Child Modeling
I would love to have a dime for every time someone says, "Your child is so cute. He/she should be in commercials." Even if nobody says it, we all feel that our kids are so cute that they ought to be in commercials. The big difference between the ones who don’t and the ones who actually end up in commercials is you … the parent (or legal guardian). This is your call because the child may have the desire and talent, but she/he can’t get it done without your help. Now you need to know how you can help.
There are a couple of key things that need to be addressed before you head down this road. There will be a huge demand of your time needed if your child succeeds in this business. Your child will have to sacrifice time also. Most auditions and jobs will take place on a weekday, which means that you may have to skip work and your child may have to miss school. This of course means that you must have a flexible schedule and make up time missed from work. At the same time, your child misses schoolwork which must be made up.
For your child to make it in this business both of you will need to learn how to juggle many tasks at once. One thing that you want to make sure of is that you are not forcing your child to do something that she/he really doesn’t want to do. Ask the child if they want to be in commercials, movies or if they like having their picture taken? Let them answer genuinely as kids most often do. If they don’t like it, don’t force them just because it’s what you want.
If your child states that she/he is interested in "show business", you can move to the next phase. Now that you have a green light from your child on this career, here is what you need to do. Read up on the industry so that you know what is right and what is a rip-off in this business. Your child cannot speak up and it is your job to manage and protect your child, even if the child has an agent or manager. You are responsible for how your child is treated and should always be on the set or send someone that you can trust on the set with your child.
Find a photographer that does good work. You can check the yellow pages for a list of photographers but the best way to find a photographer is to ask someone you know and trust; preferably someone with experience in show business. Be sure to check the photographer’s books (e.g. photos they’ve taken) carefully to see if you like their work. When you find the right photographer, schedule a shoot for your child. Discuss with the photographer ahead of time about wardrobe, hair, make-up etc. Most photographers have a stylist/make-up artist that they work with, if you need one. Once you get pictures that you are happy with, you will need to have them duplicated. There are a number of companies that will reproduce prints at a reasonable price.
While you are waiting on the pictures to come back, begin working on your child’s resume. Don’t forget to list everything that shows they know how to perform. The fashion shows and play at school, or if they sing on the youth choir at church. If they belong to any clubs like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, add that to their resume. This is the resume that you will attach to the back of your child’s pictures to send to potential agents.
Write a quick cover letter of two small paragraphs (4 or 5 sentences) explaining that you have enclosed a resume and headshot for the agent’s files and to please contact you to set up a meeting. You may want to check with different agencies in your area ahead of time to see which ones handle kids because not all agencies do. Put together a package that includes a headshot, resume attached to the back of the headshot (stapled at all four corners) and the cover letter. Hopefully agents will call you in to meet with your child and you will be on your way.
Finally, be sure to have an answering machine and maybe a pager so that the agent can get in touch with you. When the agent calls, set up an audition time and find out how the child should dress and what the job is for. This information is helpful so that you can brief your child by saying things like:
This is going to be lots of fun because they want you to play with toys OK, let’s practice. How would you look if you didn’t feel good?
Show me your funny face.
Show me your sad face.
Show me your angry face
… and so on You take at least 2 headshots with resumes to each audition. You will probably only need one, but have an extra one just in case.
As your child gets work, keep updating the resume to reflect the new experience. As the child gets better and better, begin to move the career forward and maybe you will have a little star on your hands. Good luck to you and your kids.
Working with young people on the set can be the most rewarding / difficult thing. There are lots of factors that determine which experience you will have. First and foremost you need to realize that a child is just that, a child. There are certain needs that a child has and as the adult you should be prepared to try and facilitate those needs, within reason of course.
Remember that children are generally honest and are also very perceptive. If you get upset with them they will know it and you can imagine how this might affect their performance. Try the old litmus test of putting yourself in the child’s shoes. When is it easier for you to work? When the director is understanding of your dropping a line, or when the director is making you feel like a child by openly chastising you for being human? I think we all know the answer to that question.
If you can become rattled on the set because of circumstances beyond your control or because of the way that the crew treats you, just imagine how those same situations could effect the confidence of a youngster. Do everything that you can to accommodate the children on the set, particularly if the child has to interact with you. If you know that even the possibility exists that you might interact with the children, don’t wait until the scene begins to acknowledge them. Try to get introduced to them early on and begin to interact with them slowly as the day goes on.
If it is at all possible, ask that the director or the child’s guardian introduce the child to you. A child takes much better to someone introduced to them by their guardian rather than some stranger who just walks up and acts as if he knows them. Remember that children are perceptive and smart. If you act as if you know them, they will wonder what you are up to. This will make them stiff and not natural when interacting during a scene.
You should not ask questions that you don’t want to hear the answer to because children will generally tell you the honest and sometimes brutal truth. If they tell you something, accept it for what it is and figure how you can use it to make the child feel more comfortable with you. Don’t force your friendship on the child. You are there to work and you don’t need to hang out with the child all day unless the child wants to.
Finally, give the child praise for doing a good job. This helps build the child’s confidence, which will make them want to perform better. If you lend a little help to a child, it will make you feel great at the end of the day. If the child on the set were your child, how would you want the actors to treat your child? Exercising patience can go a long way in life and even farther when applied to children on the set.
We receive a lot of e-mails from parents about how to get their kids into show business. You can find plenty of information by doing a Google search to help you with this topic, but I want to take a slightly different approach with this article. For our purposes in this edition, let’s talk about the fact that these are our children and the simple yet sometimes overlooked fact that kids are people too!
Oftentimes children become actors because someone takes a look at your child and says, "She is so pretty. You should get her in commercials." While this is sweet and very good for a parent’s ego, it may not be the best thing for the child. Let’s say that you agree and begin to pursue the idea. Be honest with yourself. How many people ask their children if they want to be in commercials? Even if you do, do you think the child really understands what is involved? Let’s talk about some of those things.
Does the child or you know that there may situations where the child has to work outside under hot lights in the middle of summer? The child may have to work in studios with hot lights and it can become really hot. The child may have to spend lots of time studying and memorizing lines while the other kids are out playing. If the child becomes a big money maker, you might become over protective because the child will be more than just your child, but your source of income.
Be sure that you don’t enter or continue in this business because you are trying to live up to other people’s expectations. Once you get your child started in the business, constantly monitor how the child responds to auditions and actual jobs. Is she/he still interested or do they cry before going. Do they ask if they can just stay home or go out and play? Listen to your child and do what is best for the child.
This also means that if your child loves the business and can’t wait to get in front of that camera, nurture their career and try to find a happy medium between being a working actor and a child that needs to have friends and play from time to time. If your child grows up to be a huge star and enjoys a great career…wonderful! If your child grows up to have lots of fame and fortune, but suffers from emotional problems and feels robbed of a childhood, who will be to blame? These are things that you need to consider. This can be a great move for you and your child, just pay attention to the child and don’t become side-tracked by the money and stardom of the business.
Your child will need two legal documents in order to work in the industry: a work permit from the state where he resides and a Social Security Card. Obtaining a work permit may vary from state to state. Please check with the Department of Social Services in your area. If you have a talent agency, they should also be able to help you with this.
Obtaining a work permit for your child is easy. In California you can get one at no cost from the "Entertainment Work Permit Department" found at the Department of Social Services in you area. Work permits are good for a six-month period and must be renewed every six moths thereafter. Some parents make the mistake of waiting until the child booked a job before obtaining a work permit. Don't be caught unprepared! It is entirely possible to find your child has booked a job late Wednesday night and is expected to report to the set early Thursday morning. Without an original copy of a work permit from your state, your child will not be allowed to work. You won't fool the production people of the social worker/studio teacher by saying you lost if or left it at home.
