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Fresh 48 or In-home Newborn Photography? | Which is right for you | Christiana Hospital Fresh 48 Photography

Writer's picture: Alexandra DupreyAlexandra Duprey


proud parents in the postpartum recovery room at Christiana Hospital in Newark Delaware


As a photographer who offers both Fresh 48's, and In-home Newborn Sessions, I sometimes get asked by clients "Which session should I book and why?"


While both sessions involve taking pictures of a newborn baby, they are actually quite different. I hope that by learning about these differences as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each session type, you may come away with a clear preference for one over the other, or may even choose to book both!


So what is the difference between an in-home Newborn session and a Fresh 48 photgraphy session anyway? The biggest differences are timing and place.



a detail of baby eyelashes at Christiana Hospital in Newark Delaware

Fresh 48 Sessions


A fresh session is photographed at your place of birth, typically within the first 48 hours after your baby's birth-- typically at the hospital, but can certainly come to your home if you had a home birth. I photograph Fresh 48 sessions at least 24 hours after baby's birth for vaginal deliveries and 48 for c-sections. Most family's choose to have thier session the day afer they give birth or in the morning before they are discharged. This gives mom time to rest and recovery and get herself photo ready.


a newborn foot at Christiana Hospital in Newark Delaware

When you hire me to photograph your birth, I am there with you from active labor through delivery and those first golden hours of postpartum. While a Fresh 48 will not take the place of birth photography, a Fresh 48 session will still capture those early moments of your family and new baby in the hostpial. Baby's change so much even a few days and Fresh 48 sessions are an incredible opportunity to capture baby just the way he or she is when they entered the world. You don’t appreciate it until you’re a parent just how fast your little one will change in those first few days and weeks. You blink and they are smashing their 1st birthday cake. The baby I encounter at two weeks old at in-home newborn session may look completely different from the baby you birthed a couple weeks ago. To be able to capture the first few hours of your baby’s life is a gift! 


A Fresh 48's about capturing all of your baby's first as well as your first as a new parent. I might capture siblings meeting eachother for the first time, a baby's first bath, diaper changes, their first gassy smiles, sleepy yawns, or the first feeding with dad. I try to capture tiny details like baby's feet, hands, fingernails, belly buttons. As well as all the snuggles. If baby was born in a hostpial, I document the hospital bassinet and baby wrapped in thier recieving blanket, the view from the window. This is a bonus for anyone who didn't hire a birth photographer because the place of birth is such a big part of your little one's birth story.



new parents cuddle their babyat Christiana Hospital in Newark Delaware

a newborn sleeps peacefully in the hospital bassinetat Christiana Hospital in Newark Delaware

a great grandfather meets his newest great grandchild at Christiana Hospital in Newark Delaware


These sessions are also usually a little more emotional and less “polished" than an in-home session. You just gave birth! I focus on your new baby, your new role as parents, and any tender or raw postpartum details you want remembered.


Pros: Capture baby the way they are when they first arrive earth side!

Cons: Scheduling can be tricky, you may not feel “up” to pictures immediately after birth.

Mood: Intimate, raw, delicate, emotional



a dover Delaware couple cuddles their newborn baby on the couch during an in-home newborn sessions with moon bloom photo

In-home Newborn Sessions


My newborn sessions take place in the comfort of your own home. These are usually scheduled within 2 weeks of birth when baby is still in the sleepy newborn stage, but I photograph babies of all ages and stages depending on a family's readiness for photos. Sometimes you need time to adjust postpartum and I completely respect that with the scheduling of these sessions! You can read all about my apprach to photographing older newborns HERE.



a newborn sleeps peacefully during an in-home newborn session with Alexandra Duprey of moon bloom photo


These sessions can involve parents, siblings, beloved pets, and other family members too! The advantages include a more relaxed timeline (my newborn sessions usually last around 2 hours) with lots of flexibility for feeding, diaper changes, outfit changes, and baby soothing.



a newborn sleeps peacefully during an in-home newborn session with Alexandra Duprey of moon bloom photo in Dover Delaware

The biggest advantage of booking an in-home newborn session, of course, is the location: when you’re in your own home, everything you could possibly need is within reach. The home you built together is our backdrop-- the place where all your most special family memories are in the making. We get to feature your unique home aesthetic. We also get to feature parts of the home that are extra meaningful to you, like the nursery you lovingly created for your little one, perhaps your DIY kitchen remodel, and any other special items (like that heirloom quilt your grandmother made) that would otherwise be too difficult or cumbersome to bring to the hospital.


Another plus is that being photographed can feel uncomfortable for some people, but there is nothing more comfortable than curling up in your own bed with baby snoozing contentedly against your chest.


Pros: The comforts of home, extra time to recover from your birth, fur babies welcome!

Cons: Baby will have changed so much already!

Mood: Relaxed, tender, joyful



parents of newborn soothe their baby


a new father smiles at his newborn baby


a dover Delaware couple cuddles their newborn baby on the couch during an in-home newborn sessions with moon bloom photo

Curious about Fresh 48 sessions?

You can read about my process HERE.


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