does anyone let their LO(s) model (pros/cons)?

Cilley

DH is interested in getting LO#1 into baby modeling. What are the pros and cons? Is it worth the initial investment (I think it is about $600 or so)? Is your baby fussy or easy to work with the cameras/photographers? Do they get a lot of jobs? Is the pay worth the effort or do you think it is a waste of time and only do it because of how much time/$$ you have invested so far? If you have a younger baby, how does it work for you? There are a lot of ?s I have, but these are only the ones that come to mind right now. TIA

Mrs.Rose

Why do you have to spend any money?  

hippotree

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

robinsokj

If someone is asking for an upfront fee they are scamming you

Kara5109

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

Dead.

ames71

Legit agencies won't ask for any money -- ever. Unless you live in a city (or can easily commute to one) that has established agencies with a high-demand for child model work (think: L.A., N.Y.) I'd skip on it. Either way -- never pay an agency money to sign your kid as a model. That includes for photos. Real agencies will make that investment if they think your kid can make them money.

Emiliana7

ames17:

Legit agencies won't ask for any money -- ever. Unless you live in a city (or can easily commute to one) that has established agencies with a high-demand for child model work (think: L.A., N.Y.) I'd skip on it. Either way -- never pay an agency money to sign your kid as a model. That includes for photos. Real agencies will make that investment if they think your kid can make them money.

Exactly this. I was a child model (before the awkward stage kicked in!). So I want to get my kids into it too.

Where I am (because state laws vary about kids working) any legit agency won't actually sign anyone under 4 yo. They do keep a baby book with the younger kids photos (its up to the parents to send in up to date photos- and these are suggested to be candid ones you take, not pro shots) for any companys to look through if a younger child is needed (but that is piece meal work)

And any place no matter how legit they look or sound that asks for money or fees, or sells you stuff (classes, photos, etc) is NOT legit!

becareful and learn your stuff about the industry.

davidandmickey

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

 

:: dies ::

hopkins5

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

ILY.

Cilley

You have to spend money (~$600) for the agency to make a portfolio of the baby. And they retake pix if your baby's looks change. I think they will do that for 2 yrs. And there is only one modeling agency in this city.

robinsokj

Cilley:

You have to spend money (~$600) for the agency to make a portfolio of the baby. And they retake pix if your baby's looks change. I think they will do that for 2 yrs. And there is only one modeling agency in this city.

 

As we all said before, that's total bullshit, but if you want to be scammed go right ahead

ames71

Cilley:

You have to spend money (~$600) for the agency to make a portfolio of the baby. And they retake pix if your baby's looks change. I think they will do that for 2 yrs. And there is only one modeling agency in this city.

I can confidently say this isn't a legit agency. 

acesup

if you were offered a job and told you had to pay $600 to start it - would you take the job?? 

didnt think so.

its a scam. but if you think its legit then you go right ahead and sign up! i thought it was pretty common knowledge that agencies that ask for money up front are a scam. and i've never been anywhere near the modeling industry (even though i'm super hot!).

ps - hippotree - i love you.  

wife1014

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

Just snorted!

sodelish

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

 

Put slim fast in his bottle instead of bm/formula. Will take the pounds right off.

ILY

hippotree

sodelish:

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

 

Put slim fast in his bottle instead of bm/formula. Will take the pounds right off.

ILY

Hor, I have been doing this for weeks.  And he is still fat!  I need to get him down to the 10th percentile or less for them to even consider him.  We do baby yoga every day plus 30 minutes of cardio.  I should probably make it an hour... hmmm. 

cheerleader.08

I let my oldest model for one company.  I felt pretty uncomfortable about the whole thing, so we never pursued it.  The company was located in our town, and a friend there liked the way he looked, so she asked if they could use him.  I can't imagine dragging him around to auditions or explaining why he was not picked. 

