Being able to photograph 3 little tikes in a single capture (all at the same time) isn’t always possible, especially when they’re very young.
With the magic of Photoshop, we can photograph each child individually in a scene and stitch each image over the top of the other to ‘composite’ them all into the same photograph.
We use a few different techniques to help little kids sit still around a bowl (that will have the baby in it) - mostly little pieces of their favourite food works!
Sometimes toddlers will have a favourite toy, or we’ll use a small bright coloured toy in the bowl to get their attention. We’ll hide the item in the bowl and let the little one play as they wish!
Sometimes, if the sibling is a little older, we’ll tell them there is a ladybug in the bowl, and they need to find it.
All of these little techniques are taking advantage of a toddlers natural curiosity and interest in play and exploration. By using techniques like these, we are working WITH the child, allowing them to be in their most comfortable and natural state and we are not trying to force them to do anything they aren't interested in doing, which is never likely to work!
The trick then. is to click the shutter at a completely natural moment when the little one appears as though they would be engaging with the baby, if they were actually in the bowl.
Then we let the sibling play off-set, and we photograph the baby in the bowl by themselves. Once we have a photograph of each child, we can then ‘composite’ them together digitally to create a stunning sibling portrait without the session being taxing on the children and draining on the parents.
Now, it doesn’t always have to be this way, as some children are quite ready to be next to their newest little sibling, but often little children are not ready to meet, engage with or welcome the new baby.
It’s important to know, that if your little one isn’t too excited about the new baby, it is definitely possible to have sibling photographs!
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Jade Read Maternity | Newborn | Family Photographer
