Fresh 48 Photo Session Checklist

Date

Capture the first hours with your newborn. Our Fresh 48 photo session checklist helps you prepare for relaxed, and heartfelt images.

Fresh 48 Photo Session Checklist: Capturing the First Hours of Your Baby’s Story

The Woodlands Newborn Photographer

There’s nothing quite like those first hours after meeting your baby. The tiny squeaks, the soft skin, the way they curl into you like they’ve known you forever. A Fresh 48 session is designed to freeze those moments in time—right there in the hospital or birthing center—before life settles into its new rhythm.

Unlike traditional newborn photos taken at home or in a studio around two weeks old, Fresh 48 sessions happen within the first two days of your baby’s life. No props, no posing marathons—just you, your baby, and the people who love them most. These are the real, unfiltered moments you’ll want to remember forever.

Why Families Love Fresh 48 Sessions

Fresh 48 photography is all about preserving emotions you can’t re-stage—the way your baby’s fingers wrap around yours, the sleepy blinks, the way your partner looks at your little one like nothing else exists.

In The Woodlands (or anywhere your baby makes their debut), these sessions are intimate and gentle. They capture connection over perfection, telling your family’s story as it unfolds in real time.

What to Expect

A Fresh 48 session usually lasts about 1–2 hours. The pace is slow and relaxed—perfect for feeding breaks, diaper changes, and snuggles in between shots.

Your photographer will focus on things like:

  • Your baby’s tiny details—fingers, toes, eyelashes.
  • The first cuddles with parents, siblings, or grandparents.
  • Emotional moments, from soft smiles to joyful tears.

No need to “perform” for the camera—just love on your baby and let the photographer work their magic.

How to Prepare: Your Fresh 48 Checklist

  1. Coordinate Early
    Let your photographer know your due date in advance. Once you’re in labor (or shortly after birth), send them a quick text so they can plan to arrive within that 48-hour window.
  2. Pack Photo-Friendly Items
    Add a few meaningful pieces to your hospital bag—like a special blanket, a hand-knit hat, or a keepsake from home. Small touches make your photos feel even more personal.
  3. Choose Soft, Simple Outfits
    You don’t need to dress up—neutral, comfortable clothing works beautifully. Think cozy knits, soft robes, or a favorite top. The focus will stay where it belongs—on your baby.
  4. Keep Baby’s Essentials Handy
    Have swaddles, diapers, wipes, and a pacifier close by so everything flows smoothly.
  5. Include Loved Ones
    If siblings or grandparents will be part of the photos, make sure they know when to pop in. Even a short visit can give you treasured multi-generational moments.
  6. Relax and Be Present
    The best photos happen when you’re simply soaking it in—the smells, the sounds, the feeling of your baby in your arms. Don’t worry about how you look. This is about connection, not perfection.

Final Thoughts

Your baby will never be this tiny again. A Fresh 48 session gives you a way to remember not just what those first hours looked like, but what they felt like. Years from now, these photos will take you right back to that room, that warmth, that love.

Capturing Your Birth with Photos

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I want to get to know you and the incredible journey you are on.

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Hi, I'm Ashley!

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About the Artist

Ashley Newman Photography is a Woodlands Family Photographer and Storyteller specializing in outdoor family photography. In addition to lifestyle family portraits, Ashley and her award-winning team offer day-in-the-life legacy sessions, outdoor maternity sessions, fresh 48 hospital portraits and in-home newborn photography. Ashley Newman Photography serves Montgomery county, North-Houston areas: The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe, Houston and Magnolia.

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