You’re having a baby (congratulations!) and you know you want to hire a photographer to help you document those first hours with your newest family member in the hospital. Beyond that, you have no idea when baby will actually arrive, how labor will go, and how you will be feeling afterwards. So how do you prepare for a photo session so soon after birth? Using this simple guide you can confidently know what to wear for fresh 48 photos.
Put yourself first, mom when selecting what to wear for fresh 48 photos.
It is so easy to spend hours (months, even) scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram searching for the perfect outfit for baby. But let’s be honest, your baby will look adorable in anything, right?! However, you will not feel comfortable in just anything for fresh 48 photos. So instead, find something you love for yourself to wear and coordinate everyone with that.
A few things to keep in mind for mom:
- A loose fitting top or a robe is ideal for what to wear for fresh 48 photos. You just had a baby, the last thing you will want is something clingy and tight. Personally I loved wearing a robe with a nursing tank under for in hospital photos. You can easily nurse as needed, but remain covered in something forgiving and comfortable. I also found the robe something I used a lot even once I was home.
- Pack pants. Black maternity leggings are a great, comfortable piece to wear underneath everything. While we don’t focus on your legs during your fresh 48 session, if you have children who may pull on your robe, or may be nervous and sitting lower than you, pants will ensure you are not too exposed in photos.
- Try on your outfit before you have baby. If you’re comfortable in it while still pregnant, it should work beautifully for photos too.
Select an outfit and/or swaddle for baby that coordinates not matches what you are wearing.
It can seem cute to have your robe and baby’s swaddle being the exact same print. However, when selecting what to wear for fresh 48 photos you want baby to stand out from you, not blend in. Instead of matching, coordinate. If your robe is printed, try a solid swaddle. If your robe is solid, try a printed swaddle for baby.
- Neutral and or deep colors work best on newborns. Avoid bright colors, words, and/or busy prints as they are distracting in photographs.
- Well-fitting gowns or sleepers for baby are best. This is not the time for growing room nor fancy outfits. Knotted gowns or footed sleepers photograph beautifully, especially when they fit your baby well. A couple of my favorite brands for newborns are Lou Lou and Company for knotted gowns and L’oved Baby for footed sleepers.
- Have a back-up outfit. Babies spit up and blow up diapers. (Trust me, my youngest spit up all over her gown seconds after my husband dressed her, and moments before our photographer arrived for our own Fresh 48 photo session).
- Of course, we will also want to strip baby down to capture those tiny details. Who can resist fresh newborn baby toes with hospital bands?
A few things to keep in mind for baby:
Next, select casual, neutral outfits for dad and any siblings.
Now that you and baby are figured out, you can pick out things for dad and any siblings. To keep with the cozy/casual feel of what to wear for Fresh 48 photos, stay casual and neutral for dad and the kids.
A few things to keep in mind when selecting what to wear for fresh 48 photos for dad and siblings:
- For dad, a pair of jeans and a button henley or nice, plain t-shirt are perfect. Depending on the color pallet you chose for you and baby, white, cream, tan, grey, charcoal, or navy all photograph beautifully.
- Siblings, again you want to be casual for in hospital newborn photos. For boys, they can be dressed similarly to dad in either a plain, well-fitting t-shirt, a henley shirt, or even a nice pullover sweatshirt. Girls could be in simple dresses (no need for fancy Christmas/Easter dresses), or jeans/leggings and a t-shirt.
- Simple patterns are okay for the kids, however, make sure they go well with whatever you and the baby are wearing.
Bonus tips for what to wear for your Fresh 48 Session
A few extra things to help everything go smoothly for your Fresh 48 session:
- Pack a grandparent bag. If you’ are having someone else dress and bring your children to the hospital to meet baby, have a bag ready of outfits for the kids. This helps so they know exactly what you want your kids to wear.
- Prepare your kids ahead of time. If your kids are old enough to understand, explain that you have a bag of special outfits ready just for meeting baby. Make it fun and help them know what to expect will make the process a little smoother.
- Lay out all of your Fresh 48 clothing choices ahead of time. I suggest this no matter what type of session you are having, but lay out all of your clothing together on your bed. Take a photo of it (and if I’m your photographer, send it to me for a second pair of eyes!). Does something stand out or seem out of place? Does something blend in or everything look beautiful? Seeing everything laid out ahead of time can help you rest easy in your choices on what to wear for fresh 48 photos.
- A “big sister” (or big brother) shirt can be a fun addition to your session. The mom and dad featured in this post had a coordinating big sister shirt underneath her sweater for a few photos showing off her new title.
Keeping things coordinated (not matchy-matchy), comfortable, and casual your fresh 48 photos will be beautiful!
Now that you know what to wear for fresh 48 photos, make sure you have booked your session. Due to the unpredictable nature of in-hospital newborn (or fresh 48 sessions), most photographers take on a limited number of sessions each month.
If you are delivering in the Greater Seattle area, contact me and get your due date reserved on my calendar for your Fresh 48 session.
Make sure you also check below for a few more favorites from this adorable family of four’s Fresh 48 session.
For more resources to help you plan for your fresh 48 session, head to my articles curated just for you.
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