This bright, joyful Fresh 48 session celebrates this family of FIVE!
Fresh 48 sessions are back! In our post-Covid world, most hospitals in our area have lifted visitor restrictions that kept families from scheduling Fresh 48 photos for the past few years. That means you can celebrate the arrival of your newborn baby with photos as soon as they’re here, in all their tiny, squishy perfection!
If you’re pregnant and curious about Fresh 48 photography sessions, here are five things you should know before you schedule one for you and your family.
1. Hospital restrictions have lifted – but you should still verify with your nurse upon arrival that you can have a photographer visit.
One thing we all learned during Covid in 2020-2021 is that you can’t take anything for granted! That certainly applies to visitor policies at hospitals where the health and wellbeing of new mamas and newborns is top priority.
While hospitals in The Woodlands and Conroe have relaxed visitor policies, even during cold and flu season, I still require clients to personally verify with their nurse that I am allowed to visit for photos. Before we set a firm time and date for your Fresh 48 session, you’ll simply ask your nurse if it’s ok for me to come up, and we’ll be all set. That way, in case there are last-minute changes to visitor policies that would prevent me from photographing your session, we’ll both know before I arrive at the hospital and can adjust accordingly.
In case of unexpected visitor restrictions for a planned Fresh 48 session, we’ll simply transition to in-home or in-studio newborn photos when you’re ready!
2. We can absolutely capture beautiful memories in your hospital room – even if you stay in the hospital bed!
Fresh 48 photo sessions are scheduled for the day or two after delivery. For first time parents, there’s a huge learning curve in these initial days after baby is born. You’re healing from delivery or a c-section, learning how to swaddle, experimenting with different holds for the perfect latch while nursing – and so much more!
That’s why you shouldn’t put any pressure on yourself to even get out of the hospital bed for your photos! It’s totally fine for you to simply snuggle with your baby, no additional movement required. Some new mamas may want to sit on the couch or stand near the window for a few photos, but I’m totally prepared to capture everything with you in your bed, blanket and all.
Keep in mind that hospital recovery rooms at most hospitals aren’t very big. If you decide to stay comfy in bed, I’ll ask your hubby to sit on the couch and stand near the window for cuddles with baby to change up the look and feel of these moments, ensuring you can focus on recovery.
3. Immediate family is included in your Fresh 48 photos – and extended family can pop in for a few photos too.*
Because these rooms are on the smaller side, I request that we limit the session to immediate family, particularly if you have other children visiting for photos. However, if this is your first baby and you’d like to invite grandparents to the hospital for a few photos, that’s fine too – as long as I know to expect them ahead of time!*
To ensure we have enough space for pretty photos, I’ll ask extended family to wait in the hallway until it’s time to include them in photos. While brand new grandparents often want to watch as I work, it’s most important to me that you have enough room to breathe without feeling overcrowded, and that there is adequate space for me to capture the memories you’ll love forever.
You can expect the following pairings in a typical Fresh 48 session: the whole family together, mom with baby, dad with baby, siblings with baby, mom with sibs +baby, dad with sibs + baby and just baby. If extended family is present, we’ll include grandparents together and individually with baby. If time permits, I’ll also include grandparents with you and your husband, with baby.
4. You don’t have to do your hair and makeup – but there are FOUR key items you’ll want in your hospital bag for gorgeous, natural Fresh 48 memories.
Listen, I know that doing your hair and makeup doesn’t feel super important after you’ve welcomed baby, and I don’t blame you at all! The new mama glow is real – and it’s gorgeous! Don’t sweat it if you want to skip a full face of makeup for Fresh 48 photos.
However, there are four items I’d definitely bring to the hospital to ensure you look and feel photo-ready: dry shampoo (in case you haven’t had a shower before photos), concealer (to help with under eye circles), mascara (to help you look more awake and energetic than you might feel) and lipgloss (hospitals are cool and dry, leading to chapped lips).
Keep it simple! You’ll probably still be in maternity clothes after delivery. Most mamas go home from the hospital still looking around 4-5 months pregnant. It takes time for your body to go back to its pre-pregnancy size and shape! Black maternity yoga pants with a pretty neutral nursing top photographs well. For your hubby, neutral shirts are best, paired with jeans or shorts, depending on the season. Comfy clothes are great for kids – make sure they’re in neutrals too for a cohesive, pulled together look!
In case you’re wondering, yes, I send clients a very detailed what-to-wear guide, including beautiful color combos that work well for parents + newborns + siblings.
5. Most of the session will be delivered in black & white, with a few color photos sprinkled throughout.
Aside from you and your family, the natural focus of your images, there is a lot going on in a typical hospital room. You’ve got the bed, IV, machines, the computer, all kinds of equipment on the walls for emergencies, the status board your nurse writes on and extra furniture for guests. You’ll also have overnight bags for yourself and your husband, along with a few things for baby laying around.
In other words, your room won’t look magazine-photo-shoot-ready – it’s not supposed to!
That’s why I deliver about 80 percent of photos in black & white. The soft blacks, grays and whites take focus off medical equipment and other items in the room you may not really care about. Don’t feel like you have to clean up before the session – I will take care of the big things!
I usually clear the bedside table of little conveniences, like chapstick, cell phones, chargers and water bottles. Additionally, I always shut the restroom door so that you don’t have a toilet peeking in the back of your baby photos!
Of course, there are some moments you’ll want in color and black & white: a full family photo, shots of just baby, as well as each parent individually with baby.
Hospital lighting is less than flattering, so I’ll raise the blinds when I arrive for access to natural light – and I’ll even bring extra light to snap on my camera if we need an extra boost.
You can expect anywhere from 60-100 fully edited photos for your review. Most of the gallery is delivered in black & white, with color photos sprinkled throughout. If there is anything in particular you definitely want in color (or vise versa), just let me know.
To be specific, I typically capture the following moments: the whole family together, mom with baby, dad with baby, siblings with baby, mom with sibs +baby, dad with sibs + baby and just baby. If extended family is present, we’ll include grandparents together and individually with baby. If time permits, I’ll also include grandparents with you and your husband, with baby.
BONUS: hospital detail shots are complimentary with your Fresh 48 session!
Everything except for your newborn fades away once baby is born – and nothing about the room will seem particularly important while you’re in labor! That’s why it’s wonderful to have photos of your hospital room to look back on once you’ve settled into life with baby.
I include complimentary hospital detail shots with every Fresh 48 session, including the status board in your room, any gifts, balloons or flowers you receive, items with baby’s name/date, the room number next to the door, and a shot of the outside of the hospital. If you’re completing a baby book, you can include these memories to document the little details about baby’s arrival!
Fresh 48 session details: everything you need to know
The timeframe to photograph Fresh 48 photos is pretty narrow; most women are in the hospital 48-72 hours before they are discharged.
I offer Fresh 48 photography sessions to mamas delivering in The Woodlands and Conroe, Texas. This includes the following hospitals:
- Methodist Hospital The Woodlands
- The Woodlands Memorial Hermann Hospital
- St. Luke’s health – The Woodlands Hospital
- Conroe Regional Medical Center
At this time, Fresh 48 photo sessions are exclusively open to mamas with a scheduled induction or c-section.
Please note that all Fresh 48 sessions must be scheduled in advance; if you’re already at the hospital for an induction, c-section or delivery, and you’re not already a current client, unfortunately I cannot honor your request for photos. Sessions are not scheduled on discharge day, so that we have plenty of time to make these memories!
