So you’re thinking of applying to Maya, Inc. Kids. Surely it’s simple enough - you just fill in the form and attach a few photos. Well yes it really is that simple - but read on to make sure your application is as strong as it can be 📝
PHOTOS 📸
Plain background - preferably a white wall. If you don’t have enough light inside then go outside and find a wall that is out of direct sunlight but still bright enough to clearly see eye colour. If your child’s eye colour in the photo matches what you see on a normal sunny day then it is lit well. If a blue eye looks brown or a green eye looks yellow - that picture is too dark.
If there is harsh sunlight in the child’s face it can make them squint (distorting features) and cast dark shadows across their face. It’s best to find a wall ‘on the dark side of the street’ where it’s bright enough to be able to see their eye colour accurately but where there are no shafts of light / shadows across their face.
Clients see lots of options when casting - your child’s photo needs to stand out. Don’t submit dingy, darkly lit photos, or photos of your child looking glum and tired.
Headshots should be chest to head. Shoot at their eye level, not from below or above as this can distort features. Standing too close can also warp facial features so make sure you are far enough away from them when snapping.
Only submit home snaps taken on your phone or home camera. No shots from paid portfolio shoots please - clients often ask for home snaps anyway so we need to see you are able to take good enough ‘polaroid’ style photos at home.
Hair should be loose where possible or in their usual style. No wet / gelled hair and no fancy hairstyles or accessories.
No makeup or filters.
Clean face (no babies at their cake smash parties for example which we do see!)
Your child should be wearing plain clothing - a simple top and leggings combo in neutral colours is perfect.
Babies and toddlers should be fully dressed - no nappy shots / bare chests please.
You have 5 headshots to submit and one full length. If the first photo clicked on doesn’t match any of the photo requirements we don’t open any of the other photos and the application is deleted to make space in the inbox.
MEASUREMENTS 📏
Applications sometimes come in with no height measurement submitted, or with a height entered which is obviously inaccurate (a baby measuring 104cm for example)! Measurements are really important because models are almost always submitted based on height. Measure your child before submitting and don’t apply without a recent measurement taken in centimetres.
We trust you to be as accurate as possible as the height you give us is the height the client will get and what they will be expecting on shoot day.
LOCATION
Almost all the work we get takes place in and around London / Manchester (with the exception of international clients). Travel is very rarely covered by the client unless it is a location shoot and even then there is often a travel expense cap. This means travel expenditure comes from your own pocket. (International shoot travel is always paid for by the client however). Make sure you are ok with footing the travel bill if you aren’t near one of these shooting hubs.
If we see an application from Glasgow or Belfast for example, we are unlikely to consider it as you would be better off looking for a stills agent closer to home who will have regional contacts we don’t have.
We specifically ask for your council on the form as kids need to be licensed by their local council for each job they book.
AGENCIES
There is an option to disclose any other agencies you are currently with. We very rarely take children on who are wanting to move from other stills agencies. We do however take on children who already have talent only agencies.
FEEDBACK
If we can move forwards we will either send out a direct offer or a request for further images and video. This usually means that we think your child could fit the agency but we need better photos for their portfolio. We send out more detailed instructions for taking photos at this stage. If the photos are already ready to go from the application form however, then we will usually send out a direct offer.
We don’t respond to applications we know we can’t take further. This isn’t a reflection on your child in any way.
If you receive an email asking for photos, or an offer, please respond promptly -preferably within 5 working days. Sometimes we accept a child and the parent sends the contract back weeks later - the offer has expired by this point and won’t be reconsidered.
APPLYING TO MULTIPLE AGENCIES
If you are applying to multiple agencies make sure you know who you want to go with before signing. Please don’t sign while waiting for another agency to respond - wait for your responses then sign! As soon as you sign the contract your child is considered ready to go and will be included in client packages. A client wanting to book a child only to find they have already agency hopped is not a good look (for the family).
GOOD LUCK AND TAKE YOUR TIME WITH YOUR PHOTOS DON’T JUST SUBMIT ANY OLD SNAP OFF YOUR CAMERA ROLL! 📸