I wanted to create this post, because I understand that having a photographer come to your hospital room after delivery may feel overwhelming. You don’t know how you will feel, physically and emotionally. You have just met this tiny new human, and the realization that you’re a parent is still setting it. Whether you’re expecting your first baby, or you’re a seasoned parent, the exhaustion is real. Because of this, I try to keep my Fresh 48 sessions as simple as possible, and under an hour. The times that I have spent extra time in the hospital, is due to baby needing some extra snuggles and feeds. I am completely okay with spending extra time when needed, and making sure parents don’t feel rushed, and that they know they can take their time! I care so much more about my clients experience, and making sure we get all the details documented, than being in and out of the hospital quickly.
“I loved how easy it was to be vulnerable with you. You’re very trustworthy and nonjudgmental.”
What to expect when I arrive
After your baby is born, we typically schedule your session for the following morning. This gives you time to soak in your baby, and get a little rest before getting in front of the camera.
Don’t feel pressured to tidy your room! When I arrive I will walk around and tidy up, and let you know where we will be shooting. Also, having items around the room is "real life”, and to be expected after delivery! It is totally fine to have these items in your photos :)
What will we do first?
Once I’ve washed my hands and tidied up a bit, we will start with baby in the bassinet. I have more information in my prep guide about what to do before I arrive (clients receive this after booking)! We will start by capturing all the details of baby. Baby can be in a diaper and swaddled, or in a simple onesie and swaddled. I always start with baby all wrapped up, and slowly unwrap baby to capture all the details. Part of what makes Fresh 48s special, is that the focus is documenting exactly how tiny and NEW your baby is. For example, I always photograph the baby’s wrinkly feet, umbilical cord, and ankle bracelet. Something about our hospital that I love, is that the ankle bracelets say “Kelsey’s Boy”, for example. It’s just so sweet!
Once we are done with baby alone, we will move onto individual shots of each parent with baby.
What if I’m not feeling my best after delivery?
Birth is unpredictable. It’s a long and hard marathon. I completely understand if you’re not feeling your best after delivery, and you’re hesitant about being in photos. I can say, after working with so many different mamas, you will not regret this. Your child won’t look back on these photos and be disappointed about how you look. Your child WILL be disappointed when they’re older and there are no photos for them to look back on. You ABSOLUTELY want them to see the joy they brought you.
Also, if you’re not feeling your best, if you’re tired and sore, we can very easily have you remain in bed. There is nothing “weird” about staying in the hospital bed during your Fresh 48. These photos are meant to be documentary, and apart of being a new parent is staying in bed with your new little babe. To help yourself feel a little more up for photos, I recommend bringing along a nice robe or nightgown to wear. Find something that makes you feel comfortable, all while looking great for your photos.
“My Fresh 48 was super easy! You did all the work, so it was kind of relaxing!”
What happens if I have an unplanned c-section?
If you have an unplanned cesarean, and you’re not feeling yourself, we will do our best to schedule your session when you’re feeling a bit better. When you have c-section you are typically in the hospital for two full nights, which gives us an extra day to plan. Instead of scheduling your session for the morning after delivery, we will plan for the next day, before you leave the hospital. If you are still not able to schedule your session, we WILL work out a time after you head home. I do not shoot Fresh 48s in my clients home, but for special circumstances, I will. I hope that reassures you!
Can my older children be in the photos?
Yes! If there are siblings in the family, I am always happy to schedule the session around when they are able to be brought to the hospital. I typically shoot Fresh 48 sessions between 10am-noon, and sometimes into the afternoon. I make sure that my clients know this ahead of time, so they can arrange for their older children to be brought to the hospital right before I arrive. I think it’s so important for the older kids to be involved in this shoot! I have a lot of siblings, and I love the photos that we have of us together. It’s so special!
Do I need to ask permission from the hospital to have a photographer?
Nope! There is no paperwork to sign, or permission needed. I do suggest mentioning to the nurses that you have a photographer coming, so they know you’ll be occupied. The nurses are always so sweet about it!
Do we need to bring anything with us to the hospital for our session?
You are more than welcome to bring a special swaddle, hat, or outfit. I always bring a couple of simple onesies with me, as well as crocheted hats. I will say, we often don’t use anything more than the hospital blanket, and one neutral colored swaddle. It is better to not feel overwhelmed by having multiple items you want to incorporate, but rather focus on capturing the details of your baby :)
Are we able to use the photos for our baby announcement?
Absolutely! I always try to get sneak peeks out as soon as possible! If you let me know that you would like to use them as an announcement, then I will email you a couple of the images before posting on social media (if you’ve signed a release for that)! I love when my photos are used as announcements! It’s so fun!
“Such a quick turn around on sneak peeks! As a new mom, that was honestly the best thing!”
I hope you find this post helpful! It is always my intention to make parents feel at ease during their session. If I could say one thing to parents to help them during the session, it would be to just enjoy your baby, and the new life you’re about to embark on. I am there to document this new journey, and I feel so lucky to do so!
Thank you for reading! For more information on Fresh 48 sessions, click here.