So, what are the best ways to elevate your junior’s photos during the festive period? Would you like it to get noticed by our team and clients? We’ll take a look at some ways you can do this.

Enjoying Christmas activities

There are lots of fun things your child can do at this time – from decorating the Christmas tree to filling up the stockings or writing Santa’s letter and leaving him some milk and cookies. During all these activities, you can capture their emotions and expressions, helping you build a super current portfolio with an Xmas theme.

Take images at their eye level

Your child is likely to be shorter than you in height so if you’re looking to take more engaging images of them, get to their eye level and explore not just Christmas time but other moments too through their perspective.

Festive outfits

There are so many cute outfits your child can enjoy to add to the magical festivities. We’re talking cosy sweaters, red and green colour schemes or Christmas-inspired pj’s. (Maybe you can get your adult version to match with them?)

Bonus ideas: Christmas-inspired earrings, hair accessories and socks.

Make their images dynamic

Instead of your bog standard poses, you can get your junior model to wrap up presents (that’ll help you out too!) and peek out from behind the paper or create a makeshift sledge which they can pretend to navigate. Wherever your imagination takes you, know that unusual and unique images will get your child noticed particularly at the end of the year.

Incorporate iconic Xmas lights

Whether these lights are illuminating in your he or outside on an evening stroll, take snaps of your child with them to enjoy the splendour of this holiday season.

Seeing that we’re in the Christmas spirit, we’ve had our child models get booked with big brands to promote this season such as Sophia and Freya. They were chosen to video call Santa for Sky’s holiday campaign. Here’s some feedback about their experience:

“For their very first job with Models Direct, Sophia & Freya had the amazing opportunity to do a video call with Santa at home. Prior to the project, they were not told and they were delighted to get to speak to Father Christmas.

I on the other hand was briefed by mail from the company and calls with production both the night before and on the morning to go over all the specifics and details for the day. Due to this, the call went really well and Santa was on the phone with both girls for 15 minutes and was very patient with them both as they were very excited. He took time to ask and answer questions and helped unwittingly get the girls to deliver some great content – they even discovered Santa can roll his tongue after asking him.

Afterwards, production made it easy to send over my content and we are looking forward to seeing the finished result. The girls can’t stop talking about it and can’t wait until they get to do another job. Thanks Models Direct!”

This is just one example but there’s plenty where this has come from if you head over to our feedback section!

Models Direct hopes that we’ve given you five useful tips on how to capture your child model’s Christmas images. If you’d like more tips, feel free to reach out to our MD team who’ll be more than happy to help and advice.

Dressing up may have once been child’s play but these days it has become more popular with people of all ages as even adults are eager to pull on a costume and have a little fun!

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Morph Suits offers a whole range of fantastic and wonderful fancy dress outfits, from Halloween costumes for kids to all sorts of outfits for adults.

Its all-in-one colourful morph suits, crazy inflatables and light-up outfits have become all the rage for young people to wear to festivals and gigs!

And for kids, there are all manner of Halloween outfits, party costumes and items of clothing and accessories for stage plays and shows.

They can dress up in everything from fairy wings and tutus through to furry onesies and cuddly animal outfits.

As well as posing for photo shoots for the Morph Suits website and other publicity material, male, female and child models can also be required for fitting sessions.

And this is exactly what little Aydin was asked to do.

He went along to a fitting session in Edinburgh and was paid by the company to try on outfits to help them find out which ones worked well and which ones needed adjusting.

He enjoyed the new experience and afterwards one of his parents told us:

“We were given a last-minute fitting.

“Charlie was great with providing information and details and anything else we needed in relation to their client.”

Aydin, we are glad it went so well for you – you did a great job!

And if there are any other parents of Edinburgh youngsters out there who think their little ones might also enjoy this kind of modelling work or other very different assignments, then they should read some of the other reviews from parents on our website.

To learn more about how we work and the possible modelling opportunities there are in Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland through us, just fill in this form and send us a photograph.

We will be in touch to tell you more!

If so, this Guide to Child Modelling in Seven Steps should hopefully shine a little more light on it for you…

1. Suitability

Most children will really enjoy child modelling. They enjoy the fun of doing something different and the opportunity to see themselves in the final campaign, promotion or advertisement. Read the reviews from other parents to find out what other child models enjoy about working with us. As long as your child is confident, sociable and able to listen then they should be suitable for assignments with Models Direct.

