Modeling Terms A-Z
Models just starting out all the way up to seasoned veterans often come across terms in casting call or contract that they are not familiar with. This glossary is a compilation of all the various terms used by agencies, actors, models, and photographers. It is laid out similar to a dictionary of modeling terms so you can scan alphabetically to find the answers to questions like: What does ______ mean? Or when they say "________ " how do I know if I qualify?
If you cannot find the definition you need just email one of our helpful staff. gloassaryhelp@zoomtalent.com
Scroll Down to find terms in alphbetical order.
3/4 Shot | Photo from head to mid thigh. |
8X10 | Also called a glossy is an 8 x 10 inch photograph of the model, usually a head shot. |
Abroad | Shooting taking place overseas. Places such as |
Accessories | Fashion items that you wear to complement clothing, such as jewelry, belts, purses, hats and scarves. |
Actor | A person who plays characters in film, theater or television projects. Actors get paid to play other people for the purpose of entertainment. |
Adult | This is photography with a mature theme. Usually implies simulated acts or actual acts of a sexual nature. |
Advance | A sum of money paid to you by your agent on behalf of an advertising company that wishes to book you for a job. This is usually paid in advance of your working to secure your services particularly if you are in demand as a top model. |
Advertising | The action of getting the word out or letting the public know about a product or service. |
Advertising Agency | Advertising agencies use models, actors and voiceovers for print, radio and television commercial campaigns that they create for their clients who have a product or service to promote to consumers. |
AFTRA | American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Nationally, AFTRA represents professional actors, news broadcasters and writers, announcers, vocalists, and others who work in the fields of television, radio, sound recordings, and industrial productions. |
The ages that a model can portray (usually a 5 to 7 year span) | |
Agency | An establishment that does business on behalf of the model, such as booking jobs and collecting payment for the model for a specific fee (usually 15-20% of dollar amount collected). |
Agent | A person who works for an agency or who has a privately held business to book models. |
Ambient light | The natural light in a scene. |
Aperture | A small, circular opening inside the lens that can change in diameter to control the amount of light reaching the camera's sensor as a picture is taken. The aperture diameter is expressed in f-stops; the lower the number, the larger the aperture. For instance, the aperture opening when set to f/2.8 is larger than at f/8. The aperture and shutter speed together control the total amount of light reaching the sensor. A larger aperture passes more light through to the sensor. Many cameras have an aperture priority mode that allows you to adjust the aperture to your own liking. See also shutter speed. |
Application | A computer program, such as an image editor or image browser. |
Appointment Book | A calendar or date book used to record bookings, go sees or any other business activities. You may also use this book to keep a record of your expenses for tax purposes. |
Archival | The ability of a material, including some printing papers and compact discs, to last for many years. |
Art Director | Artist who creates layout for ads, illustrates model's poses |
Assignment | This is the same thing as a booking or modeling job whereby a model is paid for services performed |
Audition | This is a trial performance which is given to show the casting directors how well you are qualified for the job. |
Backdrop | Mostly used in studio photography. A backdrop can be one solid color or a theme matching the layout of the product or ad being created. i.e you are advertising perfume and the backdrop/background may be a rendering of |
Beauty Shots | Pictures that are taken from the shoulders up, featuring the hair, the skin, the eyes, the smile and the makeup. Also known as head shots. |
Beauty Shots | Pictures that are taken from the shoulders up, featuring the hair, the skin, the eyes, the smile and the makeup. Also known as head shots. |
Black and White Photo | A picture that is taken specifically to produce black, white and gray images. Usually black and white photos are suggested for acting head shots. |
Blocking | The actual physical movements by actors in any scene |
Blow Up | Enlargement photo from a negative or slide |
Book (noun) | A collection of photographs and tears a model uses to promote herself. - Also called a portfolio. |
Book (verb) | To secure a job |
Book Out | When you tell your agency that you are unavailable to work for certain day(s), for example, a vacation or another job |
Booker | Person at agency who sets appointments for models |
Booking | Specific job assignment |
