So, you’re pregnant? CONGRATULATIONS! Whether it’s your 1st, or in my case 3rd (🙈!) one of the most exciting ways to share the big news with family and friends is with a fun pregnancy announcement photo! I’ve always loved these, even before I became a mommy, and now I always look forward to sharing my own! If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out the ideas below from myself and other excited mamas (and be sure to bookmark it, I’ll be adding to it as time goes on and I continue to stumble across adorable ideas).
DISCLAIMER: What is usually NOT included in these pregnancy announcement idea posts is instructions on how to actually achieve these shots once you start including your kids…BECAUSE LEMME TELL YA, getting the shot with two toddlers was pretty much a nightmare…I’m not kidding. 🙃 I was not prepared for the battle that ensued. If you’ve got multiples, allow me to expose some of the more realistic shots you might find yourself with before you nail that Instagram-worthy shot you’re probably already dreaming of:
The Good News
Take solace in the fact that even if the photoshoot is a complete disaster, most of the time there’s at least 1 decent shot you can use! Often, by the time you’re announcing baby number 3 or 4, “decent” will cut it. If that doesn’t help, please return to this post and look at these pictures, laughing at how ours was a disaster as well….I mean look at this, THEY WERE NOT HAVING IT.
At the end of the day (once the rage subsides), it is actually hilarious. 😂 This is real life people, and when we’re little old ladies looking back on a lifetime with these little people we created I think we’ll enjoy these candid photos just as much, if not more than the picture-perfect shots. They are reminders of those first precious years that we know will fly by way too fast. They are reminders of a challenging but fleeting moment in time before our sweet babes could more effectively express themselves with tools other than tantrums and tears. They will also be reminders of a time when we could solve most of the “problems” in their little worlds with just a hug and a kiss…when that was all they needed for all to be well in the world again. Something tells me the way the pregnancy announcement photo turned out will be low on the list of importance in comparison. 🤎
Top 5 Tips for Keeping The Family Photoshoot Chaos to a Minimum
Now, for that 1st or 2nd sweet baby, when a “decent” photo simply will not do, or if you’d prefer not to endure our battle above, here are some tips to help your production go a little more smoothly than ours did:
1. Timing
Sleepy, hungry babies aren’t the most cooperative models. Make sure your session starts after everyone has had plenty of rest, a full tummy, and an empty bladder if they’re potty training. This should help start you off with higher chances of having good moods and fewer interruptions.
2. Music
Is your little one obsessed with Baby Shark? Let it Go?! I don’t care how many times you’ve listened to it that day, if it makes your babes stop everything and smile then mama, you better put that song on and turn it up! Imagine their faces in the pictures when they were listening to their all-time favorite song. (Just make sure your face doesn’t show how much you can’t stand it. 😅)
3. BRIBERY & EXTORTION
I recently used this one to get rid of my daughter’s attitude – worked like a charm. 😈
Teddy Grahams, raisins, puffs, bring whatever small snacks you can discreetly stash in your hands or a small bowl behind you and offer them up in exchange for a nice smile. “If you say cheeeese, I’ll give you a yummy teddy bear cookie!” No shame in my game. It worked. No regrets. We are not here to judge.
Run out of snacks? Plan B. Steal their favorite lovey or action figure prior to (or during 👀) the shoot and then agree to return it to them in exchange for their cooperation. They get their favorite toy back and you get a smiley face for the photos — everyone wins!
4. Ask someone else to take the photos for you
If you’re going for casual shots it sounds easy enough to put your phone or camera on a timer and take your own photos, but if you’re spending a lot of time wrangling (and bribing) your crew it might be hard to run over and hit the camera button or even click a remote at the right time. Having a family member or friend (or a professional photographer if you want to go that route!) take the photos allows them to just keep shooting while you orchestrate the production, and somewhere in there, even if it’s just for a split second of cooperation your photographer will be able to snap the golden shot!
5. Be prepared for everything to go wrong and for what you’ll do to make yourself feel better if it does.
Walk into your photoshoot excited!! It will be a fun experience no matter what the outcome, but if it doesn’t go as planned it might help if you already prepared yourself for that possibility. Have your pep talk (or favorite drink) on hand so that you can recover quickly and not allow a challenging experience to take away from one of the most amazing chapters in your life.
Now, browse through these photo announcements for some inspo and go have fun!
20+ Pregnancy Announcement Ideas (with Siblings too!)
1. Bun in the Oven
A classic, personal favorite of mine. This photo was my 1st pregnancy announcement!
