Finding Kids Homes, One Photo at a Time

June 14, 2008 — -- Mary has the dreams and hobbies of a typical 12-year-old.

She longs to be a famous dancer with her own private limo and hairstylist, loves to read and write in her journal and likes to play with children her age.

But Mary, until recently, was missing one thing many of her peers often take for granted: a family.

Included in the Children's Trust Miami Heart Gallery, a photography exhibit opening Saturday depicting children who are up for adoption, Mary was lucky enough to draw the attention of a local couple who are interested in adopting her.

"My husband and I had been looking to adopt for two years, and then we saw Mary," Cindy Horowitz, 48, told the Miami Herald. They declined to be interviewed by ABCNEWS.com.

Horowitz told the Herald that something about Mary's photograph just clicked with her.

"We knew it was right," said Horowitz.

The Miami Children's Trust hopes that prospective families like the Horowitzes will be moved by the photographs of the children -- all of whom are either currently in foster care or group homes.

More than 100 cities around the country have held similar exhibits since the first one launched in Santa Fe, N.M. in 2001, and all have seen great success, especially with the adoption of older children who are typically the hardest to place with families.

"It's been proved around the country that this is something that really helps adopt older children," said Emily Cardenas, senior communications manager at Children's Trust of Miami-Dade, which sponsors the exhibit.

"The photographs work," Cardenas said. "People fall in love with faces of children when they're photographed beautifully and that's what is important when it comes to adoption recruitment."

As many as 70 children, including 12 groups of siblings, are featured in 48 portraits all shot by professional photographers.

Nigel Barker, noted fashion photographer known for his role on "America's Next Top Model," told ABCNEWS.com that he was excited to give these children "one day off from not having fun."