So you think you've got this kids modeling thing all figured out? Think again.
Parents that think they know everything about child modeling will very likely zone out and stop reading this article. And a few that do read it might actually know a few things, but the huge majority - as in 95% of them DO NOT.
How do we know? This article is based on over 30 years of feedback from agents and casting directors and what they say is that 95% of the headshots, portfolios and comp cards they see make them cringe and the amount of time they waste reminding parents to upgrade and/or update their kids' promo materials drives them crazy.
So what is on this page is not just for beginners it's for everyone and here are two of the most important things you need to know:
NEVER take photos of your kids for modeling or acting purposes yourself and don't let a ‘photographer friend’ take them either.
Sure, it sounds tempting but don’t think for a minute that you will be saving money that way as you will very likely end up losing as much as several hundred dollars per month in gasoline to go on castings wit, not to mention lost time and lost bookings.
NEVER work with TFP (Trade for Photos) and/or other sort of amateur photographers. Again, going that route might be tempting but the results will NOT be anywhere near good enough and you will end up regretting it as it will cost you thousands of dollars in lost bookings.
Will following these two simple rules actually result an increase in the quality and quantity of your bookings?
Sure exceptions might exist. Maybe your photographer friend is Annie Leibowitz and maybe she will take photographs for you as a favor. Or maybe your $50 headshots are truly amazing but this very seldom happens as in almost never as:
Anyone can buy a cheap camera then put up a web site and claim to be a 'professional' photographer but most - as in 99% of them - are clueless as to what real agents and real casting directors want to see. And even if they were to be given detailed instructions they don’t have the equipment, experience and expertise to produce compelling photographs that are capable of triggering agency interest, castings, request castings and direct bookings.
Which means that the huge majority of parents that are trying to get their kids started in modeling and/or television and film will end up wasting their time and money over and over again. It all adds up, the resulting amateur photos will invariably end up doing more harm than good. Meanwhile, time will keep slipping away which is never a good thing, especially with kids so don't do it.
Then there are the parents that needlessly spend money on ‘managers’ or career coaches with no credentials. Or they are overpaying for classes at 'the best acting school' or the 'hottest commercial audition workshop' in town - yet mom and dad never get around having great headshots done which makes no sense whatsoever as:
This is a first impression business and your headshot or comp card is always the first thing an agent or a casting director sees. And most of the time they are going to make up their mind whether they are going to take you seriously or not at first glance and it won’t matter one bit what kind of coaching, training or experience your kids have.
Why? Because if your headshot or comp card doesn't immediately grab their attention, they will never see your kids' resume and they will never see them in person because you will not be called in.
So make no mistake: Promo materials (headshots, portfolio photos, comp cards, etc.) are of utmost importance and your career as an actor or a model will rise or fall based on your photographs.
Outdated and/or amateur looking photos won't cut it so upgrade and update your materials as often as possible - and don’t count on agents and casting directors to remind you as they get tired of nagging actors and models to update and upgrade and many of them won’t take the time do it.
Agents will, however, take time to keep track of your casting to booking ratio and if your casting to booking ratio falls below a certain level they will drop you. So be proactive as how you present yourself is the most important and least expensive things you can do in order to maximize your bookings and it is the only thing you have complete control of.
Nothing is more important than having up-to-date professional looking promo materials. So make sure you have great photos from a trusted source in order to stand out from the crowd and maximize your bookings.
Some parents that you met on a casting told you that you don’t need great photographs and compcards - and you believed them?
Wishful thinking and bad advice have killed more modeling, commercial and film careers than all other factors combined.
Why would other parents - your competition - want your kids to have better promo materials than their kids have? And what if they have no idea what they are talking about or what if they are deliberately trying to sabotage you? And why does every successful working actor and model in the world without exception have great promo materials?
Meanwhile, there are several other things you can do in order to maximize your bookings and many of them can be done at little or no cost.
