2013 Adoptive Families Cover Photo Contest

Congratulations to Bruno!

From the more than 3,200 photos you entered to our annual contest, here are the nine we just couldn't take our eyes off—along with the stories behind the smiles.

Thank you to all the families who entered this year's contest. Share your comments on the individual photos in the 2013 Adoptive Families Cover Photo Contest album.

Photo Contest Grand-Prize Winner

Bruno (4, U.S.)

son of Sophie, Florida

"My friend Heidi came with us to the park because she wanted to practice taking photos. Bruno loves to be outdoors, running around. When we were trying to get him to smile and say cheese, it was like, 'Are you kidding me?' I was amazed when I saw this picture. He must have been still, smiling against the tree, for all of two seconds before he was off again, but she caught it." —SOPHIE

PHOTOGRAPHER: Heidi Purvis

Finalists

Charu (3, India)

daughter of Nichole and Cory

"We saw Charu on a WIC (waiting international child) list when she was 18 months old. There's just something about her eyes that we noticed in that photo, and that this one captures—they just sparkle. Charu has a zest for life, she does everything at full speed, and you can see that in this picture." —NICHOLE

PHOTOGRAPHER: Nichole

Hazel (9 months, U.S.)

daughter of Lisa and Steven

"Hazel is always ready to smile, just like she is in this photo. She is wearing her new bathing suit and bathing cap, which I bought to keep her glasses on in Grandma P. and Bahboo's pool." —LISA PHOTOGRAPHER: LISA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lisa

Ben (3, South Korea) with Lyla (3, South Korea)

son of Michael and Sandra

"Ben and Lyla were adopted from Korea a few weeks apart and have been friends since they were babies. We joke that they are an old married couple. This picture was taken after their preschool Christmas program. When the children were done singing, Ben made a beeline for the cookies. We didn't hear their conversation, but it looks like Lyla was telling Ben that he was eating too many sweets." —MICHAEL & SANDRA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Sandra

Stella (3, U.S.)

daughter of Holly and Matthew

"I wanted to take a picture of Stella wearing the new dress her grandmother gave her. My little girl doesn't have a serious bone in her body, so, when I asked her to smile for the camera, she gave me this series of beautiful, silly poses. This is a true picture of her personality." —HOLLY

PHOTOGRAPHER: Holly

Traeson (2, U.S.)

son of Danielle and Chris

"Trae's posing with his size-comparison dog (he calls it his 'special puppy') for his second birthday. We gave this same stuffed animal to his birthparents at placement, and we continue to take photos of him with it, so they can see how much he's grown. I love the mischievous smile this picture captured!" —DANIELLE

PHOTOGRAPHER: FotoFly

Zoë and Samuel (6, Vietnam; 1 month, U.S.)

children of Melissa and Alejandro

zoe and samuel 2013 cover contest finalist

"We had to have professional photos taken for our profile, and the photographer said to call her when we adopted a baby, because she'd take those photos as part of the package. We did, and this was our adoption announcement photo for Samuel. Zoë is so in love with him. She will tell people, 'I have the best baby brother in the whole wide world!'" —MELISSA

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jacqueline Landa

LT (15, U.S. foster adoption)

son of Jennifer and Bradley

"LT had come to live with us just two months before I took this picture last fall. He had been in foster care in south Florida his entire life, and this was his first experience with the colors of fall. Fall is now his favorite season!" —JENNIFER

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jennifer Cisar, Vitae Momenta Photography

Daniel (7, South Korea)

son of Ross and Samantha

"My brother-in-law took this photo, which captures Danny's silly side perfectly. It was at a pool party for his grandmother's 60th birthday. Daniel had been swimming and playing with his cousin. They don't get to see each other often, so when they do, they're very excited and always have so much fun together." —ROSS

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steve Bullock