Your Newborn Session, One Chapter at a Time: A guide to Lifestyle, Studio, and Fresh 48 newborn photography
As a newborn photographer in Hampshire, Illinois serving Kane, McHenry County, and the Chicago suburbs, I specialize in in-home lifestyle newborn sessions, studio newborn photography, and Fresh 48 hospital sessions.
Those first days with your baby donโt feel big while youโre living them. They feel blurry, quiet, exhausting, and emotional. Your arms ache. Your heart feels like it might burst. And suddenly, your baby is already changing.
Thatโs why newborn photography matters.
At Messy Momma Memories, I offer three simple types of newborn sessions so every family can choose what feels right for this season of life:ย
Fresh 48 – In the hospital or birthing center
In-Home – Lifestyle sessions in the comfort of your own home
Studio Newborn Sessions – Where you don’t have to tidy up or create a “perfect space”
All newborn sessions are tentatively booked on your due date and then officially scheduled once your baby arrives. This gives you flexibility while making sure your spot is saved.
Hereโs what each one looks like, and why each one is special.
Fresh 48: The First Chapter
Fresh 48 sessions take place within the first 48 hours after your baby is born, usually the morning of or the day after delivery.
This is the raw, emotional beginning.
These sessions focus on the tiny details and firsts youโll never get back:
Wrinkly skin
Curly hair
Hospital bracelets
First nursing session
First diaper change
First outfit
First sibling meeting
Those tiny fingers wrapped around yours
Youโre still in the hospital. Youโre tired. Youโre emotional. And your baby is brand new to the world.
Thatโs the beauty of it.
Fresh 48 sessions are documentary-style. You donโt need to clean, prep, or pose. You just need to hold your baby and be in the moment.
In-Home Lifestyle: Your Real Life
In-home newborn sessions are best scheduled within the first 14 days after birth, while your baby is still sleepy and curly. This is where your story lives.
We photograph your baby in:
The nursery, Your bed, the family couch, your arms, with siblings (even the furry ones), during snuggles, while feeding (and burping), during those quiet, in-between moments.
These sessions are relaxed and baby-led. There is no rush and no pressure. We pause to feed, soothe, change, and cuddle whenever needed.
Youโll also have access to my client closet for mom, and Iโll curate a full style board for your family so you donโt have to stress about what to wear. I bring wraps and small baskets for baby so we can get a mix of lifestyle and softly posed images.
This session is about preserving what life actually looks like in those early days.
Studio Newborn: Simple, Soft, and Timeless
Studio newborn sessions are also best within the first 14 days after birth.
These are perfect for families who want:
A clean, cozy environment
More gently posed baby images
Access to my full newborn wrap and outfit collection
A space where they donโt have to clean their home
All the perks of a lifestyle session with less stress.
In the studio, we focus on your family as a whole. There is a gorgeous bed to take family photos on, a beautiful antique bassinet, and a prefectly styled rustic boho studio. The session will begin with the family, some posed, some prompted. Mom and dad will each have a moment to snuggle the baby, and of course we can include siblings. After those key shots are snapped it’s time for the babies close up. The studio offers more options for posed portraits of your little one. Perfect to get all the details of those tiny fingers and toes.
Of course, youโll still have access to my client closet and wraps, but with more control over lighting, backgrounds, and posing.
Itโs a calm, warm space designed entirely for newborn photography.
How to Prepare for Your Newborn Session
A few small things can make a big difference in how smooth your session goes.
Before I arrive, or right when you arrive to the studio try to:
โข Feed your baby until they are full right before the session or when I arrive
A full baby is a sleepy baby.
โข Donโt skip burping
Gas can make babies uncomfortable and fussy.
โข Put on a fresh diaper
โข Apply lotion if your baby has flaky skin
โข KEEP BABY AWAKE for the ride to the studio
Sometimes this means having momma sit in the back and play with the babe
โข Keep the room warm
Warmth helps babies stay sleepy and relaxed.
โข Bring a neutral-colored binky
โข Bring an extra bottle just in case
And most importantly:
If we need to stop to feed, change, or comfort your baby, that is completely normal and always included in your session time.
There is no rush here.
A Note for Moms
I wish every mom knew this:
You donโt have to look perfect to be photographed.
You donโt have to feel put together.
You donโt have to wait until youโve slept.
These days are fleeting. The stretch, the reflexes, the tiny expressions, the way your baby fits into your armsโฆ it all changes so quickly.
Your only job is to be present.
Iโll take care of the rest.
Why Families Trust Me With Their Newborns
I have completed multiple newborn education and safety courses, and I offer a variety of session types to meet each family exactly where they are.
But more than that, I believe in slowing down.
I believe in honoring motherhood.
I believe in documenting the real moments.
And I believe your babyโs first chapter deserves to be told gently and beautifully.
If youโre expecting, I would be honored to tell yours.
Book your Newborn Story Now
