Modeling for Baby
Worlds Largest Modeling Source

Beware of Bogus Companies!

Don't be fooled by fake "talent companies". The only way to get your child work into modeling and acting is to research relevant roles and work diligently auditioning.

 

MAJOR MARKETS: If you live in or near New York, California, Illinois, Texas, Georgia or Florida it makes it easier to go on castings, there are more child modeling agencies and there is much more work in these states - especially in the cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami Beach and Orlando.

 

AGE THREE AND UNDER: Young children grow and change very quickly so if your child is under the age of three DO NOT have a lot of expensive pictures made for modeling or casting purposes and DO NOT let a so-called agency tell you that you must have them. (All you need are a few good, clear shots that show the child as they would normally look.)

 

OVER AGE THREE: If your child is over the age of three consider having better photos taken to show to agents, casting directors, etc. - especially if you intend to work in the more lucrative markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami Beach, Orlando, etc.

 

ALL AGES: Agents at kids modeling agencies as well as Casting Directors want to see kids looking like kids. DO NOT put any makeup on them, DO NOT dress your child in frilly pageant style dresses, DO NOT put cutesie bows in their hair, etc.

 

DO NOT - work with ANY agency that requests money in advance for ANYTHING. Modeling schools, classes or training are completely unnecessary at any age and you should NEVER pay an agency for any type of marketing, training, classes, signing fees, photography services, comp cards, etc.

 

A legitimate agency makes money ONLY from booking a job and taking a commission, usually 10-20% of the gross. (For example, if your child does a job for $300 and your agent takes a 20% commission - the agent would be entitled to $60 commission and you would receive $240.)

 

ALL bookings must go through a state licensed booking agency and it is ILLEGAL for a booking agency to charge you for money for anything other than for booking a job and taking a commission in at least four states.

 

DO NOT- respond to newspaper or radio advertising placed by so-called agencies as real agencies have no need to advertise.

 

DO NOT- sign up for "training" or anything else that is being promoted at a table or a kiosk at a mall as you will very quickly find yourself several hundred to several thousand dollars poorer.

 

DO NOT- fall for false promises or misleading claims used to sell you worthless "portfolios", training, classes, etc.
Why is it that real agents don't seem to have time to see my kids in person or talk to me on the phone?

 

The reason it is so hard to get a real agent to see you or talk to you is because a very high percentage of the people they come in contact with do not follow through. Imagine spending 5 or 6 hours a day of your 8 hour work day talking to people that don't follow through and you will understand why real agents don't have time to chit chat.

 

(Most larger agencies have in-house scouts to find and screen talent for them while most smaller agencies rely on a more informal network of photographers and scouts to find new talent.)

 

PLEASE NOTE: Although they may be few and far between, there are legitimate model scouts and many of them also work as photographers, make-up artists etc. which is perfectly ethical and perfectly legal in all 50 states as there is no inherent conflict of interests.

 

In fact, working with a legit model scout that is also a photographer can be extremely beneficial to a new model just starting out.

 

Who would you rather do a test shoot with, someone that hands you your photos, says "Good Luck!" and walks away, or someone that can walk you into top agencies where you will be given special consideration based on their track record?

 

Just be sure not to confuse what a scout does with what an agent does. What's the difference? Scouts do not get involved in negotiating fees for bookings and, therefore, do not need to be licensed. (There is no such thing as a "model scout license".)

 

DO NOT- pay an agency for photography services of any kind, pay the photographer.

 

DO NOT- pay an agency for comp cards, etc. pay the printer.Keep in mind, however, that 99% of the photographers you may encounter on your own or find in the phone book, etc. Great photos are door openers - so be sure to get solid advice from someone that really knows what they are doing before having any pictures taken. Learn More about Baby Auditions...