Modeling Jobs for Kids

Almost every parent loves to show off pictures of her child, and many parents truly believe the child should pursue an occupation as a model. A few minutes watching television, browsing the Internet, flipping through a magazine or even perusing a newspaper will reveal that there are, in fact, many legitimate opportunities for child models.

There are many types of modeling positions available for kids in today's marketplace, and these positions may call for any number of settings, looks and activities. Television commercials, for example, may call for activities such as playing in a playground, walking around a school, or riding a city bus; by contrast, a photo shoot for a department store advertisement may call only for wearing some items that the store sells while photographers take pictures. Generally, a photo or video shoot will consist of a crew of three or more photographers, consultants, and other staff; parents should be wary of modeling jobs where only a single, unassisted photographer works with the child.

Just as there are myriad modeling functions for adults, kids have a wide range of modeling opportunities available. Television commercials are a form of modeling, though this field is highly competitive as child actors also vie for available positions. Catalog and advertising positions are common for children, and may call for photographs of the child wearing any number of clothing items. Similar to commercial modeling positions, photographic modeling jobs call for work in front of a still camera, and may feature frequent changes of clothing, backdrops, and settings; photographic modeling is somewhat more broad than commercial modeling, though, and photographers may use the images to create stock galleries or promotional sites to promote the child model. Body part modeling, a type of modeling where only a part of the child is featured (a child's hand sliding into a glove, for example), is another common modeling job for kids. Finally, a type of modeling known as "ramp fashion modeling" is the type of work most commonly associated with modeling, as this type of work involves displaying clothing, jewelry, or other items in front of a live audience.

Not surprisingly, very young children can be difficult to direct in a modeling role. For this reason, many modeling agencies prefer to work with children ages 4 and up, and still images of infants or other very young children may be computer-generated or created through composite imagery. According to child modeling experts on JobMonkey.com, kids enter their prime modeling period between ages 5 and 12, though many parents choose to begin working with an agent from a very early age to build a relationship with the agency and gain an understanding of the modeling job marketplace.

As mentioned, many parents choose to begin working with an agent even before the child becomes old enough to aggressively pursue modeling jobs. Whether the child is working or not, an agent can be very effective at getting the child's image out into the marketplace and building a reputation for the child. The agent can play a considerable role in the child's success as a model, and often works with the parents to set the pace for the child's modeling development. Parents should exercise caution when selecting an agent, avoiding agencies with limited or questionable experience and declining offers from agencies that charge an up-front fee. Over time, parents should also strive to develop and maintain a relationship with the child's agent.

Because kid models are, by definition, child laborers, they are protected by extensive regulations that govern aspects such as payment, ownership of funds, and setting aside funds for when the child becomes an adult. Under regulations known, collectively, as the Coogan Law, income earned by the child model belongs exclusively to the child and is not community property shared with the parents. In addition, 15 percent of the child's gross earnings must be set aside and not accessed until the child reaches the age of majority. The law goes on to regulate how quickly kids get paid (producers may not, for example, withhold payment for months at a time), parent fiduciary and accounting duties, and the hours during which a child model may work.

While there are a considerable number of legitimate modeling jobs for kids, there are also agents, photographers, and "opportunities" of which parents must beware. Agents and modeling opportunities that require a substantial up-front fee, for example, are often scammers who simply abscond with the money without performing any actual agent duties. A parent also has a right to remain with the child (though out of range of the camera) at all times, and parents should never simply leave a child model with a photographer, agent or other modeling personnel unless a strong relationship has already been established. To help ensure the most legitimate opportunities and avoid potential predators, parents should check references for any modeling agency or manager, verify all licenses with the applicable licensing board, and ask for samples of other models' work.