Similar to the making of our Introduction Video, we struggled to narrow down our large portfolio of pictures and essays. How can any couple be expected to introduce themselves successfully in nine pictures and a handful of paragraphs? Not to mention, a person (me) can easily become overwhelmed by all of the styling options. After all, a birth parent is handed dozens of profiles. It’s our responsibility to make smart choices and ensure we stand out. No pressure, right?

At our adoption agency’s orientation, we were given a handful of printed profiles. We enjoyed looking through them and found the examples to be useful. We took note of which profiles stood out to us (and why). 

Things we liked about other profiles:

Pictures caught our eye more than text. In some cases, we didn’t read any of the words other than a short caption. If we didn’t care to read the text, why would a birth parent? So, we knew our profile’s pictures had to be the number one priority.

Colors were the next thing that caught our eye. Some had bold and in your face profiles. Others looked serene and beachy. The pastel profiles were pretty, but not necessarily our vibe. We decided ours should be a more modern style – colorful but streamlined.

Our favorite profiles effectively displayed normalcy through party pictures, vacations, and holidays. The couples with relatable photos seemed more welcoming and loving. The staged pictures were also pretty, but they seemed… phony. No one wants to feel judged or upstaged.

The humorous pictures were our favorite. Someone sticking their tongue out was more appealing than a “posed on a stoop” picture.

We liked the photos that had kids in them. This is a wannabe-parent pitch after all.

We were also attracted to the couples who were adventurous and well-traveled. We added “adventure” to our priorities list.

Lastly, active couples were ideal. Other, seemingly couch-ridden couples were less appealing as compared to the bike riding couples. Endurance and energy are a huge part of parenting, right? We added “recreation” to our list.

Tips from the agency: 

The agency encouraged us to include pictures of our pets but said they shouldn’t be headshots. “Include pictures of your family interacting with the animals.”

“The pictures and colors should convey your family’s vibe.”

“The layout should trick the eye into looking at specific things. If the couple only looks at 1 or 2 pictures, where do you want their eye to go first?”

“No sunglasses, masks, or backs of heads. Eye contact and smiles are key.”

“Group shots are nice, but birth parents don’t care about your second cousin’s wedding. They want to know the prospective PARENT(S).”

“Diversity is important. If you have a colorful family, show it off.”

 “Lastly, be you. If you like sports, show off your team. If you’re a tea aficionado, include lots of ‘pinky up’ captions. If you have 9 goats, post a goat selfie. The birth parent(s) will find something unique about you and cling to it.”