Fishing Trip After Finalization

“My partner and I proudly finalized the adoption of our son from foster care last summer. The very next day, we took off for a bold five-week camping adventure across the country to introduce him to our families. Our son went fishing with Grandpa and cast his pole and himself in the pond—this was taken right after we ‘fished him out’ and is one of my favorite pictures from that trip.” —JEFF LEECH

Instant Bond

“I wanted something other than the swaddled, hospital blanket photo we’re all used to seeing, so I had professional photos taken at the hospital after my son was born. This picture, which is now blown up in the nursery, really speaks to our instant bond.” —REBECCA

New Sibling

“Every chance Ella, adopted from China, had to make a wish, whether it was blowing birthday candles out or throwing a penny in a fountain, she wished to be a big sister. This is the moment that dream was fulfilled. She was the first to hold her little brother, adopted as a newborn in the U.S., and was so proud.” —ELIZABETH HOURIGAN

Candid Moments

“Our most treasured pictures were taken by family members at the exact moments we met each of our sons, both adopted from South Korea. I love that they are not posed, they captured the real emotion behind the moments. In this one, our oldest son is meeting his new baby brother for the very first time. I remember every detail of those precious days.” —ANGELA

Everyone Together

“I took a ton of photos at each of my sons’ births. This photo is so special because it’s of all of us—our older son Liam, Dad, Mom (me), his birthdad, his birth mom, and his two half-brothers.” —CYNTHIA

Places You Visit

“We took a lot of pictures on our trips to Russia. Most were pictures of our daughter, Elena, but some of the most useful pictures have been of places in the orphanage. For example, I took a picture of an empty hallway on the first floor of the orphanage.

Elena remembers walking down that hall. She’s also pointed to the end of the hallway and told us there’s a doctor’s office there, where you go to get a Band-Aid, and that led to a conversation about doctors, getting sick, and getting well. In retrospect, I wish we had taken more pictures of the ‘boring’ places in the orphanage.”—ANDREW AND TERESA