What to Expect from a Fresh 48

What to Expect – I take pride in providing a positive client experience. I know this time in your life is super busy between endless checklists, to-dos, prenatal appointments, etc… as you’re prepping for the arrival of your baby. Therefore, it’s extremely important for me to have open communication with my clients before their baby is due. The first thing I’ll have you do is complete the attached questionnaire. Ensuring these questions are answered in advance will cause less stress for everyone. Being organized and efficient ahead of time makes it so much easier once I get the “I’m in labor!” text. I will check-in with you roughly 1 week prior to your due date to see how things are going.

Due to the unpredictability of labor, it’s important that we stay in touch. Once you’re in active labor, typically you, your partner or someone on your birth team should call or text me to let me know so I can prep and clear my schedule. Because I have a little one, this is extremely important, as I need to set up childcare as soon as possible. Once baby is here we’ll schedule a time, typically during daylight hours (as I’m a natural light photographer) so I can come to your birth place. 

How to prepare – I always recommend that baby is changed, swaddled and fed shortly before my arrival so they are happy and content. You do not need to stress about making your hospital room spotless, as the point of this lifestyle session is to capture the moment as is. Also, no need to stress about doing your hair and makeup if you don’t want to – it’s however your most comfortable! For outfits, a neutral everyday look is best. Mamas have worn a robe, cardigan, pajama pants… again, whatever you feel comfortable in. Dads can wear something as simple as a solid white t-shirt and jeans. Baby is typically just swaddled in their hospital blanket, just a diaper or their going home outfit. 

I strongly recommend that during this time the only individuals present in the hospital room are mom, dad, siblings, and baby. Large gatherings can easily wear you, and your baby out more than anticipated. Hospital rooms can quickly get crowded with extended family members which makes it more difficult to have a quiet, relaxed, intimate session. Once all photos are captured for the Fresh 48 session, and if times allows, extended family members are welcome to join us in the room.

When I arrive – I bring along a small camera bag with me that has my required equipment. I’ll adjust the blinds to allow ample natural light to fill your room but other than that I’m not adjusting the atmosphere at all. The point is to capture everything how it is so I don’t interfere much with what’s going on in the room. As a side note, when handling newborn babies I don’t wear any perfume or jewelry and always keep a very quiet and mellow voice to not disturb baby – keeping the room and everyone in it relaxed. 

During this session, I understand that this is a time of recovery for mom and baby. You just had a baby! Mom is likely exhausted, emotional, and will be going through a healing phase. Therefore, when I’m there for your session I’m cognizant of this and work quickly and efficiently to slip into the room to capture the must-have photographs and then slip back out. Typically this session lasts roughly 45 minutes to one hour. The roughly edited images from your session will be available to you via an online gallery within at least 7 days (if not sooner) for you to favorite the photos you’d like fully edited. I will fully edit your favorites and one week after so you can enjoy them as a family, share with family and friends, and start prepping your birth announcement cards!

What is captured – While I’ll be there to help guide you and your family when transitioning between images, there is very little posing involved as this session is meant to be more lifestyle and natural. These natural, candid moments are some of my favorite. Parents that are holding their newborn child in their hands are full of happiness and raw emotion so it’s easy to capture the love filling the room. The way a new mother looks at their baby, the proud look in dad’s eyes, the loving touch of a big brother or sister, the way a husband now looks at his wife now as a mother, the look of a baby staring at their parents… these are beautiful moments that I am honored to witness.