Agency - see Model Agency or Casting Agency.

Book - A collection of professional photographs showcasing the model's appearance, versatility, and range of poses. These portfolios serve as a visual resume for models and are used by modeling agencies, casting directors, designers, and clients to assess a model's suitability for specific projects, such as runway shows, magazine editorials, advertising campaigns, or commercial gigs.

Booking Agency - A booking agency is a company that represents fashion models, to work for the fashion industry. These agencies earn their income via commission, usually from the deal they make with the model or the client. The model agency presents the models to the clients, promotes them to foreign agencies and is in charge of the models chart, book, portfolio, buyouts, travel etc. They are responsible for bookings model's jobs.

Booker / Booking Agent - A booker is someone who works in a model agency and keeps track of who clients hire and manages the model’s schedule. This is the person responsible for getting the model work in that particular market.

Book Out - Notification to your agent that you're not available for a casting or job, for either professional or personal reasons. The clients cannot book you during that time you've "booked out".

Buyouts - This is the payment for the use of model's pictures. Often this is negotiated on top of the day rate and sometimes it's included. The type of use must be set (poster, advertisements, internet, TV etc.), as well as the run- time and the countries.

Call Time - The time at which a model must be at the location and ready to work. You should ALWAYS arrive 15 minutes before your designated call time.

Call Back - After the first casting a call back is held to narrow down the selection process. It is not unusual to get a callback before getting a job or being turned down.

Casting - A process where clients, such as fashion designers, photographers, advertising agencies, or brands, select models for specific projects, such as runway shows, photo shoots, commercials, or other promotional activities. Castings are an essential part of the model booking process and play a crucial role in determining which models are chosen to represent a client's brand or vision. During a casting, models are typically required to attend an audition-like event where they present themselves to the client or their representatives. The casting may take place at the client's studio, agency office, or another designated location. Models are usually asked to walk, pose, or demonstrate their ability to embody certain looks, styles, or characters relevant to the project requirements.

Casting Agency - Casting agencies are agencies specialized in finding talented people for different fields like modeling, singing, acting, dancing and others. They work similarly to scouts. They search for perspective persons that could participate in different kinds of projects like TV, photo, video, advertisement casting and others. Usually the models in a casting agency don’t have an exclusive contract and can work for different agencies.

Call Sheet - Information sheet for the model, which contains important information about a casting/job: call time, direction, client contact etc. All the information you will need will be on the call sheet.

Catwalk/Runway - Catwalk or runway describes a narrow, usually elevated platform, used by models to demonstrate clothing and accessories during a fashion show.

Close Up - In film, television or photography a close-up tightly frames a person or an object. Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly along with medium shots and long shots (full body).

Comp Card - A comp card is a large card that is printed with at least two photos of you in various poses, settings, outfits and looks. It includes your name, your agency's info and all your stats. Comp cards come in lots of different formats depending on the agency and the type of model you are. Agencies will usually issue comp cards for you after they sign you. A comp card serves as the latest and best of a model's portfolio used as a business card.

Copyright - Copyright is the set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. These rights can be licensed, transferred and/or assigned.

Cover Shoot- A photo shoot for a cover of a magazine. Depending on the magazine it has great significance for the awareness of the model.

Digital (also see polaroid) – Digitals are photos that are widely used in modeling business. Digitals are usually needed for agencies or scouts to see the natural look of the model. This is something every model needs in their portfolio if they intend to be serious in this business. Your digitals should be updated OFTEN (every few months at least).

Editorial - Photographs made to illustrate a story or idea within the context of a magazine. These projects usually pay little to nothing but the purpose of having these images is to show that you have published work.

Fitting - A session that takes place before the photo shoot where the clothes to be modeled are fit onto the model. Based on the model's particulars, the clothes are usually altered to fit. When you go to a fitting, be prepared to stand around partially clothed all day long, in front of several people. These people will usually be stylists, seamstresses and designers. The fitting is often included in the day rate.

