And in this latest blog, we’ve got an announcement to make:

Families, we need you to sign up with our agency so that you can enjoy our family modelling services, as our lovely families have done too. You don’t need to be a traditional family to apply nor do you all have to be part of the package if anyone decides to opt out.

Our agency’s viewpoint is: whatever your formation is as a family if you’re happy, we’re happy. Nor do you need to have previous modelling experience. All you need is a passion to work together, be professional but enjoy yourselves and be ready to try something new every time your family is selected for a modelling assignment.

If this sounds like something your family would like to try, then you’re at the right place because Models Direct can help represent you and put you forward for work.

• Do I need professional photographs to be a model?
• From Blossoms to Big Smiles – Spring Photography Tips for Child Models
• How do I find modelling work?
• Our Guide to Modelling with Models Direct
• The Ultimate Models Direct Guide to Getting Your Child Into Modelling

Here are some of the reasons why we need you!

The demand for family models is high among our clients
Clients want families to make their marketing more relatable and impactful
Families are a great structure of society to tap into appealing to a target audience by building trust and enhancing an emotive narrative.

We’ve got a lot of models in our books but we believe that we can never have too many families who are willing to join us either. Every family is different – in looks, age, size, and ethnicity and we appreciate all the differences.

Here are some of our current superstars, alongside the three mentioned at the beginning, who’ve been part of successful campaigns:

The Friend family
The Burton Family
The Karlsen family
The Sanghera family
The Goulding family
The Simpson family
The Agyemang Family
The Bakshi family
The Moore family
The Grimsditch family
The House family
The Rizkalla Family
The Walton family
The Ezobi family
The Norwood family
The Coombs family
The Vadlir family
The Saddigh Family
The Yusuf family
The Tavares family
The Dawson family
The Harewood family
The Vyakaranam Family
The Hillier family
The Bond family
The Priestley family
The White family

There are certainly quite a few families, and they all deserve a shout-out for the brilliant work they’ve done with our UK-based modelling agency. We’ve collected feedback from so many of them and here’s a compilation of what they’ve had to say about working with our team.

The Bakshi left us with this review:
“Ace and I really enjoyed shooting for TFL. Molly’s communication was flawless prior to the shoot & all the team on the day were very lovely & accommodating – we had great fun wearing the outfits and they even gifted Ace with a cute pair of dinosaur wellies! Excited to see how the pictures turn out and really looking forward to our next job J”

Whilst the Rizkalla family shared this:
“We had a really lovely time at the booking. The videographer and photographer were really friendly and gave lots of constructive direction. The director kept time and made everything run smoothly and efficiently. They were all very kind and professional, very considerate and patient of our daughter on set. The venue for the shoot was beautiful, luck was with us and the weather was absolutely amazing. We were fed and watered throughout the day and my daughter was even given a little freebie at the end of the day. It was hard work but the whole family had a lot of fun.”

Our team loves connecting new and existing family modelling units with all sorts of campaigns. We’re very proud that we wake up doing a job that we love, and hopefully, you’ll share some of this positive energy with us by placing yourselves in front of the camera and readying your family for a new modelling adventure! Sign up or if you have any questions, contact our team.

Families exude a kaleidoscope of emotions with love resting at the top of the list. These genuine, raw feelings within a family unit can then be translated on screen or in images, and that’s where brands and businesses step in and team up to make some fascinating and timeless campaigns.

Our modelling agency, Models Direct, is not surprised that our clients call for real and manufactured families – dependent on the logistics of the campaign. But when it comes to real families coming together to create a standout campaign, there’s no better place to hire them than from us!

Why?

We provide a diverse landscape of talent.

Our families come in all formations and sizes. Some consist of two family members whilst others consist of more.

Provide us with your brief and we’ll present a selection of families who closely fit what you’re looking for.

If you’d like to arrange a casting call or self-tape, let us know and we’ll arrange this for you.

You’ll have access to our selected families’ portfolios and see their diverse and up-to-date range of images and reels.

You’re in control as you get to choose who you want for your project. We don’t sway your decision. If you change your mind and don’t want to go ahead, there are no hard feelings! We totally get that things change – marketing visions and directions can always alter right till the last minute and we accommodate these changes from both our clients and models side of hiring and booking.

We request feedback from our clients and want to know how it went – the positives and the negatives – so that we can continue to improve our services and provide the best experience for everyone.

