Child Models
Many parents dream of their children becoming catalogue stars. Child modelling can be quite competitive, and parents should be prepared both emotionally and financially, as well as preparing their children for the possibility of rejection when trying trying to find work.
At an audition, a client may ask to see 20 babies but only one will be chosen for the shoot. Most of the work is within the M25 area of London and often at short notice. Once at work, all child models then need reliable and calm chaperones - and the models must be well behaved and take directions well.
There are some basic tips to keep in mind if the decision to pursue this type of work has been made:
Never answer an advert in a newspaper for child models and never go to a hotel for interviews or photography.
A lot of useful information is on the websites of reputable agencies and on other online resources. A good first stop could be the AMA member agent who represents children - Elisabeth Smith.
Once you have found an agency, check them out with companies which are likely to use child models (e.g. Toys R Us, Boots, Tesco and baby magazines) to see if the agency is known and used by these clients.
Most importantly, children should feel that they are enjoying the work!