Now in its 15th year, no other kids or teen model search has ever been this EXCITING this REWARDING and this REAL

Enter the 2025 KIDS MODEL SEARCH today for a chance to win modeling contracts with a top agencies, a photo shoot in Miami Beach, Florida, Chicago, Illinois, New York, New York or Los Angeles, California and appear in national and international ad campaigns, magazines and catalogs

Picture
That's Jonah at lower left in the Polo Ralph Lauren poster

Not all kids modeling agencies are alike so choose wisely

Most child modeling agencies (the good ones as well as the not so good ones) will want to play a role in the creation of your photographs, portfolio, comp cards, etc. - and this is where most models, especially beginner models, not only waste a lot of time and money but quite often get themselves into trouble.

While this school of thought (wait until you are signed with an agency then let them 'manage' your kid's modeling career including choosing which photographers to do photo shoots with, what photographs to put in your portfolio and comp cards, etc.) might be helpful to a new model 1% of time - 99% of the time it will produce disastrous results as 99% of the time the so-called agency that wants to oversee your photo shoots and assist you with portfolio and comp card development, etc. has THEIR best interests in mind instead of YOURS.


Another way to get started might be to randomly find a photographer on the internet or out of the phone book then oversee your own photo shoots and put your own photographs, portfolio and comp cards together which 99% of the time will also turn out to be a career killing mistake that will lead to disastrous results almost every time.

So how can you prevent things like this from happening? Very early on you MUST find someone that will give you unbiased, accurate information and advice because if you don't, you will very likely waste a lot of time and money and you will end up so far down the wrong path that you will never find your way back again.

The right way: 1. Find someone with many years of experience that will guide you and give you advice that is in YOUR best interests. 2. Do just ONE quality photo shoot. 3. DO NOT try to put together an elaborate portfolio with a bunch of amateur looking photos in it as amateur looking photos will do you more harm than good. Think QUALITY not QUANTITY. 4. DO NOT be in a big hurry to sign exclusively with any particular agency and, 5. DO NOT waste money on having amateur looking comp cards made when you first start out as they will very likely do you more harm than good and you will ending up throwing most of them away.

Never buy ANYTHING from a modeling agency or a talent agency or a casting director and never buy ANYTHING from anyone they refer you to.

Why not? Because this is the only way that you will be able to minimize your costs and drastically reduce your risk of being duped by bogus casting directors, modeling agencies and talent agencies (aka "portfolio mills") whose true agenda is to sell you worthless workshops, classes, photo shoots, portfolios, comp cards, etc.

Sadly, the many of the crooked modeling schemes, portfolio mills, modeling conventions and the like are run by licensed modeling and talent agencies.

With rare exception, the "do everything your agency tells you to do" way to becoming a model that most agencies aggressively promote will usually produce disastrous results as that method gives bogus agencies free reign to overstep their bounds and control you.

Thousands upon thousands of so-called modeling agencies throughout the United States - with most of them concentrated in major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Miami Beach, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Philadelphia, etc. - make most, if not all, of their money by collecting payment directly from their models and talent for photo shoots, portfolios, comp cards, workshops, classes, etc. Others do it by "splitting fees" with the amateur and unethical photographers they refer you to instead of doing what a legitimate modeling agency is supposed to do - which is to book jobs for models and talent and take a commission.

New York, California and Florida all have specific laws that make it ILLEGAL for model/talent agencies to make money by selling models ANYTHING or by referring them to a third party for photography services, portfolios, comp card printing, etc. as a requirement to get bookings. No matter what state you live in, however, this practice would be considered highly unethical as a huge conflict of interests is created whenever a so-called agent, manager or casting director tries to sell you ANYTHING, and in many instances such actions could also be considered as criminal fraud.

Make sure that any agency, manager, acting coach, casting director, etc. that you are considering working with is legit and the best way to do that is to completely avoid having anything to do with any agency manager, acting coach, casting director, etc. that tries to sell you something

You are only as good as the photographs in your portfolio and on your comp cards that you need to have in order to market yourself as a model, so don't put yourself out there with photos and comp cards that will do more harm than good - which is exactly what happens when you get sub-par photo shoots, portfolios and comp cards from agencies, managers, casting directors, etc that should not be selling portfolios, comp cards, etc. to models and talent in the first place and the same principle applies to workshops, classes, "how to walk the runway" lessons, etc.