• Do I need professional photographs to be a model?
• From Blossoms to Big Smiles – Spring Photography Tips for Child Models
• How do I find modelling work?
• Our Guide to Modelling with Models Direct
• The Ultimate Models Direct Guide to Getting Your Child Into Modelling

Take a look at our client reviews to see what they had to say about our family models:

Hoburne Holidays

How was your talent booker – friendly, efficient, quick? Very quick and efficient, great service

How did the assignment go on the day? Really good, the family were great, kids great and everyone worked well.

How did our talent(s) perform, did they do a good job? They did a great job, very responsive and listened well.

Are there any changes you would like to see? None

Would you use us again, if so, why? Yes, we would, very quick and efficient, great models.

Sanctuary Housing

How was your talent booker – friendly, efficient, quick?

Molly is always friendly, efficient and quick. On this particular occasion, we required models with very short notice and Molly was able to get the assignment moving with only a week’s notice and find us exactly what we were looking for.

How did the assignment go on the day?

The models arrived early with no problems getting to the location. They were exactly what we were hoping for and made the shoot a breeze.

How did our talent(s) perform, did they do a good job?

The Brown family did exceptionally well considering it was their first assignment as a family. We shot in a variety of different locations and they took each scenario in their stride. In hindsight, the 4-hour day was perhaps a little too much for the youngest member of the family, as you can tell towards the end that he was getting a little tired! This wasn’t a problem for us as we came away with plenty of great material anyway, but it is a learning curve for us for booking younger actors/models in the future.

Are there any changes you would like to see?

No, we are always really happy with the service that Molly and talent management give us.

Would you use us again, if so, why?

Definitely. We think that Molly is brilliant, and we are really pleased with the talent we have been able to find through her, they have fitted the briefs perfectly.

For more of this, head over to this page and if you’d like to hire a family for your marketing campaign, let us know right here! We look forward to working with you and helping you build your campaign.

The takeaway

The demand for modelling has skyrocketed with our agency and we’ve got new and existing clients coming to us for our comprehensive services backed with expert knowledge and experience in the sector. If all this sounds good to you, we’d love to have you join us!

Modelling is one of those jobs that welcomes families. More than that, some modelling jobs specifically requires families. And even better news – no one in the family needs modelling experience. And there’s more – family modelling usually demands a higher modelling day rate. What’s not to like for fun-loving, camera-friendly families?

Your family could get into modelling, no question. It’s a very real possibility, and the first step is to make a quick application with us here. After that, we’ll have a look at what your family can collectively offer our clients and then our wonderful booking team will be in touch. It’s counter-productive to make the application process too complicated. All we need is for a family to submit their interest and contact details and we’ll do the rest. If you’re reading this after registering with us, have a quick look at the FAQs to give you a little inside information.

There are many benefits to modelling as a family. Firstly, we’ve mentioned the potential group fee (usually taken charge of by mum or dad). For a family of four, and average fee for a days’ modelling might be £250-£1,000. We’ve seen much larger pay cheques than this, though. A read of our family reviews will tell you that the fabulous Friend family collected £6,000 over seven bookings. This demonstrates that if clients like a model, then they can easily work repeated bookings.

Secondly, modelling is fun. It’s often a new experience and nerves can affect anyone. But once families arrive on set – having been prepped by us – and then speak to the set managers and photographers or film makers, they quickly settle down and thoroughly enjoy being in their modelling environment. Families feed off each other, each member comfortable with their surroundings. Family modelling is hugely rewarding, and they cannot wait for their next job.

Thirdly, modelling families are as natural as they come. There isn’t a great deal of acting on assignment, as a family’s instinct is to be sociable and radiant whenever they come together. It’s what our top clients are looking for: down-to-earth, close-knit families to help them market products to other families.

Fourthly, some of our families have worked abroad. Yes – they have been paid to go “on holiday”! Well, it’s a working assignment, but just try telling the Golding family that. They were chosen for a four-day job in the South of France, starring in a commercial for Oliver’s Travels and their luxury villas. Talk about hitting the jackpot.

If you’re an ambitious family who love to spend time together, modelling is the perfect job for you. It can be done part-time, and the pay is usually great.

Now, to that registration page.

Some of the best moments in life are when you’re spending precious time with the ones you love. Are you always trying to look for new opportunities and spaces to do this given that we lead quite active and busy lives? We’re glad you’ve landed on this blog because it’s another venture you can embark on to get your family together with a bonus of getting paid. What’s the secret to spending quality time with the ones you love and a handsome fortune in return? Yup, family modelling. But how do you get your family on board if they’re not convinced modelling is for them?

Models Direct will lend you some suggestions on getting your family together for unforgettable modelling assignments that you can all look back on and reminisce.

