Fresh 48 Session vs. Lifestyle Newborn Session

You might have noticed that I’ve had a bunch of newborn sessions lately!  And, to be quite honest, I’m loving them!  Maybe it’s the fact that we’re well into the toddler stage at our house, or maybe it’s just that they’re cute, but I just can’t get enough of those little peanuts!  

When it comes down to getting photos of your newborn, there’s a few different routes you could go.  There’s everything from birth photography, photos in the hospital, photos at home, and posed photos in the studio to name a few!  Currently, I offer two options:  Fresh 48 Sessions and Lifestyle Newborn Sessions.  Hopefully, this post will help you understand what those sessions are and decide which one is right for your family!

Fresh 48 Sessions

Simply put, a Fresh 48 Session is when photos are taken of the newborn while you are still at the hospital.  The session generally occurs within the first 48 hours after the birth (hence the name).  This session is as close to birth photography as you can get without having images of the actual birth.  I LOVE these sessions because they capture those first sweet hours with mom, dad, and family.  Those are moments you just can’t replicate!  

Fresh 48 Sessions can easily be customized to meet the needs of your family.  Some families want to have images as soon as they are out of the delivery room.  Other families want to wait until the next day, so that Mom has time to relax, sleep, and shower.  Some parents really want images of their older children meeting the new baby for the first time.   The details can vary depending on what your family wants, but whatever you choose, the results are sure to be magical!  I just adore the emotion that is captured in these sessions.  If I could only shoot one type of session for the rest of my life, Fresh 48 would be it! 

What’s captured in a Fresh 48 Session:

• The hospital environment (hospital bassinet and the hospital room)
• Baby and parents (plus any other siblings/family you want present)
• Details (hospital bracelets, swaddle blankets/hats, fingers & toes)

A Fresh 48 Session may be for you if:

• You want photos of the baby when they are BRAND new
• You want to capture the hospital environment
• You want the focus to be on the birth, but not have photos of the birth itself
• You want to capture the emotions of baby’s birth

Lifestyle Newborn Session

A Lifestyle Newborn Session takes place within the first two weeks of Baby’s life.  This session takes place in your home, and includes Mom, Dad, and siblings (if applicable) in the images.  Lifestyle sessions are pretty relaxed and capture your interactions as they normally happen.  Instead of elaborate poses with Baby in a basket of roses, you’ll see more of baby in their crib or in Mom & Dad’s arms.  I do help pose the family, but my instructions are relatively minimal. 

What’s captured in a Lifestyle Newborn Session:

• The nursery and your home
• Baby with Mom & Dad (plus siblings)
• Details (special stuffed animals, nursery decor, swaddle blankets, fingers & toes)

A Lifestyle Newborn Session may be for you if:

• You want a week or so to relax after the birth
• You want a images of the nursery or your home
• You want a quieter environment with fewer distractions

The Bottom Line

As you can see by the images above, both sessions are beautiful, but in different ways.  I find that there’s a bit more emotion in the Fresh 48 Sessions because the baby is so new.  On the other hand, at a Lifestyle Newborn Session, you have a quieter environment with fewer distractions.  Whatever your preference, there’s no wrong choice when it comes to getting photos of your newborn!  However, I hope this helps you determine which session might be right for you!