Toddler Modeling - Need Advice!

I have twin boys - who according to the Young Agency had lots of personality and they would love to represent them - we did a photo call for a sheet of photos they put out and we paid for - we have received nothing in return.

In the last year that my boys have been "with them" we have gotten only 1 call for a "cattle call" for a group contest that would require several thousand more dollars to participate in and a type of boot camp training for all involved if they were chosen - I decided that this type of intense training was not in the best interest of my 5 year olds.

Oh and the photo that was used to represent my kids - was the worst picture of them that had ever been taken - and it was taken by their professional photographer.

I will never return to that agency and I know that I will also never get my money back

Joy

Check the Better Business Bureau, Attorney Generals Office, and any other agencies that might have info. on scams and or rip offs. Also, there is a website called the Rip off Report that some people report scams on that might be helpful for you to check out. I would definitely have a lawyer check out the contract to before proceeding. A lot of people get caught up in what they think is going to be a lucrative deal for them/their children when in reality it's nothing but scam and ends up costing them tons of money!!

I used to nanny for a family in Scottsdale, and both the mom and the son modeled. She was 6'2" and gorgeous and modeled for 10 years in Europe (mostly for Nike and in Greece). The little boy was 2 when he started. I don't know much about the business, but it seemed that the fashion photographers and PR people that they knew personally, had a never ending stream of babies, toddlers, and kids to use from their own families, friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends, or even kids from their "mommy and me" classes or fellow preschoolers, etc. Either the kids were cute as a button, or had "personality" or had the "look" they needed, etc. Think of how many ads we seee, where we think, "gee, my kid's cuter than that!". They never even needed to go to an agency to get kids! It always made me wonder about "agencies" who require fees, since most of the work seemed to go to people on the inside anyway! Each of my kids did exactly one ad which the mom I nannied for set up. I love the pictures, but frankly, hardly recognized them as my own kids, after the right clothing, lighting and angles were used to photograph them. They looked great, but it made me realize that a good photographer can make ANY kid look stunning and "perfect" and "sophiticated" and all of the other adjectives that subconsciously come to mind when you see an ad. So, I really wonder and doubt if the average kid can really sign up with an agency and get substantial work at all, when mostly any kid might do. Of course, there are the exceptions, but as a rule, I wouldn't spend a dime on fees. I know that my wedding photographer, who is in HIGH demand, used his next door neighbor as a model. One of the guys with whom I work, has a neice in the business, but she wound up there because her mom worked at one of those "buyer's clubs" and one of the wealthy clients was the brother of an ad agency executive. In some parts of life, it really is who you know.

Never EVER pay a fee to these agencies. Not to sound pessimistic but they tell the same thing to all parents in hopes to get their money. Any legit agency will get bookings for your child and take a % of what they earn. You should not have to fork out $$$ for "classes" or a portfolie.

DD 3 years old EDD #2 C/S sched for 6/9/08.

No, No, No, No, No, and Please Don't.

First, are there any little kids we know who aren't one of the cutest kids we know? Second, it's tough enough for attractive girls to be taken seriously; being forever on the web as a "beauty queen" makes it even harder. She'll be as likely to be teased as she is to be praised.