Discuss the idea when everyone’s together

Instead of individually calling everyone up or posting a message on your family WhatsApp group, get everyone around the Sunday dinner table to discuss the prospect of becoming a family model. If anyone has reservations that’s OK because everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. It might take them some time to warm to the idea especially if they have their hands full already, or they might not at all like the idea. If you’ve got some members sitting on the fence you can move on to the next stage.

Learn about the family modelling division

Understanding anything new means experiencing and gaining its exposure. You can open a positive portal to this world by reading, watching, listening and communicating with modelling agencies and family models, and introducing your family too. This will hopefully offer a holistic perspective of this modelling category.

Find a reputable modelling agency that can represent you

You’ll want an agency that embraces you and your family regardless of your look, size, ethnicity, religion, or age. There’s plenty of other areas to mention but you know what we mean! Models Direct is that agency that will work with you, not against you – embracing you for you and intending to change absolutely anything about how you look.

Build a portfolio together

If your family loves pics, building a portfolio couldn’t be easier. It might be a bit difficult if some members don’t like to say cheese to the camera – give it some time. If they’re really adamant that this isn’t for them, that’s absolutely fine. We have mother-daughter duos, grandparents and kids, aunt and nephew combinations that make part of the family modelling division so there’s no restriction that everyone has to join in. That’s not the case at all, and hopefully, the more you read about our UK no 1 modelling agency, we hope the more you will like.

When it comes to family modelling, this usually refers to hiring models who are related to each other. Parents and children, siblings, couples, aunts and uncles, are some examples of how a family modelling squad might set up to look like for advertising campaigns or editorial shoots.

This special niche within the modelling world is a beautiful construction of love and togetherness. The sense of warmth that this evokes – of family values and traditions – can create meaningful and impacting campaigns. The vision that companies have is to create imagery and content that is unforgettable and leaves a lasting impression. So, here we are – thirty years into the modelling industry – Models Direct know the biz, the buzz, trends and all the latest juicy info – and we definitely know that family models are soaring high.

There are lots of great points about family members getting together, putting in an application as a family model and getting gigs. Even though it can be chaotic fun, it’s so rewarding! We’ll walk you through why you should consider this profession.

Creating natural-looking content with familiarity

When family members join forces, they are usually more comfortable in each others company as opposed to strangers being selected to construct a manufactured family. The familiarity of one another will help create natural-looking content that an audience can connect with.

Showcasing a diverse age range of generations

Having different age groups in the family can make the shoot more dynamic and interesting, as family members can play different roles and showcase different products or services whether this means presenting a traditional family or promoting more modern campaigns that are not available to individual models. The different generations can show the multifaceted layers of a family all in one place.

It’s a unique selling point

Family models can be a unique selling point for businesses and their brands as they help promote positive roles, values, trust and reliability that consumers can relate to.

Gaining exposure and networking

This modelling division is a great way to gain experience and exposure in the world of modelling with your family by your side. Networking can help increase your opportunities so if your family’s been booked, here’s your chance to gain more exposure.

It’s cost-effective

Okay, so we’re stating the obvious here, and it’s from the clients point of view rather than the family’s, but we thought, why not? Hiring models from the same family can save on costs for clients as they would only need one hair and makeup team, wardrobe, production team and set. If a client decides to hire multiple models unknown to one another, it can make it challenging to translate that natural rapport and connection a family has. This doesn’t mean it cannot happen, because it does, but clients weigh up their options and can tend to pick real families. Also, getting models prepped at different locations might be required which could mean further added costs for model’s preparation for the role.

The family takeaway (yes, this could involve advertising and eating food!)

Overall, family modelling can be a fun and exciting experience. It can provide flexibility in that it can fit around your schedule and can be done on a part-time basis. With the recent events that have unfolded globally, consumer behaviour has shifted and there’s a focus on family and home life. This interest has increased the demand for family modelling so if you’re thinking that this might be something you and your family could do, get in touch with Models Direct and we’d love to help. We’ve worked with so many brands and companies over the years, why not make your family a part of their marketing history?

We’ve compiled some images of our beautiful family models to give you an idea of what it’d be like being on our books. Just to add, we don’t stick these images up and leave it at that. We’re actively involved in making things happen and landing our families gigs and unforgettable experiences which they can share together.

Calling all families! Models Direct need you. If you’ve landed on this page, we’re pleased to meet you. We hope you’re doing well and that your year so far is going great. Why not make it even greater by reading this info and thinking about how you could get involved with our modelling agency? We’ll spill the beans right here.

