Child Modeling on the Internet

There are several millions of websites on the internet at the moment. If you browse the sites that offer children’s products you will see that there are always some great photographs of children using, playing with or wearing their product. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is considering the possibility of entering the child modeling world.

Think of all the products that could use a child model to advertise their wares. Now think of how many websites that are out there selling those products. The figures are huge! So you can see what the potential is for getting your child involved with child modeling on the web. Do a search online to find an agent who will advise you on how to start your child in this type of child modeling.

You will, almost certainly, need some great photographs of your child for this type of child modeling. Photo shoots can be great fun for your child if he is not the clingy type. Quite often there are a few kids at the same shoot and the art director will just let them play around whilst the photographer snaps away. The set is usually organised so that the kids can enjoy the experienced, a bored child is simply not photogenic.

So, try asking your local stores if they would like your child to model their wares. This is the start of the portfolio which can be used to approach pther advertisers.

Enjoy the experience - when it stops being fun is when it is time to give up!

Child Beauty Contests

There are some beauty pageants that are advertised as ‘natural’ which means that the children and their parents are not suppose to add anything (make-up, hairpieces or even teeth!) to ‘enhance’ the child’s natural beauty. As this is a very competitive world, you will still see kids with make-up etc., winning these ‘natural beauty pageants’.

Try and remember why you are doing this - because you and your child ENJOY it! Please don't make it into a battle with the other parents, help your child have a good time instead, it's their time.

Is Your Child a Natural for Child Modeling?

How do you know if your child is really suited to a career in child modeling? If you can answer a definite ‘yes’ to the following four questions then it could be that your child has the potential to become very successful in the world of child modeling.

Is your child outgoing and confident?
Does he love lots of undivided attention?
Could he really cope with taking direction from strangers?
Does he have a cute and bubbly personality?

There is a lot of money to be made in child modeling, but your first consideration should be the effect the work has on your child. Not all children enjoy being the constant centre of attention. Only you, based on your intimate knowledge of him, can decide if he will be able to cope.

If you have decided that a child modeling career is right for your child then your first priority would be to find an agent to represent him. When looking for the perfect agent to launch your child’s career, stay well clear of any agency that asks you for money. Reputable agencies will not require any payment until they have provided your child with a job. They will, of course, take a commission after successfully providing your child with work.

The agent should be chosen with great care as the amount of work your child is put forward for is wholly dependant on her contacts and professionalism. Try and build a good working relationship with your agent, she is more likely to remember your child when a great opportunity is offered to her agency.

There are lots of opportunities for good child models. There is photographic work, commercials, catalogue modeling and cat walk modeling, all requiring different types of children.

Not all opportunities require the classic beauty, some require ‘cute’, ‘mischievous’, ‘angelic’ etc. It really depends on the product that is being promoted and the casting director’s interpretation of his client’s instructions.

Child modeling is not all plain sailing, even if you have the very best agent. Your child could be put forward for a great job and you and your child get all excited about it. You spend days preparing for this very important casting only to find, when you arrive at the venue, that there are hundreds of other kids competing for it. You wait hours for your turn, spend 5 minutes in the casting room and then go home to wait. You get the phone call to say your child wasn’t chosen this time.

Can you cope with that kind of disappointment? Can your child?

If you or your child can’t put that day behind you and look forward to the next casting experience, then maybe modeling is not the career path for your child. However, if you can accept that this job was not the right one for your child and look forward with enthusiasm to the next casting then you can both enjoy a very rewarding career in the child modeling industry.

My Grandchildren - Lauren & Callum

This is Lauren. She is 12 now but loved having her photograph taken as a toddler. When the camera was out - there she was!

Here she is a few years later with her brother Callum. He's the poser now!

Getting Noticed

Did you know that many of the stars that we see on the red carpets around the US started out doing child modeling? Stars like Lindsay Lohan, Brooke Shields and Britany Spears all started out using the child modeling route. Following the success of these high profile entertainers, many kids (and their parents) have been motivated to try and emulate their success.

The hardest thing in the child modeling world is to get that all important first job. Whilst you are waiting for this to happen it may be good experience for your child to offer to work with your local children’s clothing store at the mall, this will give your child some idea of what to expect when the phone call comes for that first child modeling gig. Or, why not try entering some online photographic contests. Another very popular way to get your child noticed whilst, at the same time, exposing them to the world of cameras and catwalks is the beauty pageant or child beauty contest.

The subject of the child beauty pageant is sometimes quite controversial. With stories of young children and even toddlers with hairpieces and, if their first teeth have fallen out, even kids with false teeth made especially for the occasion! But, I suppose we have to live and let live - whatever we believe...
So, don't just sit there hoping, have a look at other opportunities to get your child noticed.

Good Practise for Child Modeling

Beauty contests or pageants are predominantly made up of girls but there are usually a few boys entered as well. If you were to ask a parent why they enter their children in these contests they would tell you that it is good for poise and confidence, or it is good for them to meet lots of different people and make new friends – which it undoubtedly is.

Child beauty pageants are a great way for your child to gain experience in the concept of being the center of attention, which will be an asset when they begin their child modeling career, and it also will give them experience in other skills , such as catwalk and stage use, which they will need when they start their career in child modeling.

So, don’t look at these child beauty contests as the be all and end all of your child’s career. Instead, use these contests as a child modeling training ground for your child to learn the skills they will need when the phone rings and your child is offered their very first child modeling assignment.

Child Modeling - the Waiting...

Beauty pageants are a great way to introduce your child to the stage and catwalk whilst you are waiting for that first child modeling job. If you decide to enter your child into one of the many beauty contests or pageants in order to give her some exposure and confidence; go to one of these events as a spectator to give you some ideas. If you know absolutely nothing about these events it is better to watch one or two without the pressure of competing. Take your child along too, so she can see what it’s all about before she has to go on the stage herself. Lots of the kids you see at these contests will eventually go into child modeling if they are not already doing it.

Make a note of anything you think may be useful. For instance, were the hairstyles elaborate or natural? Did the child with the most natural appearance win or were they put down the line by the ‘manufactured’ children? Was there a lot of make-up used? Is there a hairstylist/makeup artist on site that you can pay to create the look that you want for your child?

Speak with other parents, if they seem approachable. But remember, there is a lot of tension at these events, so choose very carefully which parents to approach. Ask as many questions as you can about how to be successful in these beauty contests with your child. Most parents are always eager to talk about their kids so just ask how they helped their kid be so successful – then sit back and listen.

Learn as much as you can about hairstyles and make-up. This knowledge will always come in handy when your child finally enters the child modeling stage. The better informed you are; the more chance you have of having a stress free outing when you actually enter your child in a beauty contest.

Entering beauty contests is a great stepping stone on your way to your child becoming successful in child modeling. Your child will learn poise and confidence whilst learning how to use a stage or catwalk to show themselves in the best light.

Lots of children who are successful in child modeling began by entering these beauty contests for the exposure and experience so their move to child modeling was relatively simple. So whilst waiting for the phone to ring offering your child her very first ‘gig’ in the child modeling arena, don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t happen immediately. Get out here with your child and help her to learn all the stuff that will help her in her future career in child modeling.