2. Clients

Modelling jobs for our child models may be with all sorts of clients, from supermarkets and high street stores to companies providing services for families. Most of them have worked with us before and we always research every new client and every assignment thoroughly before sending one of our child models along.

3. Process

The process of working with Models Direct is simple. You fill in our form and send us an image of your child and then we will contact you and explain in much more detail how the process works. This is your opportunity to ask questions. If you decide to stay with us, your child may be put forward for any jobs for which he or she meets requirements. Our clients contact us requesting certain kinds of child models (ie a four-year-old boy with black curly hair and glasses) and we offer them a selection to meet those requirements. They then make the final choice. We then contact the parent to see if they still wish to accept the assignment – and, if they do, we remain in contact with them from that point on to offer them support and deal with any concerns.

4. On the day

You will be told where to take your child and when you need to be there. You will also be told what they should wear and whether you need to bring anything additional. We always advise you to arrive in good time and to take spare clothes, as well as books, games and snacks for your little one. When you arrive you will be well looked after by the crew. Everything will be explained to you and you will find out when your child will be needed. Refreshments are often available and your child will be given ample opportunity to rest between shots. You may wish to take some behind the scenes photos of your own to show us.

5. Afterwards

We will ask you to let us know how it went and whether your little one might be keen to take on another assignment in the future. You will be paid within a few days of completing the assignment.

6. E-portfolio

Throughout your time with Models Direct you will be asked to ensure your child’s e-portfolio is kept up to date with new photos uploaded regularly – this is because we and our clients need to see how your little one is growing and changing.

7. Building a strong relationship

We go on to build strong relationships with many of our child models – some start with us as babies and are still with us as teenagers! It is important to us to ensure all our models are happy and therefore we always explain to parents that as our journey together continues they must always feel able to contact us with any concerns or questions.

We have little ones on our books who are really still just newly born or babes-in-arms and youngsters from toddlers right up to teens.

We are often asked by parents about which activities might help their children with their modelling and so here we try to answer some of their questions:

Q: Which activities might help my child with modelling?

A: Almost anything! Any activity a child does will help them with their developmental skills and this is sure to have an impact on their ability to model. Child models need to be confident, friendly and comfortable around adults. Older ones also have to be able to listen carefully, follow instructions and be able to step out in front of a camera. Our team at Models Direct – and the clients and production teams we work with – are all highly experienced at working with junior models. They understand how to talk to children, behave around them and when they might need food, drink or a rest. Any activity your child does is certain to only enhance the strong relationships our teams build up with young models.

Q: Should my child model join an acting class or drama group?

A: Yes, this can be a great idea. But only if your little one is keen! It is important never to force your child to take on an extra curricular activity if they don’t enjoy it – but acting classes and drama groups can be fantastic. They really help to build the confidence of the child when they are on stage or in front of a camera. They help them learn how to take on different roles, respond to instructions and interact with other actors or models.

Q: Are music or dancing classes good for a child model?

A: Yes, they are fantastic! Not only do they help develop self-esteem but they also cultivate creativity. A child who learns an instrument, plays in a music group orchestra, sings or dances will develop all kinds of skills that are transferable to modelling. They will learn how to be confident when performing individually and will also be able to work within a group. They will learn how to commit to something and just how important reliability and punctuality can be. And they will have tremendous fun at the same time!

Q: Can sporting and physical activities be beneficial to a child model?

A: Yes! They can be a great help to any child who is already a model or considering becoming one. Like other activities, sports and gym clubs will help a child to blossom both as an individual and within a team. They should become more confident and learn how to listen carefully and follow instructions. They will also be staying fit and healthy while having great fun! But, again, remember, only gently encourage your little one. If they are really not keen then don’t force them. Not all activities, especially certain sports and activities, are for everyone!

If you would like to find out more about what child modelling involves then fill in our form, send us a photo of your little one and we will give you a call.

You can also read more about what other parents of child models think about working with us here.

This what little Zuri’s mum told us after a booking:

“The entire experience couldn’t have been more professional. We felt fully briefed by Models Direct and knew exactly where to be and when and what to expect.

“Even at short notice for the job, Charlie from the agency was a consummate professional.

“Both the client and her team and the photographer couldn’t have been nicer to Zuri who absolutely loved getting dressed up and laughed throughout the whole shoot.

