The Magic of Fresh 48 Photography: Capturing Baby’s First Hours

If you’re pregnant and curious about what a fresh 48 photography actually is, how it’s different from traditional newborn photography, and why so many families fall in love with the images from these sessions,  this post is for you.

Hi! I’m Jessica, a birth and family photographer based in Beaumont, AB, serving Edmonton and surrounding areas. As a mama and a deep feeler, I know how quickly the first hours after birth pass by, surreal, tender, emotional, and blurry all at once. That’s exactly why I offer fresh 48 photography: to help you hold onto those fleeting moments in a way that feels honest and true.

If you already know this is something you want to include in your baby’s story, I’d love to connect. I’m here to walk with you through it, gently and without pressure.

What a Fresh 48 Session Is (And Isn’t)

A fresh 48 photography session is a lifestyle session that takes place within the first 48 hours after your baby is born, typically in your hospital room, birthing center, or at home if you’ve had a home birth.

It’s not about props, posing, or perfection.
fresh 48 photography is about documenting your baby’s first hours of life as they are: the way they curl against your chest, the tiny flakes on their skin, the hospital bracelet still wrapped around their ankle, and the awe on your face as you take them in.

It’s not a replacement for a full newborn session, it’s something beautifully different. It captures the rawness, the realness, the emotion of those very first hours together.

Why These First Hours Matter So Much

There’s something sacred about the space right after birth, the way time seems to slow down and speed up all at once. You’re learning your baby. They’re learning you. And together, you’re stepping into a new version of life.

In just a day or two, that sleepy newborn face will start to change. The squishiness, the wrinkled fingers, the just born energy, it fades quickly.

fresh 48 photography preserves those details you may not even notice in the moment but will ache to remember later. It captures the awe. The exhaustion. The wonder. The love that’s already overflowing.

What to Expect From Me During a Hospital, Birth Centre or Home Visit

When I arrive, my approach is quiet and gentle, like a close friend entering your space with care. Whether I meet you at your hospital room or your bedroom at home, I won’t be asking you to pose or tidy up. You just rest. Love on your baby. Take it all in.

Here’s what you can expect:

• I’ll check in softly when I arrive and move through the space with minimal disruption
• I may gently suggest positions for light or comfort, but nothing will feel forced
• Partners, siblings, and tiny details will all be part of the story
• The entire session usually lasts 30–45 minutes, depending on how everyone is feeling

You can feed your baby, snuggle skin-to-skin, or just soak in the moment. I’ll quietly document what unfolds.

Simple Tips to Feel Comfortable (Even When You’re Exhausted)

You don’t need to look or feel “ready” for fresh 48 photography, that’s the beauty of it. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

That said, here are a few gentle tips to help you feel more at ease:

• Choose simple, soft clothing: A neutral robe, a cozy swaddle, or even your hospital gown can look beautiful in natural light
• Don’t worry about makeup or hair: A messy bun and tired eyes tell the truth of this season, and that’s what we want to remember
• Bring in meaning: A special swaddle, blanket, or outfit adds personal touch to your baby’s story

Mostly? Just be. Let yourself feel what you’re feeling. I’ll take care of the rest.

What I Focus on Capturing: Details, Connection, Quiet Moments

In every fresh 48 photography session, I’m looking the quiet magic that exists in those early hours.

What I focus on:

• The peeling newborn skin on tiny toes
• The softness of a baby curled into your arms
• Your partner brushing a hair from your face or resting a hand on your shoulder
• The ID bracelet. The receiving blanket. The hospital bassinet.
• The first yawns, stretches, and sleepy snuggles
• Your expression as you look at the life you just brought into the world

These photos are honest. And in that honesty is something achingly beautiful.

How Fresh 48 Is Different From Newborn Studio Photography

Both are beautiful in their own ways, but fresh 48 photography captures something a studio simply can’t replicate, the real-life context and emotion of your baby’s very first hours.

Here’s how they differ:

Fresh 48 Photography:

• Takes place within the first 24–48 hours after birth
• Captures your baby in their birth space (hospital, birth center, or home)
• Focuses on real, candid moments and raw emotion
• Documents all the “firsts” first yawns, first feeds, siblings meeting baby, hospital bands
• Unposed and documentary style, centered on connection and presence

Newborn Studio Photography:

• Usually scheduled 1–3 weeks after baby arrives
• Takes place in a studio with professional lighting and set design
• Focuses on styled, posed portraits of baby (often sleeping)
• Emphasizes soft props, wraps, and artistic newborn posing
• Ideal for capturing baby alone in dreamy, created setups

You can absolutely choose both, but if you want to freeze the exact moment life changed forever, fresh 48 is where that story begins.

Why These Raw, Tender Images Become Favorites for Life

Years from now, you won’t remember how tired you felt or whether your hair was brushed. You’ll remember how it felt to finally hold them. To count their fingers. To say their name out loud.

These images become family treasures. The kind you’ll reach for on birthdays, anniversaries, and quiet nights when your baby is suddenly no longer so small. They tell the story of the day you met, and they’ll mean more with every passing year.

Final Thoughts

There is no other time quite like the first 48 hours after your baby arrives. It’s tender, blurry, overwhelming, beautiful. And you deserve to remember it, not in fragments, but in quiet, heartfelt photographs.

If you’re thinking about booking a fresh 48 photography session or just want to explore what it could look like, I’d love to hear from you. I’m here to walk gently beside you, to honor your space, and to help you hold onto what matters most.

Let’s tell the story of how your baby’s life began in all its real, raw, sacred beauty.

And if you’re not quite ready but want to follow along for inspiration, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments, you can find me over on Instagram

With love,
Jessica