For child actors, this is a hard and fast rule: without a work permit, your child will not be allowed to work!
Work permits are required by the child's home state and must be signed off by a social worker/studio teacher who is hired by the state to take care of your child's school and labor needs on the job. If your child is shooting out of town or in another state, the social worker/studio teacher from his home state may want to accompany him to the state in which the project is being filmed.
Your child works under the laws of his home state, no matter where in the United States (or outside the United States) he is filming. For instance: if a child actor resides in California but is filming a project in Utah, the child and perhaps a California social worker/studio teacher will go to Utah to make the movie, but both will work under the laws of the State of California. The child's parent or guardian must go as well, of course. The state makes no exceptions to the this rule. Labor laws have been designed by each state to protect both child and parent.
The first time you apply for a work permit, if your child is school age, you will need to present a copy of his birth certificate as well as the name and address of the school he currently attends. If school is in session, it must acknowledge that your child's grades and conduct are in good standing. If school is not in session, you must present a copy of your child's last report card with your application. If your child is under five years of age, you will only need to present a copy of his birth certificate to obtain a work permit.
After the initial permit is processed, the Department of Social Services will send your renewal forms by mail (two weeks before the current permit's expiration). Questions can be directed to the Department of Social Services. You will retain an original copy to be presented to the social worker/studio teacher when your child works; if you leave the original at home, you will have to return home to get it. Another original is kept by the Department of Social Services.
The purpose of the Social Security Card is to allow payment to be made to your child when he is working. It is state-regulated; payment to a minor cannot legally be made until the number is secured and given to the company that hired your child. It should be easy to obtain a Social Security Card because most children acquire Social Security numbers for their parents' income tax deduction purposes.
A card can be obtained from the Department of Social Security either by mail or by visiting a local office. Call 800-772-1213 to have an application sent to you through the mail. You can also visit their Web site. The forms are available on-line. Two forms of identification are required, a birth certificate and any other form of identification with the information of your child's birth printed on it. If you want to visit the office in person, call the Social Security office to make sure the office still does business at the listed location; offices close on a regular basis and you may have to travel a long distance to find one that is open.
"Coogan" accounts are trust accounts required by the states of California and New York as a condition of issuance of work permits for minors who wish to work in the entertainment business. They are named for Jackie Coogan, who was a child star of the 20th century whose earnings were squandered.
As I understand it, 15% of any minor's income "from the business" must be set aside in one of these accounts via direct payment from the employer. A parent or guardian will be the trustee of such an account, but withdrawals are not permitted (except transfers to another Coogan account). The trustee must turn the funds over to the kid at age 18, and the kid cannot touch the money until then.
If you're the parent of a child or teen actor who has begun working on projects in the industry without the guidance of a talent agent or manager, it's critical that you familiarize yourself with the child labor laws and regulations in your state. Not only is it important because it's the law, but these regulations are put in place for the benefit of the child or teen and are great guidelines to follow.
States can regulate many aspects of a production when it comes to kids and teens working in the entertainment industry. Before your child walks on set, make sure you find out the answers to the following questions:
What's the maximum number of hours my child can work on set?
Are the hours different for school and non-school days?
How much light can/will my infant be exposed to?
Is my child required to have a work permit?
Is a studio teacher required to be on set?
How much time does my child get for rest and recreation?
Are there any exceptions?
There are always gray areas, loopholes and exceptions. For example, many regulations are determined based on the age of the actor. However while a seventeen year old student in California may only be allowed to work between certain hours, a seventeen year old who has graduated from high school is not subject to child labor laws and can work as an adult. Whether your child has a manager or not, you are your child's primary advocate. A production set can be a harried, hectic environment and if a director is running behind schedule he may not want your child to get their mandated break time. It's up to you to put your foot down to make sure that your child has a healthy, balanced and enjoyable experience in the industry.
Here you can read about filling tax returns for child actors and child models.
You should be familiar with the following types of documents.
Work Permit - in California, a current and valid entertainment work permit must be presented to the studio teacher upon arrival. Check your local state laws to find out the requirements in your state. If you use CIF's permit service, you'll receive your permit in an easy to use folder that will allow you to carry your additional paperwork as well.
Coogan Account Info - In California, make sure to have a statement of trustee for proof of a minor blocked trust account. Check your state laws to see if a blocked trust account is required in your state as it is in many other states outside of California such as Kansas, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York.
W-2 Form - this form is related to your child's taxes and you'll receive one whenever you work as an employee for a production. You will be asked for an SSN and how many deductions you want to claim. You will use your child's social security number. "If your child does not have one, the parent should contact the local office of the Social Security Administration to obtain one," suggests David K. Rogers of Actors Tax Prep. "They will need a certified copy of the child's birth certificate to obtain the number and you will fill out Form SS-5."
W-9 - you'll be asked to fill out a W-9 when working as an independent contractor. In this situation, no taxes are withheld, but a SSN is required for your 1099. This is most common when working in print modeling. Make sure you realize that taxes will be owed come tax time.
I-9 - An I-9 document proves that you have the legal right to work in the US. The I-9 form requires you to attach supporting documents such as a passport or birth certificate, social security card, etc.
Time Card (Voucher) - Production will give you a time card to complete. There are two kinds - union and non union. If you have representation, your rep will ask you to use their info in lieu of your own when completing this form. This is to ensure that your pay check goes to their office for documentation and payment processing. This is standard, so you don't need to be alarmed that your paychecks go to them first.
Contracts and Deal Memos - Contracts and Deal Memos are written agreements pertaining to your employment stating what you have been hired to do. "Deal Memo" is a term that independent producers use for employment contracts. The word "contract" generally implies that the document is legally binding, so the term memo is sometimes used to imply a less formal agreement. Regardless of the title, it is important that you read whatever you sign and that you discuss the information with your agent and/or manager.
Releases - A release is usually a brief document, different from a deal memo, that becomes the license that is attached to the images as they go from the day of production to the finished product. A producer must provide a release in order to sell an image, and the parents of young performers will likely be asked to sign these releases. "A typical release will begin with acknowledgment of the fee," explained Agent Carol Lynn Sher of CESD, "and that in return for paying the fee the talent grants rights and permission to copyright and publish the work." Carol Lynn went on to note that releases hold the producer harmless for manipulations, distortions, blurring or editing of the images and that it will sometimes include confidentiality requests or exclusivity requests.
Parents of newcomers often put too much pressure on themselves and their children on the first few auditions. If you can avoid the pressure whole lapping up the excitement, you will be better off from the start, because there is no reward for pressure except for unnecessary stress on your child.
Remember, the first call is only a first look. It simply means that the casting director has seen your child's picture and now, he would like to see for himself if your child has that "certain something" when they meet him in person.
There shouldn't be any pressure put on your child - no matter how important you may feel the audition is. You will never inspire in your child a positive attitude about acting if, every time he feels apprehensive, your disappointment in him is overwhelming. While your child may be exactly what the casting company is looking for (in your mind, anyway), so might fifty other kids! If your child has done his best on the audition, that is all you should expect from him. However, if he is having a rotten day and doesn't feel like performing, there shouldn't be hell to pay from you.
Don't make your child perfect; this isn't a modeling call or a beauty pageant. This is reality and casting directory want real children. Child actors must be relaxed at all times in order to perform their best work. Whether our child is "on" or "off," your job is to keep him cool. The climate should always be cool, calm, and collected. Your child is there to show off and shine.
