How to Prepare for Your Fresh 48 Session | Cincinnati Newborn Photographer
Everything you need to know about your hospital newborn photography session (and why there's really not much you need to do at all).
There is so much to think about as you're preparing to welcome a new little human into the world. Between packing hospital bags, washing tiny clothes, preparing your home, and checking off what feels like a never-ending to-do list, it can all become a little overwhelming.
And if you've booked a newborn photography session, you may be feeling like that's just one more thing you need to prepare for.
But here's the beauty of a Fresh 48 session: there is very little preparation actually needed.
In fact, that's one of my favorite things about them.
No perfectly coordinated outfits, no spotless house, no elaborate posing or Pinterest-inspired setups. Just you, your baby, and those beautifully hazy first hours together.
And if you've opted for a Fresh 48 session instead of an in-home newborn session, you're in luck. No house cleaning required. ;)
Whether you're considering booking a Fresh 48 session in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky or already have one on the calendar, I've put together everything you need to know to help make the experience as relaxed and meaningful as possible.
First things first... what is a Fresh 48 session?
A Fresh 48 session is a newborn photography session that takes place in your hospital room, typically within the first 24–48 hours after your baby's birth.
Unlike traditional posed newborn photography, Fresh 48 sessions are documentary in nature. They're focused on capturing your baby's earliest hours and days exactly as they unfold, with natural light, minimal posing, and an emphasis on genuine family connection.
If you're the nostalgic type of mama, this one's for you.
This is a session of firsts.
The first time you hold your baby in your arms.
The look on your husband's face as he becomes a father, whether for the first time or all over again.
The first time you kiss those impossibly soft cheeks.
The way their tiny fingers wrap around yours.
The first time a big brother or sister meets the newest member of the family.
Their first bath.
The first time they open their eyes and take in this brand-new world.
The way you lovingly inspect and count every last tiny toe.
I could go on and on, friends.
There is something so incredibly sacred about those first days after birth. The hospital room holds so much more than we realize in the moment. The exhaustion, the wonder, the relief, the overwhelming love, the tiny details you'll swear you'll never forget.
And yet, somehow, you do.
Those newborn stretches, the little noises they make, the way they curl up on your chest. They change so quickly, often before we even realize they're changing.
That's why I love these sessions so much.
They're not about making your postpartum experience look picture-perfect. They're about preserving what it actually felt like to be there.
1. Book your Fresh 48 session in advance
Okay, a shameless little plug here... if you're considering a Fresh 48 session, book it early!
I generally recommend reaching out around four to five months before your due date, or sooner if you already know you'd love to have one.
The reason is simple: babies have their own timelines.
Because Fresh 48 photography requires me to be on call around your due date, I'm only able to accept a limited number of sessions each month. That flexibility allows me to work around early arrivals, delayed deliveries, changing hospital schedules, and all the other wonderfully unpredictable things that come with birth.
And nothing hurts my heart more than having to turn a family away because my calendar is already full.
So if you've been thinking about it, don't wait until the last minute!
2. Keep me updated as your due date approaches
Once your session is officially booked, the most important thing you can do is keep me in the loop as your baby's arrival gets closer.
Because hospital newborn sessions happen within such a small window of time, communication is incredibly helpful.
Some families head home within 24 hours of delivery, while others stay a little longer. And of course, birth rarely goes exactly according to plan.
As you get closer to your due date, feel free to email or text me with updates, especially if:
You have a scheduled induction or C-section.
Your doctor has discussed a possible early delivery.
You think labor may be starting.
You're heading to the hospital.
Baby has officially arrived!
This is actually a great responsibility to hand off to your spouse or another family member so you can focus on yourself and your baby.
You don't need to be sending me updates between contractions, I promise.
Once your little one is here, we'll coordinate a session time around your recovery, hospital schedule, and baby's needs.
And if things don't go according to plan? That's okay, too. We'll communicate and figure out what's possible together.
3. What should you wear for your Fresh 48 session?
This is probably one of the questions I hear most often, and my answer is always the same.
Comfort. Comfort. Comfort.
I say this as both a photographer and a mom who has experienced the postpartum period myself: please do not stress over what you're going to wear.
You just had a baby. Your body has done something incredible, and chances are you're feeling a little (or a lot) uncomfortable.
