Darian Ryan: 2023 NILMDTS Digital Retouch Artist of the Year

Darian Ryan: 2023 NILMDTS Digital Retouch Artist of the Year

Written by
Mackenzie Mahon

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 South African volunteer Darian Ryan, who was selected by the Board of Directors as the NILMDTS Digital Retouch Artist of the Year. 

Darian Ryan first heard of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep in 2020 through a birth photography organization. As a professional photographer who specializes in black and white photography herself, it seemed like a natural fit, but she was hesitant. Darian remembers wondering, “Do I have what it takes? Do I have the ability?” 

Darian knew how important these photos are, though. Prior to joining Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, she had a friend finally fall pregnant after struggling to conceive. When the time came for delivery, Darian was traveling overseas, but instructed friends to message her when the baby arrived. Sadly, when Darian did hear from them, it was to share that her friend had lost her baby. “She had one photo,” Darian remarked. “I saw how much that photo meant to her, and when I came across NILMDTS, I thought, ‘If my friend had …