This session was special on so many levels. I got to photograph for the first time back in a hospital since COVID shut everything down, AND I got to photograph for the first time in the NICU, AND I got to photograph a rainbow baby, AND I got to do it all on my 30th birthday. There was so much to celebrate about this little life, and I was so thankful to get to document it.
What is a Fresh48 Session?
A Fresh48 Session is a newborn session conducted within the first 48 hours of life. By default, these sessions tend to be held in a hospital, or sometimes in the home if the mother has chosen alternate methods for delivery. These sessions represent everything I love about getting to photograph newborn families. This session is exactly what life was like at that moment in time. There was no tidying up the room, no dressing up or extensive make-up. Just real life as I walked in and saw it. It was extra unique as it was a session we had in the NICU. There were cords, monitors, and open packs of wipes. I loved every second of it.
Fresh48 Photo Session in the NICU
This particular session was held in the Memorial Hermann Houston NICU. It was in the city, where we were bumping elbows with the other beautiful family that they shared the room with. We all had masks on and there were still visitation restrictions. Nothing about this says “let’s hire a photographer”, but look at these photos! They just prove that documenting the difficult, but monumental seasons of our lives is worth it.
This season of life carries a lot of emotions. There are beeping monitors, nurses coming in and out of the room at all hours of the night, next to no sleep, and constantly waiting for your child to be well enough to bust out of the hospital. Life in the NICU comes with stress upon stress. It’s no joke, COVID aside. It makes it hard to want to remember. When I had my own NICU baby I just wanted to move on through the season where I felt like I was just surviving, and wanted to forget. Even though it might be hard to want to document the difficult seasons in life, just look at these images. Without a doubt you know they are cherished.
How Fresh48 sessions differ from In-Home Newborn Session
When looking at the title of In-Home (or Lifestyle) Newborn Sessions vs. Fresh48 Sessions, it may not seem that difficult to tell the difference. However, just humor me for a little bit. Let me point out some of the things that make these sessions special and unique.
When looking at the title of In-Home (or Lifestyle) Newborn Sessions vs. Fresh48 Sessions, it may not seem that difficult to tell the difference. However, just humor me for a little bit. Let me point out some of the things that make these sessions special and unique. These are some of the same shots I would take at an in-home session, but notice the room, the hospital bracelets, and the quintessential rolling hospital bassinet. It’s the little things that really set the scene and make these sessions stand out from home sessions. Not to mention that even ever so slightly that baby looks even newer than if we did our normal in-home session at 2-3 weeks.
Peep! Look at the mask mom is holding in her left hand. Are we all annoyed with masks? Sure, but it will be a distinct feature to remember years down the road as we move on from COVID.
I’m not much for the idea of this whole “storytelling” trend. Seems a little too “head-in-the-clouds” for me. But oh my goodness, look at those cords. I could have edited them out, but NO. The cords in the photo tell half the story.
I just could not get enough of this little baby with all her cords because just said something different to me. It was super sentimental. They reminded me of the NICU experience we had in our family. For all the good things and all the difficult things. I guess if you glean anything from this blog post is that its worth it to document every season of life, even if it’s hard.
Want more inspiration for your newborn session?
Check out this Colorful Newborn Session.
or this Eclectic Newborn Session.
Melanie B of Mel B Photo is a professional photographer based in Tomball, Cypress, and The Woodlands, TX. I specialize in Newborn, Family, and Maternity Photography. For more information on packages with me and/or opportunities to book, feel free to visit my website.
Specific Newborn Packages can be found HERE.
Have more questions about Newborn Session?
Check out my Lifestyle Newborn FAQ or Behind the Scenes at a Newborn Session
-Mel B.
Mel B Photo
Add a comment
0 Comments