Baby Modeling: How to Get Started

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I know every baby is special and beautiful, but some babies sure do know how to pose for the camera!

Maybe you have a little one like this. Those sweet babies with a smile that just lights up the whole room! If you do, then you might want to think about baby modeling!

Is Modeling Right for My Baby?

There’s a huge range of modeling opportunities for babies. Just because you are considering modeling doesn’t necessarily mean your baby’s face is going to be all over the world. Even so, there are a few things to think about before getting started!

One of those things is whether or not your baby is the right fit for modeling.

I’m not saying some babies aren’t camera-ready. In fact, I haven’t yet met a baby I don’t think is just adorable! But let’s face it, as fun as it would be… modeling is essentially a job! So both you and your baby would need to be prepared for the time and energy it would take.

Along with the commitment, you also want to think about your baby’s temperament. If they have a history of having an easy-going personality that adapts well to new situations, they may love modeling. If new people and places tend to add stress to your baby’s life, it might not be worth it.

Modeling means a lot of exciting new things! It can be a little overwhelming, but it can also be a great new adventure for your family if your baby is ready for it.

How to Get Started

Have you weighed the pros and cons and decided baby modeling is right for your little darling? Here are the best steps to help you get started!

Decide Your Baby Modeling Goals

I think one of the most important things to do at the beginning of this adventure is to decide on some goals!

Sit down with your partner and talk about what each of you wants out of the experience. Is your baby doing this for college savings or to help out with some of their expenses? Are they doing it for fun? Do you want to do this long term? Just to try it out? How many hours a week are you willing to let your baby work?

All these conversations are important to have before you get started so that you are prepared for the journey ahead!

Set Boundaries

Once you have your goals ready, you’ll also want to set some boundaries. Only you can decide what is and isn’t appropriate for your baby, but you may want to decide beforehand what you are comfortable with.

For example, you may encounter photoshoots that include other babies, undressed pictures, other people working with your child instead of you, etc. You should be prepared to face different scenarios and know how you want to handle them.

When setting boundaries it’s also important to think about your baby. If they are having a hard day, what will you do? Are you willing to back out of opportunities or do you want your baby to push through?

Do a Few Test Runs

You may want to do a few modeling sessions on your own with your baby first. It’ll not only help you see how they’ll react to lights, photographers, etc. but it will also get you some great photos for your portfolio!

If you don’t want to spend the extra cash on photographers, you could just ask a few friends to take some pictures. Seeing how they react to new people and experiences is the important thing here, even if it’s not done professionally.

You definitely don’t want to get an agent and book some sessions before realizing that your baby doesn’t handle it well!

Find an Agent

If all goes well with the test-sessions, it’s time to find an agent!

You might decide that you want to do everything on your own, but it can be overwhelming to handle all the information. Plus, agents have great connections and can help you find opportunities.

Of course, you’ll want to be extra careful to find an agent that you trust and that has good references. This is your sweet bundle of joy we are talking about! A good agent means that they’ll be working with safe and professional organizations.

There are plenty of agencies to choose from, so just do a bit of research and find the right fit for your family.

Build a Portfolio

If you’ve found an agent they may help you with this, but you are going to need to grab some of your favorite pictures and put them together in a portfolio.

Skip the poor-quality photos, even the cute ones, and stick to professional looking pictures. It’ll help your baby look like more of a baby modeling expert!

If you don’t have any nice pictures sitting around, it might be time to book a photoshoot. Keep it natural and just let your baby’s organic beauty shine through.

Apply for Gigs

The next step is to look for some opportunities. Again, an agent will make a world of difference with this. They are there to help you find companies that are looking for a baby model just like your little one.

It may take a bit of time and patience to find the right modeling gigs, but after some searching, you are sure to find something!

Once you find an opportunity you are interested in, all there is to do is apply!

A Few Important Notes

Remember that as fun as it may be, modeling is still a job! Even if your child loves the camera at home, baby modeling will still come with some hard days.

Not all babies are ready for the hard days, but others may thrive! Modeling can encourage self-confidence, adaptability, and save up a nest egg for your child’s future.

No one knows your child better than you do! If you think that modeling is right for your baby, then give it a try! Make sure to let us know in the comments how it goes!