how to get your kids in commercials, film, television, child modeling, magazines and print without spending a lot of money

The two most often asked questions: How do I get my kid into child modeling, commercials, TV, film, print, etc.? How can I determine which child modeling agencies are legit? MAJOR MARKETS: If you live in or near New York, California, Illinois, Texas, Georgia or Florida it makes it easier to go on castings, there are more child modeling agencies and there is much more work in these states - especially in the cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami Beach and Orlando. AGE THREE AND UNDER: Young children grow and change very quickly so if your child is under the age of three DO NOT have a lot of expensive pictures made for modeling or casting purposes and DO NOT let a so-called agency tell you that you must have them. (All you need are a few good, clear shots that show the child as they would normally look.) OVER AGE THREE: If your child is over the age of three consider having better photos taken to show to agents, casting directors, etc. - especially if you intend to work in the more lucrative markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami Beach, Orlando, etc. ALL AGES: Agents at kids modeling agencies as well as Casting Directors want to see kids looking like kids. DO NOT put any makeup on them, DO NOT dress your child in frilly pageant style dresses, DO NOT put cutesie bows in their hair, etc. DO NOT work with ANY agency that requests money in advance for ANYTHING. Modeling schools, classes or training are completely unnecessary at any age and you should NEVER pay an agency for any type of marketing, training, classes, signing fees, photography services, comp cards, etc. A legitimate agency makes money ONLY from booking a job and taking a commission, usually 10-20% of the gross. (For example, if your child does a job for $300 and your agent takes a 20% commission - the agent would be entitled to $60 commision and you would receive $240.) ALL bookings must go through a state licensed booking agency and it is ILLEGAL for a booking agency to charge you for money for anything other than for booking a job and taking a commission in at least four states. Click HERE to see the Florida State Law that makes it illegal for a Florida booking agency to charge fees for classes, training, photography services, comp cards, etc. (California, New York, Florida and Texas all have similar laws.) DO NOT respond to newspaper or radio advertising placed by so-called agencies as real agencies have no need to advertise. DO NOT fall for false promises or misleading claims used to sell you worthless "portfolios", training, classes, etc. PLEASE NOTE: Although they may be few and far between, there are legitimate model scouts and many of them also work as photographers, make-up artists etc. which is perfectly ethical and perfectly legal in all 50 states as there is no inherent conflict of interests. In fact, working with a legit model scout that is also a photographer can be extremely beneficial to a new model just starting out. Who would you rather do a test shoot with, someone that hands you your photos, says "Good Luck!" and walks away, or someone that can walk you into top agencies where you will be given special consideration based on their track record? Just be sure not to confuse what a scout does with what an agent does. What's the difference? Scouts do not get involved in negotiating fees for bookings and, therefore, do not need to be licensed. (There is no such thing as a "model scout license".) DO NOT pay an agency for photography services of any kind, pay the photographer. DO NOT pay an agency for comp cards, etc. pay the printer. Keep in mind, however, that 99% of the photographers you may encounter on your own or find in the phone book, etc. DO NOT know how to photograph kids properly. Great photos are door openers - so be sure to get solid advice from someone that really knows what they are doing before having any pictures taken. Click HERE for examples

Rachael for Next U.K. and Roxy - click HERE	Rachael in Turks & Caicos for Beaches Resorts - click HERE
Rachael on Sanibel & Captiva Island for River Woods - click HERE	Rachael and Daniel in Cancun for Dreams Resorts - click HERE
Haley for Toys R Us, Children's Place and Next U.K. - click HERE	Avery for Jottum - click HERE

Daniel for Vertbaudet - click HERE

The New Coogan Law

CONTACT INFO AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS CLICK HERE

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