my experience. :)

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

Personal: Nolan Avery's Birth Story

Nolan Avery, four days old

Ever since I became a mom to my daughter a couple years ago, I have loved hearing (and sharing) birth stories. I always tell people that I have never felt the mind, body, soul connection more deeply in my life than I did when I was giving birth to my daughter. And I've never felt more vulnerable, yet more strong and proud of what my body can do. It was truly a spiritual experience for me, and I remain in awe of the mystery and miracle that is birth. 

I would say that my second birth experience was equally as powerful as my first, everything just happened a little faster. The following describes the 24 hours leading up to Nolan's birth. Just to lay a bit of background, I should mention that this pregnancy was less complicated than my first for a few reasons, the main one being that I did not have gestational diabetes. There was no diet regulation, no checking my blood sugars four times a day, no extra ultrasounds or non-stress tests. I also didn't have the swollen feet or get the charlie horse leg cramps in the middle of the night like I did when pregnant with my daughter. So all around, it was an easier pregnancy, other than the fact that I had a toddler to chase around.

Tuesday, March 27th, 24 Hours Before Nolan's Birth

On Tuesday evening, March 27th, at 40 weeks and 6 days pregnant, I headed to my routine prenatal appointment. My doctor checked my cervix and found that I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which meant I was a good candidate for a membrane sweep. This is a simple procedure where they use a finger to sweep between the membrane of the amniotic sac and the uterus. It is a good way to get labor started without drugs or other interventions. I was anxious about this because I had Googled it and read about other women saying it hurt, so when the nurse took my blood pressure and saw it was high, I wasn't surprised; however, when the doc did the sweep, I did not mind one bit. I remember asking her, "Did you do it? Wow, that didn't hurt at all!" I then did a non stress test and baby boy passed with flying colors (which I knew he would because he was extremely active throughout my entire pregnancy).

That night I had menstrual-like cramps in my lower back and in my lower abdomen. I figured this was due to the membrane sweep since cramps are fairly common following that procedure. I had been having these cramps and Braxton Hicks contractions periodically during the last month of my pregnancy as well. When I woke up the next morning and still hadn't gone into labor, I felt a sinking disappointment. I was SO sure that I would go into labor in the middle of the night when the time finally came and I was hoping it would happen that night.

Wednesday, March 28th, Nolan's Birthday

Being a week overdue at this point, I was feeling nervous because I did not want to be induced. I had an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to check on baby and since I don't like extra testing, I was not looking forward to it. I convinced my husband to work from home to babysit Cora so that I could swim laps at Franklin and Marshall College over lunch to destress and get some of my favorite type of exercise (I am a mermaid, after all, remember?) The cramps continued to come and go periodically that morning and were painful enough that they were annoying and hard to ignore so I decided to meet up with friends at Commonwealth Kitchen & Cafe for a distraction (also I felt like I had to poo and knew that a mocha latte would probably do the trick, and it did :-p). 

As I was swimming laps over lunch, I noticed the cramps were continuing so I decided to time them on the digital wall clock as I swam. I was a bit surprised to find that they were happening consistently 4 to 5 minutes apart. By the time I got out of the pool and had my hot shower, I had the sense of urgency that I should probably get home and figure out if this was the real thing. I had been anticipating labor for so long that I was in disbelief that it could actually be happening now, and like I said I was convinced it would happen in the middle of the night. I called into my doctor's office on my way home and spoke to the phone nurse since my doctor was not in that day. After describing my symptoms she suggested I go into the hospital and get checked.

Even though I had been prepared for this for weeks, I was a mess when I got home and forgot to pack several of my toiletries and clothing items that I meant to throw in my hospital bag. I was choking back tears as we rushed around to gather our things. I sobbed as I hugged Cora goodbye, knowing that the next time I saw her we would be a family of four and everything would be different.

Upon arrival in triage they found I was 5 cm dilated, which surprised me because even though the contractions were starting to become more intense, I remember 5 cm being a lot more difficult to endure when I was in labor with Cora. Lancaster General Women and Babies Hospital was packed that day, so it took them a little while to get us into a labor and delivery room. I never had a chance to eat lunch and I think the caffeine and anxiety of being in labor and not quite ready made my blood pressure go super high, which meant they had to check it every half hour while I was in labor and do some blood work. Thankfully everything was fine.

Once we got into our room, I was relieved that my blood pressure came down enough that I did not have to get a hep-lock in my hand. Being able to move freely and change positions during labor was one of the most important things to me, so I did not want an IV nor did I want to be hooked up to monitors. I also did not want any drugs, epidural or pain killers. It may sound crazy, but as I said with my first birth, I wanted to fully experience this thing that women have been doing since the beginning of time. Side note: I'm also a big fan of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and that book very much impacted my desires for my labor and birth experience. Second side note: I think all moms are heroes, no matter how they gave birth. I know many friends whose birth stories did not turn out as they desired or imagined; regardless I just want to acknowledge that every woman who has given birth has done an incredible thing, no matter how the baby came into this world.

My mom and doula arrived soon after we got settled in the room and labor continued to progress and become more intense. During contractions I spent a lot of time rocking on the birthing ball, on all fours and sometimes lunging or squatting. I also spent some time in the tub. Dave and my doula Meghan of Village Birth Collective were awesome at encouraging me and applying pressure to my back and hips. The ambience was set just as I desired with folky music playing, dim lights and lavender essential oil diffusing through the air. I tried my best to focus on relaxing my face and mouth through every contraction, knowing how important it is to help relax the pelvic floor muscles and help labor progress.

Below I'm posting some super low quality photos and video that my mom took while I was in labor. When I look at these, I think I appear a lot calmer and more peaceful than what I was feeling inside.

In no time at all I had entered transition and the deep moans coming from within me grew louder and wavering. This part of labor I find to be the most intimate and transcendent; entering into that space where mind, body and soul are so intertwined and focused on nothing else but bringing that sweet babe into the world. The doc checked me and I was 7 cm dilated and as she was in there poking around, my water broke. Within the next half hour I was having the urge to push. I tried to surrender to my body and let it do all the work but the little guy still came fast and furious and I ended up with a second degree tear. After probably 4-5 contractions and less than 10 minutes of pushing, Nolan Avery arrived earthside, born at 5:50 p.m. weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces after less than 5 hours of labor. Now, a month later he is becoming a chunky little piglet and we all adore him so.

If you want to see Cora meeting her new baby brother for the first time, click here to view the Fresh 48 video and photos by Vanessa Shenk of Vanessa Joy Films. Hearing Cora's sweet little voice saying, "You want to hold him Daddy?" gets me every time. We will treasure this always. 

NOTE: The photos and video above of me in labor were taken by my mom with a low quality point-and-shoot camera, not to be confused with Vanessa's professional work.

And below are a few more photos taken by me of baby Nolan in his first month of life.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

Lancaster Newborn Lifestyle Photography: The Millers Welcome Baby Ben

My friends Shawn and Candice recently welcomed their newborn son Ben into the world and I had the pleasure of doing an in home newborn lifestyle session for them. These types of sessions are quickly becoming some of my favorites because of the candid, raw moments I am able to capture. Big sister Eva wasn't a huge fan of being in photos at first but she was happy to show off her awesome cowgirl hat and when baby brother started crying she was quick to comfort him. I have enjoyed documenting the Miller family over the years, starting with Candice and Shawn's engagement, then the arrival of their daughter and now as they have become a family of four!

Soon we will be welcoming our own baby boy into our family and I am curious to see how the transition will go with my own daughter, who is very close in age to Eva.

Melissa Engle Photography provides portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Get in touch to schedule your session!