Families are amazing, complex, fun, challenging, and make everything feel complete. Whether you’re a single parent with kids, blended families coming together or living with your uncle or grandparent, family setups are all different. The diverse arrangements tell their personalised story and have their history. However your family has been organised, it’s beautiful and makes you you. And there’s one emotion that all families share which is unconditional love.

Our talent and modelling agency is looking for more families to step forward for future work to share that unconditional love with the world. We’ve got so much to give and right now, there’s a wonderfully thriving demand for diverse and blended families. These families can bring a unique and valuable perspective to modelling campaigns.

So if this sounds like something you and your family are willing to try out, here are some of our tips to get you off to a solid head start:

Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio

This is at the top of the pack, not the bottom of the pile. It’s super important to display your family’s dynamic personality through candid family photos and reels to capture special moments.

Have flexibility

Make way for new opportunities and the unpredictability that can accompany modelling. You could be contacted a few days before a gig or you could be asked to go abroad just like how our Goulding family went to France. There will be travel and there will be long hours. We’re letting you know so that you have a holistic idea of what life will look like as a family modelling team so be ready for flexibility.

This works on our end too! We’re a flexible agency, so if a gig doesn’t suit your schedule (since there are commitments outside this profession) we will understand and accommodate your needs accordingly.

Take a look at MD’s content

We’re active across most major platforms so please spare some time to look through our content – our blogs, reviews, reels and stills from photo sets to get an idea of where our family models have worked and how the experience was for them. We have a plethora of information for you to enjoy; our treasure trove of family modelling stories to tell. Maybe you and your family could join us on this journey and you’ll be paid for your time!

Models Direct want you to truly enjoy the world of family modelling. Families are structured differently but that doesn’t mean that we’re only looking for a traditional family set-up. As a long-standing agency, our outlook is about embracing diversity and inclusivity, and this means carrying blended families through successful campaigns because these campaigns are reflecting the diversity of the world we are living in today. Be part of this and celebrate your family by showing the world you’re one-of-a-kind!

1. Susan is 67 years old and is a retired teacher. She is active and has many hobbies, but she’s been looking for something extra to occupy just two days per month. She thought about becoming a model, and just “went for it”. After sending in her photo and filling out an application form, her extra couple of days were filled by exciting monthly modelling assignments.

2. Matthew is in his thirties and has always been a “go-getter”, as well as eager to try new things. He wanted a new direction – something to add to his CV and impress his friends. He tried modelling once, and now regularly stars in modelling shoots in and around his home town (he’s quite a local celebrity).

3. 13-year-old Megan mentioned to her mum and dad that she might enjoy modelling. After her parents looked into the modelling process, they were happy that they’d be able to grant their daughter’s wishes, and before long, Megan was starring in various campaigns.

…and the one common denominator? They are all “ordinary” people living the dream as models – specifically, lifestyle models.

Lifestyle models are not easily identified among the general populace. They don’t have any stereotypical features some people think of as models – not that many models should be recognised away from the cameras. A lifestyle model could be your next-door neighbour, or the friendly assistant in your local store. They could serve your favourite drink at your local bar, or they could even be your local bus driver. Though we don’t advocate randomly approaching people to ask them if they are lifestyle models (you’ll probably be given strange looks or asked in the future to remain within 100 yards of them by law!), the fact is that anybody at all can be lifestyle models. So, the answer to “who can do it?” is easy to answer: you, your friends, your parents and other relatives, teachers, retirees…the list is endless, because genuinely anyone can be a lifestyle model.

There are an infinite number of products and causes that require everyday people to get their message across to everyday people. What better to appeal to the general public than to ask a member of the public to help with the promotion?

Examples of lifestyle modelling are as varied as the individuals acting as lifestyle models. Some standout examples are as follows:

• Appearing as the face of NHS campaigns in hospitals
• Starring in local council campaigns
• Posing as shoppers at a designer retail outlet
• Group bookings for an online wine promotional video
• A hungry family tucking into the nation’s most popular pies

Young or old, male or female, experienced in modelling or new to the industry…lifestyle modelling provides an opportunity to anyone with the desire and ambition to become a model. Get in touch with us so we can see what you have to offer to the wonderful world of lifestyle modelling!  

Family modelling has many advantages, and these should be at the forefront of families looking to supplement their income in the weeks to come. Consider the following:

1. Families often demand higher fees because of the number of individuals required on set.

2. Whilst it’s easy to make new friends on modelling jobs for individuals, families are more likely to feel at ease during photo shoots because…well, they already know each other!  

3. A lot of our clients are renowned in their field, so their products are well-known by the public; families are essential to depict stability and trust.

