Refers to the payment of monies prior to receiving money from a client. Also, any money advanced for expenses incurred by the model ( e.g. tests, website fee, tests, prints, portfolio)

A commercial booking or product endorsement

A business that scouts, develops, markets, manages and promotes talent.

A percentage of the model's income paid

A legal document between the agency and the talent, specifying terms under which they work together.

An agency service fee (or client fee) is a fee charged to the client, not the model, for the agency’s services. The fee amount varies, but it is typically an additional 20% charge based on the model’s day rate.

The coordinator of photo layouts and advertisements who oversees sessions and decides upon format.

The apprentice photographer who assists in the studio or dark room

Clients and photographers contact your agent to see if you are free to work. Appointments can be made for you unless you "book out"

Sometimes we will ask for an availability check before submitting you to a casting, job or shoot. An availability check is just that - a check. Do not turn down other work for an availability check, unless we confirm you are already booked.

Your ‘book’ is your modeling portfolio with high quality images, showing you at your best.

You get to confirm whether or not you would like to take a gig. However, once you confirm you are booked! Being booked, generally, means you are being paid and are expected to show up.

Your booking agent is the most important asset in your career. You will spend a lot of time with him/her every day either on the phone or in person. Your booking agent, guided by agency standards, is the person responsible for getting you the best money deals and the most prestigious work. This person will manage your daily appointments and speak to clients on your behalf. A booking agent will know in what direction to market you and maximize your earnings. He/she will give you advice and will always be concerned with your safety and welfare. Communication and honesty are key to building a strong relationship with your agent.

Always let your booking agent know at least 24 hours in advance that you are not able to work or go to an appointment for a certain period of time.

A Boutique Agency is an agency with less than 100 signed models and has cornered a particular niche in the modelling market.

Any tax-deductible expense (i.e. makeup, clothing, haircut, etc.)

The fee is negotiated between the client and agency to buy any model's rights to his/her image, voice, and likeness in conjunction with an ad that is run for a certain amount of time. Buyout agreements may be renewed and renegotiated at an additional cost. (Buyouts usually occur in point-of-purchase ads, non-union commercials, and national or regional advertising campaigns).

A second, more exclusive casting for those that the client liked and wants to see again before making their final decisions.

A call sheet is an information sheet given with every job. It lists every individual working the job, their role, and contact information. A call sheet will also list the location, call times and any other important information to do with the job. This will usually be sent the evening prior to the job.

This is the actual time you are due to arrive on set

Castings are not guaranteed gigs - they are auditions for a specific gig. The casting director will select you or not. Keep in mind, turn downs are a part the model experience and are not personal. You are an awesome model or on your way towards becoming one!

The person who selects the model or actor for a job

Refers to print work for companies who sell their merchandise through catalogues

A computer-generated form of booking and appointments the agency uses to track and record the model's schedule.

Any individual or organization employing a model

A printed card, usually 8.5 x 11 on glossy card stock, that includes some of your best work and your measurements. You must bring one to every casting and go-see. We will provide a card for you to print for castings.

Related to television advertisements and cross section of photo work.

Refers to a classic look or image that works well for television and commercial print work.

Two competitive clients or products

This occurs when a client has made a final commitment to use a model for a particular booking.

Model's fee for an all-day booking. (Equal to or greater than eight hours in the studio, or ten on location.)

Learning how to model- steps taken to get you ready to be photographed and your portfolio ready to be seen by clients. This includes getting tests done to build your portfolio and gaining the confidence necessary to move well in front of the camera

Clean, unedited photos which are usually taken before you have a book and then throughout your modeling career. These help keep clients updated on what you currently look like. If your look changes, notifying us immediately is much appreciated.

Occurs when a model does a job booked by an agency for a market in which the model doesn't currently live.

Dressers are people who help you dress. However, they may not be available at all times so it is important to re-hang all garments properly, re-box all shoes in the proper boxes, and reattach all the accessories.

An editorial is another word for a fashion story in a magazine. These can be important for exposure and proof of work, but don't pay as well as commercial print work does.

Refers to a contract in which the model or talent agrees to work with one agency, company, or product for a certain period of time.

An appointment ahead of a photoshoot or fashion show where a model tries on clothing to ensure they fit properly and can be altered prior to the job date if necessary.

