How To Be A Child Model: Can My Child Make It?
Good news for you parents out there looking to break your children into the modelling business. Your children can be employed as a model!
But, the real question is, ‘how to be a child model’ or ‘how to submit my child for modelling?’ If you’re looking for the answers to these questions and others, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve created a brief guide that will help answer how to sign your child up for modelling and help you determine if your child has what it takes to be a model. Get ready to hear lights, camera, action after you get done scrolling through this post finding the answers to can my child be a model?
Have Their Photo Taken
The first thing you need to do when asking how to get your child into modelling is to have their picture taken. One thing to note is most agencies won’t require your child to have their own photos before they apply to the agency.
The agency your child is contracted to work with will set them up to have professional photos taken. As they continue to work with different companies, they will be able to add photos to their portfolio over time.
Therefore, there’s no need to worry about finding someone to take quality photos of your child. However, when your agency does set your child up for photos, ensure you keep things natural and allow your child’s radiance to shine through.
Get In Touch With Agencies
How are you going to get work if you don’t have an agent? The first thing you need to do when thinking about getting your child into modelling is contacting the modelling agencies in your area.
Modelling agencies represent several talented models and are responsible for booking them and sending them to shoots. Of course, to hire these agencies means you’ll have to pay them for the time and effort they put into developing your child’s modelling abilities.
The last thing you want to do when dealing with modelling agencies is work with one that isn’t reputable. There are tons of agencies out there that claim to work with child models, but this doesn’t mean they’re going to hold up their end of the deal.
If you’re having trouble determining if an agency is worth working for, you can always check the ratings you find on the Better Business Bureau site. If they’ve had issues in the past or people have complained about the agency, you can guarantee you’ll find information about it on the site.
Connect With Other Parents
Chances are, if you’re looking to enter the modelling business, you’re going to run into other parents that currently have children that are models. If you can, we recommend spending some time talking to these parents to get more insight into children’s modelling.
How often do their children work? What agency do they work with? Taking time to speak with other parents helps you better understand what to expect if your child continues working as a child model.
You can also ask why the parent decided to allow their child to work with their current agency. It’s always great to talk to people working in the same industry your child hopes to work in.
It gives them people their age to connect with and relate to.
Just Be You
Remind your child that the most important thing to do if they want to work in modelling is to be themselves. There are thousands of models out there, but there is only one version of your child.
When you attend meetings with agencies or potential modelling opportunities, your child needs to let their personality truly shine. If your child tends to become shy when speaking to new people, ask if it’s okay for you to sit with them during the meeting, although if they’re under 18 a parent or guardian should be with them anyway.
And always remind them before stepping into the meeting to take a deep breath and relax.
Sign Your Contract
After all the work your child’s been putting in, it’s come time to sign a contract offered by one of the agencies you’ve submitted your child’s photo to. Ensure you take time to read over the contract and don’t skip any important pieces.
You’ll want to understand how much the agency will take as a part of their cut, and if they’ve stated whether your child can’t work with other agencies.
Understand Rejection
In your eyes, your child is the cutest thing on earth; how can anyone pass up working with them? Help your child understand that there will be times when an agency or designer doesn’t want to work with them.
They’ve got to understand that rejection is a part of modelling, and that doesn’t make them less of a model. In the beginning, it will be hard, but as your child matures, they’ll understand rejection is a part of the business.
How to Be a Child Model?
There are several things parents should know when it comes to answering the question of how to be a child model. First, how to sign your child up for modelling you don’t have to take photos yourself, the agency will be responsible for this.
If you’re given a contract with one of these agencies and sent on a go-see, tell your child to sell their personality. Is your child ready to take the modelling world by storm?
If so, all that’s left to do is contact Bubblegum Casting to see if they’ve got what it takes.
About the Author
Adam Jacobs is the Managing Director of Bubblegum Casting, the longest-running agency specialising in babies, children and teen talent in Australia. Bubblegum Casting works with some of Australia's biggest brands, media properties and agencies to secure talented children to work in Television, Film and Modelling roles.
