If you think your kid oughta be in pictures, get in line. All moms believe their kid is the most beautiful of them all, but how do you know if yours has what it takes to make it as a child model? First, decide how far you want to take her "career." The most jobs are located in Los Angeles, New York and Miami. There are smaller, local jobs in other areas, but high-end catalogs, magazine work and film are concentrated in those areas, so if you can't travel, then it's impossible to sign on with a large agency and go to jobs on short notice. As you proceed, consider your child's temperament - not her looks. It takes stamina and patience to chase down modeling jobs. Laid-back kids who thrive in chaos are better when it comes to dropping everything to go on a go-see - basically, an interview with a company seeking models - or a photo shoot, once the job is secured. As you pursue child modeling, keep in mind that you should never be asked to fork out money for anything.
Many "scouts" will ask for a fee, but sending the child's pictures to an agency directly is free on your part. Insiders say the best pictures are candids - don't spend a boatload on professional shots, which can be overstyled and include distracting props. A picture of your child in relatively simple dress with nothing on her head or face is best. And on the subject of cash, child models aren't Linda Evangelista, who famously claimed not to get out of bed for less than $10,000. Print modeling pays an average of $50 an hour, and with child labor laws' time limits, that may amount to only $100 a day. Film and high-end modeling may pay more, but not that much more. Remember that if your child doesn't enjoy it, then there's no amount of money worth making her suffer through something she doesn't want to do.