“Zuri even got a little keepsake off the client to take home which she absolutely loves and will be a lovely reminder of her shoot with Say It With Diamonds.

“We can’t wait for our next job with Models Direct.”

And we are always pleased to be asked because there are many differences in what is required in updating a child’s e-portfolio compared to an adult’s.

This is, of course, because little ones grow and change so much that we need to be sure that we are seeing and showing our clients the most up-to-date photographs and measurements.

We need to be 100 per cent certain that the child we are sending along to the assignment still looks as they did in the pictures our client looked at when they chose them.

So how often should a parent update their child’s photos and what can we do to help remind them?

Well here are five of our top suggestions….

1 Create diary reminders

We suggest updating pictures every three months or so (possibly even more often with babies!) so why not get your diary or e-calendar open and add in a few reminders?

2 Go with the seasons

The changing of the seasons can not only be a great reminder to take a new set of photos but is also a perfect opportunity to put your junior model in a whole new array of clothes. They will look simply gorgeous when you snap them in their winter woollies, summer florals, spring greens and yellows and deep autumn shades!

3 When they have a haircut

A new haircut or hairstyle (perhaps your little one has decided to let their locks grow long) is also a fabulous opportunity for getting the camera out and taking new pictures. If you book them in for a haircut, remember to write a reminder in your diary to snap some shots afterwards too! Your little one will love to pose with his or her new look!

4 Birthdays, Christmases and special occasions

If you are taking pictures anyway because it is a special occasion you wish to remember, then why not try to take one or two that are framed, posed, shot and saved as we like to see them? After all, you have your camera or phone out anyway!

5. Days out and holidays

Again, these are always super opportunities for taking family photos, so why not think about grabbing some new modelling shots too? You will get some beautiful, new backgrounds and your youngster is sure to be having an amazing time, so it might be just the moment to capture his or her smiling face!

Joyce Bofenda is one of our mums who registered her son with us. This is what she had to say about Models Direct:

“I registered my son Jeremiah with Models Direct in April 2023, his profile went live in May 2023 and his first photoshoot yesterday was an amazing experience.

“The booking process was seamless which is brilliant. We had every information we required for the shoot delivered to us in a timely manner.

“The client, the photographer and the whole team were fabulous and kind,” she wrote.

“I highly recommend Models Direct to anyone seeking excellent services in the modelling and acting industry.”

Read other reviews here.

We know that the modelling world isn’t quite so accommodating to how models feel and can sometimes be an unsafe environment for them to be in. Our long-standing agency is very aware of this which is why we ensure our clients are reputable and that our team thoroughly carries out our necessary background checks.

When a child is selected for a modelling assignment, balancing their life being a child with a professional modelling career can be quite the juggle. We’ve addressed some key points to really think over to enable our junior models to stay junior, have all the fun they deserve and be part of something revolutionary.

Parents – you’re involvement is crucial!

Whether you’re a parent or guardian, you’ll be accompanying and supporting your little one on their modelling opportunities. You’ll be prioritising their well-being and emotional needs when they’re on set, you’ll be seeing to their downtime between breaks and how they are during takes.

What can child models do during their downtime?

You’ll be thoroughly briefed on health and safety precautions beforehand with a risk assessment in place. Any nooks and crannies, or potential danger spots, you’ll know about! Running on-premises – sorry, but that’s a big no-no. Playing with equipment? Nope, another big no-no.

Instead, our team and our clients can advise you where to go to get some fresh air or a change of scenery. Whether this means a place to eat lunch, grab a quick walk, or visit a local attraction, we’ll let you know beforehand and on the day of your child’s assignment.

Alternatively, you can bring things to keep your child amused and entertained whilst they are on the premises, particularly things that you know they like. Examples include:
* Colouring books & pencils
* Reading books
* Downloading an educational app on a device
* Carrying an age-related toy such as a Rubik’s cube or a travel jigsaw puzzle
* Keeping prepped throughout the day

Remember to keep snacks and healthy treats packed too. For more ideas, you can check out our blog about healthy eating on set and what sorts of things to fill your bag with to keep your junior happy and content. We also give our parents and guardians a heads-up about the day’s schedule and the possibility of going over time as we liaise with clients throughout their assignments. Should this happen, we let our models know in advance so that they can prepare their travel arrangements and grab any extra bits such as snacks and nibbles.

