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How to Complete Your Adoption Profile
Adoption Link has partnered with a local design firm, Adoption Profiles By Design, to help you produce the best profiles possible — profiles that make it easy for birthparents to learn about your family. Working with a specialist frees you from much of the work involved in preparing your profile, since professional graphic designer Deb Slater takes your photos and text and prepares the layout for you. We make it easy to complete your adoption profile.
Learn What Is Required
First, learn about Adoption Link’s recommendations and requirements by visiting The Adoption Profile page on this website, which tells you about the three types of profiles Adoption Link utilizes, and also lists the most essential items you will need to include in your profile.
Next, take a moment to learn what is needed for your profile in terms of photos and copy:
- Photo size. It is important to send us the largest image files that you have, preferably nothing smaller in size than 500K. (To get the highest quality reproduction of images in print, you want to stick with photos that are high-resolution — in other words, big!) Generally speaking, if you are looking at an image on your computer screen, the largest that same photo will reproduce in print is one-fourth (24% to be precise) of the size you see on-screen. If you have a photo that you really love that is between 200K and 500K, send it along, and we will evaluate it for possible inclusion. Any photos smaller than 200K will be too small to use; you will have to skip those. Photos that you might want to use on the cover most likely need to be even larger … 5, 10, 15 megabytes or more.
- Number of photos and word count. The typical four-page profile contains between 15 and 25 photos, though we have done profiles with as few as 10 and as many as 45! Aiming for something in the neighborhood of 20 gives a good balance between quantity and size. We adapt to you, however, so do let us know your wishes. Please name your image files with the captions you wish to appear in your profile. Aim for a word count of between 900 and 1300.
Now, Get Started
Adoption Profiles by Design will work with you on all three formats of your profile (the four-page profile, the one-page profile, and the online profile).
Start by spending a little time perusing the Adoption Profiles by Design website (page opens in new tab or window) where you will be able to view a large number of the profiles we have created. Make a note of which profiles you like best, so that you can share that with us later, when you place your order. In this way, we will know how to design your profile. Your profile will be customized according to your wishes.
Place your order. Once Adoption Profiles by Design receives your order, we will send you an online folder (usually a Dropbox folder) into which you will put copies of your files (photos and text). We also send a Guide for Creating Your Profile, which has a lot of tips for generating your copy and selecting your photos. Feel free to contact us at any time with questions.
The four-page profile. We complete your adoption profile quickly. The workflow generally starts with the four-page profile. It is professionally printed on a heavier, good quality paper stock. It contains between 15 and 25 photos, and the copy runs between 900 and 1300 words. Our service is not like the “do-it-yourself” photo books widely available online. We do the layout for you. Once we’ve received all your files, we complete a layout and then send a proof for your review. At that time, we can make any adjustments you might desire, and then send another proof. When you are satisfied with everything, and give us the go-ahead, we send the file for printing. We work with a wonderful print shop, that provides a top-quality product quickly and affordably. Your printed profiles are delivered directly to Adoption Link the same day we receive them from the printer.
Additional prints. 40 prints are included with your order, but you will see on the order form that you have the option of requesting more at $1 per additional print. We are happy to send you additional copies in the mail, if you so desire. I think it’s a good idea. We’ve had a few cases where the birthparent(s) wanted to keep a copy or two of the profile as well.
The one-page profile. Next, we start work on your one-page profile, which we print in our office on a high-quality color laser printer and then deliver to Adoption Link. (The one-page profile is usually completed and delivered while your four-page profile is at the printer). The one-page profile is approximately 500 words and typically contains two to four images (usually chosen from the photos you’ve already provided for your four-page profile).
The online profile. Adoption Profiles by Design will create your online profile as well, which is basically an online version of your one-page profile. You can see samples of the online profile at the Adoption Link Waiting Families page.
A post on the Adoption Link Facebook page. If you have elected to have an online profile at the Adoption Link website, we can also prepare a post for you on the Adoption Link Facebook page. The post will include the main photo from your online profile, along with a bit of text about you, and a link to the profile. We will “boost” this Facebook post so that it reaches the appropriate demographic.
Please call 937-312-4250 or email debs@deborahslater.com anytime with questions.
“Looking forward to helping your dreams become reality.” – Deb Slater, Adoption Profiles by Design
Adoption Profiles By Design | 937-312-4250 | www.adoptionprofilesbydesign.com
