Newborn Photography Locations

Having a baby is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Yes, you may have more children, but that one child will never be a newborn again. If you chose to do newborn photos with your baby, you may question what your options for newborn photography locations are.

Hospital Newborn Session- Normally called a 'Fresh 48' in the photography world, this is a session that occurs in the hospital within 48 hours of birth. This session captures all of the incredible moments and unique memories that are present in the hospital room. Many mothers worry that they won't be 'camera ready' by that time. The way you look after your birth is the least important thing about that moment. You've just delivered a baby. Your body did sacred work. You are an incredible human and that should be celebrated. I can guarantee Olympic marathoners don't care what they look like in photos after they win, and in my opinion, you just won the gold! The important part of these shoots is documenting exactly how you felt in those moments and the newness of it all. I currently photograph Fresh 48 hospital sessions for families delivering at CMPC and UCSF in San Francisco and Marin General in Marin.

At Home Newborn Session- The second lifestyle option is an in-home newborn session. In these sessions, you get to document the special spaces that your baby occupies in their first years of life. Their nursery (yes, that includes closet nurseries and nursery corners for all of you San Francisco city dwellers), your bedroom, the kitchen where you prepare their bottles, their backyard where they take their first steps. This option means that you get a little more time to settle into newborn life and be in a comfortable location for you.

Studio Newborn- This session is perfect for those of you with in-flux spaces like remodels, or for anyone who isn’t super excited about photographing in their home for whatever reason. This is also a great option for those families that like the all-white classic look of newborn photos. Studio newborn sessions differ from photographer to photographer, but mine are casual and relaxed, with baby-led posing and simple swaddles without props. You can read more about my Bay Area studio sessions here.

All of these newborn photography locations have their pros and cons, but they are all equally as beautiful for their own reasons. You can also opt to multiple sessions, with either a hospital and in-home session or a Fresh 48 and studio session. I only did an in-home newborn session for my oldest, but chose a Fresh 48 and an in-home for my youngest and was so pleased with that decision.

If you are in the Bay Area, my Fresh 48s happen at the three hospitals listed above, my in-home shoots are for those of you with homes in Marin or San Francisco and my studio sessions happen in my beautiful studio in Sausalito.

Looking for a package on multiple sessions? Reach out here. Ready to book a single session? Book here!