Diana and Adam contacted me to inquire about maternity and Fresh 48 sessions and decided to book both. They were having their first baby, a little boy, at Northside Hospital and SO excited about it. I kept in touch with Diana during her pregnancy, and heard from her that they were going into the hospital due to some pre-e symptoms she was experiencing to deliver their son ahead of her due date. Ultimately, baby Graham ended up being delivered via unplanned c-section. He was a BIG squishy boy at 9 pounds! Diana was feeling pretty good the next day (it’s the second full day that’s the worst in terms of recovery from all the reports I’ve had from clients) so I arranged to come in for their session then.
When I arrived at the hospital, Graham was sleeping in Diana’s arms. I opened up the blinds and made a few changes to the room, and we got started. The changes that I make in hospital rooms are simply removing some distracting elements as much as possible. Sometimes recovery rooms are really tiny and there’s really nowhere to put all your stuff. First time parents tend to pack a LOT of things, so the room can be overflowing with personal items. You may not want your breast pump bag or a pile of clothes in the background of your images. Most of the time, parents have this all sorted out before I arrive but with Diana’s limited mobility and Adam needing to care for her and Graham, they didn’t have the time to do so beforehand.
Aside from taking care of clutter, Fresh 48 sessions are EASY. They only require you to hold and love your baby. These sessions are the truest form of documentary lifestyle that I shoot (with the exception of cleaning up the room beforehand!) and I love them. I don’t edit your baby’s newborn skin for Fresh 48 sessions, because that would take away from how they truly looked. If you’re having a postpartum breakout, I’ll take care of that for you in processing though, no worries! Mamas usually plan what they’re going to wear in advance. Some mamas choose a hospital gown while others have their own robe on hand. The choice is completely yours! I personally didn’t wear a hospital gown with any of my children as I preferred the comfort of my own.
Because of Diana’s c-section she was limited to the bed and how much she could move. I work around whatever the situation is, and we’ll still get a great variety of images for your gallery for you to choose from! I will guide you through the entire experience and help move baby or adjust things. If baby needs a nursing break, I can put the camera down or document that in a discreet way for you!
Your Fresh 48 images will be unforced, unfold naturally and preserve you, your partner, and your baby exactly as you were in those first couple of days. I want you to smile when you look at the images of your baby's impossibly tiny features and remember how their head fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. I want the memories of their fresh baby smell and twitchy sleepy smiles to come flooding back. I want you to whisper “How were they ever that little?”
These moments are why I'm a photographer. I can’t stop time (let me know when you figure that one out, please) but I can freeze it for you with beautiful photographs that grab your heart every time you look at them.
Enjoy a handful of Graham’s Fresh 48 sessions in black and white!
If you're pregnant and looking for a newborn or maternity photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Be sure to view this short 1.5 minute film to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.