So you want your child to model? Child Modeling 101

Tuesday, 31 January 2012 23:42 Written by Cammy Barnett

We are absolutely thrilled to introduce our new series of articles on the child modeling industry, inspired by your endless questions and great interest in child modeling expressed on our FB hangout. Superwoman Cammy Barnett, a mother of three models/actors with extensive experience in the modeling world, from modeling to owning an agency, to being a mom-manager of her own three children shares her invaluable insights and expertise with the Tribe. Cammy had recently launched her own line of hip and edgy children’s clothing and accessories Moda Clothing.

“Oh my gosh he is so cute, he should be a model!”

“Look at those eyelashes, they are AMAzing!”

“Your children are so cute, they should totally model!”

“Have you ever thought about getting him into modeling? He would be SO perfect!”

Of course every parent thinks their own child is probably the most adorable child ever born on planet earth. After total strangers repeatedly stopped me and told me these things about my son however, I began to give it some real consideration. I wasn’t thinking $$$ or that my son could be a big movie star, but I did think “shoot, someone’s kid is in the weekly Target ad”. There are a ton of legit modeling jobs out there for real children, and someone’s adorable kid gets chosen for the job. I began to wonder what it took to start my little guy Xan in modeling.

Naturally, like any normal person, I Googled it. I got a million responses. Immediately, I decided to take my time in researching the industry so that I knew what I was getting myself into.

Tip #1: Take your time in researching the child talent industry in general.

If you don’t know what other things to look for in a talent agency that seems legit, you will miss big red flags. If you are totally new to the industry in general, you’ll want tons of good information. Great places to begin are http://www.childreninfilm.com (I’m not saying JOIN, I am saying read through the great info on their site), and http://www.bizparentz.org.

Tip #2: Take your time in doing thorough research of agencies in your area.

First, I looked to see what agencies existed in my area.

Second, I wrote down all of the basic information in an Excel spreadsheet so that I could record detailed information on each. (Location, physical address, web site, contact person, person in charge of child division, phone number, e-mail address, etc.)

Third, I checked them out on the Better Business Bureau. It’s common for talent agencies to have a poor rating because there are just so many scams out there. What you want to check for is how many complaints an agency has against them, if any. Write it down in your spreadsheet. Google the name and add the word “scam”. If there are one or two silly remarks, maybe no problem. If there are several people who seem like professional models who say they got ripped off, pay attention. Write it down in your spreadsheet.

Tip: 3: Know the red flags to look for.

Besides lots of whining people on Google, how do you know if an agency is legit or not? Here are the top red flags that we have found to be true:

- They are willing to sign you sight unseen. A legit agency caters to their clients. They are going to want to see your child for themselves to make sure that it will be a good fit for them. They are going to want to see how your child interacts with them, and their general demeanor and personality. They will want to meet the parent themselves! Parents can be a make or break deal themselves. No one wants to deal with a “stage parent”, especially busy casting agents and business owners, etc. and the agent’s reputation is on the line when your child is sent to a shoot.

- They require that you spend hundreds of dollars using “their” photographer for headshots. Please know that you may have to spend a few bucks getting some photos taken. Your child’s photo is what the agency will send to their clients. They want the photo to be as good as possible so that you will at least get an audition. This is your calling card! However, you should be free to have these done yourself. If you have a friend who can do them for free, there’s no reason why you should have to pay the agency to have these done. Don’t have a friend with a nice camera? Contact your local photographers and see if they barter. Check Craig’s List for photographers who are looking to expand their portfolios. Check with your local photographers to see if they need models for any product shoots and would give you free headshots in exchange for modeling for them. You will need SOME type of great photos of your kids! Just know this - 75% of our kids’ headshots were free.

- They require you to pay upfront fees for anything. Legit agencies will take a percentage of your earnings. This is how they make their money. Say you make $100, the agent keeps $10. Their incentive to make more money is to get you more jobs. Period. If you are asked to pay upfront fees for things, this is a sign of an unhealthy agency (small exceptions to this rule coming soon).

It’s a lot of work to be on your toes to do the best you can for your child, but IT IS WORTH IT if your child has the right look and personality, and it’s something they and you want to do! Hang in there and be patient!

Coming soon:

How to submit to a talent agency

How to write a resume’

How to write a cover letter

What type of photos should I submit?

What is expected of me if I sign with an agency?

They want me to sign a contract, help!

… and more!