See proof positive that Photos by Moda Bambini Kids Photography on your comp cards and in your portfolio will make a world of difference in the quantity and quality of your bookings HERE
Parents that think they know everything about child modeling will very likely zone out and stop reading this article. And a few that do read it might actually know a few things, but the huge majority - as in 95% of them DO NOT.
How do we know? This article is based on over 30 years of feedback from agents and casting directors and what they say is that 95% of the headshots, portfolios and comp cards they see make them cringe and the amount of time they waste reminding parents to upgrade and/or update their kids' promo materials drives them crazy.
So what is on this page is not just for beginners it's for everyone and here are two of the most important things you need to know:
NEVER take photos of your kids for modeling or acting purposes yourself and don't let a ‘photographer friend’ take them either.
Sure, it sounds tempting but don’t think for a minute that you will be saving money that way as you will very likely end up losing as much as several hundred dollars per month in gasoline to go on castings wit, not to mention lost time and lost bookings.
NEVER work with TFP (Trade for Photos) and/or other sort of amateur photographers. Again, going that route might be tempting but the results will NOT be anywhere near good enough and you will end up regretting it as it will cost you thousands of dollars in lost bookings.
Will following these two simple rules actually result an increase in the quality and quantity of your bookings?
Sure exceptions might exist. Maybe your photographer friend is Annie Leibowitz and maybe she will take photographs for you as a favor. Or maybe your $50 headshots are truly amazing but this very seldom happens as in almost never as:
Anyone can buy a cheap camera then put up a web site and claim to be a 'professional' photographer but most - as in 99% of them - are clueless as to what real agents and real casting directors want to see. And even if they were to be given detailed instructions they don’t have the equipment, experience and expertise to produce compelling photographs that are capable of triggering agency interest, castings, request castings and direct bookings.
Which means that the huge majority of parents that are trying to get their kids started in modeling and/or television and film will end up wasting their time and money over and over again. It all adds up, the resulting amateur photos will invariably end up doing more harm than good. Meanwhile, time will keep slipping away which is never a good thing, especially with kids so don't do it.
Then there are the parents that needlessly spend money on ‘managers’ or career coaches with no credentials. Or they are overpaying for classes at 'the best acting school' or the 'hottest commercial audition workshop' in town - yet mom and dad never get around having great headshots done which makes no sense whatsoever as:
This is a first impression business and your headshot or comp card is always the first thing an agent or a casting director sees. And most of the time they are going to make up their mind whether they are going to take you seriously or not at first glance and it won’t matter one bit what kind of coaching, training or experience your kids have.
Why? Because if your headshot or comp card doesn't immediately grab their attention, they will never see your kids' resume and they will never see them in person because you will not be called in.
So make no mistake: Promo materials (headshots, portfolio photos, comp cards, etc.) are of utmost importance and your career as an actor or a model will rise or fall based on your photographs.
Outdated and/or amateur looking photos won't cut it so upgrade and update your materials as often as possible - and don’t count on agents and casting directors to remind you as they get tired of nagging actors and models to update and upgrade and many of them won’t take the time do it.
Agents will, however, take time to keep track of your casting to booking ratio and if your casting to booking ratio falls below a certain level they will drop you. So be proactive as how you present yourself is the most important and least expensive things you can do in order to maximize your bookings and it is the only thing you have complete control of.
Nothing is more important than having up-to-date professional looking promo materials. So make sure you have great photos from a trusted source in order to stand out from the crowd and maximize your bookings.
Some parents that you met on a casting told you that you don’t need great photographs and compcards - and you believed them?
Wishful thinking and bad advice have killed more modeling, commercial and film careers than all other factors combined.
Why would other parents - your competition - want your kids to have better promo materials than their kids have? And what if they have no idea what they are talking about or what if they are deliberately trying to sabotage you? And why does every successful working actor and model in the world without exception have great promo materials?
Meanwhile, there are several other things you can do in order to maximize your bookings and many of them can be done at little or no cost.
See proof positive that Photos by Moda Bambini Kids Photography on your comp cards and in your portfolio will make a world of difference in the quantity and quality of your bookings HERE
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