Rhode Island Newborn & Fresh 48 Photographer

NEWBORN + FRESH 48

the earliest days

The first days with a new baby pass in such a blur. Whether you’re drawn to a newborn session, a Fresh 48 session, or you’re still deciding what feels right, my goal is always the same: to preserve those first moments with care, honesty, and beautiful composition.

A newborn baby wearing a diaper is held gently in an adult's hand, with the baby sucking on their fingers and looking up.

Newborn Photography, Gently Done

There is so much emotion in the earliest days with a baby, even in the quietest moments. The way they curl into you, the tiny details you think you’ll never forget, the sense that everything has changed all at once — and how fleeting it all feels.

When I photograph newborns, I want the experience to feel calm and unhurried. There is no need to force anything. These sessions are about preserving connection, softness, and the feeling of this chapter as it really is.

What’s the difference between newborn and fresh 48?

A newborn session usually takes place once you’re home and settling into life with your baby. These portraits are a little quieter and more relaxed, with time for feeding, soothing, and letting things unfold gently.

A Fresh 48 session takes place within the first day or two after birth, usually at the hospital or place of birth. These photographs are more documentary in feel and preserve the emotion, the room, the first introductions, and the details that are still brand new.

Both are beautiful in different ways. Some families choose one, and some choose both.

a few early portraits

These images reflect the kind of newborn and Fresh 48 photography I love most: soft light, honest emotion, and the quiet beauty of those first days.

A person with short hair and tattoos sits on a couch, looking down at a baby in their arms; a crib and baby items are visible in the foreground.
Young boy in blue glasses holding and kissing a swaddled baby in front of a blue, illustrated background with a star and animal drawing.
A woman holds a newborn while a man hugs her from behind, and a young boy touches the baby's back. All are looking at the baby.
A newborn baby lies on a soft surface, smiling with eyes closed, while an adult hand gently touches the baby's chest.
A newborn baby wrapped in a blue blanket lies in a wooden tray beside a painted scene of animals in a green umbrella floating on water.
An adult holds a naked baby in their arms, both facing each other and smiling, against a plain dark background.
A man and woman pose with their newborn baby, while a young girl kisses the baby's head. All are dressed in casual clothing against a plain background.
Two adult hands gently cradle a baby's feet, with a diamond engagement ring and a wedding band placed on the baby's toes.
A newborn baby sleeps peacefully, cradled gently in an adult's hands against a black background.
A man and a woman stand facing each other, gently holding and looking down at a baby between them against a white background.
A woman with long hair gently leans over a newborn baby on a bed, holding the baby's hands and looking closely at the baby's face.
A newborn baby is swaddled in a blanket, lying on a small bed surrounded by birch logs and four black lanterns, with a forest-themed backdrop.
A woman in a white tank top holds a swaddled baby wrapped in a pink blanket with a floral headband, both posed against a black background.
A man, woman, young boy, and baby wrapped in a blanket sit together on a bed, smiling at the camera.
A close-up of an adult hand holding a baby’s feet, with two rings—one with a diamond—placed on the baby’s toes.

What to expect

Whether we’re photographing a newborn session or a Fresh 48 session, my approach is always gentle and guided.

For newborn sessions, I leave plenty of room for feeding, soothing, and breaks as needed. The pace is calm, and the goal is to make the experience feel easy rather than rushed.

For Fresh 48 sessions, I photograph more quietly and observe what is already unfolding. These sessions are less about posing and more about preserving what those first hours actually felt like.

Spacious room with wood flooring, a red couch, white bench, green plant wall, photography equipment, and large windows with sheer curtains.

Studio or on location

Newborn sessions can take place in my Warwick studio or in your home, depending on what feels best for your family.

If you’re drawn to a softly lit, simple setting, the studio may be the right fit. If you’d rather stay in your own space and document these first days more naturally at home, that can be beautiful too.

Fresh 48 sessions, of course, take place at the hospital or place of birth.

Related sessions

A nude pregnant person stands in profile against a dark background, looking upward with hands crossed over their chest, softly lit by a focused light source.

Maternity

If you’re still in the waiting stage, maternity portraits are a beautiful way to preserve the chapter before your baby arrives.

A woman, a man, and a young boy smile while sitting together on a sandy beach with greenery and water in the background.

Family Portraits

As your baby grows, family portraits become a meaningful way to continue documenting the chapters that follow.

About Nicole

I’m a Rhode Island portrait photographer with over twenty years of experience and a BFA in Photography from the Hartford Art School. My work is centered on natural connection, beautiful light, and creating photographs that feel both artful and real.

Many of the families I photograph first come to me during pregnancy or in the first days after birth, and being invited back into those chapters over time is one of the most meaningful parts of what I do.

Woman in a white pinstripe blazer and black pants sits on a white block, holding a Nikon camera and smiling at the camera against a plain gray background.

Frequently asked questions

Newborn sessions are usually photographed within the first couple of weeks after birth, when babies are still so tiny and sleepy, though beautiful portraits can absolutely be made after that too.

A Fresh 48 session takes place within the first day or two after birth, usually at the hospital or place of birth. It is more documentary in feel and focuses on preserving the earliest moments as they naturally unfold.

If you want portraits that feel calm, softly styled, and a little more settled, a newborn session is probably the better fit. If you want to hold onto the emotion and atmosphere of those first hours right after birth, a Fresh 48 session may be what you’re looking for. Some families choose both.

Yes, absolutely. Parents and siblings can be included in both newborn and Fresh 48 sessions, depending on what feels right for your family and your setting.

Simple, soft clothing or a swaddle photographs beautifully. For these sessions, the focus is really on your baby and your connection, so it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Contact Nicole Gesmondi Photographer

Next steps… Let’s talk

There is so much beauty in these first days, even in the blur of them. If you’d love to preserve this chapter with care, I’d be honored to photograph it well.