2011 Adoptive Families Cover Photo Contest

Congratulations to Lauren!

She and the eight stunning finalists were chosen from more than 4,000 photos. Thank you to all the families who entered this year's contest. Share your comments on the individual photos in the 2011 Adoptive Families Cover Photo Contest album.

Photo Contest Grand-Prize Winner

Lauren, 10, China

"At a very young age, Lauren began fishing with her Papa as often as he would take her. At 10 years old, she fishes every time she is near a body of water. On this day, we were on a photo shoot, in Arlington, Texas, with Tammy, and Lauren wanted a break from all the posing and the smiling. So since she was near a stream, she found an old piece of fishing line, an old fishhook, and a piece of Styrofoam to use as a bobber, and she made her own fishing setup. Tammy saw everything, and called Lauren's name. She took the shot just as Lauren looked over her shoulder." -LORI

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tammy Ferguson Photography

Finalists

Sophie and Daniel, 6 and 3, U.S.

Sophie and Daniel 2011 cover contest finalist

"Sophie and Daniel have a very close relationship, but they can be typical brother and sister: loving each other one minute, bickering the next! That day, the kids were whispering back and forth with each other when my friend snapped this photo. I don't know what they were giggling about, but the look on their faces is all love." -MELISSA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Laurel Bent

Sydney, 2, Ethiopia

"We had pictures taken when Sydney had been home for three weeks. This was the first photo from that 20-minute session. It captures the look she gets when she's amazed and she doesn't know what's going on. Remarkably, she ate up the camera, getting coy with it, posing. The photographer was shocked by how open and friendly she was, but we thought, 'That's just Sydney.'" -STEPHANIE

PHOTOGRAPHER: Yuen Lui Studios

Samuel and Johanna with Addison, both 3, South Korea

Samuel and Johanna with Addison 2011 cover contest finalist

"Every year on the twins' birthday, we take their picture. Addison is my best friend's daughter, and she belongs in our story, too. She and the twins have been inseparable since the beginning, and they really are best friends. Here, they were throwing cupcakes at one another as we were taking pictures. Both of us moms have this portrait framed on our walls, and we named it, aptly, 'A Blast Between Friends,' because that's just what it shows." -CARISSA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Carissa Haning

Alex, 5 months, U.S.

"We set up an impromptu shoot, and put Alex in a knit cap that we had had custom-made for him. Of all the photos we took that day, this was our favorite, because it captured the innocence of our baby and the feeling of warmth and coziness at holiday time. It's no surprise we chose the photo for our Christmas card!" -NICOLE

PHOTOGRAPHER: Nicole Janney

Amber, Leon, and Tom, 7, 5, and 8, Poland

Amber, Leon, and Tom 2011 cover contest finalist

"At an annual adoption picnic, our kids had a great time catching up with their friends adopted from Poland and meeting other children. After they chased one another through the rain, this photo captured a moment when Amber and Tom teamed up to make Leon smile. They love making one another laugh!" -VARDA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Varda

Phoebe Jane, 18 months, U.S.

"Our daughter was playing in the fields at her aunt and uncle's house. In a quiet moment with 'Bapa,' her grandfather, Phoebe picked up some grass and started putting pieces of it into his pocket. Bapa just watched, amused. Phoebe loves to be outside. She'll smell and pick up anything, from rocks and flowers to weeds and grass." -CHELSEA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Chelsea Barbini

Luke, 3, China

"This photo makes us laugh every time we see it, because it shows Luke in all of his joyful exuberance. On a summer trip to the Outer Banks, Luke and his big sister ran up and down the beach, with the waves chasing close behind. He was so absorbed by the wonder of the ocean that he didn't even notice the camera?although, if he had, he still would have smiled." -LARA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lara

Zoelie and Azalea, 2 and 18 months, U.S. and Ethiopia

Zoelie and Azalea 2011 cover contest finalist

"We decided to take the girls to Hawaii for a vacation before their brother was born. On the deck, Zoelie and Azalea were having breakfast, talking and talking. They were probably feeding each other Cheerios. Each girl always wants to take care of the other one. They adore each other. Every night, they have to kiss and hug each other before bedtime, and every morning when they wake up, they ask for each other. It is amazing to witness this bond." -SOPHIE

PHOTOGRAPHER: Sophie Williams