If you are one of those lucky people to be expecting the pitter-patter of tiny feet later this year then why not also consider looking into the possibility of baby modelling?

With the arrival of spring, comes a plethora of newborn, baby and toddler modelling opportunities.

It is the time of year we all start to think of new beginnings, new life and new possibilities.

It is when we typically see promotions, campaigns and commercials for baby products popping up on social media, websites, television channels and advertising boards.

Baby modelling is simply huge within our industry, as clients big and small approach us day-in, day-out for beautiful new cuties to suggest to them for their projects.

As we all know, babies don’t stay babies for very long and, although many of our bundles of joy go on to become toddler and child models, we are always looking for new littlies to join our books.

Assignments can be as varied as promotions for mother and baby products to anything ranging from holidays to home insurance, where family groups might be required.

Bookings might include photo shoots or film sessions, for advertising campaigns, packaging and promotional videos.

Our clients include the likes of Pampers, Mamas and Papas, Next and Kit for Kids, as well as the BBC and Channel 4.

With the new year, a whole new raft of baby modelling projects are already coming over to us.

And we would love to see photos of your cheeky chaps and gorgeous girls to see if they might be suitable.

So, if you already have a bouncing bundle of joy – or are expecting one in the coming months – read what other mums and dads have said about us.

And then get in touch to find out more.

No, we’re not talking about meeting people outside for the first time in months instead of logging onto Zoom and pretending to listen to what is being said (come on, you’ve drifted off into Zoom dreamland at least once, right?). No, the change is that – at last – the mornings are becoming brighter earlier and the evenings lighter for longer. This means one thing – spring is here, with summer just around the corner!

This time of the year is perfect for dusting off your camera, ready to snap away at your heart’s content. Alternatively, asking a friend to assume the photographer’s role is just as ideal. Either way, April and its subsequent months usually provide just the right conditions to capture glorious, high-definition images. But can you utilise the improved weather in your quest to achieve brilliant snapshots?

Follow Models Direct’s quick guide and you could soon be on the right path to having the finest portfolios for all your modelling pictures.

1. What time is it? Choose the time of day wisely. Avoid taking photos under the midday sun – the sun is often too strong and the subjects tend to squint. Instead, opt for late afternoon or early evening or, even better, the last hour before sunset.  

2. Choose a short telephoto lens (one that is a minimum of 60mm) – and this doesn’t have to be a zoom lens!

3. Use a tripod to steady both your camera and concentration.

4. Using a reflector helps light reflect back into your subject’s face – the most important part of the photo (unless you’re not taking a portrait, of course…)

5. Select a focal point and stick to it!

6. Use shade to your advantage. Trees, buildings, roofs and even clouds can work wonders to eliminate silhouettes – including the dreaded “shadow under the chin” episode!

7. Experiment with flashes. They are not limited to indoor use, and are often overlooked in the great outdoors.

8. If available, take photos in RAW file – a digital negative that is taken directly from your camera’s sensor.

9. Pay particular attention to your eyes, and check which backgrounds suit your facial and body profiles. 

It’s sensible to ask some basic questions at your local camera outlet, and to experiment. Taking photographs should be fun, and outdoor photography is one of life’s pleasures!

It’s always a challenge for models to keep their photographic updates in pristine order. We appreciate that everyone doesn’t have a digital camera, so we by all means accept headshots using smartphones.

A quick checklist is:

• Avoid lots of make-up – you don’t need it, and it won’t show a true representation of your (undoubtedly beautiful) face.
• The perfect height-width ratio is 5:4.
• Don’t use Photoshop!
• Keep it simple, please.
• Got tattoos, scars, or piercings? Fab – show them all!

The Models Direct team definitely are! The winter in the UK can seem endless, with numerous cold, grey days our bodies are crying out for some sunshine, warmth and that much needed boost of vitamin D.

Possibly you have been lucky enough to jet off somewhere exotic for some winter sun, but if like many of us you have been in the UK throughout winter, you may have noticed symptoms of your body not getting enough vitamin D which is incredibly important to keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Some symptons you are not getting enough vitamin D are:

• Bone & muscle pain
• Back pain
• Hair Loss
• Fatigue

The above symptoms can also be related to many other health conditions, but may also be a sign of a vitamin D deficiency.

Our bodies create vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when we are outdoors, however in the winter months we are not able to get enough vitamin D due to the lack of sunlight, there are alternative ways to help increase the amount of vitamin D your body produces.

Vitamin D can be found in a small number of foods:

• oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
• red meat
• liver
• egg yolks
• fortified foods – such as most fat spreads and some breakfast cereals

Diet is such an important factor in the way we look and feel, what we choose to eat and drink makes a huge difference to the health and the condition of our skin, teeth, nails, hair etc. At Models Direct we try and give our models as much advice as possible to help them be at their best, you never know when that next big assignment is going to come your way!

Spring is just around the corner and there are brighter days coming, so ideally try and grab a few spare minutes in the day where you can be in the sunshine, not only will it boost your mood to move and be outdoors, but your skin will also be soaking up those all important rays which will increase your vitamin D levels!

Always remember to protect your skin if you are outdoors in the sunshine for long periods of time.

For more hints and tips on looking after yourself and modelling advice click here.