Children are like little sponges. If yours thinks you're freaked our by all this, how do you expect him to respond? Your child should feel that this new venture fits into his life, not replaces it. A little dirt on his face, messed up hair, or a wrinkle on his shirt, can actually be a plus in keeping him relaxed enough to book a job. No, parents, we don't suggest you take your child on calls like he just rolled in dirt. What we are trying to suggest is that you allow your child to be himself whenever possible.
Another important consideration, especially for infants, is your child's ability to separate easily from you. Will your infant go to a stranger without screaming when you hand him over? Casting directors won't give him a few days or even a few minutes to bond with the actor(s) playing his parent(s) during the audition. It's now or never when infants and the audition process are concerned. You will be in the room with your infant, but you will not be in front of the camera with him.
Do you think your child is cut out for acting? You child's behavior and personality should give you an idea of his potential acting ability. Most parents can recognize, just by looking at their children, whether or not they possess the qualities and disposition necessary for the industry. If you think your child might be a good actor, but you aren't sure if he has the requirements, here is a list of questions that will help you sort it out.
Is your child (A) outgoing and animated; or (B) quiet and shy?
Does he (A) say hello to someone when he's introduced; or (B) become distracted by things in his environment and not realize that someone is speaking to him?
Does he (A) love to sing and dance for you; or (B) think stuff like singing and dancing is stupid?
Does he (A) imitate what he sees on TV; or (B)forget what he watching five minutes ago?
Does he (A) respond when he's asked his name or age by someone he doesn't know; or ( shrug his shoulders as if he no longer remembers what language he speaks?
If you answered "A" to these questions, that's terrific! Most would-be industry children are little hams by nature, willing to show off at every opportunity. Your child's ability to meet new people easily and to show off for them will be one of the most important factors in his career. We have to remember, nonetheless, that as responsible parents, we raise our children not to talk to strangers and the world of show business is contrary to this upbringing by 180 degrees.
We therefore advise you to have continuing discussions with your child in this topic, especially after his career is launched. Make sure he knows the difference between meeting an unfamiliar casting person or working with a cast and crew of strangers, and speaking to strangers outside of these industry- type situations. The rules you teach him about talking to or going with strangers should remain the same as if he were not in the industry. You may even discover he likes the idea.
Before you begin launching your child into the spotlight, we recommend sitting down and discussing with him your thoughts about his possible acting career. Be specific when you talk to your child; be sure he understands exactly what is required of him.
A child actor's career should be something you and your child decide to do together. This endeavor requires both parent and child to be voluntary participants. After all, we're talking about his life too! His feelings on the subject must be considered. If you approach the topic positively, your child will likely respond positively. You may even discover he likes the idea!
Here are a couple of suggestions for testing the water. Before to making your decision (and long after you've committed to it, too), watch programs that focus on children your child's age. You'll find lots of child actors in television commercials too; in fact, in the beginning, your child will go out on more interviews for commercials than for any other medium. (TV series, feature films and movies of the week usually come after your child has done a few commercials.)
When watching children, make comments to your child. For example, while viewing a pudding commercial featuring a five year-old boy, you might say, "Wasn't he cute? I'll bet you could do that." If your child offers an affirmative response, ask him to say a couple of lines about chocolate pudding; the lines do not have to be the same as those in the commercial. Let him make up something on his own. He may surprise you. If he can easily mimic what he hears, he's ready.
If your child willingly performs for your upon request, he'll willingly do it for others, like casting directors, producers, and directors. Of course, there's a big difference between performing for you and performing for someone outside the family.
Once your child is going out on calls, keep in mind that he's just a kid. There will be days when he is "on" and days when, no matter what you promise him, he just won't do anything for anybody. Will the casting people understand? Of course they will.
There will be other calls, other projects, and there's no need to burn bridges with casting directors over an attitude caused by a missed nap. Keep in mind, however, there are dozens more kids just like yours lining up right outside the door, ready and willing to stand up and be counted. All the casting people have to do with a child who won't perform is say, "Next."
Infants, toddlers, and young children change in appearance much too quickly and the legitimate agencies understand that. Under the age of 4 - these agencies will only require a few snapshots of your child.
Take a close-up shot of your child. (Head and shoulders - Don't get so close that the image is blurry)
Take a full length shot of your child
Take one character shot of your child - something that shows the child's personality - feel free to use props with this shot.
Find a place that is bright and evenly lit - DON'T use a flash
Don't send 50 photos to the agencies - just 2 or 3.
If an agency accepts your child - be prepared to update these images every 6 months or so.
Children aged 4 through age 13 will generally only need headshots. These images should be professionally done. Even at these ages, you will need to update these images every year to a year and a half at the most since children will change dramatically from year-to-year.
A composite is only helpful if a child has very different and distinctive looks and should not be considered until an agency has proven themselves to you by getting your child work.
When you first show up to an audition or casting call, you would normally bring 2 or 3 pictures. However, if you get past that stage, they will probably want to see your child's portfolio. Also, if you go to a go-see for a modeling agency, you should bring a modeling portfolio. You should use a photo album, and fill it up with pictures. If your child has already done paid modeling work, those pictures should go at the beginning of the portfolio in order from most to least recent. It's especially important for girls to have a modeling portfolio. In order for your daughter to be a professional, she needs to have a portfolio that you can show to photographers, advertising agencies, and casting directors interested in hiring her. You can hire a professional photographer. It's good to have a wide variety of pictures. You should take professional looking pictures for her portfolio, including the following.
Full length shot
Smiling head shot
Maybe a few more playful shots
photos should be clear
In focus
No other children in photos
headshot - like a school picture
different facial expressions - surprised, happy, sad, pouty, mischevous, etc.
action - such as jumping in the air, dancing, gymnastics, cartwheels, etc.
casual - such as, tanktop, pants, skirt, overalls, shortalls, etc.
formal - formal dress like a flower girl at a wedding
swimwear - bikini and one-piece suit
sleepwear - pajamas or nightgown
underwear - panties, both with and without a crop top
nude - cute pictures that make you go "awww!" Think of the Coppertone ad.
Also, try to have pictures with different hairstyles, such ponytial, pigtails, or braids.
Of course, you do not need to have underwear pictures or nude pictures. If you are a model, or the parent of a child model, you should never do anything that you do not feel comfortable doing. You don't have to have nude or underwear but there's no reason not to do it. Your daughter will be more likely to get modeling or acting work if you include cute nude pictures in her portfolio that are appropriate for her age. You should trust the people who work at the agency to be professionals, the same way you do if you take your child to the doctor who sees your child undressed. These are adorable images capturing fleeting childhood innocence. Ivory Soap did an advertising campaign called "Ivory Baby" in which the kids posed nude. When you do nude pictures, it's important that you don't show any "private parts" in the picture. Try doing a side view or back view. Brooke Shields modelled nude when she was 10 years old. Lindsay Lohan did a nude scene in the Disney movie "Parent Trap" when she was 12 years old. You should also write a resume with the following information.
Childs age / date of birth
height
up to date sizes
shoe size
if there are any missing teeth
if the child can read
Here is a list of information you should include
Age range:
Hair color:
Complexion:
Hairstyle/Length:
Eyes:
Weight:
Height:
Dress Size:
Suit Size:
Chest/Bust:
Waist:
Hips:
Shoe Size:
Inseam:
Neck:
Citizenship:
Languages:
Here you can see a sample child's resume.
Here's an exercise I recommend for the parents who are trying to get their daughters into modeling.
