The Difference Between Birth Photographers and Fresh-48 Photographers


While it’s true that there is some crossover in the types of images you will receive from a birth photographer and a fresh 48 photographer, there are some big differences, and it’s important to understand them so you can make the best choice for your family! Also, you may want both, and that is a-okay! So, here are a few of the main differences:


 The simplest distinction is that a birth photographer is present AT your birth and the couple of hours directly after, while a fresh-48 photographer comes to you for a set amount of time in the first few days following your baby’s arrival. The majority of fresh 48 sessions are done in the hospital, though they can easily be done in your home (this was more common during Covid due to visitor restrictions). A birth photographer may capture a few posed images with parents and baby, but their approach is generally more documentary-style.


Both photographers (they can be the same photographer!) will capture moments that you won’t ever want to forget, but stylistically, they will be a bit different. Your birth photographer will encapsulate your connection with your partner, the support from your birthing team, your power and grace through labor and your birth, and all of the details once your baby arrives: being weighed and measured, getting their footprints, cutting the cord, and other moments that you will try to commit to memory but, you just had a baby! Fresh-48 sessions are captured in a more controlled timeframe allowing you to brush your teeth, throw on your matching robe and swaddler, use makeup if you prefer, and enjoy the celebration. 


There is no one-size-fits-all photographic journey for every family – it is up to you to decide what you want captured! Part of being able to make that decision is knowing what each of your options are. I had neither a birth photographer OR a fresh-48 photographer, and I super wish I could go back in time and hire both! I have many bad grainy, low-light cellphone photos, and I love every single one of them, but they are definitely not professional, and there are many moments that simply weren’t captured and I will forever wish they had been. 


So, whether you are in the market for a birth photographer or a fresh-48 photographer, you will have keepsakes of a lifetime!