If you have made it to this post, I can probably guess you are expecting a new little one? If so, CONGRATS! I have included everything you need to know to feel at ease and be prepared for your Fresh 48 Session! Being a mama of six, Fresh 48s are one of my favorite kind of sessions as I know first hand how special and short lived those early days with your baby are.
WHAT IS A FRESH 48 SESSION?
A Fresh 48 session is the first few hours of a newborn’s life being documented and made into beautiful memories to cherish forever. The session is held in the first 24-48 hours of the newborns life. These pictures will capture the full experience and details of your brand new bundle of joy in the hospital.
Now lets talk about how to prepare for your session, this guide will help you with any questions and preparations you have or want to make before your little precious one arrives!
There is something so exciting and special about capturing a sweet baby just hours after entering into this world. As fun as these sessions are, they do take a little extra planning and preparation. My goal is to honor this fleeting time with beautiful photographs while also keeping everyone (even Mom & Dad) happy in the moment.
When Should We Contact You?
Let's plan for your Fresh48 session as soon as you know you want it! Some parents know they want to document every fleeting moment as soon as they are pregnant and some, honestly do not realize it is something they want until they are almost at delivery. AND I have had a few clients contact me day of the birth wanting the session!
Get in touch with me via email or text once you are admitted to the hospital. I know A LOT is going on at this time, but when your partner gets a chance, have them to drop me a text or email. This will give me a nice heads up to adjust my schedule, if needed, for your Fresh 48, as we like to come by within 12-48 hours.
Once your sweet babe arrives, shoot over a text or give me a call so we can lock down a day and time. Fresh 48 sessions are done within the first two days after baby is born at the hospital (keep this in mind when planning when you will be checking out of the hospital). If you have birthed at a birthing center or at home, Fresh48 sessions are generally much sooner than hospital births.
Prepping Day of Fresh 48
Feed baby right before my arrival and change diaper.
Have any hats, headbands or swaddles on hand and ready. It is not necessary for you to have anything for baby, though. Don’t feel like you need to worry about bringing anything if you have not planned to or want to!
Try to tidy up by the window and bassinet. I’ll start with babe in the bassinet, most likely by a window, if available. The less clutter in that area, the more quickly I can get to photographing your babe and the less distraction there will be in the photos. I may move things around in the room if needed.
Session Details
Fresh 48’s last 30-50 minutes. If baby needs to eat or be soothed, I follow baby’s lead.
I focus on the experience. What this means is I’m documenting baby how she or he is in the hospital. I do not bring props. I photograph all those tiny details of your baby and some of those shots will be of them in just their diaper.
If siblings are joining for the session, I recommend having them come 15-20 minutes after I am set to arrive. This gives me time to get all those shots of your sweet baby by his or herself without big brother or big sister getting antsy. Arriving halfway through also makes for sweet photos of siblings seeing their new baby.
If baby will have any tests or bloodwork done, let me know so we can plan around it. While I prefer to come in the morning, most test and nursery related care is relatively quick. I do not mind working around blood work, hearing screens and even circumcision times.
Let your nursing staff know I am coming! This helps in so many ways! A lot of times the nursing staff will alter their check in times and or delay procedures, to allow us to complete your first session as a family! They truly are such gems!
What To Wear
Baby does not need an outfit, but if there are swaddles, headbands or little hats you would like to use, please feel free to bring them. Clothing tends to hang off of newborns and swallow them up. It doesn’t photograph well, so I tend to not have them in clothes — just swaddled or in their diaper.
Wear what makes you comfortable! Some mom's stay in their hospital gown, others bring a robe, or a dress. Do you! I do encourage you try to avoid bright colors. Neutrals and earth tones always are my go-to's as they photograph beautifully and pair well with any hospital room or nursery!
I encourage moms to bring their own swaddles, hats, headbands, outfits, etc. for babe as well! Outfit and swaddle changes are completely okay and love to include the hospital gear that you have put so much effort into preparing and planning, it tells such a beautiful story! BUT I am a huge sucker for the "hospital" look. It is just classic of the beginning.
What Do I Capture?
Baby of course! We start with baby alone, in his/ her bassinet. Toes, fingers, and ears and more!
All the Details! There are important small things everywhere that you might miss or not remember if we don't capture them. I will ask you for foot prints, baby books, hospital tags etc. We capture the hospital, room number, flowers, balloons, and all the things that say, I am here!
Family Time! Your first family portrait! Mom, Dad, and Baby are our main focus and of course any sibling as well. Occasionally we have had grandparents in attendance and we are happy to include them!
What About the Siblings?!
YES! And just in case you were wondering, YES!
I suggest having a trusted family member or friend to bring them in about 20 minutes after my arrival. This way we can capture them coming in and * hopefully * meeting their new baby for the first time.
Big emotions can still happen. While you are over the moon, they could be timid, shy, or afraid or they might be so happy they cannot stop touching baby! All of these are normal and I have seen each of these emotions. So we will go slow, gentle, and follow their lead!
Home Fresh Sessions
Especially during Covid we utilized families homes to capture those fresh hours and days. Honestly it is precious and the perfect place! It is cozy and warm and baby is in their own space, Mom too! If this interests you we can absolutely plan this and save your stress levels from the short hospital stay!
Special Circumstances That We CAN Prepare For
Rainbow babies!! What a splendid celebration of life! Please let me know if this is something your family would like to focus on, I absolutely adore incorporating special events into our images and this is one that should be celebrated!
Surrogate and Adoptions are AMAZING and what an honor to be invited into that sacred space. First of all, thank you for inviting me. Thank you for choosing to capture your baby's story with the most special beginning right from the start. Please reach out if this pertains to you! I am honored to walk you through this and be there to document your precious blessing, and can be there for the birth as well.
Sometimes babies come early, sometimes babies come on time and both scenarios can sometimes still need some NICU time. If we prepare for this, it will not feel so daunting.
We have two options if your babe has to go to the NICU. We can do a NICU Fresh 48 if your hospital policy allows us to. As long as the NICU allows for a visitor other than mom and dad, most hospitals have started to allow this again and it's no issue! We can also switch to an in-home session or welcome-home session once everyone is home!
Congenital disorders and malformations can be scary words for ANY parent. If this is something you are facing, please know you are not alone. I have access to other parents and support that I can share with you. I also want you to know that we believe in supporting you and your baby, no matter the circumstances. We have been a part of several family's stories that have a chapter just like this in them. We are honored to capture and tell that story and provide you with it to heal and rejoice in. If this is something you would like to discuss, please reach out.
{I am a certified bereavement Doula and Remembrance Photographer with NILMDTS. If I can support you with this service(s) , please do not hesitate to reach out}
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