I’ve never put my kids into child modelling because firstly the situation hasn’t cropped up and secondly I don’t think my children perform very well in front of our cameras, so the thought of what might happen if the pressure was on at a big photo shoot doesn’t bear thinking about! However, I know lots of parents do….

Picture thanks to Studio 757 Photography @ Flickr.com

Regardless of my kids being non-starters in the modelling industry, I was still interested to read that a new guide about child modelling has been released and thought it might be useful to anyone considering it or already involved. The guide, published on the UK Model Agencies site lists Child licensing laws, Child modelling agencies, How much money children will make and How to become a child model.

How much???
In the interests of, well, being a nosey parker, I was instantly drawn to the section about earnings. Apparently, anything between £40 -£50 per hour for babies goes with earnings rising with the child’s age. An important point to remember is that an agency will take roughly 20-25% from that amount. With that in mind the advice is that you should think of child modelling more as a hobby rather than a ‘job’.

But what happens if your kid becomes the next Milky Bar Kid? Well, again, according to the site TV commercials and poster campaigns can earn significant sums. OK, so your kid’s the next big thing but how do you fit in child modelling with other commitments, such as other kids, school, a life?..

Chaperones and carers
Any child of school age must be accompanied by a parent, carer or guardian at all times. However, if all of these are unavailable then a chaperone must be employed. A chaperone is employed to look after any child working in the ‘entertainment’ industry and make sure that they are not overworked, provide a private tutor if necessary and make decisions about whether your child is being put in, for example, a dangerous situation or is not feeling well.

Picture thanks to David Reed, Studio 757 Photography @ Flickr.com

Now, I’ve already mentioned that my children don’t really perform for the camera but I’ve certainly seen children who do. This is the key point to child modelling. If they love to strike a pose (even if you’re not taking their picture), dress up, show off and take direction (an important point too) then child modelling could be for them (and you). The emphasis on the site is about using your intuition as a parent to know if your child would enjoy modelling. Pushy parents and unhappy kids do not a great picture make!

Top tips to see if your child has ‘it’

If you think your child will be great in front of a professional’s camera you can try out some of these useful tips:
1. Pretend to hold a photo shoot at home. Get your child to dress up, handle the camera and take part – note how they react. If they start to pose and revel in being the centre of attention you could be onto something.
2. Get them to smile! Not just indoors but outdoors too. Take them out and start directing them and see how easily they get distracted or if they are fully absorbed in your ‘shoot’.
3. If it’s looking like you’ve got the next Kate Moss on your hands you should then consider how much time you and your kid(s) will have to devote to the modelling industry. There will be castings and shoots as well as the time it takes to travel to them.
4. Balancing modelling and schoolwork is also extremely important. Obviously there are laws in place to protect children from missing out on school and hours that can be worked and you will also need to get a special license from your local council.

For more information, the full, four-page guide provides more information that you may find helpful. Good luck!

Is your child a model? What have your experiences been? I’d love to know.
Michelle x