Applying Online for Paid Modeling Jobs for Kids

"Oh, your baby is so cute! She should be a model!" Many parents hear this repeatedly from complete strangers, and, as a result, wonder whether or not their child could be a model and help bring in money for her college and other expenses. Child modeling agencies now allow applications online, but parents still need to be wary of potential scams.

In the past, parents who wanted their children to be models had to drag them from agency to agency, portfolio in tow, hoping to land a gig. It was exhausting work for all involved, and parents were severely limited by their geographic area. Unless they lived in a big city with many child modeling agencies, they had little hope of finding work, and access to agencies in other cities was limited because of the expense of travel. That has changed with the advent of the Internet. Today, parents of potential models can apply online with child modeling agencies, upload digital portfolios, and sit back and wait for the work to come.

One thing about child modeling has not changed with the Internet, however, and that is the prevalence of scams. Scammers know that every parent believes that her child is the most beautiful on the planet, and they capitalize on that fact by offering modeling jobs that sound like they are guaranteed. Avoid companies that ask for upfront payment for any reason, whether it be to market your child's portfolio, to help capture professional images or to simply land a job for your child. Remember, your child should be getting paid by the modeling agency, not the other way around. The agency is typically paid with a cut from the money your child earns on a shoot.

When applying for paid modeling jobs for kids online, be sure you do your research first to avoid being scammed. Scour the website for contact information and make sure it is legitimate by calling during regular business hours. A legitimate company will provide contact information. Ask the agency about projects they have done and follow up by checking out those projects if possible. Finally, check the business bureau in the area where the online modeling agency is located to see if there is any information available about the company.

If you do find a legitimate company, you may be wondering how much money your child can make if the application is accepted. The answer varies depending on the job. Some catalog modeling jobs pay around $75 per hour, whereas television advertisements pay much more, sometimes into the six figures if the ad is run multiple times. While this sounds like a lot of money, it may not be over the course of a year, because photo shoots may be few and far between and, typically, last just a day or two.

To apply online for modeling jobs for kids, you need to have quality digital photographs of your child. These do not have to be expensive, but they should be done well. Include a head shot clearly showing your child's face and a full body shot, so the agency can see your child's entire image. Keep the background clean in these pictures, so the focus is on your child. A tidy image with a squeaky clean child in it is much better than one with a fancy background and lots of props.

Many parents think having an adorable or beautiful child is all it takes to land a modeling job. This is not true, because the temperament of the child is just as important as his looks. When applying online for modeling jobs for kids, looks will be the first criteria, but if your child is chosen by the agency, they will want to meet him to see his personality. Children who make good models need to be able to follow directions, smile naturally on cue and tolerate a lot of time spent waiting at the photo shoot.