18 replies to this topic

[foodie52]

Nataly just finished up a photo session with a photographer. It was a free session: her orthodontist will pay for one photo: her braces came off a few weeks ago and it is his way of thanking us for paying for his bathroom remodel.

While watching the shoot, I realized just how cute and photogenic Nataly is. Maybe this is something she could parlay into paying gigs. She was really into posing, smiling, etc. Her personality really came through.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to find out about this? I tried the internet but too much gross stuff came up.

[The Scream]

My daughter wanted to model when she was younger. I took her to an open call at Ford for their kids division. They took a couple of photos, asked if her little brother was interested too. A few days later they called and said they wanted to sign both children.

I only took them on one audition before deciding that I didn't have time for it. You should consider the amount of time (and money) you will spend going to auditions and prep.

Ford wanted us to invest in a portfolio for our D through a photographer from their list. Our son was young at the time so what they call a "Baby contact sheet" (or something like that) was acceptable. The photographers fees we were quoted for our D were $500-$750 (including a makeup artist and hairstylist for a 6 year old!). Prints were additional. I think the whole thing would cost have about $1250-$1500, not including new clothes. They wanted us to have 6-10 different outfits, different "looks" for her. We passed.

I suggest approaching agencies directly.

In Los Angeles there are lots of so called kids talent scouts, talent showcase organizers and other businesses that position themselves as intermediaries (upfront fees $). I would avoid them. Most seem like scams, a couple claim they "discovered" someone famous, I doubt it.

Another thing to avoid are "managers" or "stylists" who even remotely promote the beauty pageant or "mall" look. A path to cheesey hell.

When I was growing up I knew quite a few kids who worked in the industry, in television or films. They turned out normal, made some extra money for college, had fun, didn't turn into Britney Spears...

[Orik]

It's all a fraud, don't do it, there's endless cheap supply of Eastern Europeans.

[foodie52]

Thanks, guys. I was actually thinking print modelling. I know zilch about it. Thanks, Scream. It will probably come to nothing. Don't have the time or the money.

[porkwah]

i'd do it for sure if i could figure out how to look like a teenage girl.

[Orik]

i'd do it for sure if i could figure out how to look like a teenage girl.

I often look like a teenage girl.

[The Scream]

Thanks, guys. I was actually thinking print modelling. I know zilch about it. Thanks, Scream. It will probably come to nothing. Don't have the time or the money.

I never dealt with another modeling agency besides Ford, so I don't know from firsthand experience. However, at the time I did ask around a bit with folks I knew who were with other agencies. I was told that many of them accept simple comp cards, you can hire your own photographer*. A couple hundred bucks total. Paying for your own portfolio or comp cards is standard. Other upfront fees are not.

If you want to submit photos of Nataly for agency consideration a few nice snapshots are fine.

*The photo fees we were quoted from non-Ford endorsed photographers weren't much lower, didn't seem worth it. Although I'm pretty sure that the quotes we were given were jacked up once they heard "Ford".

[yvonne johnson]

Nataly just finished up a photo session with a photographer. It was a free session: her orthodontist will pay for one photo: her braces came off a few weeks ago and it is his way of thanking us for paying for his bathroom remodel.

I don't quite follow how the orthodontist fits into this? Does he refer patients to the photographer? Just wondered.

[foodie52]

The orthodontist pays for a post-braces photoshoot, with one free portrait as a thank you for the business. The photographer had a good time with Nataly, and she loved it.

[Wilfrid1]

Nataly just finished up a photo session with a photographer. It was a free session: her orthodontist will pay for one photo: her braces came off a few weeks ago and it is his way of thanking us for paying for his bathroom remodel.

I don't quite follow how the orthodontist fits into this? Does he refer patients to the photographer? Just wondered.

I assume he'll use the photo to promote his work. We struck a deal for the Munchkin - discount braces in return for before and after photos. Of course, since she doesn't wear the braces, the after photo may never get taken.

[Orik]

The teeth say before, but the look says after.

