Agency Model

It is impossible to say how much you will be paid when completing a modelling assignment through an agency as each agency will have established differing rates for their clients. However if you choose to work for an agency they will be able to give you guidelines as to how much you will receive for the different aspects of modelling work you may be involved in.

Different modelling agencies have different policies on travelling expenses but most will compensate you for excessive travelling costs e.g. if you have travelled a certain distance to the modelling assignment. Recouping travelling expenses will generally be done on the basis of producing travel receipts or declaring mileage counts. It is worth asking potential agencies their policy on travel expenses to ensure it is going to be financially viable to carry out assignments which will require excessive travelling.

It should be noted that many modelling agencies do not pay their models until they have received payment from the client therefore meaning that you may not receive payment for sometime after you completed the assignment. If this is the case you will have to be prepared to keep a careful note of funds paid and outstanding. This is another area you should clarify with any potential model agents.

Modelling agencies make their money from agent fees which are deducted from the earnings of their models and the fee will have been deducted prior to you receiving payment, however not all agencies will make tax and National Insurance deductions. It is your responsibility to check if potential agencies are going to deal with your tax and National Insurance contributions or if you are going to have to declare yourself as self-employed to the Inland Revenue.

Independent Model

If you choose to become and independent model you will be responsible for setting you own fees.

Here are some rough guidelines as to what experienced models charge for different types of modelling:

Fashion assignments
£25 per hour

Lingerie assignments
£30 per hour

Topless assignments
£35 per hour

Nude assignments
£35-40 per hour

Note: these are guidelines for experienced models and if you do not have experience in these areas of modelling, clients will probably not be prepared to pay these rates

Here are a few points to consider when setting your personal modelling rates:

+ You should be aware that if you have little or no experience you may have to start by gaining experience through time for prints (TFP) before you can start charging for your modelling services. Time for prints is when a model works for free for a photographer and gets prints in return.

+ Compare rates of other models with similar experience to you so to ensure you are offering competitive fees and not pricing yourself too high as if you do this you will be unlikely to be awarded work

+ When you set you fees stick to them, as raising and lowering fees on an regular basis will give not give potential clients a professional impression of you

+ Are you going to be open to negotiation?

+ Are you going to offer discounts for bookings of several hours?

+ Are you going to offer lower rates for regular clients or modelling contracts you might enter into?

If working directly for photographers many independent models charge lower rates for amateur’s photographers and higher rates for professional photographers. This is due to the fact that amateurs are unlikely to be publishing the images taken but professional photographers may.

If you make a booking with a client always remember to do the following things:

+ Always agree charges at the time of booking

+ When taking a booking consider travelling expenses and ensure your client agrees they will pay the travel expenses if deemed necessary

Note: As a self-employed model you will be responsible for invoicing your client and credit control as well as declaring your earnings to the Inland Revenue (www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk)