How to Prepare Your Adoption Picture Portfolio
Birth parents are looking for the heart in your book even more than the exterior provisions you can offer. They are looking for security and reassurance about their choice.
Please leave out any identifying information such as last name, hometown, license tag, etc., unless you have given careful thought and preparation for having an open adoption.
The brightest, most colorful book is likely to catch the eye first. (If you had to choose from a shelf of photo albums, which one would you look at first, the plain one or the one that stands out most?) A choice may be made before they get to yours.
You can decorate in themes or your own personal touch. Help the birth mother to see that your family is happy, fun and child-oriented. If possible, add a picture of what the baby’s room will look like. Recent photos are good.
Putting original pictures in is recommended over color photocopies. If it is a picture(s) that you have only one copy of and cannot replace and if it copies well, one or two color photocopies should be fine. But, if it doesn’t copy great, either give up the picture (what you get in return for your photo book is far better—a child!), or find another picture for the book. Original photos are better quality than copies. Also, you don’t want to communicate to a most-likely scared, possibly insecure, perhaps young girl who is probably scrutinizing you, that you cut corners on this. Make the emotional investment.
Whatever you do, you want the birth parent(s) to feel like you have put not only time and effort into your book and letter, but also a lot of heart. Details can make all the difference to a birth parent.
Birth mothers are eager to see books. If you can send a family photo to HOPE for Children while you are working on your book, this would help in the selection process.
In almost every case, the book will be returned to you at your adoption ceremony. The only exception would be if the birth parents request the book as a keepsake and you agree.
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