What is a "Fresh 48" Photography Session and Why You Should Do It!
Fresh 48 Photography Sessions- What & Why? | Seattle Newborn photographer
When I was pregnant with Rufus, I sort of knew what a fresh 48 was. I got that the gist was a photography session in the hospital right after your baby is born. The only photos I had seen from fresh 48 sessions though, were of bloggers and influencers with their hair and makeup done (usually professionally) looking fresh and perfect and frankly, unattainable. At the time those images and the idea that Rufus would just be a little squishy maybe not cute newborn was enough to turn me off of the idea. I am now aware of the incredible work being done in this sphere of lifestyle/documentary photography. I have a few photos of Ru and I, and none of our whole family from my stay at the hospital. If I could go back in time and do a Fresh 48 (sometimes called birth space session) I would. In a heartbeat.
5 Things You Should Know About Fresh 48 Photo Sessions:
What you just did is incredible! Natural birth? Amazing. Medicated birth? You are a rockstar. C-section? Fantastic! However you managed to bring a baby into the world is stunning. I had an emergency cesarean under anesthesia because Rufus’ heart rate kept plummeting- we lived and I wish I had photos of it! All kinds of births are worth celebrating and documenting. INCLUDING ADOPTION. Adoption stories deserve the same treatment. You are welcoming a baby either way, and the situation might be more complex, but where there is a will, there is a way. And I am pretty damn willful.
It is not invasive! I come and go quickly, leaving you to rest, enjoy your family, deal with medical things. My fresh 48 sessions are a cross between lifestyle and documentary, and beforehand you and I will discuss what you want your experience to be like. If you want me to be a fly on the wall, done! If you want a little more guidance (what you see in these photos) that is perfect too!
You DO NOT need a makeup and hair team. If you are on Instagram a lot, it might look like that is the norm. Pleeeease. Do whatever you have the energy for, whatever you want to do. I use the light to make you look your best, and honest moments in this situation are beautiful.
You can include siblings, but if that seems stressful, you can just focus on your newborn. I am telling you, there is so much flexibility and ease.
Fresh 48 sessions are for hospitals, home births, birth centers…basically anywhere you are. If you get discharged very quickly from wherever it is you gave birth (birth centers are usually pretty quick), I will come to your home.
So, if you have any questions remaining about “fresh 48”, and I really wish it went by a different term- Arrival Photos? Birth space? Welcome to Earth? - leave me a comment or send me an email. And if you have an idea of a new term that could be used for these type of photos, please tell me! If you are in the Seattle or Eastside let’s talk about a fresh 48 session!
*Photos taken by me, while working as Elena S Blair Photography’s associate.
