Hey Mama!
The first 48 hours after your baby is born are raw, tender, and beautifully fleeting. Time feels slower, emotions run deeper, and everything about your world shifts in an instant. A Fresh 48 session is designed to gently document these first moments—exactly as they are.
This isn’t about perfection or posing. It’s about tiny fingers, wrinkled toes, hospital bracelets, sleepy snuggles, and the quiet in-between moments you’ll one day wish you could step back into. These photos tell the story of your baby’s very first days and the love that surrounds them from the very beginning.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, emotional, or simply soaking it all in, this guide is here to walk you through what to expect, how to prepare, and how to feel confident showing up just as you are. Because these moments matter—and they deserve to be remembered.
what is a fresh 48 session?
A Fresh 48 session is a newborn session that takes place at the hospital or birthing center within the first 48 hours of your baby's life. These sessions are a great way to document those brand new details, sibling or family introductions, and just those slow moments before going back home to real life.
when does the session take place?
These sessions occur within the first 24-48 hours after baby is born. Once baby arrives and you've had a moment to breathe, you'll reach out to me so we can find a time that works before you are checked out of the hospital. These are scheduled during daylight hours so we can utilize as much natural light as possible.
What should we wear?
Baby
Think simple with their outfit! A sweet onsie or gown, swaddle (hospital or your own), or even just a bare baby in just their diaper is so sweet. If you have any name blankets or welcome signs these are a great addition to make the session more personalized for you.
Mom
You should be as comfortable as you can be! Some mamas choose to stay in their hospital gown, or bring their own. Some choose to change into a dress. I recommend if you're changing out of your gown to keep things neutral - creams, browns, tans, and gray are all timeless colors that photograph well with the hospital background.
Anyone else?
For dad - keep it simple with jeans and tshirt, and try to stay in the neutral zone with no bright contrasting colors or large graphics.
For siblings - same idea, keep it simple and neutral!
If you have any questions on styling I'm always here to provide some advice!
Day of Session tips
prep baby
Try to feed as close to session time as possible, change baby's diaper, and get them ready in one of your chosen outfits. Have any hats, headbands, or swaddles ready!
If baby needs to feed again during the session I love to incorporate breastfeeding or bottle feeding into the session.
Inform hospital staff
Inform your nurse that you will be having a photographer arriving and what time I'll be there. That way we reduce the risk of additional newborn testing being scheduled during our time together.
siblings
Once we decide on a session time it's best to inform whoever is bringing any siblings to come just after I arrive so I can capture those first reactions. I typically recommend around 20 minutes after the session start time so we can get a few solo photos of baby prior to siblings arrival.
tidy up
You absolutely do not need to worry about fully cleaning up your room, but think about the first areas we will be in. I'll start with baby in the bassinet by the window. So the less clutter in that area the better! I can always move things around though if we need to.
