The CuteKid Photo Contest

Nov.26, 2008 by Paige Usyk
Baby Modeling, Baby Photo Contests, Reviews

October winners in Multiples Category

The CuteKid is like the Rolls Royce of online baby photo contests. You can enter your very own cute kid in the yearly contest with the possibility of snagging a $25,000 college tuition fund, score some pretty snazzy monthly prizes like $500 savings bonds and $100 American Express gift cards or be discovered by the talent agents and scouts who judge the winners.

Here comes the kicker though. While membership to the website is free, as is uploading photos, entry into the online monthly and yearly contest is not. Indeed, each photo you enter costs you a “registration fee” of $19.95, which is said to cover the costs of processing, prizes and the press budget. Have two children you want to enter? Get ready to fork over just under $40.

There are, however, some nice perks if you do go ahead and enter your child, $78 worth to be exact. You automatically receive a year’s subscription to Parenting magazine, and a free 11×14 canvas portrait. Plus, you gain exposure to leading talent and casting agents.

Basically, if stardom is in your child’s sights, this is a pretty good place to get started.

October Baby Winner

The CuteKid does make a convincing pitch for the fee, touting that what sets them apart from other ho-hum photo contests is judging by entertainment professionals, top talent scouts and casting agents, which provides for the possibility of gaining professional modeling and acting work. And it’s definitely possible.

There’s a whole section on their website devoted to success stories. Some of the photogenic babies, toddlers and kiddies ended up on magazine covers, doing print and television ads for clients as diverse as Kmart, Applebee’s, Brawny and Pottery Barn. Others modeled for children’s clothing brands like Carter’s and The Children’s Place, and a lucky few landed roles on television shows and movies.

CuteKid Nick from New Jersey has appeared on Law and Order SVU, shot two short films in New York and in December 2008 can be seen in the highly lauded Meryl Strep, Philip Seymour Hoffman flick Doubt. The possibility of winning a $25,000 college tuition fund isn’t too shabby a reward either.

Ready to enter? It’s pretty easy to do – nearly every page on their website has a link to enter the contest or submit a photo. And the process is pretty self-explanatory: parents (or grandparents and friends authorized by the child’s legal guardian) can fill out some basic information about themselves and upload photos (anywhere from one to a gazillion – I stopped checking how many I could load up after 21).

Signing up is possibly a bit more invasive than some would like, as you have to provide a full address and The CuteKid reserves the right to send promotional materials to members. But on the up side, I’ve yet to receive a single piece of pesky spam from them!

October Preschool Winner

Judging works as so: the top talent agents and entertainment professionals each receive one vote for that month’s “Cute Kid” in five respective age categories: baby (birth - 12 months), toddler (12 - 24 months), preschooler (2 - 4 years), big kid (4 - 8 years), pre-teen (8 - 12 years) and twins/multiples. Statistically, the kid(s) or baby with the most votes in each category wins; then, one overall winner for the month is picked. The yearly prizewinner is chosen among those overall monthly winners. Contests begin on the first of the following month, so judging for the November contest begins December 1, and winners are announced around the 10th of that month via a weekly e-mailed newsletter you automatically receive when you sign up.

Judging is conducted on a series of criteria including appearance, charisma, expression, image concept/setting, and that “something special.” And CuteKid winners are chosen without discrimination or judgment based on gender, race, color or age.

Still, just signing up and uploading your child’s photo (without the payment and contest entry) could spell success with access to casting calls (for babies and their fame seeking parents alike), and the possibility of being seen by casting directors, as the CuteKid’s own website even concedes, “although talent agents look closely at our contest entrants, many talent agents view all photos in our CuteKid Portfolio.”

For those conscious of security, you don’t have to worry about who can access your child’s beauty shots either. Only you, TheCuteKid.com judges and staff, and authorized talent agents can view the pictures.

And unlike many other contests, professional photographs are accepted, though if chosen the winner, you will have to seek the rights or authorization to use the image.

Last Year's Cute Kid of the Year

Even more – The CuteKid website also houses kid and baby resources for those who sign up. Find anything from a collection of popular nursery rhymes to tips for preventing childhood obesity. They also have a forum for parents to discuss the contest, share advice about being safe while pursuing a career in entertainment and chit chat about their favorite subject – their kids!

Sponsored by Parent Media Group, Inc., the CuteKid is now considered one of the largest and fastest growing photo contests on the web. And while it costs money to enter, the payoff is also much more than most online contests, plus there is a huge potential for exposure in the entertainment field if that’s your thing.