How to get baby models for my baby-related ecomm business?
March 1, 2017 4:30 PM   Subscribe

I started a baby gift basket business as a side hustle and did it too late for me to use my own children as models. Sadly, most of our friends are also past the baby stage. So how could I find parents willing to let me (for a fee? free product?) take photos at a predetermined location and with my product? Thanks!
posted by hala mass to Work & Money (10 answers total)
 
Since you said this is more of a side project, I would put out a call to your friends group on Facebook (and maybe any moms groups that you're part of there?) You could also check with folks at work or if you're part of a religious community. Basically, I would work my social network before turning to professional baby models. Depending on how well you know the person you end up working with, I might offer a free lunch, some free babysitting, and/or a free gift basket.
posted by rainbowbrite at 4:39 PM on March 1, 2017


Post on a local parenting FB group/message board.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:46 PM on March 1, 2017 [3 favorites]


Unless you're a proven photographer, I'd suggest using stock photos from a service like Getty or many others, which may cost roughly $50 or so but will be superior to your amateur work.
posted by JimN2TAW at 5:15 PM on March 1, 2017 [3 favorites]


Post it under "gigs" on craigslist or on local facebook groups. I'm sure you'll have people happy to do it for a small amount of cash or a free toy/onesie/basket/whatever.
posted by belladonna at 5:31 PM on March 1, 2017


Best answer: I worked for a company that did kid/baby photo shoots every couple of years.

They offered a small payment and gift cards I think, posted online various places (company facebook, local ads) and I think reached out to some model agencies with ads. They requested some baby photos so they could contact who fit our needs and seemed of good temperament for being in front of a camera for a bit.

Everyone had to sign a photo release. Be sure you do this. There are examples online. That means they release the rights of the photo for you to use for advertising, etc.

At the event there was a block of time for the shoot - if you need to schedule, do a couple at a time in case any don't show up, are fussy, sick, etc but not too many that everyone is waiting around and getting bored or tired and fussy.

They also had snacks and water on hand.

It was a huge photo shoot but it was a full day thing. I'm assuming yours will be smaller, but that's just a note for a later, but not super professional size mega shoot type of deal.

Be prepared to totally have people flake or kids to get fussy.
posted by Crystalinne at 6:20 PM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]


Make sure they sign a photo release.
posted by Ideefixe at 6:51 PM on March 1, 2017


A friend of mine was one a model for the Moby Wrap a few years back. She got a free wrap out of it. The company was big enough that I think they just advertised on their Facebook page that they wanted some real moms and babies. I would agree with either using your existing network or your local Facebook or NextDoor groups, and compensating the parents with photos or product.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 8:30 PM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]


Pay for a professional photographer.
Then offer the parents the photos and maybe the gift basket in lieu of payment.
Baby photo shoots are expensive for parents. Any ad saying FREE baby pics would have gotten my attention back then!

Advertise on mommy boards and with flyers at places that offer baby yoga and diaper changing seminars - you know the kind I mean.
posted by Omnomnom at 11:34 PM on March 1, 2017


Response by poster: Thanks to everyone for the networking suggestions and very practical advice too, specifically the release and professional photographer. I'm not very comfortable with asking people for help and so offering free photos and onesies should make it easier for me.
posted by hala mass at 4:08 AM on March 2, 2017


There are lots of photographers in my area who specialize in baby and small children / family portraits. They tend to work with the same families at least once or twice a year (Christmas, Easter, etc). You might reach out to some photographers in your area and see if they can arrange to partner with you / help you reach out to their established clientele.

I for instance do not want my children anywhere near the professional modeling world, but if one or the other of the photographers that I have an established relationship with reached out to me and asked if we would participate I would consider it. The bonus is that you wouldn't need to pay me professional modeling fees, I would take portraits of my kids in trade (sans your product, probably). So you might just need to work out fees with the photographer.
posted by vignettist at 10:55 AM on March 2, 2017


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