How to Prepare for Your Fresh 48 Session at a Cleveland Hospital
A Fresh 48 session is one of the most incredible ways to document the arrival of your new baby. These sessions take place right in your hospital room within the first 48 hours after birth. It is a time filled with exhaustion, pure joy, and a beautiful blur of firsts—the first yawns, the wrinkly toes, the hospital bracelets, and the overwhelming feeling of meeting your baby.
As a Cleveland newborn photographer, I photograph these sessions at hospitals across Northeast Ohio every week. But before I was a photographer, I was a nurse. I know exactly how maternity wards work, how to navigate around medical equipment, and how to respect the space of both your family and the hospital staff.
Because I know the hospital environment so well, I get asked all the time: "How do we prepare for a photo session when we just had a baby?"
The short answer is: You don't have to do much at all. The beauty of a Fresh 48 session is that it is raw, unposed, and real. But to help you feel completely at ease, here is my ultimate guide to preparing for your Fresh 48 session in Cleveland.
1. Let Your Nurses Know I Am Coming
When you book your session with me, your due date goes on my calendar. Once your baby arrives, simply send me a text! We will coordinate a time for me to come to the hospital—usually on the second day when you have had a little time to rest.
When we pick a time, let your nursing staff know. Cleveland hospitals like Hillcrest Hospital, Fairview Hospital, and Cleveland Clinic Main Campus are incredibly accommodating to photographers, but nurses appreciate knowing when someone will be in the room. This ensures they can schedule their rounds (like checking vitals or doing hearing tests) around our session so we aren't interrupted.
2. What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Photos
You do not need to pack a complicated wardrobe! The goal is comfort.
For Mom: A comfortable, neutral-colored robe, a soft nursing tank, or a simple button-down pajama shirt is perfect. Black, cream, soft grey, or muted pastels photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your baby. Do not worry about full hair and makeup—a little lip balm, mascara, and dry shampoo is all you need if you want to freshen up.
For Baby: The hospital provides those iconic striped receiving blankets and tiny hats, which I absolutely love photographing because they instantly tell the story of where you are. However, if you want to bring a special swaddle, a personalized name sign, or a specific knotted gown, pack it in your hospital bag! I will happily incorporate it.
For Dad/Partner: A simple, solid-colored t-shirt or henley in grey, navy, or black works best. Avoid logos or busy patterns.
3. Clear the Clutter (Just a Little Bit)
Hospital rooms accumulate clutter very quickly—water cups, food trays, medical bags, and paperwork. You do not need to clean the room before I arrive! I will handle that. When I walk in, I will gently move any bright plastic bags or food trays out of the frame and open the blinds to let in as much natural light as possible.
Whether you are in a spacious room at UH Ahuja or a cozier room at Southwest General, I know how to find the best light and angles to make your photos look bright, airy, and beautiful.
4. Embrace the Imperfection
This is the most important tip I can give you. A Fresh 48 session is not a studio newborn session. There is no perfectly posed sleeping baby in a basket.
Your baby might cry. You might be exhausted. You might be hooked up to an IV or sitting in a hospital bed. That is exactly what we want to capture. We are documenting the reality of your baby's first hours on earth. The hospital bassinet, the tiny clear plastic crib, the room number on the whiteboard—these are the details you will want to remember ten years from now.
5. Including Older Siblings
If you have older children meeting their new baby brother or sister for the first time, a Fresh 48 session is the perfect time to capture it. I love photographing these moments! If siblings are coming, try to schedule their arrival for the beginning of our session. I will capture their raw reaction to meeting the baby, take some family photos, and then they can relax or go with a grandparent while we focus on the quieter moments with just you and the baby.
Navigating Cleveland's Top Maternity Wards
Because I photograph in hospitals across Northeast Ohio, I am very familiar with the different maternity wards.
•At Hillcrest Hospital and Fairview Hospital, the natural light in the recovery rooms is often fantastic for photography.
•At Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, I am experienced in working with families whose babies might need a little extra care, bringing patience and sensitivity to every room.
•Whether you deliver at UH Parma, Cleveland Clinic, or any other local hospital, my nursing background means I am comfortable and calm in every medical setting.
Ready to Book Your Cleveland Fresh 48 Session?
Because babies arrive on their own schedule, I only take a limited number of Fresh 48 sessions each month to ensure I am available when you need me. It is best to book during your second trimester.
