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Original poster

Scallywags Vs Baby Models?

35 replies

dadofgeorge · 14/11/2019 17:09

Hi All,

My wife and I are looking to sign our 5 month old boy to a modellig agency, he is something special and thats without being biased.

I have applied to 5 agencies and got accepted by all but the 2 we have singled down to are Scallywags and baby models.

Scallywags seems to have more google reviews but otherwise I dont know how to choose between them, I can't find any bad reviews for either of these..

Does anyone here have experience on which can help us choose?

Many thanks
Mark

OP posts:
Bezalelle · 14/11/2019 21:41

Don't do it! Child modelling is awful. He can't consent to it.

Original poster
dadofgeorge · 14/11/2019 22:28

Oh really, do you have experience?

OP posts:
Miseryisabutterfly · 14/11/2019 23:37

It is awful. I don’t understand it either. Do people do it for the money or because they think their child is especially beautiful and should be looked at? Either way it’s not very nice (in my humble opinion 😬).

Miseryisabutterfly · 14/11/2019 23:38

My dh wants my dd to model, so this is coming from a heartfelt place!

Jaguarana · 14/11/2019 23:39

Of course you're biased! Grin

FridalovesDiego · 14/11/2019 23:40

he is something special and thats without being biased 😂 What makes him so special compared to all the other babies? Is he the spit of BoJo? That might get him work.

FridalovesDiego · 14/11/2019 23:48

You do know those agencies charge fees don’t you? They are just a database of vain parents putting their children’s details online for irregular and oversubscribed “jobs”.

salsmum · 14/11/2019 23:49

When my son was younger he was a child that a lot of people said should go into modelling, striking blue eyes quite easy going and happy but when I looked into it I was told by agencies that we'd have to have a bag packed with several outfits and be available to travel to central London and other places quite away from Kent at short notice IF he is accepted for an assignment. I didn't work at the time but my husband did and I didn't drive. I realised that to drop everything at times and whisk him away would have not been practical but if you can then go for it. If you are tough enough to accept criticism about your child's looks, failed auditions and sometimes a lot of waiting around then
It's worth a go but there's not always a lot to be paid. My twin grandsons have appeared on tv which was lovely but they were not paid much my DS and DIL are 'in the business' so it was more for the experience for the twins.

Original poster
dadofgeorge · 15/11/2019 09:11

Wow, why the negativity here? The internet really highlights what is wrong with human psyche.

Thank you @salsmum, nice reply and info.

We live in London so we are not far from the typical locations, we both used to be models ourselves so know the game, unfortunately the agencies we were once with aren't around or do not do babies. I work for myself at home and my wife doesn't work so we can be around at the drop of a hat if need be, so I think we are in a good position for it. We will have a go anyway, if we feel any discomfort for him, we'll walk.

We merely want nice professional pictures, it will be nice for him to look back on and if he gets picked for any top brands, that's always a bonus. It certainly isn't for the money, as I appreciate baby models only get pennies really and to join these baby agencies for a year, again, is only pennies.

Thank you for the 1 constructive reply. I assume none of the negative posters know anything about the agencies I asked about, and yes, he is something special judging by the attention he gets alone when out and about. I want to post a picture to prove a point but I shall refrain from being sucked in by the negativity.

OP posts:
championquartz · 15/11/2019 09:18

Can't say I see any negative answers here, merely honest opinions. But maybe that's not what you're looking for

Original poster
dadofgeorge · 15/11/2019 09:54

Aside from totally avoiding my question, empty negative blinkered opinions which do not offer any value to me, comments like; vain parents, unless he is a BoJo spit, he can't consent (is that a joke?).. I was warned about this site, I see why.

OP posts:
purpleboy · 15/11/2019 10:07

I think the replies are honest and that wasn't what you wanted to hear. Everyone wants to be validated for their feelings and it hurts when people don't agree.
I don't have any experience of child modelling personally but my best friend was a child model, from a very young age until she was old enough to stand up to her parents and tell them she didn't like it. She is very upset with her parents for what she describes as exploiting her for their own financial gain, whilst she obviously benefited from the holidays, nice clothes etc.. it was done because honestly her parents wanted the money and the status they thought went with having a model for a child. They did not consider her feelings, the missed time at school, the lack of friends through jealousy or just not being there enough to form solid friendships. She has had her face plastered over 1000s of magazines, tv adverts, billboards. A simple google of her name brings up images of her in swimwear from a very young age. She is so resentful that she never had the option to consent to this.
She had serious self esteem issues because of the competition she faced and the derogatory comments made throughout her life. Being told at 13 she didn't have the right look, is seriously damaging for a child to hear.
As a result she is LC with both parents and the resentment she holds for them is so sad to see. This is not an uncommon theme amongst 'models' she used to work with.

