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Original poster

Can I earn money from my son modelling?

141 replies

Littleeggycustard · 14/02/2023 08:35

I have a 14 month old son who has just been signed up to a good modelling agency in London. I have read that they can only pay money into a bank account in the child’s name - does that mean that I can’t access any of it?
My son and I live at my Mum and Dads and I want to save money so that we can move out. I would like to use some of his modelling money for this, but is there any way I can access it?
Thanks :)

OP posts:
edwinbear · 14/02/2023 09:10

You son can earn money from his modelling, you can't.

nicetoseetgesunsout · 14/02/2023 09:14

My son was 'scouted' at 2. He did a couple of magazine shoots. It was tedious, not a good experience and not for us. All money earned was put away and given to him for driving lessons - it wasn't my money, I didn't earn it.

Iguanainanigloo · 14/02/2023 09:18

No, you can't take money that your dependant child earns. Physically yes, you could extract money from his bank account, but legally, and morally, it is wrong, and could later cause you huge issues. Have you had to pay for a portfolio? Alot of these companies will "sign you up", then ask for registration fees, memberships, £££'s for portfolios, and then never even offer any photoshoot jobs or just a couple of extremely low paid shoots. It's how they make their money! Obviously there are some who do make money from it, but these are few and far between. Long term, your child needs to really perform well infront of the camera, be extremely patient and willing, and usually go on to do acting roles to make a "career" out of this sort of work. As well as obviously be extremely beautiful or "unique", or have striking features that photograph well. Bear in mind, every parent thinks their baby is the most beautiful thing in the world, but not to everyone!

Interested in this thread?

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Behaviour & development Clothing
Justalittlebitduckling · 14/02/2023 09:24

I don’t think you are likely to make much money at all. The rate of children in casting agencies who get jobs each year is around 1-2%. You will
shell out to travel to castings and probably this
will end up costing more money than your child earns, unless they are very lucky.

If you’re doing it for fun and your child enjoys it, fair enough but you’d save more money getting a part time job or selling preloved stuff on vinted.

MattDamon · 14/02/2023 09:26

OP, there is a FB group called 'Parents of child models UK'. You'll get proper, industry specific advice there.

jays · 14/02/2023 09:29

Clutterbugsmum · 14/02/2023 08:40

Well technically you could as you have to set up an account in your baby's name but you have signing responsibilities. But it's your BABY'S money, not yours. If you want to save up to move out then get a better paying job or a second one.

There's no guarantee that your baby will get any modelling job anyway.

Well aren’t you a little ray of sunshine 😂

Original poster
Littleeggycustard · 14/02/2023 09:31

Thanks for all the advice!

I also find some of these comments hilarious! I am a bloody good Mum and adore my son. I’m not “forcing” him to do any thing and don’t intend on “pimping him out”. I don’t have a job because I am a single Mum and can’t afford childcare. If we can earn a couple of grand this year from modelling - which is hard work for the parent by the way, then I would love to use SOME of it on getting us to a place where my son can one day have his own room and not have to share with me anymore. The rest is of course for when he is older.

OP posts:
WinterFoxes · 14/02/2023 09:33

You can't. It's to stop child exploitation. If your son earns the money, it goes into an account for him. You get a chaperone fee for every job he does, but it's not a huge amount. That's your money.

thinykinny87 · 14/02/2023 09:35

And be careful how much you "invest" in this. I have seen so many people loosing a lot of money to child modelling agencies

darjeelingrose · 14/02/2023 09:36

I don't know what you have been told, but you are unlikely to make that much money out of it, I know somebody who did it, and it took loads of time and wasn't fun for the parents at all. In the end they did get something well paid and their child is/was the face of something, but it hasn't made enough to put the child through university, apparently, not even close. As somebody else said further up, it is driving lessons money but wouldn't pay for the car!

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 14/02/2023 09:39

Surely, given the parent has to be there, negotiates, organise travel then a percentage of the money should go to the parent. For infant modelling the parent is doing more of the work than the child!

Also, as the money is going towards giving the child a better life, that is in their best interests. We are not talking mega bucks here.

Either ‘charge’ a percentage of the earnings for you or work out a fixed hourly rate and pay yourself that. Put the rest into a child saving account.

LIZS · 14/02/2023 09:41

Littleeggycustard · 14/02/2023 09:31

Thanks for all the advice!

I also find some of these comments hilarious! I am a bloody good Mum and adore my son. I’m not “forcing” him to do any thing and don’t intend on “pimping him out”. I don’t have a job because I am a single Mum and can’t afford childcare. If we can earn a couple of grand this year from modelling - which is hard work for the parent by the way, then I would love to use SOME of it on getting us to a place where my son can one day have his own room and not have to share with me anymore. The rest is of course for when he is older.

Very unlikely to make thousands. Your agency should have explained the limitations for an under 5. Can your parents not help with childcare, even parttime? If you can't do paid work you probably won't be able to register as a chaperone either. Parent chaperones may only get expenses if that.

Iwantabloodypizza · 14/02/2023 09:42

Ds did this as a child.

