Welcome!
Photography courtesy of Kandace Photography (she's the best!)
How It Works
A good profile needs three key ingredients:
Quality Photographs (and lots of them!)
Once you're ready to get started, we will set up a way to share photos (usually on Google Drive). If you don't have a recent professional photo then we recommend getting one. If you're local (San Francisco Bay Area), we work with a great photographer who does special mini-shoots just for us.
Concise & Engaging Content (think less is more)
Next we provide coaching for the written content of your book. We know it can be hard to write about ourselves, so Love Makes has a simple questionnaire for you to complete. This allows you to have your own ‘voice’ come through, which is so important!
Personality! (displaying your family's uniqueness)
For this step, we want to find design elements and styles that best represent your family. Are you classic, modern, vintage, or something else entirely? Whatever your style, we will find a design to match.
Once we have the information from those three steps, we can begin designing your profile. A first draft usually takes about 10-15 business days to complete. At that time, you'll receive a copy of your first draft to review and edit. Once all your edits are completed and you're happy with your profile, we will provide PDF files and order printing.
For more information about how it works and pricing visit our services page.
Portfolio
I strive to put a little love into every profile I make by capturing each family’s style and personalities so that when it reaches the hands of the right expectant parent(s), they have an authentic, genuine, profile that they can connect with.
Modern, clean, and elegant.
Warm, light, and welcoming.
A warm, modern design.
Artsy, bright, and fun!
Sweet, calm, and unique style.
Light, fun, and energetic!
My favorite font combo!
Modern, calm, abstract design.
Clean, simple, and welcoming.
Wonderful photos & unique style.
services
While I would love to help you start-to-finish with your family profile, I know that some of you want to make your profile yourselves. Take a look at my services below and find one that works for you. I am happy to follow the requirements of your agency in creating your profile.
Are you working with Quiver Full or Cradled in Grace?! If so, let me know to receive a discount!
Semi-Custom Family Profile | without printing: $450 | with printing options starting at: $500
Save time & money with this option! You can select from 12+ templates, color schemes, and font options that I will provide. From there, you'll just need to provide your photos and written content–which is even easier since you'll know exactly how many photos and how much writing fits on each page.
Prices include:
access to sample Expectant Parent letters
simple prompts for writing your content
creation of your family profile based on the template you select
access to a private workspace where we can share ideas, files, etc.
2 hours edit time
a high-resolution digital pdf copy
a web-sized digital pdf copy
Custom Family Profile | without printing: $750 | with printing options starting at: $800
Let me help you from start to finish! I'll get an idea of your vision/style and create a profile for you that is original to you, using your photos and written content.
Prices include:
access to sample Expectant Parent letters
simple prompts for writing your content and an optional coaching call
creation of your family profile, up to 20 pages max
access to a private workspace where we can share ideas, files, etc.
3 hours edit time
a high-resolution digital pdf copy
a web-sized digital pdf copy
InDesign Templates | NEW INSTANT DOWNLOAD SHOP NOW OPEN!
Have some experience with inDesign? Then this option is perfect for you! With this option, you add your content and photos on your own in Adobe inDesign. Select from 8+ templates I have available and you'll receive a packaged file with the layout for text and photos, a tutorial video, directions for accessing free fonts, and more!
Price includes:
access to sample Expectant Parent letters
inDesign template of your choice (now an instant download)
coaching and prompts for writing your content
printer suggestions/options
Check out my FAQ for more info.
Don't see what you're looking for? Please feel free to contact us - we would love to help any way we can.
FAQ
For the most part, that is totally up to you!
I will start working on your draft after you’ve uploaded your photos and written content (don’t worry - I provide instructions and coaching for those parts!). Some families get this all done in a week or less and others take up to a month. It just depends how quickly you want to move.
A draft for a semi-custom profile takes me 5-7 business days.
A draft for a custom profile takes me 10-12 business days.
At that point, I will provide instructions for requesting edits and we will work back and forth until it’s perfect! Once you approve your final draft, printing and shipping takes about 6 to 8 business days.
My semi-custom option means that we will start with a template you select. You also get to select the fonts, colors, and graphic elements you want to use.
I call it ‘semi-custom’ because once I have your unique photos and written content, I will make adjustments to the layout if needed.
Nope! I have made profiles for families working with many different agencies, consultants, and lawyers. I am happy to follow their requirements and guidelines as needed.
Yes - but I will coach you!
The writing is usually the most difficult part for people - it’s hard to write about ourselves! The reason I do not offer to write your content for you is because I have found that the only way to capture your voice is to have you write it yourself. No one knows you better than you! And even though it may be hard to get through this step, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that as expectant parents read your profile, they are seeing the real, authentic you. And they are hearing your ‘voice’ come out in your writing.
After we met our daughter’s birth mom for the first time she told us we were exactly what she expected after reading our profile. This was so affirming to use because it meant we had done a good and accurate job representing ourselves and it made all of us confident to move forward together in an adoption plan. This is my hope for you as well! And the best way to have that happen is to write it yourself. But don’t panic! I’m here to help and I provide a coaching call, editing and suggestions, and general support as needed.
Nice to meet you!
Dani
Owner of Love Makes
Thanks so much for stopping by and if you’re anywhere in the process of adopting - congratulations!
A little about me: I have a degree in Art with an emphasis in Art History and have always loved design. I had the opportunity to learn and practice graphic design during a job I had at my church and went on to be the Communications Director. At that job I was able to continue to work in marketing, communications, and design on a larger scale.
When my husband and I began our adoption journey, I wanted to make our family profile book myself. After seeing our profile, our daughter’s birth mom told our social worker that we were THE FAMILY for her child - that she couldn't wait to meet us and didn't want to see any other profiles because she was sure it was us! In early 2015 our adorable daughter joined our family. And in Spring of 2017, we welcomed our second daughter (biological).
Looking for someone to design your profile for you? We do that, too! Check out our Services Page.
