Should Your Older Child Be in Your Maternity Photos?
If you already have a child at home, maternity photos can include them. A little structure helps.
A different question from solo maternity photos
Many parents who are expecting again wonder whether their older child belongs in the photographs. Some feel that the session should be about the pregnancy alone. Others can't picture the photos without the child who's about to become a sibling. Both instincts make sense, and neither is wrong.
The question is different from planning a solo maternity session. Outfits and wardrobe get a lot of attention in most maternity advice, and that still matters. When a child is joining, though, the bigger questions are about timing, attention and comfort. What is the child able to do, how long can the group work together, and who's helping?
Deciding whether to include your child
A few questions can help you decide. Would you like a photograph that shows your family as it is right now, with the child who's about to become an older sibling? Does your child enjoy being photographed, or does the camera tend to make them tense? Is there a part of the day when they're usually happy and rested?
If you would love the photographs but are unsure how your child will respond, you don't need to commit to a session built around them. A workable middle path is to plan for a short block with your child and the rest of the time for you and your partner. That way a good outcome is possible, and if your child isn't interested on the day, the session still works.
Every child is different, and the same child can behave differently on different days. How it goes depends on the day, so I plan the session to give your child a comfortable place in it.
Put the family groupings early
When your child is part of the session, I suggest doing the photographs that include them first. A child usually has the most patience at the start, and the photographs with them tend to be the ones families care about most. Once those are done, the child can take a break, play or go for a walk with a helper while the session continues with you and your partner.
A simple sequence could look like this:
- Start with the whole family together, close and relaxed.
- Move to you and your child, then your partner and your child.
- Take a few frames with your child near your belly, only if they're interested.
- Let your child take a break while the photographs of you and your partner continue.
Keeping the child's part short gives them a good experience and leaves the rest of the session less rushed. If they want to keep going, we can, and if they don't, we can prioritize the photographs that matter most.
For more about setting children up for a comfortable session, my post on preparing children for a photoshoot covers snacks, timing and what to say beforehand.
Keeping the child's part short gives them a good experience and leaves the rest of the session less rushed.
Bring a helper and plan breaks
An extra adult who can help makes a large difference. When you're pregnant, you're already managing your own comfort, and it's hard to also be the person who keeps a child engaged between photographs. A relative or friend can carry snacks, hold a favorite toy, walk with your child during breaks and step in if the child needs a change of pace. Then you and your partner can stay in the photographs.
Breaks matter for you as well. Standing, walking and holding a child can be tiring during pregnancy, and Las Vegas heat adds to that. Choose a time of day that feels comfortable, bring water and follow your own comfort and your health provider's guidance about activity. We can pause whenever you need to, and a short rest often helps the photographs, since people look more relaxed when they aren't pushing through.
Consider where you will do the family portion, too. A place with shade, an easy walk from parking and something for a child to explore can make the difference between a session that flows and one that feels long. Each of those choices removes a little pressure.
Explain the plan in a way your child can follow
Tell your child what is happening in simple terms. You're going somewhere together, spending a little time with a photographer and taking pictures of the family. If it feels right for your family, you can mention that the baby is part of the photographs. Keep it light and skip anything that turns the session into a test.
Give your child a role that fits. Some children like to help hold a small item, lead the way to the next spot or sit close to you. Others just want to be near a familiar person. Either is fine. Warm, unhurried interaction between you and your child usually looks better in a photograph than a pose that was demanded.
It also helps to let go of the idea that everyone will look at the camera at once. Some of the most meaningful frames show your child looking at you, leaning against you or reaching for your hand. Those photographs tell the story of a family getting ready for a change, and they don't depend on a perfect smile. You can see how I photograph families in the portfolio.
Common questions
Do I have to include my older child in maternity photos?
No. Some parents prefer a session with only the pregnant parent or the couple, and some want the whole family. You can also plan a short block with your child and keep the rest of the session for the adults.
What if my child doesn't cooperate on the day?
Children vary, and some days go slower than others. Putting the family photographs early, keeping them short and having a helper nearby gives us room to adjust and still photograph the moments that matter.
Should someone else come to help with my child?
I recommend it. An extra adult can handle snacks, breaks and comfort so that you and your partner can stay in the photographs.
How long should the family portion be?
There is no fixed length. Keep it as short as your child's mood allows, do it first, and continue only if they're enjoying it.
Tell me about your family and we will plan around your child.
Let me know your child's interests, the time of day that usually works and who could come along to help. I'll plan the order of photographs and the location so the session stays comfortable for everyone.