Go-See – Same as a casting, is a model's appointment to see a potential client, to present his/ her book in person and to leave a good impression. Often a client keeps the models in mind for his next shoot/job.

Hair Stylist - A hairstylist is someone who cuts and styles hair. They often offer other services such as coloring and hair extensions. He or she cares for the perfect hairstyle of the model at the shooting, runway show or event.

Location - Any place where a shoot (photography or film) takes place. When you are on location, it means you are outside the controlled environment of the studio and should prepare accordingly.

MUA - A makeup artist is an artist who applies makeup for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions including all aspects of the modeling industry.

Model Agency - A model agency is a company that represents fashion models, to work for the fashion industry. These agencies earn their income via commission, usually from the deal they make with the model or the client. The model agency presents the models to the clients, promotes them to foreign agencies and is in charge of the models chart, book, portfolio, buyouts, travel etc. They are responsible for bookings model's jobs.

Model Release - A legal document provided by the client/photographer and signed by the agent. It gives permission to the photographer to use photographs taken at a particular sitting. If photographs are used without a release, or in a way different from what is stated in the release, then the model can sue for breach of contract. If asked to sign a model release on set, models should never sign and instead send a picture to your agent for approval.

Mother Agent / Mother Agency - Mother agencies serve as a supportive foundation for models, offering guidance, mentorship, and representation as they navigate the competitive world of fashion and modeling. They often discover new talent, guide and develop models, build their portfolio, arrange test shoots, and place them with bookings agents in different markets.

New Faces - New Faces are models that are new into business. They are just starting their career and usually don't have a professional book yet. The time spent in this division varies from model to model- there is not set time frame. Your agent will let you know when you’re ready to move into another division.

Polaroids (also see Digital) - Polaroids are special type of photos that are used in modeling business. Polaroids are usually needed for agencies or scouts to see the natural look of the model. This is something every model needs in their portfolio if they intend to be serious in this business. Your polaroids should be updated OFTEN. (every couple of months at least)

Prints - Prints are printed negatives, the real photos that go inside your portfolio.

Portfolio - A collection of professional photographs showcasing the model's appearance, versatility, and range of poses. These portfolios serve as a visual resume for models and are used by modeling agencies, casting directors, designers, and clients to assess a model's suitability for specific projects, such as runway shows, magazine editorials, advertising campaigns, or commercial gigs.

Set/Studio - This is where the action of shoot takes place usually within a professional studio inside of a building. It includes all the elements, which make the shoot; for example the lighting, camera, art direction, and art directed scenery.

Shooting - Shooting in general means the implementation of photo or film shoots.

Stylist - The stylist is in charge of the outfit of the model and discussing at length with the photographer or director, about theme of the shoot.

Tear Sheet - A term used by Advertising agencies to denote a page cut or torn from a publication to prove to the client that the advertisement was published.

Test Shooting/TFP - An agreement between the model and photographer to whereby they work for each other on a mutually beneficial basis. No fees other than sharing film-and- developing expenses are involved. They work together on a new idea or on their portfolios. The photographer provides a selection of prints from the shoot in recognition of the model's time commitment.

Usage - Models get paid for each different medium in which their photograph is used. These different mediums, or usages, may include: consumer magazines, trade magazines, product packaging, print ads, bus ads, subway ads, billboards, magazine covers, direct mail, magazine editorials, posters, catalogues, brochures, point-of- purchase (point-of-sale or p-o-p), annual reports, book covers, kiosk, Dura trans (those big portable billboards that are towed around behind trucks), newspapers, etc. The model receives an additional fee for each usage the client buys. Usages also vary according to time and region. The longer the ad runs and the more markets in which it appears, all drive up the model's fee. The largest usage is the unlimited time usage, worldwide buyout. That means the client can plaster the photograph across every city in the world in every possible usage until the end of time.