Adoption Photography
Photographs allow us to look back to moments in our lives and relive memories of special times. Some of the most special moments in your family’s history are those when new members join. With an adoption in Korea, there are several special moments that I offer sessions for: the first meetings, the custody meeting, and a post-custody family session. Each of these has a slightly different approach but all are focused on making sure you and your child have memories to talk about for years to come.
First Meetings
The first meeting is an emotional time, of that there is no doubt. In today’s connected society, friends and family want updates immediately, and that puts extra pressure on you to try and get a photograph to send home. Having somebody else do this means that you are in the photographs yourself, your joy with your child recorded to send home. By having me photograph your adoption, you’ll take home a collection of photos that are meaningful, focused on you and your family, and a timeless reminder of the time you first spent with your child. At this stage, first meeting sessions are only available for Eastern Social Welfare Society parents.
Custody Day
Custody is another emotional day. While one family gains a member, another loses one. The final moments your child has with their foster family are recorded in this session along with the moment custody is taken. I also offer to ride with you and your family back to your accommodation to capture the emotions of the ride and your first moments together as a family. This is not a session type that is for every family as it can be extremely emotional. Please do reach out if you’d like to discuss the possibility of having your custody day documented. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
Post-Custody Family Sessions
I offer a variety of post-custody sessions including 1-hour lifestyle family sessions and full-day documentary sessions. For the shorter sessions, most families opt to use one of Seoul’s palaces for the location as they are a very direct link to your child’s history. Other families prefer the simplicity of a park or natural setting which can be beautiful during the warmer months. Of course, you may be concerned about how your child will be feeling at this time, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have about the session and my approach to making sure it is a stress-free day that results in beautiful images for your family to keep.
How Can You Enquire?
If you are an adoptive family looking to have your own adoption professionally photographed or to find out more about the process, please get in touch. It would be my pleasure to be a part of this journey with your family. If you are unsure whether or not to hire a photographer during this time, please look at my previous adoption sessions below to give you an idea of the coverage I provide. There is also a link to each of the individual blog posts, where you will find more photos and the story of the day.
Testimonials
Orth Family
“Hiring Dylan to photograph our adoption meetings was one of the best decisions we have made in a long time. Dylan is very talented and his work is outstanding. He captured the story of our first meetings with our son in excellent detail, and we know we will forever treasure the images we have from that very important day for our family. Not only was Dylan professional, reliable, and downright fun, but he was very sensitive to every aspect of our adoption. We look forward to having Dylan along for the adoption of our next child!” – Lori
Davis’ Adoption / Park’s Adoption / Jeju Island Family Session
Sharp Family
“I wouldn’t trade our pictures for anything! I can’t tell you how many memories come back looking at the pictures of our first meeting and first day together as a family. I also don’t think you realize what a huge help you were to us in those first few days. I will never forget your compassion and thoughtfulness for our family. I know that no matter what we will be using your services next time we are in Seoul!” – Kala
Jae’s First Meeting Day / Family Session with Jae / Sam’s Adoption
Anderson Family
“For two long years we waited for our son, Ezra, with only a few photos in hand and lots of love in our hearts. When the day to meet our little man finally arrived, we hired Dylan to be our photographer so we could be fully present in those first moments as a family. That first meeting was more incredible that we had even imagined, and having Dylan there made it all the better. Dylan captured every giggle, every happy tear, every sweet touch. Better yet, he captured it beautifully. By the same evening, we had over 200 beautiful photos of that incredible, life changing day. We were amazed that in only a few short hours, Dylan’s work made up for two years of longing, wishing, hoping and praying. In the days following that first meeting, we poured over those photos, watching our very own miracle unfold over and over again. What a gift! Working with Dylan was wonderful. He was very professional, but also kind, engaging, warm and open. We are so thankful to have had Dylan be the one to document this incredible journey to our son.” – Ester
My Story with the Anderson Family
Ott Family
“We heard wonderful things about WelkinLight Photography from several friends of ours and decided to use him for our family photos before we left Seoul. The whole experience was great! He was wonderful with our son and put a lot of thought into each photo. We got the edited photos back very quickly, and were in love with them! They beautifully captured our son’s personality and will be treasured forever!” – Kayla (from Google Review)
Hudec Family
“We heard wonderful things about WelkinLight Photography from several friends of ours and decided to use him for our family photos before we left Seoul. The whole experience was great! He was wonderful with our son and put a lot of thought into each photo. We got the edited photos back very quickly, and were in love with them! They beautifully captured our son’s personality and will be treasured forever!” – Elizabeth (from Google Review)
