Welcoming a new baby is filled with emotion, exhaustion, and so much love.When it comes to newborn photos, many parents find themselves wondering: Should we do hospital photos, a Fresh 48 session, a studio newborn session or some combination of the three?
The good news is there’s no wrong choice. Each option captures a different part of your baby’s earliest story. Understanding how they differ can help you decide what best fits your family or why choosing both is often the most meaningful approach.
Those first photos matter not just for how they look, but for how they feel when you revisit them years from now.
Many families wonder whether hospital photos taken shortly after birth are enough, or if a professional studio newborn session is worth planning for. The truth is, both have a place. Hospital photos beautifully document those very first hours. A studio newborn session, however, offers something different, something slower, more intentional, and deeply connected.
Let’s explore why many families ultimately choose a studio newborn session to preserve this fleeting season.
Time to Recover, Rest, and Breathe
Birth is powerful, emotional, and physically demanding. A studio newborn session allows parents time to recover before stepping in front of the camera.
Rather than being photographed just hours after delivery, parents can enjoy their baby, rest, shower, and begin healing both physically and emotionally. When you arrive at a studio days later, you’re more present, more comfortable, and able to truly soak in the experience.
That sense of calm shows in your images.
Parents Belong in These Memories Too
Hospital photos often focus solely on baby and understandably so. Studio newborn sessions are designed to include parents in a meaningful way.
Your hands cradling your newborn. A quiet moment with your baby resting against your chest. The connection between you, captured intentionally and beautifully.
These images become priceless over time. Not just proof of how tiny your baby once was, but a reminder of how deeply loved they were from the very beginning.
A Calm, Comfortable, Baby-Led Experience
Studio newborn photography is entirely baby-led. Sessions are unhurried and flexible, allowing plenty of time for feeding, soothing, diaper changes, and cuddles.
There’s no rush. No pressure to perform.
A professional newborn studio is designed specifically for this stage warm, quiet, and stocked with everything needed to keep baby comfortable and safe. This environment allows babies to settle naturally, resulting in peaceful, timeless images.
More Styling Options, Less Stress for Parents
One of the biggest benefits of a studio newborn session is access to a full collection of props, wraps, outfits, and textures.
Parents don’t need to bring anything or worry about styling details. Everything is thoughtfully curated to photograph beautifully and safely, soft wraps, neutral tones, delicate headbands, and classic setups that keep the focus on baby.
This variety allows for a cohesive gallery with multiple looks, all without adding any extra work for new parents.
A Polished, Timeless Look
Hospital photos are wonderful for capturing how your baby looked in those first few hours wrinkly skin, tiny features, and that fresh-from-birth sweetness.
Studio newborn portraits, on the other hand, are designed to be timeless. Carefully controlled lighting, simple backdrops, and professional posing create images that feel classic rather than trendy.
These are the portraits families frame, print, and pass down.
A Third Option: Fresh 48 Hospital Sessions
For parents who love the idea of being included in their baby’s very first photos and are drawn to a more documentary, storytelling style, a Fresh 48 session is another beautiful option.
A Fresh 48 session is done by a professional photographer at the hospital within the first 24–48 hours after birth, before the baby heads home. These sessions focus on the raw, honest moments, tiny details, first cuddles, hospital bassinets, and the quiet in-between moments as you soak in your brand new baby.
Unlike traditional hospital photos, a Fresh 48 session is intentionally photographed with professional equipment, composition, and guidance, while still preserving that natural, emotional feel. Parents are included in a relaxed, meaningful way, without the pressure of posing.
Because of the unique nature of these sessions, I offer Fresh 48 photography as an add-on when booked alongside a studio newborn session. This allows families to document both:
- The story of baby’s arrival and first hours earthside
- The calm, connected, timeless portraits created during a studio newborn session
Together, these sessions tell a complete and beautifully layered story.
Why Many Families Choose Both
Hospital photos capture how your baby looked in those very first hours. A Fresh 48 session documents how it felt. A studio newborn session preserves the connection, details, and artistry that unfold once everyone has had time to recover.
Each serves a different purpose, and when combined, they create a full narrative of your baby’s earliest days one that you’ll treasure for years to come.
Final Thoughts
There is no wrong choice when it comes to photographing your newborn only what matters most to your family.
If you’re dreaming of calm, connected, beautifully styled portraits that include you as parents and allow your baby to lead the pace, a studio newborn session is often the best fit.
Those first days pass quickly. Choosing a studio newborn session ensures you’ll remember not just how your baby looked but how it felt to hold them in those quiet, early moments.
Serving Metro Detroit families with professional studio newborn photography designed for comfort, connection, and timeless beauty.