The main thing we’d like to say is that kids should be kids and allowed to have fun, roam around, and explore their environment, even when they’re on set. This, however, has to be meticulously supervised at all times but shouldn’t mean that they can’t be who they want to be and show their characteristics when they’ve been booked a gig.

They also love seeing photos and videos of themselves having a good time on social media and in advertising campaigns and promotions.

At Models Direct we know this because we have worked with young people for decades – and because most of us are parents ourselves!

So what makes child modelling fun?

Well, our little ones love the whole colourful experience of being on set and seeing how cameras, lights and photography or filming works.

They love the idea of play acting and stepping into someone else’s shoes for a time – after all, much of modelling is about pretending to be someone else, somewhere else.

They also enjoy the attention they receive, not only from their parents who accompany them and have dedicated their day to being with their child, but also from the production crew.

The clients and production companies we work with know exactly how to look after child models, explain to them what to do and make sure they feel comfortable at all times.

And what makes teen modelling fun?

Well, teenagers love modelling for many of the same reasons as children, but they are also often drawn to it in other ways too.

Lots of our teenagers love nothing more than getting out and about and meeting other young people of a similar age or even other models on set who may be older or younger.

They also love to see the final photos or film when they are posted on line or used in another format, such as a brochure, advert or other campaign.

They love being able to tell their stories on Instagram and elsewhere on social media and to share our posts when we promote the project they modelled for.

And, of course, teenagers also love having the opportunity to make a little extra money.

Most of them like being able to buy their own clothes, make up and games etc – and earning a fee of their own can give them these opportunities.

Our child and teen models can tell you exactly what they have enjoyed about working with us when you browse through their review pages.

Then, if you are still interested about finding out more about child or teen modelling, contact us by filling in a form here and we will come back to you to explain more about how the process works!

Models Direct has some great tips to share which will help make the first day of school a positive journey and memorable experience. Here’s how you can help your mini-me or tween to get the best out of their first day.

Get a good night’s sleep
Sleep is vital. You already know that – it’s talked about (and written about) so often but we had to put it at the top of our list. Your child needs a good night’s sleep before their first, second, third or any day for that matter, particularly after a long summer where their routine might have fallen a touch out of sync. You can help by talking and setting up an early bedtime routine for them. Hopefully, their body clock will readjust to the new change fairly quickly.

Are school essentials all ready?
Hands up, anyone who left their kids’ school essentials till the last minute? Did you encounter the, “email me when it’s back in stock” option when you were looking for uniform? Yup, we’ve been there too, unfortunately. It’s best to start picking up items as early as the beginning of August to slowly get through your list of stuff to avoid the out-of-stock dilemma. Getting all the school essentials rounded up in advance will make the first day at school run much smoother.

Comfy footwear
It’s a given that footwear needs to be as comfortable as possible, especially for those little (or big) feet that’ll be walking around school premises and in the playground majority of the day. Make sure your child breaks into new shoes at home so that they’re used to them – it’ll be one less thing to worry about for the first day.

Get there early
Getting late for school (even if you want to after the weeks off for the summer) might not be the best way to kick-start your first day. If you’re planning on taking your child to school, they go with mates or travel solo, be sure to wake them up early so that they have plenty of time to prep and arrive on time.

Stay calm & smile
At the best of times, it’s hard to stay calm and remember to smile especially when anything new can cause some degree of stress. Ask your child to practise breathing exercises especially if they feel anxious, and not to forget to smile.

We hope your child settles into school well. They’ll enjoy their time building new friendships and learning new content and concepts. MD hope these tips help and hopefully, they’ll look forward to going to school!

Here we answer some of the questions our experts at Models Direct are asked by interested parents:

Q: Do you think my child could be a junior model?

A: Children who become models need to be confident enough to be around adults they are unfamiliar with and to appear in front of a camera. They need to be able to understand and follow instructions on the day or to be happy to sit and play or to join in activities that you, other models or the crew set up to look as normal as possible but for the purpose of shooting or filming.

Q: How does my child become a model?

A: The first step is to join a reputable, regulated agency such as Models Direct. As a registered employment agency our job is to actively seek modelling working for all our models. We have a long history in the business and have forged strong relationships with many well-known clients. The danger of responding to an individual or company on-line that is not actually an agency is that they may simply showcase your child’s photographs and wait to be approached by clients, without spending time seeking out assignments.

