There are so many options for you to choose from when it comes to capturing your new baby, and it can be overwhelming trying to decide which session(s) you should choose. You can hire someone for a birth story, Fresh 48 session, or newborn session – either lifestyle or posed. And don’t forget the maternity session! How do you decide what to book? While I cannot tell you what is right for you, I can tell you the difference between a fresh 48 vs newborn session. Maybe that will help you decide if you can do it without or if you need to have all the sessions.
So, Fresh 48 vs Lifestyle Newborn Sessions – What’s the Difference?
First, let’s talk about how they are different. You can probably guess the difference between a maternity session or even a birth story. So, let’s talk about the difference between a Fresh 48-hospital vs lifestyle newborn session. These two sessions can confuse some parents because, most of the time, these sessions take place within only a few weeks or even a few days of each other.
A Fresh 48 Session
A Fresh 48-session will occur while you and your baby are still at your birthing facility. It usually happens within the first 48 hours after your baby’s birth. Most will choose to have their session the next day, or even the morning they are discharged. This will give mom and baby plenty of time to rest up and get photo-ready.
A Fresh 48 will not replace birth photography; however, it still captures those early moments during a baby’s first hours of life. I can tell you with 100% certainty that you will see changes in your baby even a few days after birth. They will go through major growth spurts during that first week, so this session will help you remember this stage of your baby’s new life and how tiny they were.
A Fresh 48 captures all of their firsts or even your firsts as a new parent. You might capture siblings meeting each other for the first time, the first bath (if timed right), the first smiles, the first yawns, the first feeding with dad, the dad’s first diaper changes, etc. We also capture little details like baby feet, hands, tiny fingernails, belly buttons, baby snuggled up in the hospital bassinet, snuggles with mom and dad, or going home from the hospital.
A Lifestyle Newborn Session
A lifestyle newborn session can be photographed anytime in the first several weeks. In these sessions, I have the opportunity to capture a newborn interacting within their very first environment, their home. It is more relaxed and free-flowing, focusing on simplicity, connection, and storytelling! The images will capture the baby’s nursery and give images that have more of a documentary feel to them. This session focuses on capturing your home and life as it was during those first few weeks after bringing your new baby home.
An In-home Lifestyle Newborn Session Might Be Right For You if you:
- would like time to recover after giving birth
- want to capture images of your baby’s nursery
- truly want to document what life was like when you brought the baby home, allowing you to capture the right now, forever.
Should You Still Book Both Sessions Instead of A Fresh 48 vs Newborn Session?
The bottom line is yes. You can choose to book a fresh 48 vs newborn session because these sessions are typically conducted within a few weeks of each other.
However, these sessions have a very different goal in mind regarding how I approach capturing them. A Fresh 48 session captures all of those firsts and shows how tiny your baby was when it was BRAND NEW, as well as all of those new emotions still floating around in the room after becoming a new parent. It also captures the hospital environment, which is a bonus for anyone who didn’t hire a birth photographer.
A lifestyle newborn session documents life when you brought your sweet baby home. Choosing both sessions will help capture both moments and show how your baby grows in the first few weeks.
If you are considering booking both sessions, I suggest scheduling your lifestyle newborn session around 3-4 weeks old. This will allow you to truly capture the changes you will inevitably see in your newborn during their first month.
While you’re preparing to meet your baby, don’t forget to schedule pictures! I’m a Bay Area newborn photographer, and I adore working with families to ensure they can have gorgeous memories of this time. I provide full-service sessions, so you don’t have to worry about anything. If you’ve been considering booking a session for your new family, I’d love to chat so you can decide if I’m the photographer for you! Contact me today to get the conversation started.
