How to Prepare for Your Fresh 48 Session

A Fresh 48 session documents your baby's first two days — typically in the hospital or birth center. The goal is to capture the raw, unrepeatable early hours before you've even taken them home for the first time.

Your space
Hospital rooms aren't something you can control much, and that's fine. The goal is beautifully honest photos. If there's an obvious opportunity to clear a visible clutter of bags or trays off a surface before I arrive, that helps, but don't spend energy trying to make a hospital room look like anything other than what it is.

What to wear
Whatever you're already in is usually right — a hospital gown, your own clothes if you've changed, whatever your partner, grandparents, or other visitors have on. There's no need to coordinate outfits. If you do want a few specific items on hand (a going-home outfit, a particular blanket, a swaddle you plan to use), have those nearby, but avoid bright colors or bold graphics on anything you specifically choose to have photographed, since they tend to compete with skin tones and soft newborn features rather than complement them.

What actually happens during the session
As with all my sessions, I don't pose anyone. I'll observe quietly and photograph the real moments as they happen — first family visitors, the specific way you're holding your baby right now, a sibling meeting the baby for the first time, the small details of the room and the day. If a moment calls for a small nudge (better light, angling slightly), I'll offer it, but it stays minimal.

What to expect timing-wise
Fresh 48 sessions typically happen within the first two days, often while you're still in the hospital or shortly after arriving home. Because timing depends entirely on your delivery and discharge, we'll stay in close contact around your due date so we can time it properly.

The best mindset going in
You'll likely be tired, and that's part of the story, not something to hide from the camera. These early, unguarded hours are exactly what makes a Fresh 48 session valuable years from now.