The very last thing you need to do is squeeze yourself into something that doesn't feel good simply because you think it will look better in photographs.
For moms, I love simple, comfortable clothing that feels natural to you.
Some of my favorite options include:
A cozy robe or soft pajamas.
A loose sweater or cardigan.
Leggings with a simple tank top.
A relaxed, flowy dress.
A nursing tank or bralette.
A simple hospital gown.
Natural fabrics like cotton and linen tend to photograph beautifully, and soft, neutral, earthy colors are always lovely.
But can I tell you a little secret?
Some of my absolute favorite Fresh 48 images are the ones where mom is still wearing her hospital gown, nursing bra, and mesh underwear.
Yes, really.
There's something so beautifully honest about the postpartum experience, and I love when families choose to embrace it rather than dress it up.
As for dads, a simple, solid-colored T-shirt is usually my recommendation. Nothing complicated!
I generally suggest avoiding large logos, neon colors, or very busy patterns, since they can distract from the moments and connections we're trying to capture.
But please hear me when I say this: these are suggestions, not rules.
If you don't have time to change, you're still in your hospital gown, or Dad only packed one shirt, it's completely fine.
Your family, just as you are, is more than enough.
4. How should you dress your newborn?
When it comes to dressing baby, less is almost always more.
The goal is to have a comfortable, cozy, content little one, and multiple outfit changes can quickly turn a peaceful session into a stressful one.
Newborns generally aren't big fans of being undressed and redressed repeatedly, especially in a chilly hospital room.
I usually recommend having one simple outfit picked out, along with a few accessories if you'd like some variety.
Think a soft onesie, a sweet little hat, a simple bow, or a meaningful swaddle blanket.
And honestly? I absolutely love the classic hospital-provided white onesies and striped blankets.
They are such a nostalgic part of those first days.
There's something about seeing your baby wrapped up in that familiar hospital blanket years later that immediately takes you right back.
If you're bringing an outfit from home, neutral tones, earthy colors, and soft patterns tend to photograph beautifully. I also love deeper jewel tones for a little richness and warmth.
I'd recommend packing a backup outfit, too, because... newborns.
Blowouts and unexpected pee situations are practically guaranteed.
But please don't feel like you need to purchase anything special. Your baby's tiny features, delicate skin, and sweet little expressions are more than enough.
5. Do you need to clean or prepare your hospital room?
Nope.
Seriously. Don't tidy a thing.
In fact, you may be surprised when I walk into your hospital room and start turning off the overhead lights.
My photography style relies heavily on natural light, so I typically work with the available window light rather than using flash or harsh artificial lighting.
It allows me to create softer, more intimate images while keeping the environment relaxed for you and your baby.
Depending on the room, I might move a chair closer to the window or adjust a curtain to let in a little more light, but that's usually about it.
And as for the room itself?
Please, please don't feel like you need to clean it before I arrive.
I know this may sound strange, but I genuinely love the beautiful mess of a postpartum hospital room.
The leftover Styrofoam coffee cups from the night before.
The overflowing suitcase that has barely been touched.
The giant hospital water jug that somehow never seems full enough.
The pacifiers, burp cloths, snack wrappers, extra pillows, and phone chargers that have mysteriously disappeared for the millionth time.
The same T-shirt you've been wearing since yesterday.
All of it.
To me, these little details tell such an important part of the story.
They're the evidence of life happening. Of a family growing. Of the beautifully blurry, exhausting, sacred days after bringing a new human into the world.
One day, those details will bring you right back to this season of life.
So leave the coffee cups. Leave the blankets. Leave the suitcase open.
The beautiful chaos has a story to tell, too.
6. What can you expect during your Fresh 48 session?
Fresh 48 sessions generally take around an hour, although I always allow room for the unpredictable nature of newborn life.
These sessions are very laid-back and baby-led.
If your baby sleeps the entire time I'm there, we'll capture them sleeping.
If they're wide awake and looking around the room, even better.
If they need to eat, we'll let them eat.
If you need to take a break, we take a break.
There's no strict timeline or expectation that everyone needs to perform for the camera.
I might gently guide you toward the window for better light or suggest a comfortable spot to sit, but for the most part, I'm simply documenting your family interacting naturally.