Q: Will my child definitely be offered modelling work?

A: No. We never promise any of our models – from babies up to octogenarians – that we will definitely find them work. The process does not work like that. Of course, you can see from the many reviews and examples of modelling jobs on our website and written about in our blogs, that we offer a range of different bookings to our models, including the children, but it is never a guarantee. Our clients ask us for particular kinds of models, people of certain ages and with specific looks etc. We then supply them with a selection of our models to meet their request. Our clients then make the final choice of who to offer the work to from that selection.

Q: Can I go along to the modelling job with my child?

A: Yes, of course you can! You will be offered the job and you can then accept or decline it. If you accept, you will be given all the details of where to take your child, when and what they should wear or bring along with them. We encourage you to arrive in plenty of time, bring snacks, drinks and items to amuse your child (books, toys, hand-held electronic games and headphones, etc). The production crew on the day will then look after you, telling you the timings for the day and showing you where you can relax when your child is not needed and informing you about any catering arrangements. We need you to be there to reassure, encourage and look after your child during the assignment.

Q: Do children enjoy modelling?

A: Most of them really like the whole experience and the excitement of doing something different, as well as meeting new people and seeing themselves in the final advert or campaign. But, of course, it isn’t for everyone. The best thing is to read more on this website about the experience of other families and then think carefully about whether your child might enjoy it. If you think they would, and they are selected for a job, give it a go to see how they get on and then decide whether it is something you and they want to continue with.

Opening a world of opportunities 

School’s almost out for summer, and children will be looking forward to getting some downtime after dealing with the turbulent experience of the pandemic. The impact it has had on being away from the classroom desk and playground has been difficult, but children have been resilient and bounced back.

Extracurricular activities are a quintessential element of children’s development, as well as educational. From performance and music to sport and community service, there are lots of choices for children to explore, learn and grow. Not only this but for any prospective or existing junior modelling talent, acquiring new skills outside of school can be an asset as model-hunting companies like to see what sets you apart from other children. They want to know if you have the X factor and what you can offer them should they select you for paid work.

What are the benefits of out of school activities?

Here is a snapshot of what children can reap from when taking part in out of school activities. (We’re sure that there’s a lot more so if we’ve missed out on any, give us a shout on our Facebook page and we’ll add them in).

• Learn new skills
• Greater opportunities to make new friends
• Develop communication skills
• Expand knowledge
• Boost self-confidence
• Become part of a team
• Increase independence
• Promote self-motivation and drive

Inspiration for out of school activities

We’ve compiled a list of activities that children can enjoy outside of the school setting. They are:

• Public speaking
• Dance classes
• Learning an instrument
• Playing chess
• Horse riding
• Pottery and ceramics
• Arts and crafts
• Computer programs
• Swimming
• Football
• Karate
• Acting
• Yoga
• Gymnastics
• Cooking
• PE
• Fitness and training
• Origami
• Martial arts
• Volunteering in the community
• Dressmaking

Beavers, cubs and scouts also offer life-changing experiences alongside the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They all target essential real-life skills, some of which schools cannot cover.

As a great example, having read the latest news, the Scouts Association is launching a new merit badge focusing on money. It’s a response to the disruption in maths numeracy learning caused by the pandemic where 1001 surveyed parents stated that their children aged six to 10 didn’t understand money and lacked the basic financial skills and knowledge.

Get them in the loop

If your child hasn’t started anything as of yet, not to worry. Talk to them about whether they’d like to start something new, if not now then later. If they’re quite young, you might have an idea of what could be quite fitting to their personality and preferences.

We’d like to hear from you

So, if you’re a parent or carer reading this, does your child take part in any activities? If they do, let Models Direct know! We’d love to hear all about it, what they’ve learnt and taken away from their experience. But before you do that, head on over to our modelling application form and fill in your child’s details for modelling opportunities.

As a heads up, they will need the confidence to be in front of cameras and new people, listen to directions given, have good timekeeping skills and professionally conduct themselves. These skills can be gained from the out of school activities making them another reason for being a worthwhile investment. For a greater insight into how other junior models have got on with our talent agency, you can read through our reviews. Apply for your child today and reap the rewards of trying something out that’s unique (and of course, paid for!).