Expert: Kitty Kavey - 2/6/2005

Question
I live in the Las Vegas area and have, what I have been told over and over, is a very attractive toddler.  I am looking to get him some print work but am not sure how to go about finding a reputable agency.  There are SO many scams out there that I havent ever made an effort to look.  can you help point me in the right direction?
Thanks
Jodi

Answer
First thing to remember, you do not pay an agent, the agent pays you.  They should never insist you (or in this case your toddler) use a particular photographer, require you to take classes or training, or pay to be included in an agency book or publication.  They should only be making their money off of work your toddler books through them, for which they take a percentage (usually 10-20%).  They should not be making money off of photography, printing or training.  I like to use the Screen Actors guild list of agencies.  They are quite reputable, and you can look them up by area and those that are marked as being full service are those that have a modeling division in addition to representing actors.  (www.sag.org, under Resources, Agent Information, Find a SAG Franchised Agent) You will have to call to find out which of those agencies have a children's division that represents a child of your son's age.  I doubt they will require professional photos, very young children change so quickly, many just work from one or two good clear snapshots taken every few months or so.  Another good resource to find some of the better agencies are the books written specifically for child modeling.  Some of them in addition to providing detailed information also contain a list of agencies who specifically represent children.  You can check your local library or bookstore to see what they have, or look online for the latest titles.  I have not read the following, but it's at least a place to start: "Kid Stars: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Kid Into Acting and Modeling" by Kate Burke.
Best of luck to you both,
~Kitty