Tara Caldwell's daughter, Bridget, stumbled upon modeling the same way most kids stumble upon "The Wiggles": It's never the parents' doing. But when Tara noticed how much her daughter loved it, she couldn't help but love it, too.

When Bridget was a baby, did you know right away that she could be a model?

Absolutely not, it never even crossed my mind. Scott and I simply took everyday snapshots of her just as all parents do with their new additions.

What made you decide to get Bridget into modeling?

Modeling was something that actually fell into our laps. I had a session set up for her 2-year-old photos. I had emailed a few of the photos to the boutique owner who I had bought Bridget's clothes and headband from since she was so helpful. She went crazy over the pictures and asked if she could use them for advertisement. I was in shock and told her I had no problem with it as long as the photographer who took the photos was OK with it. Needless to say, she was, and the photos were made public. I was told the items that Bridget was wearing were flying off the shelves, and she asked if she could start sending me items free of charge for her to model. I then started to investigate the world of modeling and found out that there are referral agencies that strictly work with boutiques and boutique models, so I signed her up. She started to get bookings immediately. I was truly surprised.

Tell us about her accomplishments.

Bridget started modeling this past March, and her photos can be seen all over Etsy (an e-commerce website). She has also been featured in ads placed in Southern Child Magazine. Bridget has a four-page feature in Sparkle Bebe Model Magazine (a publication out of Chicago that strictly focuses on boutiques and the children who model for them). However, her biggest accomplishment along with her photographer is one of her photos being selected to be in Child Model Magazine (Holiday 2011 issue). CMM is the leading publication for child models and photographers, so it was an honor to have her picture selected.

It's a struggle for many people to get their toddlers to sit still for a family photo, much less a whole modeling shoot. How do you do it?

That's where Bridget's amazing photographers come into play. She uses three local photographers, Kristin Scully, Jessica Priest and Cheryl Logan. They're wonderful with children, and they capture her while she is just being Bridget. Modeling is a lot different than taking your child to Sears for a portrait session. Although some of her pictures show her posing for the camera, most of them are photojournalism style. The photographers tend to follow Bridget instead of directing her. The best modeling shots are the ones that actually show off the product, and a picture without a big smile can actually be more dramatic and beautiful. Believe me, it's not always easy ... it may take them 40 shots to get the two to three perfect ones that the boutiques need for advertisement. Sometimes she's great and a shoot takes 10 minutes, sometimes it takes 30 minutes depending on her cooperation. As she gets older she is posing with struts and hands on hips. It's quite comical as no one has ever taught her these things; that's what makes me think she's a natural at this.

What's the best thing about her modeling?

The best part about modeling is seeing Bridget's face when she sees herself in an Etsy ad or in a magazine. She lights up and says, "Hey! That's me." It's great receiving all the clothing, too. She receives satin headbands that sell for $30, tutus that sell for $60 and couture items that sell for $100 plus. Every time a package arrives, she gets so excited. I'm happy that she's a part in helping small business owners sell American-made items and having fun at the same time.

What's the hardest thing about her modeling?

The hardest part of modeling is we do have deadlines to meet, usually a 10-15 day turnaround from the time we receive the clothing. So with my work schedule, photographers' schedules, time to think of a backdrop that complements the clothing and hoping weather permits, it can get stressful. I'm lucky enough to work part time, which allows me those few extra days during the week to devote my time to this. I also didn't realize that ads are being worked on 2-3 months in advance, so it can be hard finding pumpkins in August and Christmas snow in October. We're now starting to shoot spring items, and it's freezing outside.

Do you think Bridget could make a career of this? Would you want her to?

I really can't see Bridget making a career out of modeling, only because I don't see her being tall enough. Her dad is tall, but I'm short, only 5-foot-2. I will say she is tall for her age, but I can't see her walking the runways in Paris or Milan just yet. Actually our dream career for her is to become an ESPN reporter. We'd love to see her reporting on the sidelines. It still involves a camera and looking great on the opposite end, so we'll see.

What sort of criticism have you received? How have you answered those critics?

Bridget's biggest critic is her uncle. He's not crazy about some of the outfits, but if it were up to him, she'd be covered from her ears to her toes. I have 100 percent control over what Bridget models and doesn't. I would never accept a booking if I felt the clothing was too old for her. I will not accept any short tops that allow her tummy to be exposed. I never apply makeup; I don't even have her ears pierced. Some ask if I think it's dangerous to have her in the public eye. I simply respond that Bridget is seen in photos, she's not all dolled-up dancing on a stage in front of hundreds of strangers like you see at a pageant. As her parents, we would never have her do anything that would possibly put her safety at risk.

What are your hopes and dreams for your daughter's future?

That's easy ... all we would ever want for her is to be happy in love and life and to be successful in whatever she chooses to do — probably no different than any other parent's hopes and dreams for their own children.