In-Home Fresh 48 Photography Session | Oakland, CA

I walked into the Jones’ family home in Oakland, CA on a warm January day to capture an in-home Fresh 48 photography session. Their older daughter came bouncing down the stairs to greet me and then took me under her wing to show me all of her favorite things around their home.

Once Mama and baby were ready to begin, I had them sit on their couch and just be. Mama naturally snuggled her little one, born less than 48 hours beforehand, and couldn’t stop staring and cooing at him. These interactions are the most natural and easiest to document. In Oakland big windows are in almost every home and it was the perfect time of day to highlight their love and connection.

Soon after we moved to the master bedroom and I captured their quiet moments while big sister was playing with her toys. Once she joined it began a larger snuggle fest with all the members of her family. One of the most important parts of photographing older siblings with newborns during a session is letting them interact and be as comfortable as they feel. Pushing them to hold or cuddle on command makes them anxious and nervous to perform. Instead, I stand back and laugh along while I capture the chaos and joy.

We decided to move in and out of the living room and master bedroom as much as we needed to. It gave a change of pace but also kept it very comfortable. Each room and space within it gave a different feeling and the light a different mood. I embraced each change and settled in to capture what was happening. Never pushing for more as who they were in the moment is enough. These are their memories.