Expert: Kitty Kavey - 8/18/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
hi im anjelica im 10 years old i might be young but i have big dreams someday i hope to be a model .im intelligent,active and very out going .i live in california.i wouldnt say im very good at this because im just a begginner.im really looking forward to this and your just what im looking for some to help me out im very exited because me and my mom are not so good at looking for modeling agencys so since you can help us can you please give us a anwser as soon as possible thanks so much anjelica
Answer -
I suggest you have your mom stop by the local library or bookstore to pick up a book on child modeling, as well as a modeling agency directory.  Many of the books written on child modeling also contain modeling agency directories as well.  You or your mother can contact the agencies closest to you who represent people of your age to make sure they are looking for new faces, and what they need from your for consideration.  Again, your mom can help you write a cover letter and mail out your information to the agencies you are interested in, or some of them may have open calls (or take appointments) when you can visit for an in-person evaluation.  Once you sign with an agency, they take care of helping find you work, for which they take a percentage (usually 10-20%) off of the money you earn through them.  I do not recommend modeling conventions or classes, but do recommend practicing being comfortable in front of a camera (which you can do with a friend or family member) before you go out to get professional photos taken.  
Good luck to you,
Kitty do you know any really good modeling agencys or an agent oh and i have practiced in front of a camera

Answer
I'm sorry, I do not know of any really good modeling agencies or agents who handle people of your age in California.  I do know of one in Miami, but you would have to live there to use them, as they only handle local work.  I'm sure there must be quite a few children's agencies here in California, particularly in the Los Angeles area.  The next time you are in your local library or bookstore, or if you pass by a newsstand, you (or your mother) should pick up one of the modeling agency directories.  There are quite a few, some are published monthly, some come out every year, and there are some that are listed in the back of books written about children's modeling.  If you or your mother prefer, you can visit one of the online bookstores such as Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com for a selection of books written about child modeling, as well as some of the modeling agency directories.  Once you have one of those, you can look up the agencies closest to you who represent people of your age, and contact them concerning representation - ask them if they are looking for new faces, and confirm that they handle children.  You will also need to ask them what they need from you for consideration.
Good luck to you,
~Kitty