Hold your baby.
Kiss their cheeks.
Rock them in your arms.
Run your fingers through that fuzzy newborn hair.
Count their toes for the hundredth time.
Sing to them, read them a book, or just sit quietly and take them in.
If you'd like breastfeeding or bottle-feeding photographs, I would love to document those moments, too.
Some families want to spend the entire session snuggling their baby in bed. Others want to include a first bath, sibling introductions, or those early moments of learning how to care for their newest family member.
If there's a specific moment you'd love to document, let me know ahead of time so we can plan around it when possible.
For something like baby's first bath, you'll want to discuss timing and hospital guidelines with your nurse so we can see whether it can be coordinated with your session.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way for your Fresh 48 session to unfold.
The goal isn't to create moments that look beautiful.
It's to recognize the beauty in the moments already happening.
7. What if you're including older siblings?
Oh, siblings.
Some of my absolute favorite Fresh 48 photographs involve those first introductions between a new baby and their big brothers or sisters.
They're also some of the most unpredictable moments, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're planning to include older children, first check your hospital's current visitor policies to make sure siblings are permitted.
I generally recommend having a grandparent or another family member bring the kids in around halfway through the session.
This gives us time to capture some quiet moments with just you, your spouse, and baby before adding a little more excitement to the room.
Once the siblings arrive, we'll usually focus on a few family photographs and sibling moments while everyone is still relatively interested.
And then?
We let the kids be kids.
If your toddler wants nothing to do with the baby, that's okay.
If they're bouncing off the walls, that's okay.
If someone cries, refuses to participate, or suddenly decides they'd rather eat a snack than hold their new sibling, that is also completely okay.
Trust me, as a mom myself, I'm no stranger to tantrums, sibling squabbles, or tiny humans with very big feelings.
And really, can you blame them?
Their entire world just changed.
Please don't worry about your kids being perfectly behaved for me. I am not there to judge your parenting or expect your children to act like little angels.
I'm there to tell your family's story.
Sometimes that means documenting a sweet, quiet moment between siblings.
Sometimes it means giving everyone a little space and waiting for a genuine connection to happen on its own.
I also know when it's time to put the camera down and let a moment remain private.
The most important thing is to stay flexible, keep expectations low, and allow your children to experience this enormous life change in their own way.
8. What if your birth or recovery doesn't go as planned?
I think this is worth talking about because, as mothers, we can spend so much time imagining how those first days will look.
And sometimes, they look nothing like what we imagined.
Maybe you have an unexpected C-section.
Maybe you're exhausted after a long labor.
Maybe your baby needs additional monitoring, or you need more time to recover before you feel ready for visitors.
I never want your photography session to feel like another expectation you have to meet during an already vulnerable time.
Your health, your baby's well-being, and your ability to rest and recover will always come first.
If something changes, just communicate with me when you're able. We'll work through the options based on how you're feeling and what your medical team recommends.
And please remember that you don't need to look or feel a certain way to deserve beautiful photographs of your family.
There is beauty in the tenderness of those early days, even when things don't unfold exactly as you'd hoped.
9. One last thing... don't forget to be in the photographs
I know it can be tempting to focus entirely on your new baby.
Their little fingers and toes. Their sleepy expressions. Their perfectly tiny features.
And trust me, we'll capture all of it.
But I also want you to remember something.
You are part of this story, too.
Your baby deserves to have photographs of you holding them.
Not just on the days when your hair is done, your clothes fit comfortably, and you've had a full night's sleep.
But right here, in the beginning.
With tired eyes, messy hair, a hospital gown, and a heart that's somehow grown big enough to love this little person more than you ever thought possible.
Years from now, I don't think you'll look at these photographs and wish you'd worn something different.
I think you'll remember how impossibly tiny they felt in your arms.
How their head smelled.
How you couldn't stop staring at them.
How the whole world seemed to stand still for just a little while.
And I think you'll be so grateful that you were in the frame.
Looking for a Fresh 48 photographer in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky?
If you're expecting a new little one and hoping to preserve those first precious hours together, I would be truly honored to document them for you.
My approach to newborn photography is natural, intimate, and rooted in storytelling. No elaborate setups or uncomfortable posing. Just honest, beautiful photographs of your family exactly as you are.