Fit-to-confirm is when a designer schedules a fitting with a model to narrow down the final lineup for a show. This is commonly seen during fashion week. During the fitting, the designer will pin the garment to the model, ask them to walk in the tailored garment, and then take a photo of them in their look for the day of the show. This is usually when a model will know if they have booked the show or not.

This is when a client requests to see you and probably take your photos for future reference. This is not necessarily for a gig or date in particular, but instead could be potentially interested in working with you. These are usually more personal than castings and great to opportunity establish yourself with industry pros.

A guarantee contract is most commonly seen in the Asian modelling market. There are two types of guarantee contracts: gross and net. Each type of guarantee contract varies and they can be non-condition or condition, however the main purpose for each one is to come to an agreement about a guaranteed payment at the end of a model's contract.

Option can mean you are in a pool of models a client is interested in whereas Hold means the client has selected you from the options to go through a final round of selects.

This is when you are hired by a department store for 3-5 hours to walk around the store promoting the collection they are showing on a given day. Instructions will be given by the client on how you will be expected to interact with the customers.

A beginning model or model with a youthful appearance

Site for a photo session outside of the studio

Markets refer to different geographic locations where models find work. Major markets include New York, Paris, Milan, and London.

A mother agency is an agency that is responsible for developing and managing a model’s career while finding opportunities to place the model in different markets. If a model signs with an agency in a different market, the mother agency receives part of that agency’s commission for the model’s work.

This is the abbreviated term for “Make-Up Artist” or makeup and hair.

An option is when a brand or designer is interested in booking in a model for a shoot or show and would like to hold the dates on their calendar. Once the brand or designer narrows down their list, a model may be ranked as their first option. The final step is to either confirm the model or release the model from the job.

It occurs when a client "reserves" a model's time before actually confirming the booking.

An additional fee paid to the model for continuous usage of billboards, packages, counter displays, etc.

How much a model is paid per hour of work

A contract signed by the model/agency after the booking, permitting the client to use the photos of that session for a specific reason.

This is when a client goes in a different direction and you are no longer on hold.

Agency charge paid by clients for services

Self-tapes are video auditions you record yourself, often for jobs that are far away. This allows you to showcase your skills and personality without traveling long distances.

Showroom is a type of modelling work. It is when a fashion designer hires a model to wear and show off their clothing and accessories to fashion buyers.

Live modelling, as in fashion shows. Refers to the fashion shows that the top designers put on for the winter and spring seasons in New York, London, Milan, and Paris.

The creative person who organizes clothing, accessories, and sets for the photographic session or fashion show

A business-related expense that can be deducted from the talent's income on his/her tax return to reduce the tax amount paid to the IRS (e.g.makeup, clothes, business lunches, etc.)

Page "torn" from a magazine depicting a model's work, included in a portfolio

A test shoot is a photo shoot that is solely for a book/portfolio. It will be focused on the model and can have many themes and looks.

A photoshoot with a professional photographer to create pictures for the talent portfolio. A test may be paid for by the model or done for no cost by a photographer who would like to collaborate for everyone's benefit

TF, basically, means a free photoshoot where there is no money exchanged. Both parties are exchanging work for their books.

The MAC clause is the term agencies use so that the model can be released to another agency without them being in breach of any contract violation.

Travelling is an integral part of every talent's career. At some point, it will be necessary for talent to travel abroad in order to gain exposure, continue building confidence, and obtain tear sheets in order to make one's portfolio stronger. It is imperative that a model get a passport. If you do not already have one, it is important to apply for one ASAP.

If you are at a booking or test and the client or photographer wants to keep you longer than the time you have been contracted to stay, or if you feel uncomfortable for any reason, just excuse yourself at an appropriate time, and call the agency. We will get you out of any uncomfortable circumstance

Usage is how a client uses the products of a model’s services, typically through an image or video, to advertise their goods and services. It is often determined by, but not limited to:

The length of time a client is permitted to use the model’s image and video

The place where the client is permitted to display the model’s image or video (i.e., in-store vs billboard ad)

The territory the client is permitted to use the model’s image of video (i.e., the US vs worldwide)

A document that confirms the details of a model's job, such as date, location, pay rate, and what was shot.