Current Events
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Needs Photographers!
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is an organization that provides free portrait sessions to families who are facing the death of a newborn baby. Their goal is to provide a photographer for every family who requests the service, but many communities are lacking photographers.
September is “Recruit a Photographer” month at NILMDTS. If you’re interested in finding out more about the organization, visit nowilaymedowntosleep.org/recruit/ to RSVP for a webinar that will take place on September 24th.
From their website, here are some other ways you can help:
Help NILMDTS Respond to Every Call
• Share on social media and blogs. Promote NILMDTS on your own wall, and share with professional groups that you belong to. Use a banner or image below or share posts from our Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Facebook page and website “Latest News“.
• Host an Introduction Meeting for potential photographers. Join a meet-up group that already exists, or create your own meet-up group!
• Research photographers online and share with them about NILMDTS.
• Make a presentation about NILMDTS at a photography club or association.
• Share a NILMDTS video.
• Invite interested photographers to participate in an online webinar about becoming a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer. See details below. Or host your own using Google Hangouts!
You may also consider offering NICU photography in your own community. To find out how, read my interview with Jessica Strom: NICU BABY PORTRAITS OFFER HOPE AND HEALING TO FAMILIES: AN INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA STROM
If you’re new to newborn photography, check out our Newborn Photography Workshop DVD. It’s perfect for beginners!
It takes a pretty strong person to be able to go through something like this. I’ll look and see if any photographers need a shadow/assistant in the dc metro area. Maybe then I can “disconnect” for a bit while shooting the family. But great organization.
Tanya,
Thank you so much for featuring Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep here! Perhaps it was your post that helped us fill up our informational webinar and have to open up THREE more to meet the demand! We are in need of qualified photographers in all parts of the US (and Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand), and I invite anyone who is interested to visit our website. While it is difficult work, our volunteers agree with you that once they are in the room taking pictures, they are in photographer mode. And tears aren’t necessarily bad. They can show the family that the photographer cares. If anyone has specific questions, please contact me via phone or e-mail (all info available on our website under “contact us”. We would love to get your readers (and you!) involved.
Tiffany Kapler
Recruitment Coordinator
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org
There’s no way I would be able to do this, emotionally. Sounds like a great cause though.
Since I can’t vote up your comment I’ll leave an “I agree”
This is heartbreaking and inspiring. This gets me right in the feels, not sure I have the composure to not break down doing a shoot like this. Takes some special photographers to be able to do this kind of work I am sure.
I was thinking the same thing, but it’s worth a try. I think I’ll try shadowing a photographer first and see if it’s something I could do. I think once you get your camera out and in “work” mode you could do it!
Since I can’t vote up your comment I’ll leave an “I agree”
Tanya, thank you for such an inspirational piece. What a wonderful organization. I’ll be looking for opportunities in my area.
I’m going to look into it to. Such a good cause.