Breakdown Service | A professional listing available only to agencies, that lists movies, film, TV, and stage projects with the types of actors being cast |
Buffer | Memory in the camera that stores digital photos before they are written to the memory card. |
Burning | Selectively darkening part of a photo with an image editing program. |
Buy out | When a client arranges an on time payment or flat fee for a commercial instead of paying residuals for the job. This means that you will not get paid every time the commercial plays e the fee should be quite substantial. |
Buyer | Retail store employee who purchases clothing from the manufacturer; models show the line of clothing to store buyers |
Call Back | Second interview after a go see or audition that means they are narrowing down the selection and they are considering you for the job. |
Call Time | Actual time you are due on set |
Callback | This is a result of the audition you went on. They liked what they saw and want to see you again. This generally means you are in the running for the project. A callback is when they ask back specific people from the first audition to read again to make a decision to cast them for a part in their project. |
Cap | This indicates that an actor has completed his scene or a portion of a scene. |
Carriage | The way a model carries herself or walks. |
Cast | The actors in a film, theater or television project. |
Casting | The act of choosing a suitable model for a particular assignment. |
Casting Agent | This is a person who sets up the calls and auditions for models, actors and extras to fill roles needed. They work for the director and producer of a project. |
Casting Call | A determined time and place is set up when a project is ready for talent. You will be given a script or side to read from for a part in the project or asked to submit photos and resumes for a callback. |
Casting Director | The person who works with advertising agencies to select the talent for a particular modeling job. |
Catalog Modeling | These models are hired to appear in catalogues like Macy's, Nordstrom, Sears or other major department stores, and sell everyday products to average people. Requirements are flexible. |
Catalog Work | Modeling for photographs which will be used in catalogs produced by a manufacturer or distributor to sell clothing or other items. |
Cattle Call | This type of audition where hundreds of models will show up to be viewed by casting directors or photographers. Usually new models are sent by their agents so that they can be introduced. |
CCD | Charge Coupled Device: one of the two main types of image sensors used in digital cameras. When a picture is taken, the CCD is struck by light coming through the camera's lens. Each of the thousands or millions of tiny pixels that make up the CCD converts this light into electrons. The number of electrons, usually described as the pixel's accumulated charge, is measured, then converted to a digital value. This last step occurs outside the CCD, in a camera component called an analog-to-digital converter. |
CD-R | CD-Recordable: a compact disc that holds either 650 or 700 MB of digital information, including digital photos. Creating one is commonly referred to as burning a CD. A CD-R disc can only be written to once, and is an ideal storage medium for original digital photos. |
CD-RW | CD-Rewritable: similar in virtually all respects to a CD-R, except that a CD-RW disc can be written and erased many times. This makes them best suited to many backup tasks, but not for long term storage of original digital photos. |
Celebrity Model | A model who has become top in the field and who earns very high salaries. Also referred to as a Top Model or Superstar. |
Character | This is a type of person (profile) an actor is going to play. Characters are anything from a gangster to a business man, to a doctor or teacher in a film, photography shoot or television commercial project. |
Character Model | A model who is not necessarily a beauty, but who may have strong interesting facial features and selling attributes for specific products. ÿ Some jobs require models with an everyday look, such as a truck driver, mechanic, grocery clerk, schoolteacher, cleaning person, appliance repair person, and so on. Also called commercial modeling. |
Checklist | A notebook which is referred to daily where you list all of your things to do. |
Child Model | A young model (usually between the ages of 2 and 12) who promotes products such as toys, clothes and food in ads on television. |
Client | A person or company who a model actually works for and who pays the cost for advertising or production. |
CMOS | Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor: one of the two main types of image sensors used in digital cameras. Its basic function is the same as that of a CCD. CMOS sensors are currently found in only a handful of digital cameras. |
CMYK | Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. The four colors in the inksets of many photo-quality printers. Some printers use six ink colors to achieve smoother, more photographic prints. The two additional colors are often lighter shades of cyan and magenta. |
