If you have never heard of a First 48 session, let me tell you what the heck I am talking about. Then I will tell you about preparing for it.
These are the most magical sessions EVER and they happen, you guessed it, within the first 48 hours of a baby being born. 99% of the time this means the session takes place in the hospital. If you've given birth before you MAYYY get released next day from the hospital but chances are... pack photo worthy clothes for the family in your go bag.
helllooo little one
Welcoming a new baby is such a momentous time! Capturing your first photographs as a family during a First/Fresh 48 session is one of the things I love most about my work.
One thing is for sure: these moments are memories your family will cherish for a lifetime!
Babies change SO MUCH in those first days, so I love being able to capture those tiny features!
The best time for Fresh 48 sessions are during daylight hours, usually in the morning (starting your session between 9am - 3pm (time of the year dependent) usually gives the best light and happiest babe!).
in hospital session
FAQs
Inform
Once we set the date and time for your session, let your nurse know, as well as any loved ones who may want to visit, that you’d like this time to be private for your family. It is important that only you, your spouse, your baby and siblings are present during this time.
Hospital rooms are often small and there are a lot of visitors and hospital staff coming in and out of the room. Limiting these visits can help ensure our session doesn’t get interrupted with admin or run over time!
Prepare
Keep in mind you will be recovering from having a baby, and you should pack accordingly. Something like a soft, neutral colored robe, or comfy pajamas that are easy to nurse in is a great idea!
Creams, browns, tans, chambray and gray are timeless and photograph really well in a hospital atmosphere when you aren’t sure what colors will be in the room
Steering clear of bright/neon colors as well as letters, graphics or patterns as they can be distracting in photos. Unless that piece of wardrobe has a super special meaning, I always recommend keeping it simple.
Eat & Hydrate
Being well fed and hydrated after having a baby is extremely important for your recovery and for your baby! Chances are you may already be sleep deprived, so having a snack will help boost your energy.
Try and feed babe shortly before our session time. This ensures baby has a full belly and will hopefully be happy and cooperative for pics!
If you would like any feeding/nursing pictures, we absolutely can do this at the beginning of the session…so hold off feeding babe until I get there and we’ll get some feeding/nursing pics done first!
when do I do what?
Once you have been admitted to the hospital, shoot me a message letting me know it is baby time. Once baby has arrived and you are all settled into your room, message me again with your room number and confirm the session start time.
Read over your contract/questionnaire again. This has a ton of information of what to expect (session length, number of outfits, expected images etc.)
15 minutes prior to our session please put baby in their chosen outfit (this avoids major blowouts, milk staining clothes and other common mishaps.
I recommend having your partner/support person clean the room up a tad bit. Hide bags away, push the rolling table into the bathroom, throw trash away etc. While this is not necessary this helps me jump in and spend more time photographing little one - that being said, I don’t want to make it so perfect that we lose context. This is a hospital after all.
Pictures can always feel awkward so feel free to play some music from your favorite playlist!
Turn off the TV! The glare from the TV can impact your images creating a glare in glasses.
Don't be afraid to ask for help! Nurses are often happy to assist with swaddling, if you aren't quite sure how! I believe in a hands off approach. I don't reposition, swaddle or move babies around as this is a specific training that I have not completed yet! The most I will do is readjust a bow, tuck the swaddle, rock the baby etc.
Make the siblings wait. My personal preference is to do the new baby and parents alone first. I ask families to have a trusted adult wait with siblings in the lobby until the first 25 minutes of the session are done. This gives me the ability to turn my focus 100% onto the siblings once they are in the room. Gaining a new baby in the family is super hard on the older kids and this small gesture is an act of kindness to them.
Embrace the hospital-ness! With this, I mean that it’s absolutely okay to get some pictures of you/baby in ‘hospital garb’ — so hospital gown on mom, hospital blankets and hat on babe, etc… I always love these very ‘hospital-ly’ shots and I try and sneak in a few at each Fresh 48…
in home session
FAQs
Cleaning up
Once you have determined you are doing an at home session, think about the rooms you would like photographs in.
