Expert: Kitty Kavey - 4/16/2004

Question
I have a two and half year old daughter who is extremely talented and I am not just saying that because I am a proud parent.  She is beautiful and very photogenic, always ready for the camera.  I attended a presentation with a certain agency and she was chosen by one of the directors saying they would  help me find an agency to sign her up.  I was asked to pay $650.00 which they said was for photos and I did.  The photos (head shots came back two weeks later and also a disk containing 20 headshots in color).  The agency gave me a box of more than 100 headshots and said I should look for agencies who might be interested in signing her up.  Is this the normal procedure?  I really want my baby to show her talent  and beauty but somehow do not know where to start and I'm afraid to continue falling into another situation where I have to pay again.  Please advise, if possible how to get in contact with agencies who deal with children of that age and all the necessary information I may need.  I still have the headshots and also the disk with 20 other headshots and don't know what to do.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards

Viola

Answer
The company you mention was not an agency.  Nor are young children required to have or use the same materials (headshots, comp cards, etc.) as adults.  The reason being--by the time a two year old gets their headshot done, signs with an agent, auditions a few times, and books a job, six months could have gone by.  Unlike an adult, in six months a baby or young child can look completely different.  Many agencies who represent children of your daughter's age can and do use simple snapshots, and certainly to be considered for representation you do not need to have professional headshots for someone of your daughter's age.  However, since you now have a box of headshots--you should use them.  Write a brief cover letter that can be addressed to each agency you'd like to send a copy to.  Just a couple paragraphs introducing your daughter, and that you are seeking representation.  You can then locate agencies in your area by using one of the modeling agency directories (available in your local library, bookstore or online) or by utilizing one of the online lists (such as the Screen Actor's Guild list of talent agencies on www.sag.org, under SAG Basics, Agency Information).  In the case of the SAG agency list, it is searchable by location in the US, and you will still have to contact each agency to find out if the represent someone of your daughter's age.  If they do not, ask if they might be able to recommend someone who does.  Most of the SAG agencies are excellent and law-abiding, and none of them should request fees or sell you photographs.  There are agencies who represent children exclusively for modeling and acting, but not very many.  If you are, by chance, in the Miami area, an agency I have heard good things about is World of Kids (www.worldofkidsagency.com, and also on the SAG agency list for Florida).  If not, you might also want to try seeing what agency lists the child modeling books might offer, as they can be another great resource for you.  You might want to pick up a copy of "Kid Stars: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Kid Into Acting and Modeling" by Kate Burke.  I haven't read it, but it's a new title that came out this year, so it probably has the most pertinent information for children and their parents.
Good luck to you both,
~Kitty