2. Big Sibling 101
Photo Credit: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4
This is such an adorable way to announce baby #3, especially if both of your babes are currently the same gender. But if you currently have a boy and girl I’ve seen this captioned as “Big Sister and Big Brother 101” too.
3. Big Sibling Basic Training
I love the military-family spin on this theme! Whether Daddy is active-duty or a veteran (fellow veteran-wife here! 🙋🏽♀️) , how cute is it to use the gear as props, last name and everything…I can’t…it’s just too cute.
4. WHAT DO YOU MEAN I’M GOING TO HAVE TO SHARE?
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3
If you want to make people laugh with your announcement, this is always a good go-to. Even better, IT’S PERFECT FOR IF YOUR KIDS AREN’T COOPERATING! Sooo, if worst comes to worst and none of my family photo mom-hacks are working for you that day, just go with this theme and call it day.
5. New Year’s Resolutions
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2
6. Poppin Bottles
Photo credit: @alyciarene, Photo 2, Photo 3
The first picture was my 2nd baby announcement, and just like our 1st we announced on New Year’s day so I wanted to incorporate the holiday this time! “New Year, New Baby”, “Poppin “Bottles”, there are so many fun puns you can play with and it’s such an exciting way to kick off a New Year.
7. Valentine’s Day
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2
What a better way to celebrate the season of love than with a little love baby on the way? ♥️ Well…there’s also making a little love baby (early November babe here 🙋🏽♀️) but you get the point.
8. Easter
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2
Such a cute way to announce the new little bunny on the way! Between Easter eggs and candy, I’m sure big brothers and sisters will love this one too.
9. Star Wars
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3
Okay if you’re a Star Wars fan, “this is the way”. If you’re also a mama of 3, does the 1st picture make you want a 4th or is that just me? 😅 The last idea doesn’t include mommy, daddy, or siblings, BUT IT’S SO DARN CUTE!
10. At the Beach:
Photo credits: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3
Ocean-side announcements are great if you love the beach (so, everyone?) and you’re going for something simple. The beach is a flawless background and if siblings are participating they should have a blast, which makes for great smiles and great photos.
11. Introducing Big Brother
What I love about these is that you can just get yourself a “Big Bro” tee and let your little guy do his thing – no special props or complicated staging needed. Capture the future big brother doing whatever makes him smile and let his tee say it all.
12. Big Sister
Let the new Big Sissy in town steal the spotlight (before she has to share it) by announcing the big news in a cute tee!
13. Fall
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4
Okay, so again we have some examples where none of the rest of the family is included but how beautiful is that flat-lay? For the pumpkin photos, you can always have each member of the family holding or sitting behind their pumpkin.
14. Is Daddy Okay?
This was our 3rd (and dare I say, last?) baby announcement and another good idea if you’re looking for a funny theme! I think most of our family and friends thought we were done at two, especially since we have a boy and a girl, so I thought shock-factor was an appropriate theme. I also added that Daddy was actually thrilled…it was I who nearly fainted when I found out. 😅
15. Sports
Photo credit: Baseball theme, Football theme, Basketball theme
If you love sports then everyone probably already has what they need to wear for this one (or you can buy new custom jerseys for “Mom”, “Dad”, and “Big Brother/Sister”!) My favorite part about this theme is the adorable, tiiiny little jersey just waiting to be noticed. Yep, go ahead and plan to add that to the “Keep Forever” box.
16. Halloween
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2
Kick spooky season off by announcing your sweet Halloween treat!
17. Pup-Siblings
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3
Add you fur-babes to the fun! They’ll appreciate being included, and why not? After all, they’re getting a new little sibling too!
18. New Buddy
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2
Introducing your current child’s new best friend is such a sweet way to share the big news, and the options are endless! Daddy’s new drinking buddy, Mommy’s new shopping buddy, baking buddy..the list goes on.
19. Thanksgiving
Add a sweet little baby to the list of things you’re thankful for with a Thanksgiving-themed announcement.
20. Christmas
Photo credit: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3
Share the most wonderful news with family and friends during the most wonderful time of the year! I have July babies, so I tend to announce them to our family as Christmas presents and it makes this time of year so much sweeter.
Your Turn!
Pregnancy announcements are one of my absolute favorite things to see when browsing through social media. Hopefully you either found an idea you love or this has helped you brainstorm some new ideas of your own. Also, CONGRATULATIONS to you and your growing family once again. These are special moments you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Enjoy! ♥️
Follow my family on Instagram as we navigate the chaos of raising cubs @cubsandchaos. 🤎
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