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Original poster

If you have a young child who is modelling.....

21 replies

Afternooninthepark · 16/07/2019 19:19

Can I ask how you got them started?
Did you have to pay any entry or portfolio fees?
Do you need to be very near to London or a major city? (We are an hours train journey from London not sure if that is too far?)
Is it worth doing?
Are there any agencies worth contacting and ones to avoid?
Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong section, not sure where it should go?

OP posts:

GoGoGoGoGo · 16/07/2019 19:28

Why do you want your child to model?

A friend of mines child models and was spotted as a small child. Everything they earn is put into an account for when they're older. They do fantastically well at modelling. But again, they were spotted and not pushed in to it.

As far as I’m aware if you have to shell out a fortune for fees then you’re being ripped off.

Original poster

Afternooninthepark · 16/07/2019 19:30

I’m pushing at all. My dd is 11 and has been asking me if she could try it out for the last couple of years but I’ve always said no but she keeps badgering me!

OP posts:

Original poster

Afternooninthepark · 16/07/2019 19:33

Not pushing

OP posts:

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Clothing

GoGoGoGoGo · 16/07/2019 19:35

Why does she want to do it?

Realistically could she do it? Plus it’s hard work.

Shmithecat2 · 16/07/2019 19:37

Send some decent snapshots of your daughter to a reputable agency (Bonnie and Betty, Bruce and Brown, Elisabeth Smith) and see what they think. Note that some agencies books are only open for applications at certain times, not all year round. Its highly competitive and rather ruthless. I modelled as a teenager (16-18). It's fairly harsh. Unless your dd can handle knock backs very well, I wouldn't even consider it.

starzig · 16/07/2019 19:37

Did you just come on to criticize gogogo?

HerRoyalNotness · 16/07/2019 19:37

My friends daughter is with a couple of agents that she got after she went to a drama school. She pays for photos (2.5k) and to keep her registered on their sites. TBH I think it’s a big scam. But having said that she has been in a short film lately. So who knows. I gently suggested to her to be careful, she’s going to give it 12mths and see where they’re at.

It’s also what’s her daughter wanted to do, but I’ve suggested if it actually is, then it will still be there for her when she’s older, take drama at school and go off for more training at college level etc..

GoGoGoGoGo · 16/07/2019 19:45

Did you just come on to criticize gogogo?

How exactly I criticising?

GoGoGoGoGo · 16/07/2019 19:45

*am I

Newgirls · 16/07/2019 19:49

Not a pushy mum website has lots of info. Mine did it and there are a lot of kids on books for the amount of work out there - you do need to go to castings often with a day’s notice and all ours were in London. Even successful kids only get one or two jobs a year and a lot of nos. But as someone earlier said - send pics (just ones you’ve done on your phone) to good agencies and they will advise.

teenagenonfanclub · 16/07/2019 19:53

My DD was with Bonnie and Betty and I can confirm it is exhausting and brutal.

Most work is in London and you literally get given notice the day before for castings, and mostly alongside dozens of other children. DD was confirmed for a job 4 hours from us, details of which were only finalised the night before! also don't get to pick and chose which castings you attend. They expect you to attend all you are selected for or get a black mark (3 strikes and you're out with B&B)

Money is pretty shite, you will rarely get travel or casting expenses. Am sure it cost me way more than DD earned.

teenagenonfanclub · 16/07/2019 19:56

Sorry, pressed post before finished.

As a parent you literally have to devote your life to it, which makes your own plans a logistical nightmare.

However, DD did love the jobs she got. She was generally treated very well and has had some incredible opportunities.

VenusClapTrap · 16/07/2019 20:02

Dd was signed up by an agency, I think it was Kids London, when she was little. I think we paid about £25 admin fee, that’s all. She was called for a few castings but she didn’t really have the right personality for it - wouldn’t smile on command or follow directions, so she never got picked for any work! We didn’t bother renewing when the year was up.

Ds would love to do it and I think he has the right sort of attitude, but we are a 50min train ride away from London now so there’s no point. He got some TV work through an advert from a TV company casting department, so model agencies aren’t the only way to do this stuff.

VenusClapTrap · 16/07/2019 20:06

I’d be extremely wary of letting an 11 year old get involved though. Prime age for absorbing unhealthy messages about appearance and weight.

Newgirls · 17/07/2019 08:19

An 11 year old would need to be small for age to get many castings too I think. Y5 was our peak busy time. There are some young teen clothes things but not loads - if she/he has an unusual look (red hair v trendy) then a better chance

Rainatnight · 17/07/2019 08:25

Yikes I think 11 is a tricky age. I thought you were going to say 3 or something. I wouldn’t let a girl that age anywhere near the modelling world. (Used to work in fashion). When she’s older, say late teens, she can have a go (though I still wouldn’t advise it as a career).

Are there other interests you could help her to develop?

justgotbanned · 04/08/2019 15:50

Modelling is HARD work. My daughter (11) has been doing it for a year and during that time she has attended 4 castings, all been a no until just recently. All castings are notified the day before, so you have to drop everything and arrange childcare for other children to get to London.
I'm in the north of England so this has been a total nightmare.

Even now she has been given her first assignment, it's still hard work. It will be overseas, I can't take her younger sister and I've only 3 days to arrange cover at work for the 6 days that we're away. They can go with a chaperone, but with this being my daughters first time I would like to be with her.

Daughter was scouted, so never asked to do it. We've both agreed we will try it for a year, have requested her agent put her forward for northern castings only and after a year we will take stock of how it's going.

If you have no other kids, don't work, are near to London then I'd say go for it. If you have any of those things, I'd seriously reconsider because it literally takes over your life.

alimauqca · 09/09/2020 20:01

Babymodels UK are a scam, they sent several emails enticing me to join and when I did join they suggested that I do a portfolio so that my daughter be part of the A-list group of babies. The portfolio was extremely expensive, the website 'member area' was never updated with jobs the staff over the phone appeared to be clueless and I was never called or messaged about any castings let a lone landing a job. A complete waste of time and money. Parents stay away from this agency!

AnneCarmegie · 19/12/2020 11:56

Modelling Is hard work . My son has been modelling for 4 years now . As long as he enjoys it we will carry on he’s 12 years old so we will see if things change

lalafafa · 19/12/2020 12:02

all the kids I know who model were spotted, mainly in London playgrounds

nolongersurprised · 19/12/2020 21:38

I know one girl who is very in demand and has been for years, she’s early teens now. She was discovered and has never had to pay a cent. She has waist length, wavy, auburn/copper coloured hair and green eyes and she and her mum choose which jobs she wants to do and which photographers she wants to work with and which clothes she’s comfortable wearing. As such, she’s striking in photos but none are sexualised or inappropriate. She’s very down to earth about it all but likes the clothes she gets given and her mum is saving the money for her.

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