Cold read | Cold reading is a term used by actors in theatre, television, film, and performance fields. A cold reading is a reading out loud from a script/side without any rehearsal or study in advance. This is generally required in auditions and casting calls. |
Collection | Group of coordinated clothes being shown by a designer |
Commentary | Script used to describe clothes for a fashion show |
Commentator | The person who gives the commentary at a show. |
Commercial | Ad advertisement which is broadcast on radio or shown on television. |
Commercial Look | A look that is appealing to the targeted audience. Usually this is someone that they can identify of the same age or ethnic background. |
Commercial Model | A model that sells products that are generally purchased by their targeted audience. Fashions are not sold by this type of model. |
Commercial Print Modeling | This refers to models photographed to promote a product on billboards, buses, magazines and newspapers. This type of modeling can be divided into two sections Fashion Advertising and Product Advertising. A model or actors material with 5 photos of actor or model printed with their stats. These cards are used to market and submit to prospective clients, for auditions and casting calls. The most popular size is postcard, but others opt for the 1/2 by 11 size. All cards display a headshot and smaller shots that showing your versatility or characterization. Also referred to as zed cards. |
Commission | A percentage of model's fee required as payment to agency |
CompactFlash | A common type of digital camera memory card, about the size of a matchbook. There are two types of cards, Type I and Type II. They vary only in their thickness, with Type I being slightly thinner. A CompactFlash memory card can contain either flash memory or a miniature hard drive. The flash memory type is more prevalent. |
Competition | A contest between rivals or a term used to describe models who are just like you and working in the same market. |
Composite | A photo card which is comprised of several different pictures of a model (usually 2-5 poses). This card can be produced in either 6x8 or 8x10 inch formats and should contain at least one head shot and different poses which show your best physical attributes. |
Composite Card, Comp Card, Card | Card with 3 x 5 photos of model and their height, eye and hair color and size information to promote and distribute to prospective clients. Currently, postcard size is popular. One side contains a head shot, the other side several small photographs together with information about the model. Also called sed or zed cards. |
Contact Sheet | Also called proofs. This is a contact print of negatives on 8 x 10 inch photographic paper. These images are the same size as the negatives, and require use of a magnification glass to evaluate them. |
Contract | A binding agreement which outlines specific terms and performance guidelines between two or more parties, such as an agent and model or model and client. |
Contrast | The difference between the darkest and lightest areas in a photo. The greater the difference, the higher the contrast. |
Convention Modeling | Also called trade show modeling. These shows use many female models to demonstrate products and answer questions. You must look professional and believable to be a convention model! |
Coordinator | A person who brings together all of the aspects associated with a specific production, such as the hiring of models and the selection of location and production staff. The coordinator's tasks begin when the production is developed and ends at the completion of the project. |
Copy | Written words to be spoken on a commercial. |
Creative Director | Ad agency employee who determines the model type |
Curtain call | A term used in theatre where the performers come out on the stage at the conclusion of the performance for the audience to show their appreciation by clapping while the actors take a bow or two. |
Day Rate | This is the amount of money paid to a model for one day regardless of how many hours that model works. The time, however should not exceed eight hours. |
Demo Reel | This is a sample video tape (there are demo tapes for voiceover) of your previous work. Your demo real should display your versatility. When creating your demo, try and keep it short, up to 5 minutes of clips showing them many types of characters you can portray. |
Demonstration | This is the act of showing an audience how a product works. |
Demonstrator | Model who shows use of product at a trade show or store |
Designer | A person who conceives and creates fashions or other unique items. |
Dialogue | The lines spoken by a character or characters in a film, theater production or television commercial, this is a conversation between two or more characters (actors). |
Digital camera | A camera that captures the photo not on film, but in an electronic imaging sensor that takes the place of film. |
