Curious about what it takes to run a modeling agency for children and teens? In this blog, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my job as a model agent and owner of the agency Young Model Management. Spoiler alert: every day is different – and yet somehow, always the same!

It’s 5:46 PM. My phone rings. A parent calls, panicked: "The taxi didn’t show up. Do we need to arrange something else?" Meanwhile, I get a message that another child is sick and can’t make the shoot, a client asks for polaroids of a blonde boy in size 140, and the labor exemption for tomorrow needs to be approved before 10:00 AM. Welcome to my world!

Another modeling agency? Why?
Four years ago, I, Rosa Wisman, started Young Model Management with a crystal-clear vision: a modeling agency where the child and parent are not just a number, but a name. A story. A personality. An agency that centers around personal guidance, open communication, and trust – between model, parent, and client. I was convinced it could be done differently. And yes, at first that earned me a few raised eyebrows. "Another new modeling agency? We already have so many," said a stylist – not realizing I was the owner of that new agency. #awkward. But I understood. There are so many faces, so many agencies. Still, I knew this one would be different. Not because it would be calmer. Not because everything would run perfectly. But because, in all the chaos, I would always keep my focus on the child behind the model.

In this blog post, I’ll take you through my daily reality – which sometimes feels like one big puzzle of moving parts. But it’s in that very chaos that you see why I started this work. Why I keep calling, keep organizing, and keep thinking about every last detail. Because behind every phone call, every open browser tab, every urgent message, there’s a talented child, parents doing everything they can, and a client relying on precision. What that looks like in real life? You’ll read it below.

A day in the life of a model agent: from 6:15 AM until... whenever the work is done
My day starts at 6:15. I get ready and head to the office. If traffic is kind, I’m there by 7:45. I take the first half hour to review and plan my agenda. I don’t always get to stick to it – running a modeling agency is chaotic. The planning includes prioritizing tasks, organizing jobs, meeting with clients and parents, requesting and checking labor exemptions, managing social media, and growing the business. In one day, I wear many hats: from finance manager to social media expert, from on-set babysitter to legal advisor, and from travel planner to psychologist. Now, I wouldn’t say I’m an expert in all these fields – far from it – but I do deal with them daily.

The magic and the reality of bookings
I start the day – actually, the whole day – by proposing kids to clients. "Have you seen this boy yet?", "Don’t forget how great X was!" – these are questions I ask multiple times a day. But clients often come with very specific requests: "We’re looking for a girl with red hair and freckles, size 134, for a campaign next week in Paris." Then I dive into the database and send over a selection. But I look beyond appearance: personality, experience, travel distance, school obligations – it all matters.

Negotiation is also part of the job. I want the children to be paid fairly, but I also want to keep the client. Finding that balance is key – and it’s my strength: knowing when to push and when to hold back. “We can confirm X!” Ah, the relieving message that a YOUNG model is booked. But that’s just the beginning. The client’s yes isn’t the finish line – it’s the starting shot.

Always 10+ tabs open
By 10:00 AM, I’ve already got about twelve tabs open. WhatsApp is always ready for parent questions, I keep my calendar updated, tackle a packed inbox (which was empty just yesterday), and use our booking system that stores all model and client information. I also work with the accounting software, Booking.com to arrange travel, Canva.com for social media, LinkedIn for CRM, contracts with partner agencies, and – most importantly – the labor inspection portal. I’m often on the phone with them too, all while juggling other tasks.

Organizing. Managing. And... more organizing!
Because children under 18 officially aren’t allowed to work, a labor exemption is needed – per child, per shoot. And trust me: no exemption, no shoot. It’s always tense whether it’ll be processed in time, because the entire production depends on it. When you browse Levi’s for kids’ shoes, you don’t see it, but behind every image is a massive operation – with the child, the parent, the client, and me at the center. So I always follow up with the labor inspection before lunch to check on the status. I think they’re tired of me by now, but honestly? I wish I didn’t have to call so often.

After lunch, around 1:15 PM, I carry on. While answering WhatsApp messages from parents, I’m creating a social media post scheduled for 3 PM on LinkedIn and Instagram. On the right side of my screen, I’m requesting a birth certificate for model Ayden. On the phone, I’m speaking with Sophie’s mom about which train to take – the 3:10 or 4:40. On my left screen, I’m filling in a callsheet for a shoot in Spain – a document with all the details parents and models need. The client provides the basics, but I create my own format to offer more comprehensive info. As I finish callsheet A, I need to adjust callsheet B because the brand changed the shoot time. I confirm that a child is seated next to their parent on a flight, and book parking for another family traveling abroad. I also want to check in and see how Niyah’s fitting went. Right, back to the schedule – where were we?

