Child Modeling?? - Belleville,IL

Hi C.,
I also had a child that everyone begged me to put her in a magazine or on tv. I came across this site for Parents magazine. They have a link called Cutest kid in America. They have monthly winners and the year end winner gets a college fund and to be in the magazine. The plus is that when you submit your childs photo different agencies get to see it. They have a lot of stories of kids on the site getting picked for Home Depot commercials and different magazines. That always seemed to me being an easy way to get her face out there in a safe way. It also seemed to be very successful and if you end up with just a college scholarship thats good too.

Good Luck

Many stage moms say, "but s/he LOVES to do it." Yeah, well, Britney Spears was the same way, and look what has happened to her. Even if they love it, it is not healthy or appropriate for her age (or for anyone, in my opinion). Please do not encourage this kind of behavior. Let her be the center of YOUR attention until she is an adult and can decide for herself. The truth of the matter is that since you are divorced, she is much more likely to have premarital sex for approval from boys/men and get pregnant as a teenager. Any encouragement in modeling will only make that more, not less, likely by objectifying her at an earlier age. Instead, spend lots of your time with her and let her know she is valuable for other reasons.

Hi C., I don't know of any particular agency in St. Louis, but as a former professional photographer, I can tell you that none of the agencies should charge you for a portfolio. Take a few of your favorite close up photos of your daughter and make a portfolio. They will want to see how she photographs in different types of lighting, and a few action shots to show full body shots. The main point I want to make, DON'T pay any "upfront" fees. If your daughter has potential, they will see it, and they will take the photos. Modeling is a tricky business, and often times the only ones who make money are the ones selling those expensive portfolios!!! Good luck, and remember to have your attorney look over any contracts before you sign anything. D.

Please dont do that to your 2 year old. Its not healthy or safe. You want all of these "strangers" that want to take pictures of your daughter to have your number and address. No thanks, get her into a sport!

Hi C.,
I was a video producer when I worked (now a stay at home mom) and I always used Talent Plus/Centro modeling agency in St. Louis. I do not know if they have an age limit to start modeling. I do know that if they like your daughter for modeling, they will want professional pictures taken. For a good photography shoot, you are looking at around $300 for a shoot and a portfolio book done. Best of luck to you!

Do you live in Kansas City? I assume so, since you are on the Kansas site. We have a few reputable agencies in town- Talent Unlimited and Exposure are the biggest, and "The Agency" off of State Line Rd. is another good one. If you have more specific questions, let me know.

just be careful of scams. Like most things, you shouldn't have to PAY anyone to get work, thats a popular scam for agencies.

Portfolio will be your biggests challenge because children change so much, they will want updated photos fairly often. That could run you thousands.

Try finding photographers (look at their portfolio first and no matter what good deal they come up with, dont work with anyone who shows children looking sleezy) who do whats called TFP (time for prints) work. Some of the biggest talent sites to search are onemodelplace.com net-model.com or modelmayhem.com

When my son was 2 we went to one of the auditions and they liked him. The company is out of St. Louis and is called John Robert Powers modeling agency. I would not recommend them as they wanted $350 for head shot pictures after we drove to St. Louis, a 4+ hour drive for us. Every month they also have auditions to go to and they tell you that the more auditions you go to the better chance you have. My son went to every audition but not once were we informed his agent was no longer working there or even who his new agent would be. I decided it wasn't worth the drive or time and called them and e-mailed them to let them know we were no longer interested. My suggestion is that you do online research. Best of luck:)

C.-
I don't know where you are located but, having a drama queen my self. We started at the local childrens theather in Independence at age 5 which is FREE. Now at age 13 and 17 or plays later. We are doing classes and production with the coterie. I just got her an agent. A good agent does not do the $2000 up front cost. It does cost to get your head shot. They get paid when they get us jobs. This is alot of work... Your daughter will get rejections. This is not personal it just means you don't fit the part. I hope you are okay with rejection. Good luck! It is alot of work and a huge commitment. Be careful... Hope this advise is helpful.

I can't tell you what the reputable agencies are in St. Louis as I live in KC and my daughter (now almost 4) modeled in Houston, but I can tell you what it was like and how I got her started.

When she was a baby everyone insisted she should be a baby model. I took snap shots and mailed them to about five (5) different agencies in the Houston area. I received a call from Barbazon. They wanted her to model for Foleys (now Macy's). We showed up at about 8:30 one more in downtown Houston, TX and we sat and waited in a small room for about 45 minutes (torture with a 9-month old) and then they called us back. They had clothes picked that they they thought would fit her. They gave me a number of minutes to get her totally dressed (shoes that didn't fit, hat, dress, bloomers) and put her out in front of the camera. She had about 30 shots taken and then it was back into the dressing room to do it all over again.

It was pretty stressful on her and the other kids that were there. I'm not saying I wouldn't have done it again if we still lived in Houston, but I would have been more knowledgable about what to expect and wouldn't have tried to rush her (and myself) so much.

She did make $65/hour. It's based on the age of the baby. Older kids make more, but the market in St. Louis may be a little lower than in Houston because Houston is so much larger. Don't know about that.

Oh, btw, when we moved to KC, the same agency that she had modeled for told me that in KC they don't accept kids under the age of 4 so that could be an issue for you too. Good luck!

I wouldn't get my child into modeling. I want them to understand looks are only important when it comes to hygiene, but that fitting into the U.S. media's "standard" makes people who don't look like those models on tv feel inadequate and not good enough just because they look different.

Maybe you could just send a picture of her out into some photo contests and to be published in a parents magazine or something. That way, she can feel special from getting that attention and cherish it for the rest of her life, without getting conceded and thinking she looks better than other people because she's a model.

Hello, C.!

I am taking my 4 1/2 year old to an interview with ProScout on Friday in Clayton. ProScout is holding interviews in the St. Louis area Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 5:30 and 7:30 pm each night. One night is Downtown St. Louis, the other is in Chesterfield and then Friday is Clayton. It is an informational interview and is to last about an hour at each session. I contacted them and they said that it is casual and to bring paper to write on and something to write with, as you may want to write notes and there will be paperwork to complete. The one thing they require is that you are there prior to start time to register, etc. They shut the doors promptly at 5:30 or 7:30 pm and that is it.

I am going to see what they have to say. I have never done this before. She was in a baby pageant and was 1st runner-up in her age group. I have been doing some investigating. The jist of what I found out, is that if a company wants a bunch of money "up front" for whatever, it is likely a scam. Legitimate companies will ask for little to no money to start.

Anyway, I thought I would pass the opportunity on to you so that you can check it out if you wanted to. Their website with the interview information is www.proscout.com .

Good Luck!

If it is something she wants to do I say go for it. But stop when she wants to stop and under no circumtance should you ever have to pay anyone. I modeled for a while and if you have to "pay for lessons" or do a job for free because you are "getting experience" then those people are just taking advantage. The only thing you should ever have to pay for would be head shots. Maybe $100 and only if you are serious about it. Good Luck!

Word of warning here. There are SOO many companies that will scam you in this area. There usually isn't as much need for this unless you live in New York or California for this type of thing, as there are children, but there are times when it can work out. DO NOT PAY ANY HUGE FEES! First off. The modeling agencies do not want expensive professional pictures either. She does not need a portfolio. You take nice candids of your child, make copies and send them out to the agencies yourself. And, you should get a response. We could have done well with this with my second child, because she had the look, but her disposition wasn't quite right. We almost gotten taken twice, on our first and second children (different husbands). So, beware, there are lots of high pressured saleman for this exact thing. I think casting calls can be of either type, the scams and the real thing.