Do you have a grandmother or aunt that thinks your child is the next Shirley Temple? Well I do and I never gave it much thought until this summer.

We spent part of the summer in Los Angeles and I dived head first into the world of Fashion and Commercial Photography. In Los Angeles everyone needs head shots and portfolios no matter their age.

I got a first hand view into the world of child modeling!!! I immediately thought oh yea my kids can totally do this. They love having their photos taken and performing.

They were excited about looking into this. We started doing some research and found some things everyone needs to know if you are considering entering into this world.

STEP 1: GETTING AN AGENT

It is tempting to go to casting calls found on local groups but I highly recommend signing with an agent first. They will save you a lot of wasted time and pair you with the opportunities that fit your child. Google talent agencies in your area. Don't waste money on professional photos before this point. They mostly want to see snap shots then they determine if they want to bring your child in for an interview. Don't be discouraged if you don't hear back right away it can take weeks to hear back.

Keep it natural:

When you take your child in for their interview they want to see personality. They are looking to see if your child can hold a conversation and how they react. If they are fussy or overly shy this may not be for them. Take your child in with natural skin and hair. Do NOT take your child in with boufant hair and makeup. They want to see the natural beauty of your child. 

All about the eyes:

Eyes are what people see and they’re also one of the first things that other people look at. Making eye contact is one of the fundamental signs of communicating with another person. People are automatically attracted to one another’s eyes, and as weird as it may sound, the most popular eye color for modeling agencies tends to be blue, hence the blue eye comment before.

The blue eyes thing just seems to be a stereotype of beauty and perfection that just doesn’t go away. Green eyes are actually quite popular too because it’s another color that really stands out, so kids with blue or green eyes seem to be at an advantage in the modeling world.

Heads up Shoulders Straight:

There is a reason you always hear stand up straight from your mother. Good posture and eye contact show confidence! For any job interview keep your head up and shoulders straight.

Smile, Smile, Smile:

When sending pictures to a modeling agency, make sure that you have 2 types of pictures of your child, one where they’re smiling and one where they’re making a neutral face. These expressions are what modeling agencies are looking for because they show them the potential of the baby.

Remember, it’s not acting, it’s just pictures so your baby doesn’t need to be able to portray emotions, a smile will do just fine.

Cleanliness is everything:

First and foremost, modeling agencies don’t want to see a dirty baby. First impressions are everything, especially in the modeling world. When you’re meeting with modeling agencies make sure your baby is clean, bring extra clothes in case they soil themselves. Most people form their first impression of you within the first 2 minutes of meeting you, so it wouldn’t hurt for you to look presentable either.

Click here to contact me when you are ready to book your Headshots

https://www.jennypuranenphotography.com/contact

To Follow along and learn more about this process click here for Step 2

"Time to get professional Headshots"

https://www.jennypuranenphotography.com/blog/child-modeling-step-2