What Is a Fresh 48 (or “Birth Space”) Session
natural light Fresh 48 session of a newborn baby boy lying in a hospital bassinet shortly after birth in Richmond, VA.
There’s a certain kind of magic in those first few days after birth — when everything feels both brand new and deeply familiar. Your baby’s fingers are impossibly small, the light in the room feels softer somehow, and the world has slowed to a hush. That’s where a Fresh 48 session comes in.
A Fresh 48 takes place within the first 48 hours of your baby’s life — while you’re still in the hospital, birthing center, or at home (if you’ve had a home birth or are released quickly). It’s a short, documentary-style session that preserves those fleeting, hazy, beautiful first moments of connection and discovery.
Think of it as storytelling, not posing. I’ll arrive quietly, camera in hand, and simply document what’s happening around me. You’ll find me moving softly through the room — maybe adjusting window blinds or stepping around a bassinet — but otherwise, I’ll be a fly on the wall. No direction, no posing, no asking you to look at the camera. Just the real, unfiltered love unfolding before me.
Newborn baby lying in a hospital bassinet while parents sitting on the hospital during a natural light Fresh 48 session by Erin E Gallagher Photography.
I won’t touch your baby — ever. My role is to give you space to bond, to capture your hands cradling that tiny head, the way you trace their cheek, the quiet glance between you and your partner that says we did it. This time is yours. I’m just there to make sure you’ll be able to remember it exactly as it felt.
Fresh 48 sessions last about a half hour. Once you deliver, you’ll simply send me a quick text, and I’ll plan to arrive the next morning (usually around 9 a.m.). These sessions are intentionally low-key and low-stress. You don’t need to tidy up or prepare anything special — just be present.
As for what to wear, comfort is everything. A robe, soft sweats, your favorite worn-in nightgown — whatever feels good and easy. This isn’t the time for hair and makeup; it’s a time to rest, recover, and soak it all in. For your baby, a diaper, hospital swaddle, or cozy footed pajamas are all perfect.
Siblings are always welcome, too. Some of my favorite images come from those first introductions — the way a big brother studies his new baby sister or how a little one reaches out a tentative finger.
If you’re in the hospital, all I ask is that you let the nursing staff know I’ll be coming by. From there, I’ll take care of everything else.
Little girl looking at baby sister in a hospital bassinet in the hospital room by Erin E Gallagher Photography
Your baby will only be this new once. And though the days that follow will blur together in a beautiful, sleep-deprived haze, these photos will bring you right back to that first quiet morning — when you were still learning each other, still breathing it all in.
Ready to plan your Fresh 48?
If you’re expecting and want to capture those first tender hours together, I’d love to tell your story. You can get in touch here to learn more or reserve your spot. These sessions are gentle, meaningful, and full of the kind of moments you’ll never want to forget.