child modeling, part 1

Cover shot by Liz Banfield for Real Simple Family

I have shot children for advertising and editorial for 12 years and I often get asked about "getting into" modeling. For the next couple of posts, I'm going address a few FAQs on this topic. Starting with, "I'm thinking about getting my child into modeling. What do I need to know?"

A couple of key things here. First, good looks alone aren't enough. The child really must have the right personality, too. That means that they will easily go to strangers, adjust quickly to a strange situation, and are generally outgoing. Honestly, when a child comes to one of my auditions and doesn't warm up right away - they don't get the job, no matter how cute. An audition is easy compared to a shoot so I have to have confidence that the "talent" will deliver on the big day.

Another consideration is how much time you can devote to taking your child to auditions. It's a major time commitment and probably not compatible with caregivers who work full time. Because children change so quickly, most photographers/directors will NOT book a model without a "go see" audition. That means, you have to show up, possibly wait in line, and do the audition -- all unpaid and usually in the middle of the day. You may need to consider, too, how your child's school will deal with resulting absences.

Lastly, as children get older, I think it's important to consider how your child will handle rejection. For babies and young kids, this is not an issue. But as they become more conscious of what is happening, how will your child be impacted by not getting "the job."