Child modelling

F1gas

Hi all, I want to apply for modelling on behalf of my son who is nearly 2.

As you can understand, I feel uncomfortable in googling agencies and contacting them directly, in case they are dodgy.

Can you recommend and any good agencies or should I contact the companies directly (e.g. Mothercare, Next etc).

Thanks in advance!

Jami74

Have you looked at this site? http://www.albamodelinformation.com/

Look especially at the 'Avoid the Scams' link. Although they are mostly talking about adults these scams happen everyday to parents too. I was nearly scammed a few years ago (told me my baby was extremely beautiful and that they desperately wanted her on their books despite never having seen her and us living miles away from anywhere then demanded a large sum of money). I did some research and found that they had a reputation for taking everyone and not providing work.

I know even some of the 'good' ones still charge a registration fee with no guarantee of work.

Sazzyukrafc

As someone with modelling experience, although in a different genre, I would suggest you do a lot of research before you take a leap.

Child modelling can be fantastic pay and lead to many opportunities, but it can also be full of scams. NEVER reply to ads in newspapers for "castings" and NEVER pay any agencies to be on their books.

My first tip is to search for photographers in your area. When I firsted started modelling, I built up a portfolio through TFCD shoots.

TFCD/TFP stands for "time for CD/prints". It basically means, the model and photographer each give their time to update their portfolios, and no money is exchanged. I was always told never to pay for photographs.

You don't even need professional pictures to be accepted to an agency. Most agencies actually prefer natural snapshots of the model, so they can see what they actually look like. Take some face shots and full body, smiling and clean lines.

If you are accepted onto their books, the agency should then arrange for professional photographs to be done.

There are some great child modelling agencies, take a look on Google. It's also good to have a look at other children on there and see what you are up against and if there is anyone similar to your son.

With child modelling, a lot is about the personality of the child, they must be easy to work with, happy, hard working and not throw tantrums all the time.

Good luck!!!

shellnkeeley

hiya i'm not sure where you are, but try Bruce and Brown, my cousin put her son with them and didn't pay any fees at all and got a good bit of work for him, one thing to bear in mind though according to her is that they sometimes rang up a day or two before the shoots and expected you to drop everything to do it, she also said that theres a lot of travelling and sitting around involved, if you want you can pm me and i can give you her email addy as she said she could give you a rough idea of how the agency she is with works, hope this helps

ThinkingOfLinking

I did some child modelling with Truly Scrumptious in London. I was in Shout magazine for example.

mandy_44

My children have been modelling for years now. Do not pay out any money if an agency asks for this up front then it is probably a scam. Depending on where you live ( more work in london) look in the yellow pages or google agencies. Get the addresses, send in two photo's one full length the other head shot. But DO NOT send in professional photo's they will not even bother with your request.

On the back of the photo put the age and other details of your child and the contact telephone number. Proper agencies will add the child to their books and only take money from you when the child has done some work.

Try Elliott Brown in Oxford, they not only have jobs in London but other areas too.

mandy_44

F1gas wrote: »

Hi all, I want to apply for modelling on behalf of my son who is nearly 2.

As you can understand, I feel uncomfortable in googling agencies and contacting them directly, in case they are dodgy.

Can you recommend and any good agencies or should I contact the companies directly (e.g. Mothercare, Next etc).

Thanks in advance!

There is no point in contacting the companies directly as they all work through model agencies. Try Elliot Brown in Oxford we have been with them for years my eldest is now 26 years old and she is still modelling for them.

mandy_44

mandy_44 wrote: »

There is no point in contacting the companies directly as they all work through model agencies. Try Elliot Brown in Oxford we have been with them for years my eldest is now 26 years old and she is still modelling for them.

Oh and by the way. it is near on impossible to make a child do something it does not want to do. If your child is not outgoing and very shy I would not bother as the child needs to want to do this. Clients and agencies will not book them.

F1gas

Cool, that's great. Thanks for all your info!

God bless

perfumelady

hi my daughters been modelling for the past 4 years and truely loves it, there are many bad agents out there. i have a list for you here and really they are the only ones to consider. as it is a 2 year old you are looking for i would personally try urban angels 1st they are by far the best child agent for the under 6's and do really well with there babies and toddlers every high street store and big name company uses them and they also get lots of commercials which is fab pay for the childs savings. for the older child i'd go with mot or bizzykidz. here is my list and every one on here is real and above board. good luck with it, just make sure you choose a really good clear photo this will be what the agent decides yes or now by.

mot junior - www.motmodels.co.uk

bruce & brown - www.bruceandbrown.com

kids london - www.kidslondonltd.com

urban angels - www.urbanangelsagency.com

these four agencies are by far the top four agencies with no or very minimal start up costs. i have seen children from all of these agencies at castings that we have been to.

http://www.bizzykidz.com bizzykidz also do very well they charge a one of payment of aroung £80 but this is the only fee until they are 16. they get modelling, commercials and acting briefs


also have seen kids from

elisabeth smiths - www.elisabethsmith.com

norrie carr - www.norriecarr.co.uk

i am lead to believe that these two agencies are also very good but they do have extremely high start up costs. hope that helps.

perfumelady

forgot to mention yes it is very last minute we usually get a call in the afternoon asking us to get to london the next day for a casting i think only once have we had a couple of days notice. so very tricky if you work.