When Julie asked me to take photos of her newborn son, Charles, I was ecstatic. It isn’t always easy to allow a photographer to come into your hospital room just hours after giving birth. But, oh my goodness, there is something so powerful about those first few days a momma has with her brand new baby. These types of newborn sessions (often called “Fresh 48” sessions in the photography world) are full of raw, real, and intimate moments.
When I walked into Julie’s room, I immediately noticed this incredible a sense of calm. So much so, I truly couldn’t believe that just 27 hours earlier she had given birth. Throughout the session we talked a lot about the first few days of motherhood. We talked about how the first days are filled with this crazy whirlwind of transition. How the day before Julie was a mom of 1 and now is a mom of 2. How this tiny being was just on the inside and is suddenly on the outside.
At the end of the fresh 48 session, Julie asked if I could take some extra sentimental photos. Julie’s father passed away shortly after her first son, Carter, was born. Julie wanted a way to have her dad present at Charles’ birth. Placed alongside Charles was a photograph of Julie’s dad holding her on the day she was born. As I write this post, I struggle to put into words the true significance of these photographs. However, in Julie’s own words: love carries on even when loved ones cannot.
A perspective I wish upon all postpartum moms:
Julie is an absolute inspiration. When I asked Julie if there were any photos she didn’t want me to share (I absolutely respect that not all moms want to share their postpartum body or breastfeeding photographs) she responded so confidently, “Feel free to share any of the photos of me. I think it’s important for the world to see what a real postpartum body looks like.” I am so glad she is allowing me to share these photographs, because she is absolute proof that a postpartum body showcases all that is mom: incredible strength, power, beauty, and grace.
Julie, thank you for allowing me in to your hospital room to photograph such a special and fleeting moment in time. I am absolutely honored to have captured these moments for you. 
To see more examples of newborn sessions click here.
All photos were taken on my Canon 5dm4 35mm lens.