Of course every parent believes that their baby or child is the cutest, and my husband and I were no exception. In fact, the first thing that my husband John said when Kyle was born was “he’s so cute!” over and over again.
When Kyle was around 3 months, my brother and sister-in-law were telling me about a friend of theirs who had her son with a modeling agency. I contacted their friend and asked her what she thought about the agency and the overall experience. She said that it was actually a lot of fun! So I immediately went and signed Kyle up. It wasn’t long before we received an e-mail for his first photo shoot. It was a cover-shoot for a Harlequin romance novel, how could I say no 😉 For those of you picturing Kyle with his shirt off rescuing a girl baby from a burning building, it wasn’t quite that cool. He was wearing a sailor’s outfit though! And it was a lot of fun.
Since the start of his professional baby “modeling career”, Kyle has had over 10 calls and has made over $700 (after his “agent” took their cut). Not bad for an 18 month old. Unfortunately, he’s a terrible saver and has managed to spend all of this money! I regularly receive questions about how I got Kyle into modeling and what it’s like, what agency we use, etc… so, here are the details for anyone interested in having a little fun and who wants to put their kids with a model and talent agency.
Kyle’s with Minor Details agency (http://www.minordetails.ca/), owned and managed by Lee Gallagher-Ingram, a former model. We paid $50 upfront (and annually thereafter) and sent in a picture of Kyle with a few details such as height, weight, hair and eye colour. Within a few weeks we got an e-mail telling us where we have to show up to the next day for the photo shoot. We can either reply back saying “we’ll be there” or not. It’s as simple as that, no hassles. Of course, if you reject too many, you might be overlooked for future opportunities.
Most of the shoots take place during the week between 9am and 5pm. However, for babies and toddlers, it’s usually between 9am and 11am. Therefore, if you’re working full-time, this is probably not right for your family. But if you have the time and access to a car and only one or two kids to care for, this might work out well for you.
The photo shoots themselves are generally quick in nature. You get booked for an hour, and will get paid by the hour; usually, $50 (and $25 for showing-up if you don’t get picked), unless they get booked for a cover page of a magazine or for a commercial (payment for those run in the thousands). However, most photo shoots only take 15 minutes. For baby shoots, they typically book two kids. This is because babies (as we all know) can be unreliable. Maybe they’re having a fussy day or they’re sleeping. By booking two children, they can ensure that the photo shoot can go on regardless. When you arrive, someone comes and choose which baby they want to shoot. You then go on the set, change your baby’s clothes (Kyle favourite part – ya right) and place them by the backdrop. The cameras go click-click-click, and you’re done! Now just keep your eye out for the final results as it goes public (that’s the best part).
Personally, we’re not doing this for the money. Let’s be real – $50 an hour is great, but it doesn’t happen often, and it’s usually only 1 hour a month. We do it because 1) Kyle “enjoys” it. And I wrote enjoy in quotation because I don’t actually know if he enjoys it, but it’s an outing for him, he laughs when we’re there, he’s never fussy or cries and I like the outcome. During one shoot, he was fussy and he cried, so I immediately requested that the second child be put in instead of Kyle. It was not an issue at all and Kyle was instantly calm (he just needed his nap). 2) It gives me something to do with Kyle as a stay-home mom and 3) It doesn’t interfere with any other stuff we have going on.
John and I always said that we’d do this until Kyle turns two, and he’s just around the corner from that milestone. We MAY continue longer, but most agencies don’t take two-year olds anyway due to the “terrible two’s”.
Walmart in-store poster
There are a few other agencies in Toronto including Kamera Kids (part of Sutherland Models), and Carolyn’s Model & Talent Agency. I don’t know much about Carolyn’s agency so I won’t comment on that. However, I have heard and read a bit about Kamera Kids so I will do a quick comparison between that agency and ours. Kamera Kids represents much fewer kids and tends to turn away a lot of applicants. The only upside to this is that IF you do end up working with them, your child will be more likely to get picked for photo shoots since there isn’t too much competition within the agency. 
However, if you are selected (after you attend an open house), you will have to pay an annual fee and if your child is over 3 years, you might have to pay up to $1,500 for a professional photo shoot and comp card. While this charge isn’t bad if you’re an adult model, this might be too much for a child model – unless you want this to be their career (and I hope most parents DON’T want this for their children). I’ve also heard that Kamera Kids frowns upon parents who can’t make the photo shoots; even if it just happens once. I believe the commitment from the parents has to be much more intense and serious with Kamera Kids versus with Minor Details.. But let’s be serious people, we’re talking about children models. Kids are kids, and they’re bound to act like kids. There’s not much we can do about it – or should force them to do for the sake of modeling. One thing is clear; this is NOT TODDLERS IN TIARAS. If I ever get to that point, please pinch me! Let’s live in the life of reality, not fantasy. Let’s let kids be kids and keep the fun in everything we subject them to do.