Legitimate model/talent agencies make money by booking jobs and taking a commission ONLY and a good agent should be able to successfully market you with a few good test shots and a small run of comp cards. So NEVER buying anything from a modeling agency or from whomever they try refer you to as that is the only way to avoid being taken advantage of by a "photo mill" masquerading as an agency.

Any agency that is making some or all of their money selling their models photo shoots, portfolios, comp cards, etc. has very little, if any, incentive to find them work and book jobs. So if ANY agency ever tries to sell you something, don’t take them seriously and run, don't walk, to the nearest exit. And if ANY agency tries to refer you to a comp card photographer or a portfolio photographer - run, don't walk, as some agencies will try to circumvent the law and/or make it less obvious what they are doing by accepting kickbacks from unethical photographers.

Selling amateur photo shoots, portfolios and comp cards to new models is much easier than finding them jobs - so if you do fall for one of these schemes, you will probably never hear back from the so-called agent, manager or casting director again because the he or she has already made all the money they will ever make from you and they will be too busy talking to the next person to look for castings and bookings for you, return your calls, etc..

Managing models, especially child models, is not all that complicated

1. Show up. You would be very surprised how many people don't show up for important castings and bookings.

2. Be on time. You would be very surprised how many people show up late for important castings and bookings.

3. Have a pleasant and cooperative attitude. You would be shocked how many promising careers never get off the ground because the parent(s) and/or the model likes to argue and complain.

4. Always have up-to-date professional looking photographs and comp cards to go on castings with. Wishful thinkers often think up to date photographs and comp cards are not important but in the very competitive world of kids modeling, how you present yourself is everything and if you don't present yourself professionally, real agents, casting directors and clients WILL NOT take you seriously.

5.  Real agencies are licensed to obtain, seek and procure bookings for models and talent. That's it. Real agencies don't have time to micro manage kids' modeling careers and they don't have time to sell them things like photo shoots, portfolios, comp cards, etc.. Real kids agencies will look for work for you and book jobs for you and nothing more.

Never forget, however, that any agency you work with is not only representing you and booking jobs for you, they are also representing and booking jobs for dozens of other models. So don't expect them to always be looking out for YOUR best interests as they are also representing YOUR COMPETITION.

That's it. That's pretty much all the advice you will ever need as far as "managrment" goes. Which begs the question: Why would anyone pay an additional 10 to 20 % of their income - on top of agency commissions - to a so-called "manager"?

Another thing to avoid in the wonderful world of kids modeling are "model managers" and "model management companies" that are not state licensed and bonded to book models.

In Florida, New York and California where model/talent agencies are strictly regulated - you MUST be bonded and you MUST have a state Talent Agency License (not just a business license) in order to book or even attempt to book models and talent, and any company, any individual, any "agent" and/or any "model manager" who does not have a Talent Agency License, yet claims to manage models in order to find work and/or book jobs for models and/or talent CAN NOT legally do what they claim they will be doing for you.

More often than not, "model managers" and "model management" companies in all 50 states will promise bookings then try to sell you something which is unethical, deceptive and fraudulent.

So stay away from unlicensed "managers" and don't let anyone tell you that model/talent managers in Florida, New York or California do not need a Talent Agency license just because they call themselves "managers" because Florida, New York and California state laws make it very clear that any individual and/or any business that makes money booking models and/or talent must have a Talent Agency License no matter what title they go by whether that be "agent" or "manager".

Florida Statute 468.401 Part (1), for example, clearly states: "Talent Agency" means any person who, for compensation, engages in the occupation or business of procuring or attempting to procure engagements for artists. Part (9): 'Person' means any individual, company, society, firm, partnership, association, manager or any agent or employee of the foregoing."

And Florida Statute 468.403 Part (1) clearly states: "A person may not own, operate, solicit business or otherwise engage in or carry on the occupation of a talent agency in this state unless the person first procures a license for the talent agency from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation."