First have the girls look through catalogs and fashion magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, or Vanity Fair, and pay attention to how the models pose. Then for each of the girls, put together several outfits that capture a certain look, such as commercial modeling, high fashion, haute couture, athletic or sports, Gothic, cheerleader, Western cowgirl, swimwear bikini, etc., Then after that, have the girls model each set of clothes, and try to capture the basic look or feeling. There are different poses you would do when modeling different types of clothes. They would try to learn the different types of poses or facial expressions you would do when modeling different types of clothes. Try different poses like putting their hands on their hips, looking over the shoulder, etc. They should do pictures standing up, sitting down, kneeling, lying down, etc. They should be facing a full length mirror, so they can see themselves. You should have music playing in the background, like dance music or rock music. Then afterwards, critique their modeling, and give them advice. There are photoshoots where they pose the models, and they want models that follow directions. There are also photoshoots where they want models that can improvise, and be able to give great poses with little direction. You can try giving them directions so they can learn to follow directions. You can try having them improvise so they can get used to modeling without direction. So hopefully, your girls can sort of internalize modeling, and the different poses become second nature. Hopefully, the kids will have fun doing it also.
If you look at the history of modeling, for the past hundred years, models have been modeling for advertising, but for 3000 years before that, they modeled only for artists, and half the time, they were modeling for artistic nudes, so there is a huge tradition of models modeling nude. This is especially true for children. If you look at Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, they had nudes of children. In medieval churches, they have paintings of nude children on the wall. In Renaissance paintings, they had nude children called "putti" used as background decoration. In the 19th Century, famous painters such as Adolph William Bougereau and John Waterhouse did child nudes. Many 20th Century photographers did nude child photography, such as Sally Mann, Jock Sturges, Edward Weston, Richard West, Ron Oliver, Charles duBois Hodges, Anne Geddes, Suza Scalora, etc. Lewis Carroll, who wrote "Alice in Wonderland" did nude child photography. Edward Muybridge, who invented the motion picture, did nude child photography. Brooke Shields modeled nude when she was 10 years old. Lindsey Lohan did a nude scene in the Disney movie "Parent Trap" when she was 12 years old.
When you are trying to get your child into modeling, it certainly helps to include nude pictures in their portfolio because a lot of the modeling assignments for kids require nudity. When they have commercials on TV for children's shampoo, those kids are nude when they shoot the commercial. One of my models was hired by Ivory Soap for the Ivory Baby ad campaign, and of course she was nude when they did the photoshoot. There's a lot of advertising where the kids have to be nude. Coppertone has an ad where a dog pulls down the bottom of a little girl's swimsuit, so then the little girl is nude in the ad. "Singer" sewing machines did an ad where a little girl in the nude at a sewing machine, and the caption says "For the woman who has nothing to wear". There's also a lot of movies and tv shows where the kids have to do nude scenes. There's movies such as Tom Sawyer, Oliver Twist, etc. where the kids have to do nude scenes. One of my models was hired for the starring role in a movie, and she did a nude scene when she was 10 years old. They want to make sure the kids are totally comfortable being nude, and not shy or embarrassed at all.
Another reason is because when you are trying to get modeling and acting work for your daughter, you want her to be as cute as possible in the pictures, and nothing makes your daughter as super super cute as possible as having her nude. The nude pictures are supposed to be all smiles and dimples, and would make anyone go "awww!" Another reason they want nude pictures is just to make sure that the girls don't have scars, bruises, blemishes, tattooes, piercing, etc. They want to know what freckles they have, that sort of thing.
Ever wonder what kind of an impression your child's headshots are making on casting directors? Your child's headshot is their passport to the role of their dreams. So if their headshots are not a good reflection of them and their personality, or the quality of their headshots is poor, it may take them longer to get to attain the level of success you’d hoped for. Whether their photos are outdated, or simply not the best reflection of their personality, new headshots are often just what an aspiring entertainer needs in order to land the auditions and the roles they have their hearts set on.
Does your child's photo look natural? Does your child's photo reflect the way they look now and not five years ago? Is your child's photo a clear shot of them, without distracting objects in the background? Are they looking directly at the camera? Does their photo convey the right image for them? Are the clothes they are wearing in the photo contemporary? Did you use a professional photographer? Does your photo conform to industry standards? If you’ve answered no to any of these questions, then you may want to consider taking new photos. Ask friends in the industry to help you select a professional photographer. It’s also critical that your hair, makeup and attire help you portray an image that will grab the attention of casting directors the moment they set their eyes on your photo. Once you’ve taken your photos, don’t rush to the printer. Make sure you have several people look at your proof sheet and offer their opinion on which photos are the strongest. Once there’s a consensus, you’ll be in a much better position to decide which photos would help you get the best results. A headshot that accurately portrays your personality and lets your charisma shine through is the first step towards success in the entertainment industry. Succeeding in the entertainment industry often hinges on the ability to win people over. You have to sell your child as a performer who is not only talented, but who's responsible, professional and courteous to others. Want to get cast? Then dedicate as much energy to winning over the casting director that you dedicate to your craft.
So, how do you go about winning over the casting director? Here are a few easy tips that are guaranteed to help you make a positive, lasting impression on the casting director, and help your child standout as a talent they'll want to work with and endorse.
Submit professional photos that both look like your child and reflect their personality. Bring extra copies of your child's headshot and resume to your audition in the event yours have been misplaced. Consistently show up for your child's auditions on time. Be polite and professional to everyone in the casting office. Dress professionally. Make sure your child is well prepared for the audition. Be receptive to the casting director and take direction as it's given. If possible, see if you can stand behind the casting director during the audition so if your child is looking at you, it appears that they are looking at the casting director. However, that's not always possible. They might have you stand off to side, or they might not even let the parents be present. Thank the casting director for his or her time before you leave your child's audition. And as a little something extra, send a thank you note to the casting director letting them know how much you appreciate them for the opportunity. You can even have note cards or postcards created with your child's photo on them.
The goal is to standout from all of the other actors, singers, dancers and models that the casting directors will meet with. Even if you don't get the job, I guarantee that you will leave a lasting, positive impression and the casting director will remember you when other opportunities arise.
The auditioning process isn't easy, and dealing with rejection can be tough for children. If we're faced with rejection, it is human nature to react. Sometimes we blame others or make excuses. But we can stop being the victim and learn that dealing with rejection is about loving ourselves even when others do not. We can take what would normally be negative reactions and turn them into pro-actions that will help us move forward!
Great things can come out of this experience! Celebrate the fact that you made it this far! You had an audition and that's something to be proud of. Next, learn from your mistakes and look at them as an opportunity for self improvement. After an audition, parents can ask their children positive questions first such as “How do you feel you did?” and “What do you feel you did right?” Then they can follow it up with, “Where do you think you could have done better?” What is the lesson in the whole experience: Were you late for the audition? Did you do the appropriate amount of studying of the sides? Praise is also important, so congratulating them on a job well done – that is, the fact that they put themselves out there in the first place, will help to open positive communication so you can work together on improvement.
Remind your child that if her audition is rejected, it may have nothing to do with her specifically. "We were not rejected. We just weren't the right choice in the eyes of the decision making team," explains Carl Sprayberry in his blog, "Diary of a Showbiz Parent." Casting directors are taking many factors into consideration when choosing a child and many of those factors aren't known up front. That's why it is important to perform well, but also to be a likeable and agreeable family. That means you, the parent, too! So if your child doesn't get a role, be realistic about their abilities, but remind them that casting may have simply been looking for something different. Then take the opportunity to celebrate his or her own unique qualities.
Plan for rejection before it happens. What will you and your family use as a confirmation to know that you are doing well? At first, “doing well” may simply mean going on auditions and doing your best. Then, after a predetermined amount of time, “doing well” may be a ratio of auditions to bookings. If you go on 20 auditions and get one booking, is that enough confirmation to continue? Decide together as a family and you won’t feel as discouraged when things get tough.
