Modelling isn’t just for adults. There are opportunities for children from babies to older teens to provide modelling services, from baby products to car commercials and everything in between. While there are many different types of opportunities available, there is also a lot of competition. This article looks at the types of modelling jobs available to children and at what it takes for a child to make it in the modelling world.
Baby Modelling
If people are constantly stopping you in the street to admire you baby, you may have may have a pint-sized supermodel. Becoming a baby model will take more than your loved one’s adorable face. Baby models must have an even temperament and must be comfortable in a room full of strangers. Modelling companies are looking for happy, enthusiastic babies that aren’t bothered by cameras and enjoy lots of attention. The pay for baby models is not as high as you may believe and you’ll have to be willing to pick up and get your baby to auditions on short notice. While baby modelling is not especially lucrative and it is a lot of work for the parents, it is also a fun activity between parents and their photogenic babies.
There’s no need to book a professional photographer for your baby, just take some nice, clear photos that include a head shot, a full body shot and a photo that captures your baby doing something that showcases his or her personality, such as playing with a favorite toy. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for each baby modelling agency that you wish to contact. Be prepared for rejection as the rejection rate at the better UK baby modelling agencies is around 95%. If an agency is interested, they may invite you to sign a contract and your baby may be on his or her merry little way!
Child Modelling
The global market for children’s wear is more than $10 billion, so it’s no wonder that demand for child models is huge. New York has seen a 50% increase in the demand for child models since 2004. Like baby modelling, shy, retiring children need not apply. Child model agencies are looking for outgoing, upbeat children who like to play dress up. They also like flexible parents who can accept the unpredictability of a model’s schedule and are committed to getting their model child to the shoot on time. Parent and child must be prepared for a lot of waiting around between shooting, so parents should bring plenty of snacks, drinks, and materials to keep their child fed, hydrated and entertained. Parents will also have to balance the needs of potential clients with their child’s educational needs. Most clients will not conveniently schedule shoots after school or on the weekends.
Choosing the right child model agency is the most important decision you will have to make for your child’s modelling career. Reputable child modelling agencies will book the best modelling jobs for your child and will reduce your stress by promptly answering your questions and helping to smooth the way.
Teenage Modelling
Teen modelling can be lucrative and glamorous, but very difficult to penetrate. If your teen is interested in becoming a teenage model, he or she must be prepared for tough competition, long and hard hours and working with adults who can be quite blunt and impersonal. Your teen will need to be focused, determined and possess a thick skin, because rejection is a part of a model’s life. As the parent of a teen model, you are your teen’s support network, transportation, and advocate. You must be as prepared as your teen for last minute gigs and long, stressful days where the photo shoot is interspersed with lots of waiting around.
If your teen has what it takes, then like baby and child modelling, you will need to take some great photos to share with potential modelling agencies. Teen modelling is where professional photographs become vital to your child capturing the attention of good teenage model agencies. You should look for professional photographers who specialise in shooting headshots or fashion editorial. Bring along multiple outfits and ask the photographer to take multiple versions of headshots and full body shots.
Create a portfolio based on the best photos from the photo shoot and create a "comp card," which is also known as a "zed” or “Z card.” The comp card will contain your teen’s photos and vital statistics and you will use it to attract the attention of teenage modelling agencies. When you get an offer from a reputable teenage modelling agency, you should read the contract thoroughly before signing. If you don’t understand some of the language, ask for clarification or hire an attorney to review it for you.
Modelling is an exciting career that can produce a lifetime’s worth of memories in a few, short years, but it is also one where there are plenty of scam artists looking to live off the hopes and
aspirations of young models and their parents so choose an agency wisely and make sure the agency has experience working with teens.