Are you picking the nursery only with a posed look? Are you wanting a more documentary styled session, where the kids play in the living room while you feed baby? Is it okay if I use main areas and sleeping areas or do you want some things kept private?
Once you have determined that, make sure to tidy up a bit before you head to the hospital. I know. Last thing you will be thinking of, but trust me you'd rather clean it before than after when you are sleep deprived with a newborn.
I am sooo judge free and if things are in the background causing a disruption I have no problem tidying up.
Let any loved ones who may want to visit, that you’d like this time to be private for your family. It is important that only you, your spouse, your baby and siblings are present during this time.
Picture Perfect
Its a home. A lived in, home. Its not meant to be perfect and I don't want it to be (unless that's what you want)
Don't stress if the dishes and laundry are done. I am not taking photos of that.
I am often in the nursery, living room and MAYBE kitchen. I like to follow the family around (when taking a documentary style approach) and being a fly on the wall.
Try to have neutral colors as options! Bedding, clothes etc. Patterns and words tend to make images less timeless and these are meant to be kept forever!
Prepare
Keep in mind you will be recovering from having a baby, and you should wear something accordingly. Something like a soft, neutral colored robe, or comfy pajamas that are easy to nurse in is a great idea!
Creams, browns, tans, chambray and gray are timeless and photograph really well. Think about the colors in your house. If your walls are green do you want to hang up a picture with a neon shirt worn?!!
Steering clear of bright/neon colors as well as letters, graphics or patterns as they can be distracting in photos. Unless that piece of wardrobe has a super special meaning, I always recommend keeping it simple.
Eat & Hydrate
Being well fed and hydrated after having a baby is extremely important for your recovery and for your baby! Chances are you may already be sleep deprived, so having a snack will help boost your energy.
Try and feed babe shortly before our session time. This ensures baby has a full belly and will hopefully be happy and cooperative for pics!
If you would like any feeding/nursing pictures, we absolutely can do this at the beginning of the session…so hold off feeding babe until I get there and we’ll get some feeding/nursing pics done first!
I do want to mention I am fully vaccinated against COVID19 as well as up to date on all of my other vaccinations, including Tdap, flu, and MMR.
FAQs
What happens if my baby is in the NICU?
We can do one of two things:
- A NICU Fresh 48 if hospital visitor policies allow
- An in-home session newborn session or welcome home session when everyone is at home!
NICU Fresh 48s are absolutely an option, as long as your hospital’s NICU allows for a visitor (other than mom/dad) and a photographer!
Some hospitals allow this (in non-COVID times) and it’s no problem if you’d like NICU pics.
what lighting technique do you use?
Hospital lights = awful. They cast weird colors on you and it gives inconsistent coloring to your pics…so we will be embracing your postpartum room’s natural light (open up those window blinds!)
We’ll pop babe’s bassinet next to the window for those pics and then I’ll position you all for any family/group pics where you are getting the best natural light. If the natural light is not sufficient enough, I will use my flash at a very low power to bounce off of the ceiling to add just enough light to illuminate you all in your space.
What types of pictures will I take?
That’s totally up to you! I have my clients fill out a questionnaire with some questions about what exactly you want photographed. This gives me a general idea of where your head is!
I usually will start by taking a variety of pictures to highlight babe’s newness: close ups on hands, feet, head — all of their little features. I then will take some of them by themselves in the bassinet and bed, and then some with mom, dad, and siblings and then family photos. I tend to let each family do their own thing. Move at their own pace with guidance from me. After all I am a candid photographer.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
I encourage all of my clients to relax and remember this session is about capturing your family as it is in this moment in time. If that means your hair is in a top knot and you’re make-up free, perfect!
These memories are meant to serve as a reminder of how tiny your babies hands and toes were and how soft they felt, how elated you were to introduce your children to one another, or to remember how you felt the first time you saw your husband with your baby asleep on his chest and the emotions that came along with that sight.