Feel free to leave me a message if you have any questions that I haven’t answered or if you want to correct anything that I’ve written above. I’m definitely not the expert in this field, and this is just based on my experience to date.
What fun family events and memories to have! Your little one is absolutely adorable! I can see why he makes such an excellent baby model. That smile is just too precious!
Awww! Thanks for the kind words. We think he’s the best 🙂
Absolutely! I can certainly see why. He is a doll!
Yay Kyle!! We definitely enjoyed doing this while I was off on mat leave with Mason. However, I should have pulled him as soon as I went back to work as I had to turn down a number of shoots bc of the last minute notice.
Maddox just started his career as well! Cover of harlequin romance as a twin baby boy!!
Congrats Maddox! He’s such a cutie, I’m not surprised 🙂 Twin baby boy? that’s so cute… did the other kid look like him? Lol! Thanks again for recommending this to us. It’s so much fun. xoxo
Your kid is soo cute. Male baby model are so funny but has good poise and attitude. I want to see an actual photo shoot session for kids because it’s fun.
Congrats to your little boy. He is so cute in every way. I like his smile very natural and bubbly plus the fact the enjoys what he is doing so far. Good luck to him. You were such a lucky parent to have such cute kid.
Kyle is so cute in his photo shoots especially the hately pic.
Thanks for sharing the information Maya. The way you have put up the post is really so good. I was planning to introduce my 6 month old for modelling and was trying to google some information about modelling for babies in toronto. I was lucky to have come across your one and only post.You have managed to put up the details so neatly.I also happened to read your post on TMN.It would be great if you could put the next post soon. Thanks and happy parenting!
My daughter is with Kamera Kids and it has been nothing but problems right out of the gate…They have been very unprofessional and extremly rude. I only got into this because others kept telling me I should take her to an agency and I was very hesitant. I’m going to pull her out because of the mistakes the agency has made with bookings and her photo shoot she had with one of their photographers that wasn’t needed. I gave it a shot but it definitely isn’t for me. If I was with a better agency i’m sure my experience would have been much more pleasant. Please take your child to other agencies and leave Kamera Kids for your last option.
This was fantastic information, thank you so much! Also, your son is beyond cute, I see why he’s getting jobs!!!!!
awww. tnx! we haven’t done it in ages though. he’s not into getting his picture taken these days unless it’s of his new tous. lol
Great information. We are hoping to also start our son in Minor Details soon. I have one question though: where are the photo shoots?
all over Toronto / GTA. most were in the west end or just North. def need a car.
Thanks for writing this review. We just got a call back from Minor Details for my 6 mo old girl and after reading your post I will definitely follow up. Wish us luck!
That’s great 🙂 Just have fun!! The best part is seeing them in print. Make sure to keep a copy so you can show her when she grows up.
I have read alot of negative comments about Kamera Kids… have you heard anything like this?
not really. did u hear from first hand accounts? interesting. …
my daughter was invited to open call from Kamera kids recently, but after reading a lot of bad reputation about the agency, I don’t want to take her there. Instead, I am thinking to register her at minor details. After sending registration form on line, what is going to happen? they will contact you if they are interested?
yes. they will contact you. you can always reach out to them in a few weeks if you don’t hear back from them by then
We had a meeting with Janet’s kids today… It was very intense I felt like I was trying to find my 4 month old his career. It actually pushed us away from the whole modeling thing all together. Reading this, maybe we just need a different agency. Very cute photos btw!!
yes. you def. shouldn`t feel like that. Try Minor Details! Good-luck whatever you decide to do. Tnx for the compliment 🙂
Hi Maya, First off, I have to say your son is so adorable. Congrats to Kyle, job well done. At first I was so skeptical about modeling agencies but I did my research and found Minor Details to be the one. My son Giuseppe is now with Minor Details, he is actually in the latest Sears Christmas Catalogue. We were all so excited when we received an email requesting him for a photo shoot. Although having to wait 3 months before the catalogue was published was a killer. Lee Gallagher-Ingram is an amazing person, I love dealing with her. As you mentioned it’s not something you do for the money, it’s more to get us out and experience new things. I have also registered my 6 month old daughter Vianna, we shall see if anything comes about. Congrats again. All the best to you and your family
tnx for the comment and sweet message about my son. I truly enjoyed every moment of the experience with him. funny enough, he now HATES having his picture taken. that’s great about your son’s catalogue appearance. I’m sure your daughter will make her debut soon too!
The review of these agencies has been very helpful. The reviews for Kamera Kids seem pretty negative, but from what I can tell, it looks as though their kids get more work than Minor Details. The Minor Details roster seems to be pretty long, and they get so many applications that they have to take down the registration form sometimes. Has anyone else noticed that?
Has anyone had any experience with Carolyn’s Kids (this is part of Carolyn’s Model and Talent). I’ve contacted them and they seem very friendly and professionally, but they aren’t part of ACTRA — should that be a concern? They have been in the business for a long time.
