Children Print Modeling Jobs

Moms and dads never tire of hearing the words, "Your child is beautiful! Have you ever thought of getting her into modeling?" Parents choosing this path may find some unexpected surprises. Behind every beautifully groomed kid is a parent (or two) who doesn't mind being the child's chauffeur, manager, hair and clothing stylist. Many believe the effort is worth the time and trouble. If your goal is giving your son or daughter the chance to become a print modeling star, this article will help.

Does your child have the temperament for the demands of modeling jobs? Long, tedious photography sessions are hated by many children, particularly if they have attention disorders or inordinately short attention spans. Assess this on your own or have a modeling agent interview your child to see how he responds to new situations.

You should thoroughly discuss the child's modeling career with your spouse. Prepare to make a serious financial investment in your child. Posed photographs taken by a professional are expensive. You will bear the cost of modeling composites, wardrobe upgrades, portfolio upkeep and possibly classes to teach your child how to stand, walk and pose. Be sure you are willing to commit time for transit on behalf of your child's career. Moms of professional child models frequently undertake hobbies like knitting, reading and scrap booking to occupy themselves for the large blocks of time their child is on the set.

Use the Internet to locate auditions, casting calls, agents and managers. Parents often mistakenly believe the photos they see of children modeling clothing for a major department store were taken at that location. Actuality, choosing child models is usually a collaboration between a store's marketing and advertising staffs and local photo studios and advertising agencies. That said, the best conduits to jobs will be found at the source--agencies and commercial photography studios. Find links in the Resources section.

Keeping a child groomed and ready for modeling assignments at all times means you must be prepared to spend more time and cash on grooming than you might anticipate. You must be prepared to pay for frequent haircuts and make sure the child doesn't incur scratches and injuries--particularly to the face. You must be vigilant about dental care. Expect to pay for frequently updated modeling composites to keep clothing, height, weight, shoe size and other measurements current. Add fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle plus hiring paid care for your other children while you are accompanying your model to shoots.

If there were no rewards for youth print models, parents might not be so eager to make the sacrifices necessary to support this hectic life. Child models make excellent money. As a general rule, they are paid per assignment via an agent who deducts a commission--usually 20 percent--from funds disbursed after the shoot. Laws require a parent to bank a percentage of the funds so it's not unusual for a busy print model to amass enough money for college by the time she reaches high school. Some of a child's salary can be spent on expenses such as those listed above, but accountants warn that accurate records must be kept to avoid a variety of future pitfalls.

Parental expectations--and those of the child--can jeopardize the most successful modeling career. Savvy moms and dads whose children are the most successful take the time to conduct reality checks regularly. Children are often frightened of disappointing family members after so much as been sacrificed on their behalf. Forcing a child to keep modeling when he or she wants to stop can have serious future repercussions. Open dialog is the key to the future success of the child and the family unit.