The Little Model Info Pack

What Agencies Look For

Most children’s modelling agencies are looking for far more than appearance. They want children who photograph well, take direction, and have a natural presence in front of the camera.

They look for:
– Genuine smiles
– Confidence
– Curiosity
– Charm
– Personality
– A range of natural expressions
– Ability to take direction
– A child who appears comfortable and engaged often stands out more than a child who is perfectly posed.
– A cooperative attitude is often as important as appearance
– They want to imagine the child in many different roles and campaigns
– Casting directors often choose children based on the feeling they bring to a photo.

Agencies typically want:
– Clean headshots
– Full-length images
– Natural lighting
– Minimal retouching
– Simple backgrounds

Commercial work requires children to:
– Listen well
– Adapt quickly
– Stay engaged
– Follow simple instructions
– They want to imagine the child in many different roles and campaigns.

For submissions and portfolio images, agencies generally prefer:
– Minimal makeup
– Natural hair
– Simple clothing
– Clean grooming

Photos Every Agency Wants to See

✓ Clean headshot (smiling)
✓ Clean headshot (neutral expression)
✓ Three-quarter length portrait
✓ Full-length image
✓ Natural candid image
✓ A few images showing personality and movement

What Agencies Don’t Want

✗ Heavy editing or filters
✗ Overly styled hair and makeup
✗ Distracting clothing
✗ Busy backgrounds
✗ Forced smiles
✗ Props that take attention away from the child
✗ Outdated photographs

The Most Important Thing

The children who book work are often not the most conventionally beautiful—they are the ones who feel genuine, comfortable, expressive, and easy to imagine in a real family, lifestyle, or commercial campaign.

When preparing for your session, focus less on perfection and more on helping your child feel confident, relaxed, and free to be themselves. Those are the qualities agencies notice first.