Baby/child modelling

[MamaBerg]

Just looking at options to increase the family income and have some fun in the process. My hubby was a baby model many (many) moons ago.
So I've found a few agencies that seem to have no registration fees but then want an admin fee of £100-200 to put you on their books. Is this normal (and legit) or is it a scam?
Does anyone have a recommendation for an agency that they have used? What should I look out for? Any tips? I have a 3 yo and a 4 month old and would be happy for both of them to be involved

It can’t be family income! Any money earned is the child’s only.

90% of agencies are a scam.

It won't be fun.

Unless you live in London then you're unlikely to make much money. Maybe get an evening job instead?

Ok that came across wrong. Yes I know it's the child's money. Just that would free up other money I would put in their accounts instead. I don't need the money from an evening job either.

I wanted to hear from people who had first hand experience, not people judging me on what they think will or won't be fun

Ok, three of my dc model for two different reputable agencies. Do you live near Manchester or London?

No first hand experience, but a Facebook friend posts a lot about her daughter's experiences. They seem to go to castings almost weekly and I think she has been successful maybe 4 or 5 times (I've seen her daughter in a couple of TV ads, plus I think she's had a small part in a film). So a lot of effort for very little reward.

This doesn't sound great. No matter how you word it your intending to make money from your child, it was the primary goal on you OP.

Its HARD work. Lots of last minute castings, almost always in London which aren't paid. You arrive to a room full of other children which look like your child, as the casting director has requested a specific look. I work full time, and as most agencies operate a 3 strike rule for castings, it's a lot of stress. My daughter has been to endless castings, been successful in five. She will be filming in Greece in may, but as her chaperone I have to take a week off work - and arrange childcare for my other daughter who can't come 😥. So I'd think very carefully whether it's for you before you commit.

Take it from me, baby/child modelling is not fun.

I did a couple of castings with my bonny boy who loved the camera. Thought the money he earned could go into his savings for when he's older.

Both he and I hated it! You have to wait around for hours before anything happens, they only want very submissive kids that will just do as they demand instantly, then you're more or less told to fuck off so they can literally get the next one in and out. It's just like a conveyer belt of kids.

There's no fun involved, my son ended up in tears and I got snotty comments from the staff... "Oh Christ, anybody would think we were bloody murdering him!" while another sniggered and the photographer huffed and growled at him and said "This one isn't working, I haven't got time for this, get the next one in!"

The castings were for the Next catalogue.

I thought the first one was just a bad one-off and tried again. Nope, exactly the same. Horrible experience and I asked the agency to remove him from their books as we wouldn't be going any further with it.