Question: What motivated you to become a kid’s photographer?
JS: So many areas of photography had become saturated. I realized that the kids market was a growing niche, which I wanted to explore. Having two young children of my own, I had a lot of practice getting them to just be themselves in front of the camera. Soon I started to receive inquiries from parents who wanted their children to get into the modeling industry. I knew that I could provide them with beautiful, natural-looking photos of their kids, which they could then submit to the agencies.
Children are more uninhibited and freer in front of the camera. They bring a different perspective. You don’t often hear a child saying “can you make sure to photograph my good side?” Because they are often less self-conscious, they are able to engage with me and the camera. I am frequently entertained, and sometimes educated by them!
Question: What do you look for in a child model?
JS: The easiest child models to work with are the ones that can listen well, stay focused, and connect.
They neither need a lot of instruction nor a parent on set with them to get comfortable, because they can be their truest most amazing selves around anyone. Knowing how to move is also an important asset for any model, child or adult!
Question: How can I get my child into the modeling industry?
JS: Truly the best way to enter the industry is to take some simple snapshots with your iPhone. Agencies (and clients!) want to see what your child really looks like without professional camera/lighting equipment, styling, and post-production.
Beautiful images certainly help, but it’s worth mentioning that the best agencies will not require that your child has professional photos to sign with them. Professional photos are the way to go for parents who either struggle to get a decent snapshot or to get their children to cooperate with them.
Question: How can I take a decent photo of my child to submit to an agency?
JS: Pose your child close to a window, against a neutral-colored wall, preferably white. Dress them in something simple and try your best to get them to make direct eye contact with the camera. Do not apply any filters to the photos you submit, agencies will know. Then, go online and follow the submission instructions for each agency.
Question: When do I need new headshots/ how often should kids be updating their portfolios?
JS: It depends on the age of the child, but I’d say maybe ages 5+, once a year. And 0-4 year olds every 3-6 months.
Question: What type of photos will help get paid commercial work for kids? (or what are the agencies looking for in terms of photos?)
JS: Agencies want to see who your child is. The photos should capture your child looking like themselves, and showing their unique personality as much as possible. The child should look put together, but not over-styled. The clothing should fit properly, and not have wrinkles or creases. Additionally, if these photos are to be submitted to the agencies, the wardrobe should be simple, and not “trendy”.
Question: What kind of clothes do I bring to the shoot?
JS: I offer wardrobe consultation as part of my headshot packages! If your child is agency represented I suggest running the wardrobe options by them first. They may have strong opinions about what they feel is best. Most agents are happy and willing to offer a few suggestions, and it’s better to find out that your agent doesn’t like something before your session, than after it.
Question: Who can you expect to find on set?
JS: On my set, you will find myself and Susan (my hair and makeup artist). I am now adding a kid wrangler as well as a wardrobe stylist to my crew. It is important to include these team members in order to produce the strongest images.
Question: How important is it to hire a hair and makeup artist for your shoot?
JS: Very! Professional groomers not only ensure that your child is “photo ready”, but they also add to the overall look and feel of your session. Today, headshots - in particular - look more and more like magazine tear sheets, and to achieve that commercial look, you really need to use a pro-groomer. The best best ones will also relax your kiddo and get them excited to get in front of the camera; then, they stay on set to make sure that hair and “make up” stay in place as your child moves around. They are a second set of eyes!
Question: How should kids arrive for their photo session?
JS: There is a previous blog post that specifically answers this question. Check it out here:
Question: Do you retouch/ photoshop the images?
JS: All of my images are edited to some degree, but the amount of editing depends largely on the subject, the client, and what the photo(s) will be used for.
Question: Where do you normally shoot?
JS: I shoot at a studio space in Little Falls, NJ, outfitted with all of the lighting equipment I could ever dream of using.
Question: How far ahead should I book a session?
JS: You can reach out to schedule a session as soon as you know when you’d like one. I’d say 1-2 months in advance is a good amount of time.
Question: What is the best time of day to schedule my session?
JS: The younger the child, the earlier in the day works best. As close to the time that they wake up as possible. But those spots fill fast so don’t wait on them. It is also important to take into account when your child naps during the day. Make sure to schedule outside of that time.
Question: How much can parents expect to be a part of the process?
JS: At the session, I prefer parents to play a more background role, letting the child do their thing.
Question: What happens if a client is late to the shoot?
JS: Eek! Try your hardest not to be late, since there is almost always someone scheduled after you. I understand that some things can’t be helped, so if you’re late I’ll always do my best to accommodate you. Just be sure to text, call, email me an updated arrival time.
Question: How long have you been a photographer?
JS: My interest in photography began in my first high school darkroom class, which isn’t really a unique start for many photographers lol.
I continued to pursue analog photography at community college and a local art school, after graduating with a Bachelors from Fordham University, where I studied art history, instead of photography.
Then in 2014, I graduated from School of Visual Arts with a Masters of Professional Studies in Digital photography. At graduate school I focused on learning studio lighting and the Adobe suite, particularly Photoshop and Lightroom.
There you have it! The real answers to questions about professional kids headshots. Thank you to Jamie Shields for being apart of this article! I hope this information was helpful, and as always, feel free to contact me with any additional questions!!