I did have to use some of the money he earned to pay for petrol and train tickets to get him to shoots and auditions sometimes as I didn’t always have the money to get them there other wise. Annoyingly, he had a couple of jobs where the day before the agency would say “so tomorrow, he will need to go dressed in full winter gear, big coats, ski trousers, hats” - In bloody July. So I would have to buy some stuff at short notice, again, I didn’t have the money for that sometimes.

I’ve kept all receipts though and proper records of what was spent. It was only about £600 out of 8k total earnings over the years, so about £100 a year on average.

He decided he didn’t want to do it anymore when he was 11, fair enough.

He is 20 now and the money is in premium bonds in his name, obviously. Luckily, he’s sensible and wants to keep it there until he’s older.

He did consent himself. He was 6 and into drama and wanted to sign up to the agency connected to his drama school. When he said he didn’t want to do it anymore, it stoped overnight.

Iwantabloodypizza · 14/02/2023 09:47

Littleeggycustard · 14/02/2023 09:31

Thanks for all the advice!

I also find some of these comments hilarious! I am a bloody good Mum and adore my son. I’m not “forcing” him to do any thing and don’t intend on “pimping him out”. I don’t have a job because I am a single Mum and can’t afford childcare. If we can earn a couple of grand this year from modelling - which is hard work for the parent by the way, then I would love to use SOME of it on getting us to a place where my son can one day have his own room and not have to share with me anymore. The rest is of course for when he is older.

Unless your dc is in the next Harry Potter equivalent, he won’t earn that much.

It’s very competitive, boring as hell, you have auditions at inconvenient times which go on forever.

My ds did it from 6-11 years old. He was quite successful in terms of getting work and he enjoyed it for a time but even then, in those years, he earned 8k. Which will probably buy him a car in a few years or be a tiny amount towards a deposit, but not life changing and it certainly wouldn’t have helped us move anywhere or have a better life.

Loveskipping · 14/02/2023 09:49

My DD was a child model and one of the successful ones.
The money was paid into her account, fees for jobs, chaperones fees and casting fees.
Sometimes I took back the casting fees to cover my expenses for paying for the travel there. Sometimes I took some money so we could have a lovely family day out. Once DD was at a casting for a commercial which was very well paid and I told her if she got the job we would use some of the money (20%) for a trip to Disney. Some of the children we met were allowed to spend their earnings so always had new gadgets and clothes etc.

In general we saved the money and at 21 DD has a lovely nest egg from it.

Paperexcelandpens · 14/02/2023 09:55

Littleeggycustard · 14/02/2023 09:31

Thanks for all the advice!

I also find some of these comments hilarious! I am a bloody good Mum and adore my son. I’m not “forcing” him to do any thing and don’t intend on “pimping him out”. I don’t have a job because I am a single Mum and can’t afford childcare. If we can earn a couple of grand this year from modelling - which is hard work for the parent by the way, then I would love to use SOME of it on getting us to a place where my son can one day have his own room and not have to share with me anymore. The rest is of course for when he is older.

If you live with your parents can they babysit while you work?
Won't you get help with childcare if you claim UC? UC pays up to 80% of childcare I believe.

There's no reason why you can't work.

Mariposista · 14/02/2023 10:00

Paperexcelandpens · 14/02/2023 09:55

If you live with your parents can they babysit while you work?
Won't you get help with childcare if you claim UC? UC pays up to 80% of childcare I believe.

There's no reason why you can't work.

Show quote history

This.

Cocobutt · 14/02/2023 10:02

I don’t have a job because I am a single Mum and can’t afford childcare.

Can your parents not look after him, considering you live with them anyway?

A few hours in the evening when he’s asleep will allow you to save way quicker than modelling.

I think you are expecting too much money from this.
It is not enough to get thousands a year.

My DD has been asked to do modelling multiple times since she was a baby.
I’ve never done it for various reasons but I know the money isn’t great because there are so many other people willing to do it.

Mugparrot · 14/02/2023 10:04

It's his money. You could buy property for him, via a trust.

Danikm151 · 14/02/2023 10:05

@Paperexcelandpens has a point.
UC pays up to 85% so you can get a job, you just don’t want to

Loveskipping · 14/02/2023 10:05

When it comes to child modelling a small minority of children get the majority of the jobs. Some people end up out of pocket with all of the castings they attend that don’t lead to a job.

BreviloquentBastard · 14/02/2023 10:08

Oh please. You can work you just don't want to.

Iwantabloodypizza · 14/02/2023 10:12

In all honesty, you’d make far more money doing supermarket, fast food or care work doing 2 or three nightshifts a week while he’s asleep with your parents in the house to look after him.

Thats a far, far better option to explore.

Hevviie · 14/02/2023 10:14

I love all these people assuming that parents are willing to look after their grandchildren 3 days a week without knowing any of the details. Oh glorious Mumsnet judgement.

ladyforallseasons · 14/02/2023 10:14

My daughter modelled for a few years when she was younger, and she earned a fair amount of money. Note I say SHE earned. We didn't take a penny as it was hers.
When she was 21 she had an even larger sum of money as we invested her earnings, and she had enough to buy a car and have a deposit for a house.
Never once did we even consider taking/using/spending HER money