[Jaymes]

My daughter did a lot of modeling - print and TV. She started in California, at one of those kid modeling schools. It was something she really wanted to do so I did some checking and found a reputable one. After a few classes, some headshots, etc., they sent her on some interviews. Once you get going, you meet other people and you can find out through the rumor mill which agencies are good and which are a ripoff. She didn't do much for a while but after she moved to Houston and before she got her current job teaching Spanish and coaching volleyball at a local high school, she was waiting tables and putting her husband through law school. She decided she might do a little more acting/modeling to earn some extra bucks. We called a few of the big local accounts - like Academy Sporting Goods and asked them for the names of some of the talent agents and ad agencies they used. Took a little investigating but she did find a good agent. She's shot several TV commercials here in Houston including one for Academy Sporting Goods that aired nationwide last Christmas, and another one for some electric/energy company in Alabama. That last one was especially cute as it was one of those ones where the mom and baby are on the carpet in the home that is being perfectly warmed and cooled thanks to the Alabama utility company. It was my daughter holding my granddaughter by her tiny, pudgy little hands and helping her to take her first steps.

So little Evelyn also has her first royalty check.

But my daughter's days are now so full that she's decided she wants to put the modeling/acting thing on hold for a while.

That's how we/she went about it. And that's what I'd recommend. Start making calls and inquiries. Find somebody reputable. A lot of movies are filmed in Austin and once you get into that world, you can also be an extra in some films. My daughter did that, too. In fact, she dragged me to one shoot. So if you ever, for some unimaginable reason, want to sit through that silly teen screamfest, "The Faculty," you can look for us in one of the crowd scenes.

[rancho_gordo]

I'm sure there are success stories but I don't see how rewarding a developing psyche for the way it looks is a good thing. I think you reward people for studying hard, working smart and adding to society. Rewarding them for learning to "smile with your eyes" is weird to me. I know I'm alone but it seems to me Nataly has so many other options.

I also understand the concept of rewarding a kid who had a very rough start in life with this or a beauty pageant but I just find the whole thing odd. And you might be introducing a whole new set of insecurities as she compare herself to the other girls who are prettier, skinnier, lighter, etc. There's always someone "better". And i know that Nataly is the complete package already.

Just my thoughts. I'm willing to be told I'm way off base.

[Jaymes]

I'm sure there are success stories but I don't see how rewarding a developing psyche for the way it looks is a good thing. I think you reward people for studying hard, working smart and adding to society. Rewarding them for learning to "smile with your eyes" is weird to me. I know I'm alone but it seems to me Nataly has so many other options.

I also understand the concept of rewarding a kid who had a very rough start in life with this or a beauty pageant but I just find the whole thing odd. And you might be introducing a whole new set of insecurities as she compare herself to the other girls who are prettier, skinnier, lighter, etc. There's always someone "better". And i know that Nataly is the complete package already.

Just my thoughts. I'm willing to be told I'm way off base.

I don't think you're off base at all. I think most intelligent folk find beauty pageants pretty wretched and demeaning. And those kiddy ones are worse - even creepy. But acting/modeling is not the same thing as beauty pageants.

And in our case, although my daughter was way more interested in the acting thing rather than modeling, I still tried mightily to dissuade her for all the reasons you cite. But she was determined. In fact, she majored in theater arts at the University of Texas and was very successful. And unlike beauty pageants, there are plenty of actors in all sizes and colors.

I have seen a lot of parents pushing kids, which for me anyway is the real red flag. If Nataly expresses a strong interest, and sticks to it despite explanations of the negative aspects and other attempts to dissuade her, I don't see any harm in checking it out. Like my daughter, it's possible she might do it for a while and then become bored with it.

My daughter's justification for switching careers from acting/modeling over to teaching/coaching was thus:

"Mom, the best I ever felt while acting was when I won 'Best Actress' at the Texas State Finals One-Act Competition. But I feel that good every single time one of my volleyball girls does something so wonderful that she jumps into the air laughing because she's so happy and proud of herself. So why should I choose a profession where I feel that good only rarely when I could do something where I feel that good all the time?"

So my advice, Jane, would be not to push her. But if she herself badly wants to give it a try even after warnings, I might help her check it out.

[Lauren]

So if you ever, for some unimaginable reason, want to sit through that silly teen screamfest, "The Faculty," you can look for us in one of the crowd scenes.

But of course I want to - Jon Stewart is in it!