So I would say think carefully about what your doing and who your doing it for, if you were both models then surely you know people from that world who can give you more info about each agency. But honestly I think it takes a special kind of parent to push their child into child modelling and I don't mean that in a good way.

FenellaMaxwell · 15/11/2019 11:18

I did baby and child modelling when I was little. I hate that my parents chose that for me. I hate that there are pictures of me widespread beyond my control. I hate that I missed out on parties and things to be at shoots. I hate that I have grown up feeling like what I look like is so important, and feel permanently insecure. I’ve been approached a few times for modelling jobs for DS and have said no to all of them. Once he’s old enough to consent to the use of his image himself, he can decide but until then, I’m going to value his privacy and reach him that it’s more important to be kind than to be attractive. I wish my parents had done the same.

iamNOTmagic · 15/11/2019 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iamNOTmagic · 15/11/2019 11:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeatriceTheBeast · 15/11/2019 11:57

I was warned about this site, I see why.

Halloween Confused

Surely you know this is a controversial almost goady subject? I seriously doubt you'd have had all lovely, positive, "fabulous darling" responses on ANY mainstream parenting site. Even on Nethuns and Babycentre you would not have got all positive responses.

I have no idea about baby modelling, but even I know it's a controversial topic.

Enjoy your flounce though hun bun.

Betty777 · 15/11/2019 13:18

I can't add a lot OP, but I used to work in production and sometimes casting, and we certainly used Scallywags (this is in the noughties) They were certainly established then, if that helps?

I worked on TV commercials not editorial shoots, and I would say that for TV the laws in terms of chaperones (parents) and working hours are very strict, all to protect the children (eg can't be on set for more than 45 mins straight etc) Everyone on set is aware that the baby/young kids needs had to be put first. It was usually an exciting experience for the young kids, parents too. (the only time it's not is if you are on a cold location shoot, and then they will always hire a warm trailer for kids) The money was just an added bonus. I wouldnt' do it if outside London, as it would be too much faff, but you can always turn down things that don't suit you. A great way to spend mat leave, in my view!

And as for children's rights - if they get to 3 or 4 and them don't like it, you can surely stop then? Confused

JacquesHammer · 15/11/2019 13:23

he can't consent (is that a joke?)

Unless you find facts funny....

Poor kid.

MrOnionsBumperRoller · 15/11/2019 14:17

I want to see a photo! Please?! And one of you and model DP (So nosey and over invested in MN Grin. And give it a try, why not? My DD loved posing and fuss and attention when tiny!

marshmellowed · 15/11/2019 14:20

fgs he will have one or both of his parents with him who know about modelling as were models themselves.
If you have the time and can get to castings etc then what is the problem ? I’m sure these things are regulated

OP good luck

salsmum · 15/11/2019 23:56

Dadofgeorge I'd love to see pics of your beautiful boy but it's a shame the neg comments have put you off. Please remember that a reputable agency will pay you not charge you a huge amount for a portfolio which would not give them any incentive to find your son work. You sound like you re in a good position both work wise and location wise to start looking for some agencies Smile. Good luck.

Itsashame · 17/11/2019 08:00

There are two posters on here who have direct experience of children who were models and who hugely resent it now as adults and found it damaging. Surely this is all you need to know. Big risk surely.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/11/2019 08:03

My own opinion of child modelling aside, the consent thing is a massive issue. Especially in a world of parent vloggers showing their dc online numerous times a week and monetizing from it.

It will not be long at all before these kids grow up and realise they can sue for big bucks for all the non consensual exposure online of them as a child.

BillywilliamV · 17/11/2019 08:09

You have to prove genuine harm to be able to sue someone.. and in law, parents can consent for all kinds of things for their children.
You’re all just jealous because your babies aren’t as good looking as OP’s!

Sux2buthen · 17/11/2019 08:31

Yeah they should ban pics of babies and children on all products Hmm
Anyway, don't go with baby models uk, con con con

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