How Now We Are One Came to Be

by Marguerite Gieseke

I have always been moved by the powerful way photographs tell stories, especially stories of childhood and family.

When my husband, Karl, and I adopted our second son, I wanted to share with others the joy of adoption. “Joy” is the word I’ve often heard friends use to describe the experience of growing their family this way, and I thought that a book of photographs would be the best and most compelling way to express that emotion. I had long admired Michael Wilson’s photographs for their simplicity, sensitivity, and lack of pretense. I knew that he lived locally, and that he had a reputation for being an exceptionally nice guy. I gave him a call to see if he might be interested in the project.

My first conversation with Michael was late in the summer of 2005, not long after Karl and I returned from Guatemala with our second son, Henry. I spoke to him about my motivation for doing a book. I wanted to portray international adoption as a valid, loving way to build a family, and I thought that a book of photographs of healthy, happy families (with kids who happen to have been born in different countries) might help “normalize” the whole topic. In recent years, international adoption by celebrities — while admirable in itself — has become tabloid fodder and created a circus atmosphere that misrepresents the reality for thousands of ordinary families.

I was certain of only a few details: the book would have to show its subjects in a positive light; the love between all members of these families would have to be clear; and all proceeds from sales would necessarily benefit adoption related causes. Although Michael had no personal experience with international adoption, he readily agreed to the project. He made arrangements to visit our home two weeks later to photograph our family. After that, he made appointments with other families and quickly began to build a portfolio of lovely, thoughtful work. With each visit, he was able to find new and different ways to capture the one-of-a-kind personality of each child, and the ways in which each child connected with his or her family.

As the project began taking shape, Michael and I realized it was lacking something. Words? Stories? We weren’t sure exactly, but we sensed that we needed a writer who could understand the human side of each family’s tale and who could write simple, respectful textual portraits to accompany the images.

Michael suggested David Wecker, a friend and veteran newspaper columnist. David was happy to accept the assignment, telling Michael that he’d been looking to do some “heart work.” He seems to have found it. I hoped the writing would emphasize the personalities and talents of each child, along with the happiness they bring to their families. David let each family’s story speak for itself.

I hope that Now We Are One will give greater understanding of the beauty of adoption for children, all over the world, who are waiting for families of their own. And that it will present a clear picture of the joy adoption can be for everyone touched by this extraordinary experience.