Keep doing what you love. Keep doing the things that give you and your child fulfillment. If acting is what fulfills your child, remind yourselves why you are a showbiz family in the first place: is it truly for the love of the craft? If so, taking acting classes and participating in school plays can help to fulfill this passion while you continue to pursue your goals.
There are a couple of key things that need to be addressed before you head down this road. There will be a huge demand of your time needed if your child succeeds in this business. Your child will have to sacrifice time also. Most auditions and jobs will take place on a weekday, which means that you may have to skip work and your child may have to miss school. This of course means that you must have a flexible schedule and make up time missed from work. At the same time, your child misses schoolwork which must be made up.
For your child to make it in this business both of you will need to learn how to juggle many tasks at once. One thing that you want to make sure of is that you are not forcing your child to do something that she/he really doesn’t want to do. Ask the child if they want to be in commercials, movies or if they like having their picture taken? Let them answer genuinely as kids most often do. If they don’t like it, don’t force them just because it’s what you want.
If your child states that she/he is interested in "show business", you can move to the next phase. Now that you have a green light from your child on this career, here is what you need to do. Read up on the industry so that you know what is right and what is a rip-off in this business. Your child cannot speak up and it is your job to manage and protect your child, even if the child has an agent or manager. You are responsible for how your child is treated and should always be on the set or send someone that you can trust on the set with your child.
Find a photographer that does good work. You can check the yellow pages for a list of photographers but the best way to find a photographer is to ask someone you know and trust; preferably someone with experience in show business. Be sure to check the photographer’s books (e.g. photos they’ve taken) carefully to see if you like their work. When you find the right photographer, schedule a shoot for your child. Discuss with the photographer ahead of time about wardrobe, hair, make-up etc. Most photographers have a stylist/make-up artist that they work with, if you need one. Once you get pictures that you are happy with, you will need to have them duplicated. There are a number of companies that will reproduce prints at a reasonable price.
While you are waiting on the pictures to come back, begin working on your child’s resume. Don’t forget to list everything that shows they know how to perform. The fashion shows and play at school, or if they sing on the youth choir at church. If they belong to any clubs like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, add that to their resume. This is the resume that you will attach to the back of your child’s pictures to send to potential agents.
Write a quick cover letter of two small paragraphs (4 or 5 sentences) explaining that you have enclosed a resume and headshot for the agent’s files and to please contact you to set up a meeting. You may want to check with different agencies in your area ahead of time to see which ones handle kids because not all agencies do. Put together a package that includes a headshot, resume attached to the back of the headshot (stapled at all four corners) and the cover letter. Hopefully agents will call you in to meet with your child and you will be on your way.
Finally, be sure to have an answering machine and maybe a pager so that the agent can get in touch with you. When the agent calls, set up an audition time and find out how the child should dress and what the job is for. This information is helpful so that you can brief your child by saying things like:
This is going to be lots of fun because they want you to play with toys OK, let’s practice. How would you look if you didn’t feel good?
Show me your funny face.
Show me your sad face.
Show me your angry face
… and so on You take at least 2 headshots with resumes to each audition. You will probably only need one, but have an extra one just in case.
As your child gets work, keep updating the resume to reflect the new experience. As the child gets better and better, begin to move the career forward and maybe you will have a little star on your hands. Good luck to you and your kids.
Working with young people on the set can be the most rewarding / difficult thing. There are lots of factors that determine which experience you will have. First and foremost you need to realize that a child is just that, a child. There are certain needs that a child has and as the adult you should be prepared to try and facilitate those needs, within reason of course.
Remember that children are generally honest and are also very perceptive. If you get upset with them they will know it and you can imagine how this might affect their performance. Try the old litmus test of putting yourself in the child’s shoes. When is it easier for you to work? When the director is understanding of your dropping a line, or when the director is making you feel like a child by openly chastising you for being human? I think we all know the answer to that question.
If you can become rattled on the set because of circumstances beyond your control or because of the way that the crew treats you, just imagine how those same situations could effect the confidence of a youngster. Do everything that you can to accommodate the children on the set, particularly if the child has to interact with you. If you know that even the possibility exists that you might interact with the children, don’t wait until the scene begins to acknowledge them. Try to get introduced to them early on and begin to interact with them slowly as the day goes on.
If it is at all possible, ask that the director or the child’s guardian introduce the child to you. A child takes much better to someone introduced to them by their guardian rather than some stranger who just walks up and acts as if he knows them. Remember that children are perceptive and smart. If you act as if you know them, they will wonder what you are up to. This will make them stiff and not natural when interacting during a scene.
You should not ask questions that you don’t want to hear the answer to because children will generally tell you the honest and sometimes brutal truth. If they tell you something, accept it for what it is and figure how you can use it to make the child feel more comfortable with you. Don’t force your friendship on the child. You are there to work and you don’t need to hang out with the child all day unless the child wants to.
Finally, give the child praise for doing a good job. This helps build the child’s confidence, which will make them want to perform better. If you lend a little help to a child, it will make you feel great at the end of the day. If the child on the set were your child, how would you want the actors to treat your child? Exercising patience can go a long way in life and even farther when applied to children on the set.
We receive a lot of e-mails from parents about how to get their kids into show business. You can find plenty of information by doing a Google search to help you with this topic, but I want to take a slightly different approach with this article. For our purposes in this edition, let’s talk about the fact that these are our children and the simple yet sometimes overlooked fact that kids are people too!
Oftentimes children become actors because someone takes a look at your child and says, "She is so pretty. You should get her in commercials." While this is sweet and very good for a parent’s ego, it may not be the best thing for the child. Let’s say that you agree and begin to pursue the idea. Be honest with yourself. How many people ask their children if they want to be in commercials? Even if you do, do you think the child really understands what is involved? Let’s talk about some of those things.
Does the child or you know that there may situations where the child has to work outside under hot lights in the middle of summer? The child may have to work in studios with hot lights and it can become really hot. The child may have to spend lots of time studying and memorizing lines while the other kids are out playing. If the child becomes a big money maker, you might become over protective because the child will be more than just your child, but your source of income.
Be sure that you don’t enter or continue in this business because you are trying to live up to other people’s expectations. Once you get your child started in the business, constantly monitor how the child responds to auditions and actual jobs. Is she/he still interested or do they cry before going. Do they ask if they can just stay home or go out and play? Listen to your child and do what is best for the child.
This also means that if your child loves the business and can’t wait to get in front of that camera, nurture their career and try to find a happy medium between being a working actor and a child that needs to have friends and play from time to time. If your child grows up to be a huge star and enjoys a great career…wonderful! If your child grows up to have lots of fame and fortune, but suffers from emotional problems and feels robbed of a childhood, who will be to blame? These are things that you need to consider. This can be a great move for you and your child, just pay attention to the child and don’t become side-tracked by the money and stardom of the business.
Your child will need two legal documents in order to work in the industry: a work permit from the state where he resides and a Social Security Card. Obtaining a work permit may vary from state to state. Please check with the Department of Social Services in your area. If you have a talent agency, they should also be able to help you with this.
Obtaining a work permit for your child is easy. In California you can get one at no cost from the "Entertainment Work Permit Department" found at the Department of Social Services in you area. Work permits are good for a six-month period and must be renewed every six moths thereafter. Some parents make the mistake of waiting until the child booked a job before obtaining a work permit. Don't be caught unprepared! It is entirely possible to find your child has booked a job late Wednesday night and is expected to report to the set early Thursday morning. Without an original copy of a work permit from your state, your child will not be allowed to work. You won't fool the production people of the social worker/studio teacher by saying you lost if or left it at home.
For child actors, this is a hard and fast rule: without a work permit, your child will not be allowed to work!
