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Better.TV talk with Parents Magazine about having their child model in magazines.

Transcript

How to Get Your Child into Modeling Host: Welcome back everybody, its time for hot topics and we got a hot one here too, Terry Mormon is here, she’s an associate lifestyle editor with Parents Magazine and Terry was here earlier talking about a contest with Parents Magazine to get your kid on the cover. We’re going to repeat that information in just a second here but before we do, I would love to ask you the question that so many parents want to know, what in the world does it take to get my kid on the cover. Everybody thinks that they’re kid is going to be perfect for modeling but when people do ask, they just think automatically its just the look, what are you guys looking for? Terry Mormon: Its not only the look RJ, its also the personality that the child has in the photo and they’re really happy, are they into what they’re doing and capturing the moment also so you want to send pictures in like that and that’s what we look for child models regularly that are on our cover. Host: Do you guys accept photos from a regular Joe Schmoe who’s taken it with their regular camera outside or do you specifically go through lets say modeling agencies or only accept professional photos? Terry Mormon: No, actually in the kids in the cover contest, we definitely want it to be a photo taken by mom at home and it shouldn’t be professional. So we want everyone out there to be able to submit a picture of their cute kid. Host: Now every picture, does it have to show a personality, do you ever have photos where you just need a regular straight ahead serious photo? Terry Mormon: Yes, I mean whatever you have, if your child is cute and you believe it, we want to see it and whatever shot that you think really shows your child and their moment then show it to us and if that’s a straight face and they look adorable, then you should send that in. Host: If you could tell parents out there something that most parents just don’t know until it’s too late, what would you say that that would be? Terry Mormon: About photos? Host: Yes, about photos or even having their kids modeling in magazines because I think a lot of people think it’s a lot easier than it really is. Terry Mormon: You know its easy when they kid is really into it, if you have a child who loves being in front of the camera and they’re a natural that’s going to show, so you know if you think that you have a kid like that then go with your gut and try it out. Host: And I can only imagine how many people say “No, she loves to be in front of the camera” and they get there and its just complete shut down too. It has to be a true character in front of the camera, what about their parents, their demeanor, how many stage moms and stage dads do you get and what can parents learn form you in terms of things that they and should not do. Terry Mormon: You know it’s a mix, I think that when the child is really into it then by nature the parents gets really involved into it and sometimes they don’t need to put on the breaks. They get be a little over involved but then you see children on sets and shoots that we do all the time and they’re just having so much fun and so we’ve really just focused on the children and the parents often just stay on the side and its fun to watch them watch their kid having fun in the shoot. Host: Have you seen situations where you say you know what, I think the parent is pushing the kid too far. This might be the parents dream, not so much the kids. Terry Mormon: In some situations but it’s hard to judge because kids have different data just like we do, so we can get a child on a set and they’re absolutely phenomenal and then a week later they might be with somebody else and they’re not just in the mood to be in front of the camera. Host: That’s very interesting, now once again can you repeat the information for how to enter the contest to get their kids on the cover. Terry Mormon: Sure, its our annual cover contest so if you have a cute kid you should log onto parents.com/coverkid to upload photos of your child between ages of three months and six years and then we’ll send out an email and you can send it to friends and family and have them both. And then ten finalists, one chosen by readers, nine by our editors will be flown to New York City for a photo shoot and the winner will be on the cover of our November 2010 issue. Host: That’s a good range too, I like that. Thank you so much, good to have you here, stay with us, we’ll be right back after this.