4. Travel arrangements are usually cheaper when travelling as a family.

5….and schedules are easier to keep.

6. How many families do you know can say they are a “modelling family”? Not many, eh? Well, you’d be surprised at how many opportunities there are for happy families, although it’s fair to say your modelling family would be in the minority in your area. That’s something to make the neighbours green with envy!

So, now could be the best time to seriously think about joining forces with parents, siblings and other relations to form a dynamic modelling family.

But families shouldn’t just think about modelling opportunities simply because the nation was gripped in a pandemic – family modelling should be considered at any time. Their natural rapport really shines on camera, and a modelling assignment is a great experience that’ll be remembered for years after. It could be an item to tick off the “bucket list” for Mum & Dad; for the children, modelling may lead to an increase in confidence. Whatever you get out of modelling as a family, it’s all good – especially with Models Direct looking after you every step of the way.

Take the Sanghera family, who recently completed modelling assignments with Ideal Boilers and Sanctuary Housing. Their feedback says it all: “The day was really well organised with clear instructions. All the staff were very helpful and professional and made us all feel comfortable. Overall, it was a fantastic experience for us, made even better by the wonderful people involved.”

Family modelling could be one of the few activities allowed in the upcoming few weeks. Why not give it a go? Our dedicated coordinators are available should you have any questions.

To help you out the Models Direct team, of which a large percentage are parents, have compiled their top tips to make travelling with kids that little bit easier!

Our junior models also often have to travel for assignments , generally within in the UK, but sometimes it means going on a plane and travelling further afield, so what ever your reason for travel it helps to be a little bit organised and take the stress away.

If your travels this season are taking you over seas here are Models Direct’s  helpful tips to flying with children:

1 –  Comfort:   It’s a good idea to  dress your children in comfortable clothing when travelling, make sure they wont be too hot or too cold and are not restricted by what they are wearing. There’s no need to look super stylish when travelling, it’s much more important that your children have comfortable clothing on so they can relax and  can sleep if tired and   can sit in it for long periods of time.

2 –  Food & Snacks: Food can  be expensive and sometimes difficult to find when travelling, so have a bag of tasty snacks with you . It’s a good idea to have a variety of different things, some healthy snacks, some treats and also some thing the children haven’t tried before  to keep it interesting. As we all know children get super grumpy when hungry, so a little pick me up during a long flight or car journey can make all the difference. Also carry plenty of water with you, it’s very important to stay hydrated, particularly if it’s warm or you are flying, dehydration can make you feel very tired, so often regular sips of water can keep moral up!

3 –  Activities:  With tablets available to many of us it’s very easy to sit a child down with a tablet and headphones, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing,  parents are now able to download educational and fun games for children of all ages , so make sure you have updated your /their tablet with some new apps and games that will keep them interested.  If you are on a long journey then it’s useful to pack a variety of activities and space them out over the travelling time, so they are new to the child, could be a new coloring book, spelling game, maps and maze puzzles, reading book,  etc – there are lots to choose from on the market. Trick is to not give  them all to your child at the same time, keep their curiosity!

4 –  Stay Calm:  As a parent it’s really important to try and stay calm with your children while travelling, try and avoid arguments and upset as this will make the journey and travelling experience much more stressful than it needs  to be.  Aswell as looking after the needs of your children make sure your own needs are met also so you feel the best you can.

5 – Sleep:   If you are travelling for a long time make sure your children have a chance to rest and ideally sleep! Try and stick to their routines as much as you can, feeds and naps are essential especially with babies and toddlers. So if you are flying make sure your baby is fed when they usually are and  made comfortable so can drift off to sleep rather than getting over tired and grumpy. It can be useful to have a small blanket and pillow with you if in the car or a plane so that your child is comfortable and  warm.

6 – Other Passengers:  Whatever mode of transport we may be on we are often in close proximity to other passengers, so try and be cheerful and polite to the people near you, especially if you have a baby or young child with you who may be noisy or cry, it’s useful to have the people around you on your side  and possibly may help you out if you need it!

7 – Organisation:  There is so much for parents to think about before going away, it can often seem overwhelming, but organisation is key and will make your travelling experience much calmer and enjoyable. Plan ahead with your packing, don’t leave it until the last minute! Make sure your hand luggage is organised and prepared in a suitable bag and has everything you need for the plane or is within easy reach in a car or train, you will be calmer if you know you have everything you may need for your baby or child.

Whatever the distance you are travelling, the most important thing is to stay calm and try and make each part as fun as possible, it’s all part of the holiday experience and  can be a great time for your children to learn and see new things!