Work permits are required by the child's home state and must be signed off by a social worker/studio teacher who is hired by the state to take care of your child's school and labor needs on the job. If your child is shooting out of town or in another state, the social worker/studio teacher from his home state may want to accompany him to the state in which the project is being filmed.
Your child works under the laws of his home state, no matter where in the United States (or outside the United States) he is filming. For instance: if a child actor resides in California but is filming a project in Utah, the child and perhaps a California social worker/studio teacher will go to Utah to make the movie, but both will work under the laws of the State of California. The child's parent or guardian must go as well, of course. The state makes no exceptions to the this rule. Labor laws have been designed by each state to protect both child and parent.
The first time you apply for a work permit, if your child is school age, you will need to present a copy of his birth certificate as well as the name and address of the school he currently attends. If school is in session, it must acknowledge that your child's grades and conduct are in good standing. If school is not in session, you must present a copy of your child's last report card with your application. If your child is under five years of age, you will only need to present a copy of his birth certificate to obtain a work permit.
After the initial permit is processed, the Department of Social Services will send your renewal forms by mail (two weeks before the current permit's expiration). Questions can be directed to the Department of Social Services. You will retain an original copy to be presented to the social worker/studio teacher when your child works; if you leave the original at home, you will have to return home to get it. Another original is kept by the Department of Social Services.
The purpose of the Social Security Card is to allow payment to be made to your child when he is working. It is state-regulated; payment to a minor cannot legally be made until the number is secured and given to the company that hired your child. It should be easy to obtain a Social Security Card because most children acquire Social Security numbers for their parents' income tax deduction purposes.
A card can be obtained from the Department of Social Security either by mail or by visiting a local office. Call 800-772-1213 to have an application sent to you through the mail. You can also visit their Web site. The forms are available on-line. Two forms of identification are required, a birth certificate and any other form of identification with the information of your child's birth printed on it. If you want to visit the office in person, call the Social Security office to make sure the office still does business at the listed location; offices close on a regular basis and you may have to travel a long distance to find one that is open.
"Coogan" accounts are trust accounts required by the states of California and New York as a condition of issuance of work permits for minors who wish to work in the entertainment business. They are named for Jackie Coogan, who was a child star of the 20th century whose earnings were squandered.
As I understand it, 15% of any minor's income "from the business" must be set aside in one of these accounts via direct payment from the employer. A parent or guardian will be the trustee of such an account, but withdrawals are not permitted (except transfers to another Coogan account). The trustee must turn the funds over to the kid at age 18, and the kid cannot touch the money until then.
If you're the parent of a child or teen actor who has begun working on projects in the industry without the guidance of a talent agent or manager, it's critical that you familiarize yourself with the child labor laws and regulations in your state. Not only is it important because it's the law, but these regulations are put in place for the benefit of the child or teen and are great guidelines to follow.
States can regulate many aspects of a production when it comes to kids and teens working in the entertainment industry. Before your child walks on set, make sure you find out the answers to the following questions:
What's the maximum number of hours my child can work on set?
Are the hours different for school and non-school days?
How much light can/will my infant be exposed to?
Is my child required to have a work permit?
Is a studio teacher required to be on set?
How much time does my child get for rest and recreation?
Are there any exceptions?
There are always gray areas, loopholes and exceptions. For example, many regulations are determined based on the age of the actor. However while a seventeen year old student in California may only be allowed to work between certain hours, a seventeen year old who has graduated from high school is not subject to child labor laws and can work as an adult. Whether your child has a manager or not, you are your child's primary advocate. A production set can be a harried, hectic environment and if a director is running behind schedule he may not want your child to get their mandated break time. It's up to you to put your foot down to make sure that your child has a healthy, balanced and enjoyable experience in the industry.
Here you can read about filling tax returns for child actors and child models.
You should be familiar with the following types of documents.
Work Permit - in California, a current and valid entertainment work permit must be presented to the studio teacher upon arrival. Check your local state laws to find out the requirements in your state. If you use CIF's permit service, you'll receive your permit in an easy to use folder that will allow you to carry your additional paperwork as well.
Coogan Account Info - In California, make sure to have a statement of trustee for proof of a minor blocked trust account. Check your state laws to see if a blocked trust account is required in your state as it is in many other states outside of California such as Kansas, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York.
W-2 Form - this form is related to your child's taxes and you'll receive one whenever you work as an employee for a production. You will be asked for an SSN and how many deductions you want to claim. You will use your child's social security number. "If your child does not have one, the parent should contact the local office of the Social Security Administration to obtain one," suggests David K. Rogers of Actors Tax Prep. "They will need a certified copy of the child's birth certificate to obtain the number and you will fill out Form SS-5."
W-9 - you'll be asked to fill out a W-9 when working as an independent contractor. In this situation, no taxes are withheld, but a SSN is required for your 1099. This is most common when working in print modeling. Make sure you realize that taxes will be owed come tax time.
I-9 - An I-9 document proves that you have the legal right to work in the US. The I-9 form requires you to attach supporting documents such as a passport or birth certificate, social security card, etc.
Time Card (Voucher) - Production will give you a time card to complete. There are two kinds - union and non union. If you have representation, your rep will ask you to use their info in lieu of your own when completing this form. This is to ensure that your pay check goes to their office for documentation and payment processing. This is standard, so you don't need to be alarmed that your paychecks go to them first.
Contracts and Deal Memos - Contracts and Deal Memos are written agreements pertaining to your employment stating what you have been hired to do. "Deal Memo" is a term that independent producers use for employment contracts. The word "contract" generally implies that the document is legally binding, so the term memo is sometimes used to imply a less formal agreement. Regardless of the title, it is important that you read whatever you sign and that you discuss the information with your agent and/or manager.
Releases - A release is usually a brief document, different from a deal memo, that becomes the license that is attached to the images as they go from the day of production to the finished product. A producer must provide a release in order to sell an image, and the parents of young performers will likely be asked to sign these releases. "A typical release will begin with acknowledgment of the fee," explained Agent Carol Lynn Sher of CESD, "and that in return for paying the fee the talent grants rights and permission to copyright and publish the work." Carol Lynn went on to note that releases hold the producer harmless for manipulations, distortions, blurring or editing of the images and that it will sometimes include confidentiality requests or exclusivity requests.
Parents of newcomers often put too much pressure on themselves and their children on the first few auditions. If you can avoid the pressure whole lapping up the excitement, you will be better off from the start, because there is no reward for pressure except for unnecessary stress on your child.
Remember, the first call is only a first look. It simply means that the casting director has seen your child's picture and now, he would like to see for himself if your child has that "certain something" when they meet him in person.
There shouldn't be any pressure put on your child - no matter how important you may feel the audition is. You will never inspire in your child a positive attitude about acting if, every time he feels apprehensive, your disappointment in him is overwhelming. While your child may be exactly what the casting company is looking for (in your mind, anyway), so might fifty other kids! If your child has done his best on the audition, that is all you should expect from him. However, if he is having a rotten day and doesn't feel like performing, there shouldn't be hell to pay from you.
Don't make your child perfect; this isn't a modeling call or a beauty pageant. This is reality and casting directory want real children. Child actors must be relaxed at all times in order to perform their best work. Whether our child is "on" or "off," your job is to keep him cool. The climate should always be cool, calm, and collected. Your child is there to show off and shine.
Children are like little sponges. If yours thinks you're freaked our by all this, how do you expect him to respond? Your child should feel that this new venture fits into his life, not replaces it. A little dirt on his face, messed up hair, or a wrinkle on his shirt, can actually be a plus in keeping him relaxed enough to book a job. No, parents, we don't suggest you take your child on calls like he just rolled in dirt. What we are trying to suggest is that you allow your child to be himself whenever possible.