And Maya, your little boy is so adorable — hopefully he’ll get back into the business!
At Carolyn’s I just went to an open..”meeting”?… where anyone can come with their babes. I didn’t know what to expect but we all went into a room where they explained the basics of what to expect. I was surprised that no one assessed my baby to tell me if he has the look they want, if he was starting too old, etc. They just give their spiel, and then ask you for $300+HST and they’ll take their measurements. They also require you sign up with 800Casting.com which is $40 per year. The whole thing just felt like a money grab to me. If everyone signed up in the room they’d have $1500 from us…for not having done anything for us or even a personal conversation. So I left wanting to think about it. We were told it’s about 80% of their members get jobs.
Harlee is with Minor Details and has been since pretty much birth! She is now 5 and has booked photoshoots, and commercials regularly. I can’t say enough about Lee and Brian who own the agency. They have become a part of our lives and we are greatful for the memories they help us create!
Great work Kyle!
Hi Amber, thanks for posting this. I wanted to sign up my son with Minor Details, and they said that he was very cute, they liked his look, but that they had too many other kids registered with his same look, and that we should try again in a few months. So I ended up signing him up with Carolyn’s Kids and he’s only had 1 booking so far. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to sign up with Minor details in the future.
Did you end up having any future luck with bookings?
Hi Lisa,
My son did have other bookings, I think about 4 or 5 total in the year that he was represented by Carolyn’s Kids. I decided not to renew my contract with them, for various reasons. I also contacted Minor Details again and was told, once again, that they had too many kids with my son’s look. I took a look through their roster and didn’t think that any of the boys looked like my son…but I guess all black boys look alike (not!) and perhaps they want to keep their roster of of that ethnic group to a bare minimum.
My son is in grade 1 now, and honestly, I’m glad we aren’t doing it anymore. I can’t imagine having to pick him early from school now to travel to downtown Toronto, only to be seen for a 5 min then having to travel back home in rush hour, get homework done, etc. I think he is super talented and I do home to look into film/tv opportunities in the future. When we started, I wasn’t really into the modelling, but those were the opportunities that were presented, I think he had 1 or 2 auditions for commercials but was not selected.
Just noticed my typos i the above posting:
*5 min audition
*I do hope to look into
Also forgot to mention that before we signed with Carolyn’s Kids, my son was invited to a Kamera Kids open house (after I sent in his photo). There were other kids when we arrived and they each had their own “audition” — without the parents. From a distance, you could see what was happening but I couldn’t hear a thing…I did see them taking his measurements, and my son, who was 4 years old at the time, said they asked him things like what are his favourite foods. After all the kids were seen, they asked one boy and one girl to stay behind. That is how they pick their roster.
Carolyn’s is the biggest scam of all agencies we know!! They draw parents in with a slick sales pitch and try to get you to sign up right away while parents are in the ‘wow, my kid could be a star’ phase. They use high pressure sales tactics and are by far the most outrageously priced agency in the GTA. If they truly believed in your child then they would make their money off of their 20% commission – not charging huge sign up and annual fees. They also try to rope parents in to expensive photo shoots and comp cards which are NOT used anymore! We did some digging and spoke to many agencies in the GTA and Carolyn’s was the only one requiring such a large sign up fee, an annual fee and photographs for small children. They just take your money up front and maybe your kid will get some work but they have nothing invested in trying to get your kid work as they already have your money. Stay far far away from Carolyn’s. They have such a bad rep in the industry too!
Hi, my son has been with Minor Details for the past six months and has received only one phone call. Is there anything we can do to increase his exposure? Thanks
This is so informative, I have been trying to find info for my sister!
Great article – I don’t see any other bloggers write about this. He’s sooo cute!!
Carolyn’s is not a legitimate agency. They would never qualify for TAMAC or EIC.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Where are most of the photo shoots located? And could a grandparent accompany the child?
Does anyone have any other suggestions I have identical twin boys almost 3 months and I would love to get them in modeling / acting.
Tiffany I suggest Minor Details or Fulcher Agency.
Both have a Twins division! I have had one at one agency and the other (who is a teenager) at the other and both my kids there have had multiple bookings.
Hi
Anyone know about max agency please?
There re not asking any fee they said but asking u to pay 500 dollars with taxes a photographer who they refer u???
No but I wouldn’t do it. An agency shouldn’t ask you to pay that much up front…
My daughter had been with Minor Details for about 3 years now and we’ve gotten a lot of work! I am very happy with Lee. She is straight forward, very professional and always replies promptly when I need to ask a question. Hers is one of the most reputable and honest agencies in the city. It is not a cash grab like a few others that I took my daughter to for the initial meet. Her photographer is extremely reasonable and other than a small initiation fee and just $50 a year thereafter, there are no other hidden fees AND—She will not force you to send your child for ridiculous and expensive acting classes like some other agencies. I’m very happy and would never even think of changing agencies. I’ve referred many boys & girls to this agency and everyone had been quite happy.