Adoption - race, identity and belonging - how do photographs and images play a part?

Hi there,

I was looking for people's views on whether photographs have played a part in the formation of identities of an adoptee. I feel that the process of adoption is somewhat like a rite of passage, from one identity to another. And the part where a child may be in care of the state is a liminal one where they feel they do not belong anywhere.

If you were adopting or are adopting, would you use photographs in any way? Perhaps before you have adopted the child to familiarise them with yourself... and maybe then photographs of their birth family once they are in your care?

Please let me know how you all feel about this.

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