ETA He was also paid in free products like someone else mentioned. 

ljtibbets

I agree that this is a huge scam

MamaNikita

i have a friend whose kids modeled for fisher price.  they got paid in fisher price bucks or something like that.  they never had to pay anything.  they're on a couple of toy boxes.

astroMom

We got told by people that DS could be the Gerber baby, etc. etc....but we have not actively pursued modeling and no way in h3ll would we pay $600!

write2nicole

hippotree:

sodelish:

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

 

Put slim fast in his bottle instead of bm/formula. Will take the pounds right off.

ILY

Hor, I have been doing this for weeks.  And he is still fat!  I need to get him down to the 10th percentile or less for them to even consider him.  We do baby yoga every day plus 30 minutes of cardio.  I should probably make it an hour... hmmm. 

 

YWIA

jamiemsmith

write2nicole:

hippotree:

sodelish:

hippotree:

My baby is unusually beautiful - people stop us on the street to tell us how cute he is and tell me I should get him into baby modeling. But I think he is too fat. Once he gets thinner I will think about it.

 

Put slim fast in his bottle instead of bm/formula. Will take the pounds right off.

ILY

Hor, I have been doing this for weeks.  And he is still fat!  I need to get him down to the 10th percentile or less for them to even consider him.  We do baby yoga every day plus 30 minutes of cardio.  I should probably make it an hour... hmmm. 

 

YWIA

My day is now complete. Thank you ladies!

mrsf123

DD does baby modeling.  There is $0 initial investment.  If someone is trying to get you to pay something, they're scamming you.  DD has an agent, who signed her.  We paid nothing.  You don't need professional headshots for babies, just a few great photos, that you update monthly.

As far as her behavior, we started DD when she was about 5 months. She loves the camera and the attention, so it's usually fine.  One time DH took her to a go-see (like an audition for models) and he sat her up, she fell over, banged her head on the concrete floor and was hysterical for the rest of the time with the photographer.  Obviously, she didn't get that job and DH doesn't take her to jobs or go-sees anymore.  Most jobs pay somewhere around $200 for a session.  Where do you live in relation to where the jobs are?  Contrary to what people believe, baby modeling is just not that lucrative.  We've stacked away a few grand for DD's college education, but I don't consider it something to help pay the bills.  It's very erratic.  We'll hear from her agent a lot for a month and then nothing for months.  She mostly does catalogs for Babies R Us and Target.  The go-sees are for the higher paying jobs, which DD has not been selected for.  We have fun.  If she didn't, we wouldn't do it.

PM me if you have any quesitons.

mrsf123

Cilley:

You have to spend money (~$600) for the agency to make a portfolio of the baby. And they retake pix if your baby's looks change. I think they will do that for 2 yrs. And there is only one modeling agency in this city.

It's a scam.  You don't need any portfolio for any baby.  DD's agent emails photos of the babies to the casting directors of the shoots.  As in, she emails one photo of my kid from my camera at home.  It's BS. Don't do it.

mrsf123

cheerleader.08:

I let my oldest model for one company.  I felt pretty uncomfortable about the whole thing, so we never pursued it.  The company was located in our town, and a friend there liked the way he looked, so she asked if they could use him.  I can't imagine dragging him around to auditions or explaining why he was not picked. 

ETA He was also paid in free products like someone else mentioned. 

FYI, there aren't auditions for most baby modeling jobs.  They just pick your kid out of a slew of photos they have been emailed.

jlthompson19

Cilley:

You have to spend money (~$600) for the agency to make a portfolio of the baby. And they retake pix if your baby's looks change. I think they will do that for 2 yrs. And there is only one modeling agency in this city.

There are many agencies in St. Louis.  Barbizon is not one I'd consider.

laura3462

Myson was signed to an agency and we did not pay for anything (well we submitted his 6month pictures from our 6month milestone shoot so I guess the $60 for the shoot)! Do NOT pay $600 for it. He has been on a few jobs and the pay would not equate $600I have all the money he makes going into a college fund for him.