When you ask Jen Potter what brought her to Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she shares a list of six names:

Noah, Joanna, Emilie, Bridget, Joel, and Charlotte.

The first baby was Noah, the son of Jen’s best friend Kristin. After receiving a life-limiting diagnosis around 18 weeks gestation, they began researching resources available for Noah’s arrival. It was 2006, just a year after NILMDTS had been founded, and there were no NILMDTS photographers in their entire region. So Kristin asked Jen, an artist and photographer, to capture photos of Noah’s birth. Noah was born on December 14, 2006 and lived for 1 hour and 42 minutes. Jen and her husband were present with their friends during this time, and Jen took hundreds of photos. Reflecting back on that experience, Jen stated, “It was something I never imagined I’d be able to do, but something I was so glad I was able to do for my friend. I knew how much it meant to her to have photos of him and all the sweet moments of his life. Long story short, that little boy changed the trajectory of my life. The Lord used Noah’s life to impact the world in so many ways… I’m so honored to get to see some of that and be a part of that.

All the families I have served through NILMDTS have photos of their baby because of Noah. It blows me away.” 

                                                                                   Personal photo provided by Jen of her, her friend Kristin, and baby Emilie

Jen’s friend Kristen went on to experience two more tragic full-term losses of her daughters Joanna and Emilie, and Jen was there to capture their births as well. Still, she didn’t think she’d be able to volunteer to be a NILMDTS photographer.

Word began to spread that Jen was open to supporting families in their time of need. Two additional family friends reached out in their time of need, and Jen photographed their babies, Bridget and Joel. Then ten years after Noah, Gretchen, a friend-of-a-friend whom Jen had never met reached out and asked if Jen could photograph their daughter, Charlotte, who was not expected to survive birth. “It was an easy yes. And it was after taking those precious photos of Charlotte for Gretchen that I thought, ‘You know what, I really need to volunteer with NILMDTS,’” Jen stated. “That experience of walking into a stranger’s room showed me that the Lord had equipped me through Noah, Joanna, Emilie, Bridget, and Joel. I understood deeply why this work was important. Some people are too afraid to be in that space, but I wasn’t afraid anymore. It broke my heart thinking of people not having this opportunity, because I know that these moms cherish their photos.” 

Photographing Charlotte and her family made Jen feel confident in applying to volunteer with NILMDTS in 2016. Since joining, Jen has photographed over 248 families as an Affiliated Photographer and level 3 Digital Retouch Artist, capturing tangible memories of the love they have for their babies. 

Jen’s first NILMDTS session was in 2016 and was a baby girl named Angel. “She was cute as a button,” Jen remembers. “So tiny. She was exactly the same length as her lamby.” Fondly recalling the details, Jen said,

“I wasn’t that nervous. It was one of those moments, a Noah moment, where I thought, ‘Look at this, and look how you’ve changed the world, Noah.’ The family was so grateful, and they were really sweet photos.” 

As Jen spoke about the various families she’s served over the years, the care and connection she feels for them is obvious. She mentioned how much she loves the chance to connect with families later on, whether through social media or at local bereavement events. Just this past October, she recognized the sibling of an infant she photographed and went over to say hi, only to realize it had been six years since their NILMDTS session! She still remembered that sibling, even as he aged. 

For many years, Jen was the only photographer available in her entire area and was instrumental in making sure families in Indiana were served. She’s built a strong connection with the local hospitals, who rave about the care she provides. Jen’s passionate contribution and selfless service led to her being named the NILMDTS Photographer of the Year in 2024, yet this isn’t what she’s most proud of. Rather, Jen is most thrilled that she’s no longer the only volunteer in her area. Three more Affiliated Photographers have joined the team, including two who first met Jen when she came to photograph their own babies. Helping these photographers feel equipped and comfortable, through shadowing sessions or teaching them editing tips, has been her greatest joy because it means more families in the area will be served.

Over eight years and hundreds of sessions with NILMDTS later, Jen is still a passionate and talented volunteer. “The need keeps me here,” Jen said. “There’s a need, and I want to be there for families if I can, so of course, why would I not do this? And Noah, Joanna, and Emilie keep me here. It’s a very cool thing - sometimes I’m in the same rooms. A lot of our hospitals put their bereaved families in the same rooms on the floor, and it’s a core memory sort of situation. We were in this room, I’ve looked out this window, prayed in that hallway, sat in that chair, heard these beeps, smelled these smells…. It was so raw then, yet here we are. It’s a full circle thing. Being there to capture these moments for families feels like very sacred work. It’s something you wish there wasn’t a need to do, but it’s an honor to be able to do.” 

Jen knows why she wants to do this work - her why is those first six babies she photographed. She’s continued to see the importance of the gift NILMDTS provides, too. “One of the things I like most is that in a very tangible sense photographs say to the world, ‘these babies have value beauty, and dignity. They are loved, and they will not be forgotten,,” Jen reflected.

“This is a way to honor them, and their life – even if they never took a breath. It makes it possible for their parents to feel confident and proud showing their baby to others who are sharing in their grief, and reveals beautifully what their baby looked like before death did what it did.”

Noah, Joanna, Emilie, Bridget, Joel, and Charlotte helped Jen know that she could serve with NILMDTS, and she thinks others can, too. When asked what she’d say to someone contemplating volunteering with NILMDTS, Jen stated, “You can absolutely do this. I think you’ll find it to be a rewarding thing and healing in many ways. It will be hard, but it’s going to be really sweet also, and it’s going to be worth doing. The hardest thing is getting over your initial fears. And when you focus more on the families than your fear, it becomes a no-brainer. You can do this. You don’t have to be a professional. You just need to be willing to show up, to enter into the family’s space, and to offer what you can. NILMDTS provides so much training and support to help you do that. Anything is more than nothing. Photos are a little thing, really. But that little thing can mean everything to a family on their worst day. You don’t have to do it alone. NILMDTS will support you every step of the way. I have a sign in my house that says it well: ‘Start where you are. Do what you can. Use what you have.’ It’s as simple as that. You absolutely can do it.” 

When asked what she’d say to the families she’s served, Jen responded,

“I remember you. I remember your babies. If I look at your photos I can usually remember your baby by name, and they are all very special to me… I keep these babies in my heart. I held you, and I might be one of the few people on earth that held you. I will remember you always.” 

Each year Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep honors a variety of volunteers for their contributions to our cause and their embodiment of our four core values: Passionate Contribution, Prioritize People, Unyielding Integrity, and Continuous Growth. Today we’re excited to introduce you to Indiana volunteer Jen Potter, who was selected by the Board of Directors as the 2024 NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer of the Year.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a dedicated 501(c)(3) non-profit, offers families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss with complimentary remembrance portraits, capturing precious moments with their babies. Your generous donation can help us extend this heartfelt service to more families in need. Please consider supporting us here.