Child modeling....

[lukenick1]

Anyone have any ideas or tips on how to get my 9 yr old son into modeling? Not to toot my own horn but he is pretty darn handsome. He has that long bang surfer hair that is pretty popular right now and the biggest brown eyes. Please let me know.
thanks

 

[themilesfamily]

I would go to an excellent photographer who specializes in shooting children and specializes in comp cards/headshots. I would get a few comp cards/headshots done and submit them to some agencies in your area. If the photographer does a lot of comp card work, he or she may have some agencies they can suggest.

You often hear, "Just send in a few snapshots" -- but I've found it's MUCH better to have a professional comp/headshot to present to agents. And it's great if you own those images and have them on a disc. Just a warning that you will be paying for comp/headshots anyway. That's considered a "professional expense" that you pay for.

Note: Agencies may not work with you if you're too far away -- some will, some won't. They also LOVE a flexible schedule -- is your child homeschooled? Is one of the parents a full-time stay-at-home parent to provide transportation? That helps.

Don't feel bad if you're rejected by most agencies. Some agencies may have enough kids in that age bracket, they may have a child who already has your kid's look, etc. If you get accepted at one or two agencies, that's great.

A couple of other tips. Legitimate agencies don't require you to pay for "modeling classes", they don't charge you a "representation fee." They don't force you to use their photographers. You shouldn't walk in the door and pay anything. There are a lot of scams out there.

The only legitimate expenses you should pay for are 1) comp cards and headshots (redone every year to two years), 2) you may pay a monthly subscription fee to be on an external modeling website.

 

[Aristomommy]

As a parent, I would first and foremost think what you hope to accomplish by this for your son. He can be cute, but it doesn't obligate him to be a model. If this is something he wants to do then I would maybe enroll him in a class and see if he is really into it before you dish out $$$ for headshots. I know a girl who modeled for Limited Too and it was fun, but they chose to keep it very low key and did just one client. Also, many jobs are during the day and your son would miss school if he isn't homeschooled.

Look at the "big picture" first before being sucked into the industry. There are many other activities your son can participate in without it involving work. Modeling is a serious job and very little has to do with glamour or the picture that appears in a magazine.

 

[mhsjax]

Please think long and hard about this. I know someone who worked in the Biz, I mean Paris and Malan type fashion shows. Lived in NYC. We asked him to photograph our son because so many people told us we should. He strongly advised against it, and refuses to let his own daughter be in the biz.

According to him and someone else I know that was in the "know" about the industry, you will never find a more cut throat, nasty ,uptight bunch of snotty people in your life.

Now, that being said, if you still want to do it. Never pay an agency for anything. Photographers you have to pay, but never a modeling agency. You can send the photos directly to the agencies in NYC.

 

[mjkacmom]

Where do you live? We live 8 miles out of NYC, and ds12's voice coach wanted to get him an agent, but we don't have the time to commit to go-sees. If you're not an easy driving distance to a major city, I don't know if there is any work available. My next door neighbor's kids did it for a few years - she just sent snap-shots with their information on the back to the top 3 modelling agencies in NYC, and got work.

If you go with an agency, make sure it's legitimate. By that, they won't ask for money, they won't offer classes, and they won't make you get head-shots through them.