Additional advice from the Screen Actor's Guild with regard to talent agencies also applies to modeling agencies: Legitimate talent agencies do not charge a fee payable in advance for registering you, for resumes, for public relations services, for screen tests, for photographs, for acting (or modeling) lessons, or for many other services used to separate you from your money. If you are signed as a client by a legitimate talent agency, you will pay that agency nothing until you work and then 10 percent (usually 20 percent to modeling agencies) of your earnings as a performer -- but nothing in advance. Legitimate talent agencies normally do not advertise for clients in newspaper classified columns nor do they solicit through the mail. If a purported talent agent seeks to send you to a particular photographer for pictures, hold on to your wallet and run for the nearest exit. Chances are he or she a phony and receives a cut of the photographer's fee. If you need photographs, choose your own photographer. Better still, try another agent.

When it comes to agencies, you are their employer and they are your employee - not the other way around/ Models are independent contractors, not agency employees, and as such you are self employed and, in effect, running your own small business. And even though you're booking a modeling job through an agency, you still have to "sell" yourself and "seal the deal" by showing up on time and presenting yourself professionally.

Selecting the right photographer is critical. A photographer should not be too closely affiliated with any one agency, and they should also have a portfolio that clearly demonstrates that they will be able to give you very professional looking portfolio and comp card photographs that you need to market your modeling career.

A qualified modeling portfolio photographer will also be able to instruct you and give you enough experience to get started. This is called "making a model" and virtually every successful, working model in the world is living proof of how widespread this practice is and how well it works.

Portrait photographers, wedding photographers and studio photographers, etc. on the other hand are almost always very poor choices as they will very seldom have the experience and the skills necessary to create the looks you will need to be successful in the child modeling industry.

Fashion modeling agencies represent models for runway, editorial and catalogue work, modeling clothing and beauty products. The typical young adult fashion model is between 5'9 and 5'11 for women, and 6' tall for men. Women should wear a size 3 to 5, and be between the ages of 14 and 21 except in the case of plus-size models who generally wear a sizes between 10 to 20. Men should wear a size 40 Regular jacket and can be between the ages of 17 and 30.

Commercial models model products and services and some fashion. Character models, such as a person who looks like a construction worker or a housewife for example are also commercial models. There are also swimwear models, resort wear models, sports models and lifestyle modeling where is no height, size or age requirements as with fashion modeling. Acting ability is a plus, as many commercial models also work as actors and many commercial modeling agencies also have a talent division.
Children's Place . Polo . Ralph Lauren . H&M Sweden . Dolce & Gabbana Junior . Gianfranco Ferre' Kids . Lands' End . Hanna Andersson . Gymboree . La Coste . Carter's . Next UK . Next Direct . Bergere de France . Roberto Cavalli Junior . La Redoute . American Girl . Guess Kids . Zara . Chasing Fireflies . Gap Kids . Baby Gap . American Eagle 77 Kids . Mayoral . JC Penney . Macys . Kohl's . Nordstrom . Vogue Kids . Elle Kids . Parents Magazine . Justice . Marks and Spencer . Little Marc Jacobs . Moncler France . Oshkosh . Roxy Kids . Mini Boden . Gucci . Fendi . Burberry . Lilly Pulitzer . Armani Junior . Aeropostale . Abercrombie and Fitch . Teen Prom . Seventeen Magazine . New Balance . Nike . Nickelodeon . The Disney Channel . Universal Studios . Disneyland . Disney World . Toys R Us . Parenting Magazine . Benneton . Quicksilver . Old Navy . Stella McCartney Kids . Mayoral . Diesel Kids . Young Versace . Pale Cloud . Petite Parade . John Galliano Kids . Christian Dior . Missoni . Monalissa . Byblos . Fred Mello . Paul Smith . 3Suisses . Miss Blumarine . Pepe Jeans . Chicco . American Apparel . Milk Magazine . Moda Junior . Replay . Sweet Years . Iceberg . Tory Burch Kids . Oscar de la Renta . Lanvin Petite . Karl Lagerfeld Children's Wear . Givenchy Kids . Gucci Kids . Vogue Bambini . Kids Fashion Week . Miami Beach . Orlando . Atlanta . New York . Chicago . Dallas . Fort Worth . Orange County . San Diego . San Francisco . Los Angeles