Another important consideration, especially for infants, is your child's ability to separate easily from you. Will your infant go to a stranger without screaming when you hand him over? Casting directors won't give him a few days or even a few minutes to bond with the actor(s) playing his parent(s) during the audition. It's now or never when infants and the audition process are concerned. You will be in the room with your infant, but you will not be in front of the camera with him.
Do you think your child is cut out for acting? You child's behavior and personality should give you an idea of his potential acting ability. Most parents can recognize, just by looking at their children, whether or not they possess the qualities and disposition necessary for the industry. If you think your child might be a good actor, but you aren't sure if he has the requirements, here is a list of questions that will help you sort it out.
Is your child (A) outgoing and animated; or (B) quiet and shy?
Does he (A) say hello to someone when he's introduced; or (B) become distracted by things in his environment and not realize that someone is speaking to him?
Does he (A) love to sing and dance for you; or (B) think stuff like singing and dancing is stupid?
Does he (A) imitate what he sees on TV; or (B)forget what he watching five minutes ago?
Does he (A) respond when he's asked his name or age by someone he doesn't know; or ( shrug his shoulders as if he no longer remembers what language he speaks?
If you answered "A" to these questions, that's terrific! Most would-be industry children are little hams by nature, willing to show off at every opportunity. Your child's ability to meet new people easily and to show off for them will be one of the most important factors in his career. We have to remember, nonetheless, that as responsible parents, we raise our children not to talk to strangers and the world of show business is contrary to this upbringing by 180 degrees.
We therefore advise you to have continuing discussions with your child in this topic, especially after his career is launched. Make sure he knows the difference between meeting an unfamiliar casting person or working with a cast and crew of strangers, and speaking to strangers outside of these industry- type situations. The rules you teach him about talking to or going with strangers should remain the same as if he were not in the industry. You may even discover he likes the idea.
Before you begin launching your child into the spotlight, we recommend sitting down and discussing with him your thoughts about his possible acting career. Be specific when you talk to your child; be sure he understands exactly what is required of him.
A child actor's career should be something you and your child decide to do together. This endeavor requires both parent and child to be voluntary participants. After all, we're talking about his life too! His feelings on the subject must be considered. If you approach the topic positively, your child will likely respond positively. You may even discover he likes the idea!
Here are a couple of suggestions for testing the water. Before to making your decision (and long after you've committed to it, too), watch programs that focus on children your child's age. You'll find lots of child actors in television commercials too; in fact, in the beginning, your child will go out on more interviews for commercials than for any other medium. (TV series, feature films and movies of the week usually come after your child has done a few commercials.)
When watching children, make comments to your child. For example, while viewing a pudding commercial featuring a five year-old boy, you might say, "Wasn't he cute? I'll bet you could do that." If your child offers an affirmative response, ask him to say a couple of lines about chocolate pudding; the lines do not have to be the same as those in the commercial. Let him make up something on his own. He may surprise you. If he can easily mimic what he hears, he's ready.
If your child willingly performs for your upon request, he'll willingly do it for others, like casting directors, producers, and directors. Of course, there's a big difference between performing for you and performing for someone outside the family.
Once your child is going out on calls, keep in mind that he's just a kid. There will be days when he is "on" and days when, no matter what you promise him, he just won't do anything for anybody. Will the casting people understand? Of course they will.
There will be other calls, other projects, and there's no need to burn bridges with casting directors over an attitude caused by a missed nap. Keep in mind, however, there are dozens more kids just like yours lining up right outside the door, ready and willing to stand up and be counted. All the casting people have to do with a child who won't perform is say, "Next."
Infants, toddlers, and young children change in appearance much too quickly and the legitimate agencies understand that. Under the age of 4 - these agencies will only require a few snapshots of your child.
Take a close-up shot of your child. (Head and shoulders - Don't get so close that the image is blurry)
Take a full length shot of your child
Take one character shot of your child - something that shows the child's personality - feel free to use props with this shot.
Find a place that is bright and evenly lit - DON'T use a flash
Don't send 50 photos to the agencies - just 2 or 3.
If an agency accepts your child - be prepared to update these images every 6 months or so.
Children aged 4 through age 13 will generally only need headshots. These images should be professionally done. Even at these ages, you will need to update these images every year to a year and a half at the most since children will change dramatically from year-to-year.
A composite is only helpful if a child has very different and distinctive looks and should not be considered until an agency has proven themselves to you by getting your child work.
When you first show up to an audition or casting call, you would normally bring 2 or 3 pictures. However, if you get past that stage, they will probably want to see your child's portfolio. Also, if you go to a go-see for a modeling agency, you should bring a modeling portfolio. You should use a photo album, and fill it up with pictures. If your child has already done paid modeling work, those pictures should go at the beginning of the portfolio in order from most to least recent. It's especially important for girls to have a modeling portfolio. In order for your daughter to be a professional, she needs to have a portfolio that you can show to photographers, advertising agencies, and casting directors interested in hiring her. You can hire a professional photographer. It's good to have a wide variety of pictures. You should take professional looking pictures for her portfolio, including the following.
Full length shot
Smiling head shot
Maybe a few more playful shots
photos should be clear
In focus
No other children in photos
headshot - like a school picture
different facial expressions - surprised, happy, sad, pouty, mischevous, etc.
action - such as jumping in the air, dancing, gymnastics, cartwheels, etc.
casual - such as, tanktop, pants, skirt, overalls, shortalls, etc.
formal - formal dress like a flower girl at a wedding
swimwear - bikini and one-piece suit
sleepwear - pajamas or nightgown
underwear - panties, both with and without a crop top
nude - cute pictures that make you go "awww!" Think of the Coppertone ad.
Also, try to have pictures with different hairstyles, such ponytial, pigtails, or braids.
Of course, you do not need to have underwear pictures or nude pictures. If you are a model, or the parent of a child model, you should never do anything that you do not feel comfortable doing. You don't have to have nude or underwear but there's no reason not to do it. Your daughter will be more likely to get modeling or acting work if you include cute nude pictures in her portfolio that are appropriate for her age. You should trust the people who work at the agency to be professionals, the same way you do if you take your child to the doctor who sees your child undressed. These are adorable images capturing fleeting childhood innocence. Ivory Soap did an advertising campaign called "Ivory Baby" in which the kids posed nude. When you do nude pictures, it's important that you don't show any "private parts" in the picture. Try doing a side view or back view. Brooke Shields modelled nude when she was 10 years old. Lindsay Lohan did a nude scene in the Disney movie "Parent Trap" when she was 12 years old. You should also write a resume with the following information.
Childs age / date of birth
height
up to date sizes
shoe size
if there are any missing teeth
if the child can read
Here is a list of information you should include
Age range:
Hair color:
Complexion:
Hairstyle/Length:
Eyes:
Weight:
Height:
Dress Size:
Suit Size:
Chest/Bust:
Waist:
Hips:
Shoe Size:
Inseam:
Neck:
Citizenship:
Languages:
Here you can see a sample child's resume.
Here's an exercise I recommend for the parents who are trying to get their daughters into modeling.