Director | The person who supervises or oversees the production of a show. This person is responsible for the flow of the show and makes decisions about lighting, staging and overall presentation. |
Dodging | Selectively lightening part of a photo with an image editing program. |
Download, downloading | The process of moving computer data from one location to another. Though the term is normally used to describe the transfer, or downloading, of data from the Internet, it is also used to describe the transfer of photos from a camera memory card to the computer. Example: I downloaded photos to my PC. |
DPI | Dots per inch: A measurement of the resolution of a digital photo or digital device, including digital cameras and printers. The higher the number, the greater the resolution. |
Dressers | The people who work back stage at a fashion show to help the models with quick changes by having the garments ready for them and helping them with buttons or zippers. They also keep the dressing room neat by hanging garments after they are worn. |
Dry Skin | Sometimes dry skin is tight or itchy and it may appear dull. Be sure to cleanse with a cream or lotion (soap may dry your skin even more) and always use a moisturizer. |
Editorial Modeling | This refers to photography for magazines, including covers. This work is very eagerly sought after by models because of the exposure it provides. Editorial Modeling is similar to High Fashion Modeling, except that the model works for a particular publication. The readers of that publication make up a target audience for the photographs taken. Images in the non-advertisement sections of the fashion magazines, such as Glamour, Vogue, or Seventeen, are good examples of this type of modeling. The physical requirements are less stringent than for High Fashion Modeling, but the pay rate is considerably less. Many more models are needed for Editorial Modeling, and Editorial experience opens the door to High Fashion Modeling. |
Editorial Print | These are pages in a magazine which tell a story or idea and where a model might be presented in a role that complements the storyline. There is the opportunity for a variety of models to work in this category from fashion to general or commercial looks. |
Electronic Media | This is generally related to sounds or images that are made for the purpose of selling a product or idea. They can be presented live on radio and television or in video, film and slide productions. |
Enlargement | See blow up. |
Equity | See AEA |
Esthetician | A trained skin specialist who works to enhance the skin by using certain products and special massage techniques. |
Exclusive | This means that you can work for only one specific agent or group because of contractual obligations. |
EXIF | Exchangeable Image File: the file format used by most digital cameras. For example, when a typical camera is set to record a JPEG, it's actually recording an EXIF file that uses JPEG compression to compress the photo data within the file. |
Expenses | The amount of money that you spend on items or travel related to your work as a model. |
Exposure | This term is used in relation to a section of film, such as the number of exposures; or it can mean the amount of publicity a model receives from ads, commercials, promotions or public relations. |
External flash | A supplementary flash unit that connects to the camera with a cable, or is triggered by the light from the camera's internal flash. Many fun and creative effects can be created with external flash. |
Extra | Acting job where the actor has no speaking lines, but stands in the background and adds to the atmosphere of a scene. |
Facial Features | This could be your bone structure or cheekbones, your lips, nose or eyes. These are viewed most often by clients in the hair or cosmetic industry. |
Fashion Coordinator | Puts fashion show outfits together in retail stores |
Fashion Model | This is a model who meets the specific size and height requirements to model designs in live fashion presentations or fashion layouts in newspapers and magazines. |
Fashion Photographer | This is a professional photographer who specializes in photographing fashion models. |
Fashion Shot | This is a picture that specifically captures the details of your outfit and features you from head to toe. This type of picture is a must for your composite if you are a fashion model. |
Fashion Show | Invited audience, stage, music; models walk down runway to show designer clothing |
Feature | A principal (full-length) film. This is generally a full-length feature film and is the professional project that actors are striving for. Pays good and is usually the type of film to be shown in theaters. |
Fee | The rate of pay that an agent will charge the client for booking you. This can be an hourly rate or daily rate. |
Fetish | Fetish photography is adult in nature but not always sexually explicit, and generally centers around a main theme. It tends to be photographed in harsh light and extreme settings, and often includes the use of props. Examples include bondage, leather, feet, etc. |