Going Rate

[Model_Joelle]

Going back to some of the other questions...

Sarah, generally a company will either ask for your rates or give you the rate you are going to pay. If I were you I'd ask other WORKING models in your area how much their rates are and get an idea of what the market is like. A model in New York's rate may be very different from a girl in Ohio because of saturation and so forth.

There isn't really a set standard for the market for paying either hourly or a flat sum. I find that I generally get more offers for a flat sum than hourly but, I have been offered both mutliple times for commerical work. If the company offers you a rate it's normally what their budget can handle. If you feel it's too low (low enough that it seems unfair vs. what they are using the photos for etc.) go ahead and make a counter offer. I've rarely seen a counter offer work but, if you are considering not doing the job because of the payrate you havent really lost anything.

For my own personal rates I do charge a slight difference depending on what I am wearing. As your example stated there is a difference from what I charge hourly between a casual/commercial type shoot vs. a glamour and lingerie shoot. The price is going to depend on your experience and the going rate other models in you class are offering.

As far as asking for pictures - if you are getting paid then generally you're not to expect pictures as well. However, if they are using them in an ad you can pull off the internet or a magazine that's a tear sheet really. Anyone can just come by and copy paste. However, do the polite thing and ask if they would mind (in the instance of the internet).

The contract thing is a bit fuzzy for me. I've always been in situations where the company already has a release/contract. They wouldnt be able to use the pictures without it.

[ToeJam]

Originally Posted by Stecyk

HI,

No apologies required. I think it introduced a good discussion.

Yes, I am sure Mandy was part of a cattle call and was able to get the job. But if I had been a head honcho at Apple, after the mighty successful campaign, I would have added to her renumeration. And I would make sure she had a few iPods. I would NOT want an article coming out that mentioned how little Apple paid her.

Switching away from Mandy Coulton, many models' rates have come down. On G1, I've linked to a couple/few WSJ articles regarding modeling fees. It's a difficult business.

For Sarah, it's a tough call. She's probably just starting out, so she wants the exposure. Yet she wants to be treated fairly. So how does she determine her value? I don't have an answer. It's truly a free and competitive market and her value will be whatever she can negotiate.

Good luck Sarah and I hope it goes extremely well.

Regards,
Kevin

I have to disagree with your logic. It seems to me that 1500 bucks is a fair price for a days work. Just because one of the images were used in a successful campaign shouldn't be reason for more money to come to the model. I mean, extending the logic, should a company expect a refund from a model if a campaign fails? I think it comes down to the fact that she was fairly compensated to do a job and she did it. Just my 2 cents...

[Photomart]

Originally Posted by ToeJam

I have to disagree with your logic. It seems to me that 1500 bucks is a fair price for a days work. Just because one of the images were used in a successful campaign shouldn't be reason for more money to come to the model. I mean, extending the logic, should a company expect a refund from a model if a campaign fails? I think it comes down to the fact that she was fairly compensated to do a job and she did it. Just my 2 cents...

Having spent the past 25 years working at advertising agencies and video production companies, I'd have to agree ... the success or failure of an advertising campaign doesn't have any affect on the compensation (for the talent or the agency) ... unless it's written into the compensation agreement.

When we would hire talent, we would either pay "union scale" if it was a "union shoot" or we'd negotiate the best rate possible for a non-union shoot. Unless you're dealing with a well known Hollywood actor or actress, or a top supermodel ... very seldom is specific talent/model a "must have" for a project. If the client feels the campaign was a success, and they feel that a specific talent was a key factor in the successful campaign, that talent has some leverage to request a higher fee on subsequent projects for that client ... but the client can always seek out another "cheaper" talent.

Just my opinion from down here in Texas, but I'd take the money, grab the tearsheet and go after more business.

[JonScott]

Originally Posted by SteveB

The company should have you sign a model release, read it carefully this is the agreement which will spell out how the pictures can be used.

Please do not confuse a model release with a shooting agreement/contract. They are different items, not the same. A shooting agreement/contract spells out allowed/prohibited usage, a model release (usually conditionally) holds harmless the producer and recognizes consideration(s) received.

The two are often combined into a single document, but a model release has nothing to do with usage.

[PhotoHand]

It all depends on if you have any negotiating power. If you can easily be replaced by anyone else like the model in the iPod commercial, you don't have much to leverage.

[BenE]

Some of these posts have a longer life than an LCD monitor.