First have the girls look through catalogs and fashion magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, or Vanity Fair, and pay attention to how the models pose. Then for each of the girls, put together several outfits that capture a certain look, such as commercial modeling, high fashion, haute couture, athletic or sports, Gothic, cheerleader, Western cowgirl, swimwear bikini, etc., Then after that, have the girls model each set of clothes, and try to capture the basic look or feeling. There are different poses you would do when modeling different types of clothes. They would try to learn the different types of poses or facial expressions you would do when modeling different types of clothes. Try different poses like putting their hands on their hips, looking over the shoulder, etc. They should do pictures standing up, sitting down, kneeling, lying down, etc. They should be facing a full length mirror, so they can see themselves. You should have music playing in the background, like dance music or rock music. Then afterwards, critique their modeling, and give them advice. There are photoshoots where they pose the models, and they want models that follow directions. There are also photoshoots where they want models that can improvise, and be able to give great poses with little direction. You can try giving them directions so they can learn to follow directions. You can try having them improvise so they can get used to modeling without direction. So hopefully, your girls can sort of internalize modeling, and the different poses become second nature. Hopefully, the kids will have fun doing it also.
If you look at the history of modeling, for the past hundred years, models have been modeling for advertising, but for 3000 years before that, they modeled only for artists, and half the time, they were modeling for artistic nudes, so there is a huge tradition of models modeling nude. This is especially true for children. If you look at Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, they had nudes of children. In medieval churches, they have paintings of nude children on the wall. In Renaissance paintings, they had nude children called "putti" used as background decoration. In the 19th Century, famous painters such as Adolph William Bougereau and John Waterhouse did child nudes. Many 20th Century photographers did nude child photography, such as Sally Mann, Jock Sturges, Edward Weston, Richard West, Ron Oliver, Charles duBois Hodges, Anne Geddes, Suza Scalora, etc. Lewis Carroll, who wrote "Alice in Wonderland" did nude child photography. Edward Muybridge, who invented the motion picture, did nude child photography. Brooke Shields modeled nude when she was 10 years old. Lindsey Lohan did a nude scene in the Disney movie "Parent Trap" when she was 12 years old.
When you are trying to get your child into modeling, it certainly helps to include nude pictures in their portfolio because a lot of the modeling assignments for kids require nudity. When they have commercials on TV for children's shampoo, those kids are nude when they shoot the commercial. One of my models was hired by Ivory Soap for the Ivory Baby ad campaign, and of course she was nude when they did the photoshoot. There's a lot of advertising where the kids have to be nude. Coppertone has an ad where a dog pulls down the bottom of a little girl's swimsuit, so then the little girl is nude in the ad. "Singer" sewing machines did an ad where a little girl in the nude at a sewing machine, and the caption says "For the woman who has nothing to wear". There's also a lot of movies and tv shows where the kids have to do nude scenes. There's movies such as Tom Sawyer, Oliver Twist, etc. where the kids have to do nude scenes. One of my models was hired for the starring role in a movie, and she did a nude scene when she was 10 years old. They want to make sure the kids are totally comfortable being nude, and not shy or embarrassed at all.
Another reason is because when you are trying to get modeling and acting work for your daughter, you want her to be as cute as possible in the pictures, and nothing makes your daughter as super super cute as possible as having her nude. The nude pictures are supposed to be all smiles and dimples, and would make anyone go "awww!" Another reason they want nude pictures is just to make sure that the girls don't have scars, bruises, blemishes, tattooes, piercing, etc. They want to know what freckles they have, that sort of thing.
Ever wonder what kind of an impression your child's headshots are making on casting directors? Your child's headshot is their passport to the role of their dreams. So if their headshots are not a good reflection of them and their personality, or the quality of their headshots is poor, it may take them longer to get to attain the level of success you’d hoped for. Whether their photos are outdated, or simply not the best reflection of their personality, new headshots are often just what an aspiring entertainer needs in order to land the auditions and the roles they have their hearts set on.
Does your child's photo look natural? Does your child's photo reflect the way they look now and not five years ago? Is your child's photo a clear shot of them, without distracting objects in the background? Are they looking directly at the camera? Does their photo convey the right image for them? Are the clothes they are wearing in the photo contemporary? Did you use a professional photographer? Does your photo conform to industry standards? If you’ve answered no to any of these questions, then you may want to consider taking new photos. Ask friends in the industry to help you select a professional photographer. It’s also critical that your hair, makeup and attire help you portray an image that will grab the attention of casting directors the moment they set their eyes on your photo. Once you’ve taken your photos, don’t rush to the printer. Make sure you have several people look at your proof sheet and offer their opinion on which photos are the strongest. Once there’s a consensus, you’ll be in a much better position to decide which photos would help you get the best results. A headshot that accurately portrays your personality and lets your charisma shine through is the first step towards success in the entertainment industry. Succeeding in the entertainment industry often hinges on the ability to win people over. You have to sell your child as a performer who is not only talented, but who's responsible, professional and courteous to others. Want to get cast? Then dedicate as much energy to winning over the casting director that you dedicate to your craft.
So, how do you go about winning over the casting director? Here are a few easy tips that are guaranteed to help you make a positive, lasting impression on the casting director, and help your child standout as a talent they'll want to work with and endorse.
Submit professional photos that both look like your child and reflect their personality. Bring extra copies of your child's headshot and resume to your audition in the event yours have been misplaced. Consistently show up for your child's auditions on time. Be polite and professional to everyone in the casting office. Dress professionally. Make sure your child is well prepared for the audition. Be receptive to the casting director and take direction as it's given. If possible, see if you can stand behind the casting director during the audition so if your child is looking at you, it appears that they are looking at the casting director. However, that's not always possible. They might have you stand off to side, or they might not even let the parents be present. Thank the casting director for his or her time before you leave your child's audition. And as a little something extra, send a thank you note to the casting director letting them know how much you appreciate them for the opportunity. You can even have note cards or postcards created with your child's photo on them.
The goal is to standout from all of the other actors, singers, dancers and models that the casting directors will meet with. Even if you don't get the job, I guarantee that you will leave a lasting, positive impression and the casting director will remember you when other opportunities arise.
The auditioning process isn't easy, and dealing with rejection can be tough for children. If we're faced with rejection, it is human nature to react. Sometimes we blame others or make excuses. But we can stop being the victim and learn that dealing with rejection is about loving ourselves even when others do not. We can take what would normally be negative reactions and turn them into pro-actions that will help us move forward!
Great things can come out of this experience! Celebrate the fact that you made it this far! You had an audition and that's something to be proud of. Next, learn from your mistakes and look at them as an opportunity for self improvement. After an audition, parents can ask their children positive questions first such as “How do you feel you did?” and “What do you feel you did right?” Then they can follow it up with, “Where do you think you could have done better?” What is the lesson in the whole experience: Were you late for the audition? Did you do the appropriate amount of studying of the sides? Praise is also important, so congratulating them on a job well done – that is, the fact that they put themselves out there in the first place, will help to open positive communication so you can work together on improvement.
Remind your child that if her audition is rejected, it may have nothing to do with her specifically. "We were not rejected. We just weren't the right choice in the eyes of the decision making team," explains Carl Sprayberry in his blog, "Diary of a Showbiz Parent." Casting directors are taking many factors into consideration when choosing a child and many of those factors aren't known up front. That's why it is important to perform well, but also to be a likeable and agreeable family. That means you, the parent, too! So if your child doesn't get a role, be realistic about their abilities, but remind them that casting may have simply been looking for something different. Then take the opportunity to celebrate his or her own unique qualities.
Plan for rejection before it happens. What will you and your family use as a confirmation to know that you are doing well? At first, “doing well” may simply mean going on auditions and doing your best. Then, after a predetermined amount of time, “doing well” may be a ratio of auditions to bookings. If you go on 20 auditions and get one booking, is that enough confirmation to continue? Decide together as a family and you won’t feel as discouraged when things get tough.
Keep doing what you love. Keep doing the things that give you and your child fulfillment. If acting is what fulfills your child, remind yourselves why you are a showbiz family in the first place: is it truly for the love of the craft? If so, taking acting classes and participating in school plays can help to fulfill this passion while you continue to pursue your goals.