Happy National Sibling Day! 5 Tips to Photographing Siblings

The legacy of siblings has never ceased to diminish in my family. My greatest hope as a mother is that my two children remain a foundation of family legacy after I’m gone. The hopes I hold for my two are as strong as ever. So, in honor of National Siblings Day, we celebrate!

Though not federally recognized (like Mother’s or Father’s Day), the governors of 45 states have officially issued proclamations to recognize Siblings Day in their state since 1998. Sibling Day is celebrated April 10th and was founded by Claudia Evart, to honor the memory of her brother and sister, both of whom died. The Siblings Day Foundation was incorporated in 1997 and achieved non-profit status in 1999.

I love photography, but there’s always more to learn. Even more so is learning how to shoot my two very different kids – what their best angles are, how to catch their attention and what minimum shutter speed my crazy boy needs!

Here are 5 Photography Tips to capturing your babies together and happy!

1. Give Clear Directives: Photographing siblings is like using all your parental communication skills at once. When giving your children directives, be extremely clear and give only one instruction at a time. “Give him a hug” can result in an image of arms flying and covered faces. Instead, use directives like, “Put your head on his shoulder” or “Get cheek to cheek.” Simple directives will help create the image you’re looking for.