Baby/Child modelling recommendations how to start.

[PurplePeugoet]

DH has decided it might be fun to see if DS, 9months old would be any good for child modelling or acting. He’s generally quite smiley around strangers and he thought it might be something fun to do with him whilst a baby. Not to make money.
completely out the blue but thought I’d see if anyone has done this and how to start? I know a neighbour laid someone a huge amount to sign her kids up to an agency and nothing came of it.

That’s all very well. But as someone who used to be a model many years ago it’s not something I would recommend parents dragging their babies/ children into without any prior experience or knowledge of the modelling industry.

It’s not about if he is smiley around strangers. And it’s not about fame and fortune either as most child modelling jobs (with a few exceptions) are quite low paid.

First of all you’d need to try and register your baby with a child modelling agency (not a scam one who charges money). And reputable child modelling agencies are extremely selective and picky about who they take on their books. So if your baby is lucky to be accepted then the hard work starts

Modelling is extremely hard work for adults let alone children and unless you live near one of the major cities then you’re going to spend countless hours travelling about for castings and jobs and you will be expected to attend them at the drop of a hat - so you may be required to travel half way across the country with a small baby. And as most jobs are very short notice (sometimes less than 24 hours) then if you both work with no flexibility in working hours then you will find it extremely difficult to navigate as most castings and modelling jobs take place during the week Monday to Friday and you may only be given 24 hours notice of a casting or a job booking. Plus if it’s for an in person casting then you will be expected to travel miles at your own expense and may not even get the job. Is this what you’d want to put a baby through? Your baby will also most likely be up against 100s of other baby models all competing for the same job too. And only one of them will get the job.

Not only that there are strict safeguarding rules when it comes to child modelling such as child licensing and eventually having to gain permission from school to attend modelling jobs and castings when your child is old enough to be at school.

i think it might be better to do a little research about the industry and speak to other parents of child models. Because I don’t think baby modelling is what you think it is.

And if your neighbour paid huge amounts to sign their kids up to an agency then they got scammed I’m afraid to say.

Why? He’s too young to enjoy it any more than he would a trip to the park, and you’re apparently not in it for the money.

And that’s before we even get started on the fact that in 15 years time he might be furious that you consented to his image being distributed like that, who can say?

Can’t he just keep being smiley and happy around strangers then? What would be fun for him about being dragged around for jobs and having to do it under bright studio lights? What if he’s teething or having an off day?

I think a lot of these parents just see billboards and adverts and glitz and glam and have this idea that baby modelling is this extremely exciting venture and that their kids will thank them for it and become famous. It really isn’t!

It’s an awful lot of tiring, gruelling hard work and means having to travel all around the country attending castings and jobs with a screaming baby that will need feeding and changing and needing naps. Pay isn’t usually great for babies and children unless they are one of the very few who lands a massive campaign

I don't think a baby would find it fun. Being smiley and liking people isn't the same as hanging around perhaps for hours

I agree! I find it really weird that anyone would want their child to work (because it IS work) rather than just, you know, have a childhood.

I'm sure your child is charming and your DH is a proud parent; please find another outlet for this though.

Your primary motivation may not be money but this is still commercial exploitation of your child.
As PP says its getting your child a job. Not every quality needs to be a hustle. Please don't start in babyhood.

I know a lot about this industry. My advice is DO NOT do it.

But if you do, and so called agency that asks for a handful of money is a scam. 100% of the time.

Yeah exactly. I have a lot of previous modelling experience and I waited until my children were old enough to decide. Initially they were really excited about it but I stopped them doing it at the tiniest hint of their heart not being in it. When I was modelling, most of my time was spent travelling and I’d be out of the house for 12-16 hours a lot of the time having to travel from one end of the country to another and back again. Couldn’t ever imagine doing that with a baby though.

Thanks for the honest feedback. It’s never been something on my radar and I was surprised when DH mentioned it. It would have been something to only do when he was a baby, not as a toddler or child. And certainly not for fame.
Was even more of a surprise for me as we don’t have baby on social media etc

My nephews and niece are child actors/models, mostly TV ads and a few minor TV roles. They have a reputable agent. The mum has to accompany them and it does mean most of their holidays are interrupted as often the commercial work is abroad - it’s a few days filming for a TV ad. Lots of hyped up opportunities then rejection. The father sees it as his wife living out her own dream of the spotlight through her kids, who are happy enough to go along with it but not sure any see it as a future career. They started as school age kids I think it’s very hard for babies who have no say in the matter.

I agree with this. There’s an awful lot of rejection involved in modelling, it’s part and parcel of the industry. I think going into modelling completely blind as to what you are opening your child up to is not very wise. I do feel, as you have stated that many parents try to live out their dreams through their kids then get secretly disheartened and naffed off when their child is rejected for jobs over and over again!

It’s ok saying they’re only a baby and don’t know anything but no baby is going to enjoy it very much.

I’ve worked on set with babies around and if the baby is having an off day, everything has to stop until the baby is all smiley again and not screaming or crying which can take a long time, which then keeps everyone else waiting.

It doesn’t really matter if it’s a baby or a toddler or an older child. You’d be literally dragging them around through city after city chasing jobs around, regardless of whether it was for fame or not - which isn’t going to happen anyway as you just don’t see ‘famous’ baby models but that’s a different story. It’s not glamorous and it’s not what you/ your DH may think it is. It can be a great life for anyone lucky enough to be an adult model but I cannot think of anything more tedious and stressful than dragging a baby miles across the country.

Not only that, agencies will insist that you get fresh professional pictures of your baby taken every few months as their look changes so very quickly as they grow and get older. You would have to pay for these - which would normally cost you over £100 at least. Which those pictures will then be out of date in a few months.

Sensory play
Peek-a-boo
Baby group
Baby massage
Strolling around the park with baby in a sling
Swimming

These ^^ are all fun things for babies.

Endless travelling and hanging around at photoshoots, not so much fun.

Or was your husband thinking of himself when he suggested it would be 'fun'?