If you’ve found yourself asking the question
‘How do I get my child into modelling?”
you’ve come to the right place.
There are a couple of points you firstly need to consider. Perhaps most importantly, does your child enjoy modelling?
The rest is fully explained below.
Child modelling is expanding.
Child modelling is on the increase, which is great news for you if you think your little boy or girl has what it takes to become a successful child model. There are plenty of opportunities for your kid to become the best child model possible.
As more high street and big brands are introducing children’s wear lines to their stores, infants are featured in TV commercials and promotional and packaging material. Little faces bursting with energy and personality are becoming a popular choice for agencies. For example, a London agency will be able to find many jobs for an outgoing, sociable child creating a successful modelling career for them.
Is your child suitable for modelling?
If your little boy or girl has bright eyes, a stunning smile and a real sense of personality, the chances are a child-modelling agency will be more than happy to snap them up!
Child models can be selected for anything in the modelling world from TV ads as well as ad campaigns, promotional material, posters, modelling clothing lines and or to even be a poster child for an organisation. A lot of work will be seasonal with Christmas campaigns captured during the summer months.
Good news! The restrictions are far more relaxed.
Unlike some types of modelling, you’ll be pleased to hear that child modelling doesn’t have specific rules when it comes to height, weight and looks.
A young model should enjoy the experience and be relaxed, comfortable around adults and be able to follow simple directions. A company or agency will not be able to work with a model that can’t sit still or is obviously shy or unhappy. Photographic work demands for children to be cooperative for a long period of time. Kids will be asked to draw from their life experiences such as playing with toys or running around with other children to get natural shots.
Does your child want to model?
This is absolutely vital because if they don’t like having their photograph taken, not only is it unfair to push them into this line of work, their lack of interest will show up in their pictures.
Secondly, you need to know if your child has the patience to be a model. The industry is really great at recognising that child models are still children at the end of the day, but a good level of patience and an ability to follow instructions on modelling jobs is never a bad thing! Lastly, a child-modelling agency will always be on the lookout for children with confidence.
Start with a trial run.
That may feel a lot to take in but you can very quickly gauge your child’s suitability by taking them on a professional trial photo shoot.
To save your family a lot of potentially wasted time further down the line, this is the perfect way to see if they react well to a photographer and team of studio assistants. This experience will provide you with the opportunity to build up a recent collection of professional photographs too.
Child model agencies love to see a child’s portfolio as it allows them to gauge how photogenic they are without them having to hold a specific test photo shoot themselves, but just remember, your child should look age appropriate in these shots especially on social media. The portfolio is a great tool for securing new jobs.
How can UK Models help?
UK Models are the leading model support service in the UK, as part of our service, we can work with your child to find out if they show model potential and even more importantly if modelling is something that they enjoy.
We can do this by offering those children that we believe show model potential the opportunity to experience a professional photo shoot. We will invite you and your child to our London or Manchester studio to capture high quality shots. We accept applications from all over the UK including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This is the perfect way to establish if your child can work with a creative team and take direction in front of the camera. There is no point going to a talent agency or applying for castings unless you know that modelling is something that both you and your child are serious about taking further.
If everything goes well on the photo shoot, then you may be offered the opportunity to purchase a professional portfolio made up of the images taken on the day. This is a valuable resource for your child’s modelling future as it is what you or an agency would use to showcase your son/daughter’s talent.
Our professional photographers and makeup artists are fully trained to work with new faces like your child’s and understand exactly what a professional child portfolio should consist of so you can be confident that you will be in the best possible hands on the day.