Birth Photography vs Fresh 48 Session: A Guide for Expecting Mothers

As a motherhood photographer, one of the common decisions parents face is choosing between birth photography vs Fresh 48 session. While both beautifully capture the raw emotion and profound joy of welcoming a baby into the world, they offer distinct experiences and photographic results. If you’re expecting and trying to decide which session is right for you, let’s break down the differences.

While I cannot tell you which is right for you, I will show you the benefits of Birth and Fresh 48 sessions!

Birth Photography: Capturing the First Breath

Birth photography is exactly what it sounds like—photography of the birth process itself. This type of session is raw, authentic, and filled with candid moments that happen in real-time.

Birth sessions are for those parents who want raw and emotional images. These are photos you can look back on years to come and remember how you felt in those moments leading up to delivery. You and your significant other want to be in the moments, not focused on capturing them. Having a dedicated photographer allows you both the chance to be involved and not worrying about taking cellphone pictures and missing out on these crucial, life-changing memories. You can have these photographs to always reminisce on those first euphoric moments of your child’s life. Upon delivery, what better way to send an announcement than having a high-quality, gorgeous photo of your new little love?

What to Expect:

• On-Call Photographer: Birth is unpredictable, so as your photographer, I will be on-call around your due date and ready to come at a moment’s notice, whether your baby decides to arrive in the middle of the day or the middle of the night.
• Raw Emotions: Every tear, every smile, every touch. Birth photography captures the powerful emotions that flood the room—whether it’s the quiet support of a partner, the moment you meet your child for the first time, or the look of relief after delivery.
• A Documentary Style: The goal of birth photography is to document the birth story from labor to the baby’s first moments of life. This includes capturing the environment, the medical team, and your family’s reaction.

Who It’s For:

• Mothers who want a complete visual story of their birth experience.
• Parents who are comfortable with having someone present during a deeply personal event.
• Those who value capturing once-in-a-lifetime, unrepeatable moments.

Why Choose Birth Photography?

• The Magic of the First Moments: Birth photography allows you to relive the moment your baby takes their first breath, hears your voice, and opens their eyes.
• Authenticity: The emotions are raw and unfiltered. Every shot is a real moment, filled with love, exhaustion, relief, and joy.
  

Fresh 48 Session: The First Day, Celebrated

Fresh 48 sessions take place within the first 48 hours of your baby’s life, typically in the hospital or birthing center. While still intimate, these sessions are more relaxed compared to birth photography, allowing you to focus on bonding with your new baby without the intensity of capturing labor and delivery.

After the whirlwind of labor, I come in to capture some photos of enjoying your first moments with your baby. It’s very easy-going with limited posing, and not so up-close and vulnerable like a birth session. I will strive to get those tiny details of small toes, little button nose, and downy hair. The first moments pass quickly and in the blink of an eye. You don’t want to forget these precious times!

Fresh 48 documents the real-life moments as you get to know each other. The collection of lifestyle images might be feeding, napping, changing a diaper, bathing, and of course, lots of snuggles.

What to Expect:

• Timing: I will come within the first 24-48 hours after your baby is born. This gives you time to rest after labor while still capturing your newborn’s earliest moments.
• A Calm Setting: Unlike birth photography, the atmosphere during a Fresh 48 session is generally calm. It’s a chance to capture those first sleepy smiles, feeding sessions, and tiny newborn details without the unpredictability of birth.
• Family Involvement: Fresh 48 photos often include family members meeting the baby for the first time, siblings holding their new brother or sister, and parents basking in the first day of parenthood.

Who It’s For:

• Parents who want to capture their baby’s first moments but prefer a more peaceful, more posed session.
• Mothers who might not feel comfortable being photographed during labor but still want to document the early hours of their baby’s life.
• Families who want photos with older siblings or extended family in the hospital setting.

Why Choose Fresh 48?

• Newborn Details: The Fresh 48 session is all about capturing those tiny newborn features—wrinkly toes, hospital bands, and soft tufts of hair. It’s a way to preserve the fleeting newborn stage while it’s still fresh.
• Less Pressure: You won’t have to worry about how you look or feel in the middle of labor. You’ll have time to recover and present yourself in a way that feels comfortable.
  

So, Which Should You Choose?

Both sessions are very different. Parents will sometimes book me for both, and this gives them two very distinct sets of photographs to showcase their new little one.

If you’re torn between the two, think about the moments you most want to remember. Do you want the raw, in-the-moment experience of birth documented? Or would you prefer to capture the peaceful, intimate bonding time in those first hours after birth?

For many families, the choice is personal. Some opt for birth photography to document the entire experience, while others prefer the more low-key, relaxed vibe of a Fresh 48 session. And for those who can’t choose—why not do both? Each session offers a different perspective on the miracle of life.

Whether you decide on birth photography or a Fresh 48 session, both will provide you with a priceless visual narrative of one of the most important moments in your life. The raw beauty of birth or the quiet joy of the first 48 hours—it’s up to you. As your photographer, I’m here to ensure that whatever choice you make, you’ll have stunning, heartfelt images to treasure for a lifetime.

Are you looking for a Birth or Fresh 48 photographer?

Contact me to learn about your own session!