At this point, the thousand original requests have come down to about 50 potential models. The parents are asked to take new snapshots of their child each month and go to the local copy shop and make color-laser copy prints and mail them to Kid's Power. Only about 25 parents actually do this. Those who do are asked to sign a non-exclusive contract for one year.

So, we've gone from 1,000 inquiries down to only a handful of models who meet the requirements and whose parents will take the few simple steps to actually move their child forward in this career. "They don't know what they're getting themselves into—that it's a career for the parents," observes Pacholyk.

"It's usually the mother's responsibility," comments photographer Weinstein. "Dad is too busy working during the day to be actively involved. In the old days Mom, the Housewife, handled this chore. But that was years ago when most moms weren't working. Today most mothers work, too, and they're very busy. It's not surprising they can't take on these added chores and perform them promptly and reliably."

If a child is accepted by an agency, the agency director will have the child go to appointments that aren't necessarily paying photo sessions. The bulk of appointments are known in the business as "go-sees"—the photographer and/or art director will call in a dozen or more potential models to audition before picking the one who gets the job.

It's the equivalent of a casting call for actors. This is the real investment of time that you—the parent—must be prepared to make. You'll spend a lot more time on "go-sees" than on actual paying assignments. How much time? If the "go-see" is a scheduled appointment, figure about half an hour, plus traveling. If it's an open call, figure somewhere between one and three hours, and sometimes more.

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