Terminology
Advertising Agency: A company that oversees the direction of an ad campaign. Normally they are responsible for hiring photographers, producers and art directors.
Agency: A company that promotes talent in exchange for a commission on talent earnings. Agencies usually help talent by recommending quality photographers and educating the talent about the business.
Agent: A person who helps arrange bookings and aides in the promotion of talent he/she represents.
Art Director: One who works on the set of a photo shoot and develops the overall “look” of the finished product.
Assignment: A shoot for which talent is hired.
Booker: An agency employee who acts as a “go between” the client and talent. He or she will provide you with all necessary information, if and when you are requested for a casting call or booking.
Booking: A CONFIRMED assignment for which you will be paid to have your picture taken. See Tentative Booking
Brings: Basic wardrobe from your closet, which you may be requested to bring to a booking.
Call Time: The time at which talent MUST be at the job/booking. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!
Cancellation, Client: If the client cancels a confirmed booking within 24 hours of your call time, usually you will still be paid the full fee. One exception would be in the case of a Weather Permit. If the client cancels a confirmed booking within 48 hours of your confirmed call time, you will be paid 50% of the full fee.
Cancellation, Talent: Once formally confirmed for a booking, talent may NOT cancel his or her scheduled booking. Any talent who cancels on the day of a booking, or fails to appear at a booking, MAY be charged his or her FULL FEE for that booking. A talent who cancels the day prior to a confirmed booking may be charged HALF FEE for that booking.
Casting Call: In many cases, before a booking is confirmed, prospective talent may be asked to attend a studio casting call for a “look see”. Most casting calls take 10 to 30 minutes. A REAL TALENT booker will provide you with as much lead time as possible (usually 24 to 72 hours) if you are requested by a client or photographer for a casting call. THERE IS NO PAYMENT FOR CASTING CALLS.
Client: The advertising agency, company, or photographer that hires talent.
Commercial Photographer: A photographer who specializes in taking pictures for the purpose of advertising.
Composite/Comp Card: A printed card approx. 6x8 or 8x10 that displays a variety of pictures of talent along with his/her name, size, and measurements.
Direct Booking: When a client or photographer wishes to hire talent without contacting the Talent Agency that represents them. THIS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES!
Food Stylist/"Home Ecc": A person who specializes in food preparation for photography.
Hair and Make-up Artist: One or two people that specialize in working with photographers. Talent may or may not be required to do their own “hair and make-up” for a booking. Talent is notified of this prior to the job. If this is the case, talent must arrive at the booking “camera ready”, having their own make-up on and hair combed.
Head Shot: A “close up” printed picture approx. 8x10 that displays talents “head and shoulders” and includes their name.
Life Style: Describes the natural and realistic feeling a photograph should have, without looking too stiff or posed.
Location: Anytime a booking is not at a photographer’s studio. This could be inside or outside.
Photo Shoot: Shooting time or place where photos are taken.
Photographer’s Assistant: The person employed by a photographer to help out with lighting, film and photo equipment.
Portfolio / Book: A binder which holds all of the talent’s photographs.
Print Media: The intended format(s) in which your image will appear (i.e. magazine or newspaper ad, billboard, brochure, catalog, etc.).
Print modeling: Modeling related to the publishing of still photographs (as opposed to commercials or films).
Release: A form that is signed at the end of a booking or photo shoot. The talent signs this to allow the client legal use of his/her image. The REAL TALENT release stipulates specific usages (see "Usage Rights") of the talent's likeness for an unlimited time, but only for the original product or service for which the shoot was performed.
Set: The area where a photographer takes pictures.
Stock Photography: Stock photography is the business of licensing photo shoot images. Stock shoot images can be used and reused to advertise different products and services
Studio Manager: The person employed by a photographer to run their office, schedule assignments, hire models and stylists.
Stylist: The person/persons on set responsible for talent wardrobe.
Sweep / Backdrop: The paper or fabric used as the background for a photograph. Sweeps can be very fragile and expensive so it is important to walk on a sweep only when instructed to by the photographer.
Tear Sheets: Pages from printed material such as magazines featuring the image in circulation (as opposed to prints given by photographers). Tear sheets show that a particular person has experience and the ability to work well as talent. These are also called tears. REAL TALENT candidates are responsible for getting their own tear sheets, which may require calls to photographers and clients.
Tentative Booking: Before an assignment is confirmed, you possibly will be put “on hold” for a period of 24 to 72 hours, during which time the client may decide if you are the right model for the job.
Usage Rights: The final purpose(s) for which a photograph or person's likeness may be used legally. The REAL TALENT client agreement stipulates specific usages of the talent's likeness for an unlimited time, but only for the original product or service for which the shoot was performed.
Voucher: A model’s time sheet, provided by REAL TALENT, to be signed by the model and the studio manager or client at a photo shoot. REAL TALENT will disperse a check to talent within five (5) working days of the date that REAL TALENT receives full payment from the client, typically 30-60 days.
Weather Permit: If a confirmed booking is to occur out doors, it may be contingent upon the weather. Inclement weather may result in a cancellation or postponement with less than 24 hours notice, in which case you will be paid 50% of your full fee for that date.