Guide + fillable toolkit
- The complete parent guide (PDF)
- A 21-page toolkit you can print or fill in on a computer
- A one-page Start Here sheet
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A practical guide for parents
From First Photo to First Booking
A practical guide to navigating child modeling, acting, and commercial work. I'm a mom of three, and I wrote it to share what my family learned, so you can start with clearer expectations than we had.
Coming soon to Amazon, with a digital download here to follow.
Start here
Before you send the photos
Think about the everyday commitment first. Who can manage the commuting? What happens when an audition comes up at short notice? How will it fit around school? And most of all, does your child want to do it?
This guide helps you understand that commitment, ask good questions, protect your child's interests, and make the right decision for your family, including the decision to wait or stop.
Meet Nina
From one parent to another
"Are you ready to dedicate a lot of your time to this?"
That's usually my first question when parents ask me how to get their child started.
My husband and I worked through that question, and everything after it, with our three children in print, modeling, commercials, and some film and television. I wrote this guide to share the questions, routines, and lessons I wish we had understood from the start.
Your child's comfort, education, and wellbeing come first. Everything in this guide is built around that.
What's inside
Practical help for every stage
From first photos and finding an agency to set days, contracts, and payment records, with short questions at the end of each section to help you think things through.
01
Researching agencies
How to look into an agency yourself, and how to spot pressure and warning signs before excitement carries you along.
02
Photos and videos
Preparing the simple photos and videos agencies ask for, and what to be careful about before paying for any photo package.
03
Auditions and callbacks
Handling auditions and the workday without forcing your child, and keeping it manageable for the whole family.
04
Permits and paperwork
What to look up about child performer permits and earnings rules, and how to keep your records in order.
05
Bookings and payment
Asking clearer questions about bookings, usage, contracts, and payment, so you know what you're agreeing to.
06
Voice work and beyond
A researched beginner's section on voice work, plus how to maintain representation and know when to step away.
Written for parents anywhere in the U.S. Child performer permits and earnings rules are set state by state, so the guide shows you exactly what to look up where you live. When it gives specific examples, they come from New York and its neighboring states.
Editions
Choose the edition that fits you
Every edition is the complete guide. They differ in format and in whether the worksheets come as a separate fillable toolkit.
Kindle ebook
- The complete reading edition
- Worksheets included for reference
- Read on any Kindle device or the free Kindle app
On Amazon
Paperback
- The complete guide in print
- Every worksheet, with room to write
- Space for notes at the end of many sections
On Amazon
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Questions
Good to know
Will this work for us where we live?
Yes. Most of the guide applies wherever you live in the U.S. Child performer permits and earnings rules are set state by state, so the guide shows you exactly what to look up in your state.
Can this guide get my child signed or booked?
No book can promise that. This one helps you understand the commitment, ask good questions, and protect your child's interests, including deciding to wait or stop.
Is this legal, tax, or financial advice?
No. The guide shares my family's experience and points you to official resources. Rules change, so it explains what to check for each job and where to check it.
Which edition should I choose?
If you want to fill in the worksheets on your computer, choose the digital download with the toolkit. If you like to read on a Kindle or phone, choose the Kindle edition. If you'd rather write by hand, the paperback has every worksheet with room to write.
Do you recommend specific agencies?
No. The guide shows you how to research agencies yourself. No agency or organization mentioned in it sponsored or endorsed it.