I’d say admin, travel logistics, and CRM are the biggest parts of my job. But the best part? Sending out confirmations to excited parents. I used to FaceTime the teens in our agency – the joy of hearing they got the job was mutual. Now that the agency has grown, that’s not always possible anymore. Still, I keep things personal, because I invest a lot in communication with parents. I try to meet as many kids and parents in person as possible – beyond the video intake. Whether that means stopping by on set or seeing them at Sunday polaroid and portfolio shoots, I want to truly know the child. That’s the only way to ensure they feel at home with us.

Being present at shoots is something I find truly special. One girl I signed years ago recently returned to modeling and booked a shoot for Calvin Klein. The sparkle in her eyes when she saw me – magical. I have such a great bond with the kids. It’s amazing to see them be themselves or go through incredible personal growth. Children who used to be shy now stand tall in front of a camera surrounded by ten adults. Modeling is a unique hobby – a learning experience – and for many children, a chance to develop themselves. That’s what moves me the most: seeing kids bloom, find their place, or watching the quiet boy from school become the biggest jokester on set.

I know them all. Literally.
Their height. Shoe size. Eye color. Hobbies. Sports. Allergies. How they’re doing at school. How their parents react to last-minute changes. And for some – even their social security number. A client doesn’t even have to check the website. One phone call and I can tell their story. I know who’s right for which brand and type of job. One mom recently sent me a photo of her daughter proudly pointing to her campaign photo in a store. Pause. Feel it. Yes, this is special work.

Meanwhile, I’m also trying to get a train refund for a client whose trip was delayed. And then... ping! A new model application. And another. They come in daily. But we stay selective. If I don’t see the vision – or if the child isn’t ready – we don’t proceed. In an industry driven by speed and sales, I choose slowness: listening carefully, knowing each child by name, and never sending someone who isn’t ready – no matter how cute they are. Because only when it feels right for everyone can it truly succeed. After hundreds of shoots and thousands of emails and phone calls, I’ve learned: the magic is in the details. So yes, another modeling agency. But one with an eye for detail, for the child, the parent, and the client. That stylist and I? We laugh about it now. We work together almost weekly.

It’s all in the details
That’s why I create my own callsheet format – and I’m busy with it all day. Not because I’m stubborn (well, maybe a little), but because I know what parents need. The client sends the basics, I add what really matters: don’t forget to bring at least €50 in cash – taxis in Bremen often don’t accept cards. Don’t forget to check out by 10:00 – you won’t be returning to the hotel. Heads up: lunch may contain traces of nuts. Small things, but when they go wrong, they have big impact. So I stay sharp. Always. It also gives me peace of mind to know that a parent feels prepared and reassured.

In this job, you really can’t afford to make mistakes – every mistake has consequences. If the call time is wrong, I’m in trouble. If parent B flies instead of parent A, we’ve got flight issues. Thankfully, I’ve never made a major mistake – thanks to multitasking and keeping a cool head. It’s a lot, but it’s magical too.

Of course, things don’t always run smoothly. Sometimes a client cancels last minute. That’s when I put on my psychologist hat – because the child is disappointed, the parent is upset, and the client is stressed. Staying calm, thinking ahead, and finding a solution is crucial.

One of the most stressful agent moments ever?
Germany, COVID, and 48 hours of chaos during the pandemic, travel was a logistical puzzle. I remember it clearly: a model from the UK had to fly to Germany for a Nike shoot. But you could only stay in the country for 48 hours. A direct flight from the UK would arrive too late. So I rerouted her through Spain – first to Barcelona, then on to Germany. It worked. The shoot was a success.
Until her mom called me from the gate that evening: “We might not make it!” If she missed that flight, she’d have to quarantine in Germany. Not ideal – not for the girl, not for her working mom, and definitely not for the client.
My heart started racing like Speedy Gonzales. My eyes flicked to the clock. Will they make it? Focus, Rosa. Just focus. I had to wait. It felt like holding a plank for half an hour. Waiting for a message. Waiting for a call. Heart pounding.

The evening shift: CRM
From 5 PM to 7 PM – usually while eating – I work on CRM: Customer Relationship Management. I look for potential clients or try to convert warm leads into bookings. The tricky part about this industry is that it’s all about who you know. It can take months to find the right person – and that doesn’t mean you’ve landed them. Building trust is essential: pushing, pulling, playing it smart, and communicating often. I was in contact with Moncler for two years – every two weeks – before they finally booked a model with YOUNG.

Finding new clients is the most challenging part of this job. The market is competitive. The most frustrating part? People in the industry often switch jobs or go freelance – and then you start all over again.

Modeling never stops. It’s chaos, passion, responsibility, and nonstop juggling. From a 7 AM call that a child is sick to a 1 AM message from a client asking about sample sizes. It’s intense – yes, often stressful – being a model agent. Because you’re not physically on set, you have to hover above the situation like a helicopter, keeping an overview, switching gears fast, and missing nothing. It’s demanding – and sometimes nerve-wracking. But when that long-awaited confirmation message from a parent comes in? “We made the flight.” That’s when I exhale. Deep breath. Until tomorrow – when we start all over again.

Ciaoo,
Rosa

Young Platform

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