Behind the Scenes of a Fresh 48 Hospital Session
An Educational Video in Collaboration with The Rachel Vanoven Collective
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with renowned newborn photographer and educator Rachel Vanoven on an educational video demonstrating my approach to Fresh 48 hospital photography.
Being invited to share my workflow with other photographers was truly an honor. Fresh 48 sessions hold such a special place in my heart, and I loved being able to pull back the curtain and show how I capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments for families.
Fresh 48 sessions take place within the first day or two after a baby is born, while families are still in the hospital. These sessions are not about perfect posing or elaborate setups—they are about preserving the raw, fleeting details of a baby’s very first hours of life.
- Tiny fingers wrapped around mom’s hand.
- A sleepy yawn in the bassinet.
- The quiet moment when parents look at their baby and realize everything has changed.
Those are the moments I focus on documenting.
Preparing for the Session
One of the things I share in the video is how I prepare families before the session ever begins.
Hospital rooms are unpredictable environments, so I keep preparation simple and intentional. I bring a small selection of neutral blankets, soft swaddles, bows, and layers that photograph beautifully in natural light. These pieces allow me to quickly soften the look of the hospital room while still keeping everything authentic to the moment.
The goal is never to over-style the scene. Instead, I enhance what is already happening so the images feel natural and timeless.
Transforming a Hospital Room
Hospital lighting and tight spaces can be tricky, but with a few adjustments, almost any hospital room can become a beautiful backdrop.
In the video, I demonstrate how I quickly assess the room’s available light and move furniture or bassinets closer to windows when possible. Natural light is always my preference because it creates that soft, airy look that families love.
I also show how I photograph babies naturally in a few different places throughout the room, including:
- In the hospital bassinet
- Swaddled on the bed
- In mom or dad’s arms
- During quiet family moments
These simple setups allow me to capture a variety of images without ever overwhelming new parents who are still adjusting to life with their newborn.
My Technical Approach
Fresh 48 sessions move quickly, so I keep my gear simple and versatile.
During the session featured in the video, I primarily used a 24mm lens. This lens works beautifully in tight hospital spaces while still allowing me to capture the full story of the room and the connection between parents and their baby.
Hospital lighting can also vary dramatically, so I adjust my exposure, ISO, and white balance as needed to maintain soft, natural tones.
I also love incorporating short video clips during these sessions. Switching seamlessly between photo and video allows families to relive those early moments in an even more emotional way—the tiny stretches, little noises, and movements that photos alone can’t fully capture.
Why Fresh 48 Sessions Matter
The first 24–48 hours after a baby is born pass in a blur.
Parents are exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely in love all at the same time. Many of the little details from those hours fade quickly in memory, which is why documenting them is so meaningful.
Fresh 48 photography preserves the quiet moments—the ones families will look back on years later and remember exactly how it felt to meet their baby for the first time.
A Special Collaboration
It was such a privilege to collaborate with Rachel Vanoven and share my approach to Fresh 48 photography with photographers around the country.
Teaching and mentoring other photographers is something I’m incredibly passionate about, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the education side of this industry.
But at the heart of everything I do are the families I photograph.
Capturing the first hours of a baby’s life is one of the greatest honors of my work, and it’s something I approach with intention, efficiency, and a whole lot of heart.
Here is a snippet from the Rachel Vanoven x ChristinaMae Photography Fresh 48 Hospital Session Video:
