Print modeling has many forms and variations, including magazines like Vogue, newspapers, ad campaigns, promotional materials, flyers, cd covers, editorials and so on. Not all print is commercial or fashion work. There is also print work in the glamour, fetish, art and erotic markets. You must make sure that you, as a model, understand that "print" just means it will be in a publication. You also need to make sure that you want to be in the type of publication that is giving you work.
Because of how large and diverse the print category is, it is difficult to give a typical rate. Editorials in magazines, such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, or Surface, usually only pay $100 or so. Shocking right? Most the money in print is made in commercial work and advertising. Shooting for a well-known glamour magazine will pay usually between $500 to $1,000. Shooting for a company such as Dove, on the other hand, will pay anywhere from $1,500 to a few thousand dollars. In contrast, shooting a campaign for a company like Calvin Klein may pay in the million-dollar range. Shooting a catalogue usually pays anywhere from $500 per day to $3,000, depending on how well known you are.
The reason a lot of print work doesn't pay so much is because of the exposure. Plus, the people in charge know that all models want to be seen, so they more often than not know that they can get models to work for little or no money. The exposure makes it worth it to the model.
Another type of modeling is runway modeling, which is a bit more straightforward. Runway modeling means you walk down a runway wearing clothing of a designer or a store. Runway show can be held in tents, in nightclubs, in malls, in stores, outside, in schools, anywhere -- you name it. Runway shows go from paying nothing, to paying thousands upon thousands of dollars. Most runway models are expected to be at least 5'10." Although there are exceptions to every rule, chances are that if you aren't 5'10", it will be much more difficult for you to find runway modeling work. Runway modeling is also not only for fashion models. There are runway shows featuring plus size models, child models and mature models, as well as shows for wedding dresses and so on. Most, but not all, runway work is booked through agencies.
Fashion modeling is another huge category of modeling. Most fashion modeling is still controlled by the agencies. There are agencies throughout America in almost every city. In fashion, the agencies usually look for tall, thin girls who are between 13 and 26 years old although there are exceptions to this rule too and models such as Kate Moss and the others who in their thirties, still get fashion work. Fashion modeling includes print work, editorial, advertising and some catalogue work. Most of the work for fashion takes place in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, Milan, London and Tokyo. Each country has its capital. For fashion modeling, the usual requirements are being thin, tall, young, having good skin and a good look. Fashion is one of the hardest areas of the industry to break into and it is also the most glamorized. The reality is that fashion involves a huge amount of work. More and more photographers are beginning to book models directly through the Internet, but the majority of the fashion work is still done through the agencies. To understand what is going on in fashion, simply go to your local store and look at all the magazines. Simply put, fashion means clothing.
Sport/Fitness modeling is another popular form of modeling. Being skinny doesn't mean you can't model. Sport and fitness is a perfect example of another avenue for models. If you want to be a sport or fitness model, check out things like FIT or Shape Magazine. There are agencies throughout the world that represent sport and fitness models but, through the Internet, models can connect with photographers directly who shoot this type of work. As a sport or fitness model, you will need to be in very good physical shape. You will also have to be very capable in the sport or sports that the image is created about. In other words, if you can't ice skate, don't try to book a shoot as an ice skater.
Next is casual modeling, which is modeling where you show up wearing some of your favorite jeans and a t- shirt and just be yourself. This is a favorite area for new and semi-professional photographers. Many times you will be asked to show up and bring your own clothing, makeup and whatever you need to do your hair.
Swimwear modeling is pretty self-explanatory. If you do this type of work, chances are that you will be wearing a swimsuit or a bikini. There are many catalogues and jobs that request beautiful women in swimwear. There are also many publications for models in bikinis and calendars too. Also, many photographers will request to shoot you in a swimsuit. The typical pay for this work varies due to the many variations of swimsuit modeling. It can be anything from shooting for a semi-professional's book or doing a mainstream calendar.
Hair modeling is another area in the industry. There are many companies out there that need models strictly for their hair. There are also hair shows. Salons and/or hair designers need models for cut and color all the time. Hair shows tend to pay between $100 and $300 per day. Shooting for a hair company pays anywhere from a hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the company's usage and client. You can be a hair model with any kind of hair, from long to super short. Many agencies book this work, but you can also find work as a hair model through the Internet or from watching the newspapers.
Parts modeling is next. If you have a strong part -- hands, feet, stomach, legs, back, lips, eyes, nose, you name it -- there are many jobs for you as a parts models. You can find online agencies for parts modeling. There are also online message boards for parts models. The pay for being a parts model also varies depending on the assignment and/or client.
Fine art modeling is usually nude but not always. As a fine art model, your job is to basically to use your body and face as a canvas. The painting is done in shadows and light. As a fine art model, your body is your tool. Often, fine art models are ballet dancers or models that have experience in yoga. A fine art model should understand how to use her body to create shapes. Being a fine art model is more interactive since you are the art piece. Fine art images usually get used in galleries, books, exhibits, and personal books or collections. Most fine art modeling pays between $50 and $100 per hour. Many fashion, commercial fashion, and advertising photographers will also hire and pay models to shoot fine art work.
An artist model is a model just needed to play a character. I have done this many times and it does not always require nudity. The pay scale is usually between $25 to $150 per hour. There are many painters who hire models to paint. Being an artist model has no requirements; it all depends on the artist's vision. Many hire models who do it as a hobby and have another job, which often means that the work created may or many never be published or seen by anyone other than you and the photographer. To find this type of work, you can find various websites and messages boards where artists look for models.
Lingerie modeling is another traditional form of modeling and in this genre models will only be wearing underwear and bra or some other sexy, lacy garments. Lingerie modeling can be for a catalogue or it can be for a photographer's book, website or portfolio. Lingerie modeling usually pays upwards of $100 per hour, but, if is to be used for a major print ad and/or campaign, it can easily pay in the thousands.
Glamour modeling is something in the style of Playboy and it may or may not include nudity. Often, glamour modeling is in swimwear, lingerie or fully nude. There are many websites that feature glamour models. Glamour models also can find work doing calendars, catalogues or pin up work. Most glamour modeling jobs pay between $75 and $100 per hour.
Then there is adult modeling and to do this type of work, you MUST be at least 18 years old.
One type of work in this area of modeling is art nude work. Art nude is where your body is the canvas and the picture is the painting. The work may consist of posing for photographs, paintings, and sometimes for art classes. Being an art model usually means that you are in shape, don't have tattoos or body modification. You can find this type of work online as well as by word of mouth. Being an art nude model usually pays between $25 and $100 per hour. The images are usually used for art books, galleries, exhibits, and/or for portfolios or personal collections.
Nude modeling is a very large world. There is artistic nude, fashion nude, commercial nude, glamour nude, fetish nude, and on and on. The first thing you need to understand is the difference between them and, for example, there is a huge difference in a fashion nude and an erotic nude. Also, you need to make sure you are completely comfortable being nude and you should understand the type of image being created. Remember, a picture is like a tattoo -- it is forever; it is permanent.
Erotic Nude (artistic/fetish) means a nude photo that is sexual in nature or one that conveys a high amount of sexuality. Erotic modeling is a huge industry. Just as with any other industry, you have your good and bad elements in this one too. Doing erotic modeling can and will change your life. The images are forever and they will not go away. My advice is that you should never make a picture you wouldn't want people to see. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you can honestly say you are fine with people seeing them and that you are really comfortable doing this work and you aren't doing it just for the easy money that is attracting you. You need to be honest as to why you are doing it. Granted, some erotic modeling is beautiful and some fetish work is playful and tame, but then you have the extreme side of the industry that is not. You need to see the work beforehand; you need to speak to other models; you need to know what you are doing; you need to know who you are dealing with. The images will be used for years and years on the Internet, in magazines, and in books. As I said, think tattoos - they are permanent.
Adult nude (Video/Magazine/Web etc.) modeling is another massive market that thrives on the Internet. There are many variations such as magazines which usually pay around $500 to $1,000 for a shoot and websites which usually pay around $100 dollars per hour or $500 per a day. Models who do adult work need to be aware that the images -- the videos -- will never go away. They are forever. It's tempting to believe that no one will ever know and, in fact, models are often told this by the person doing the shooting, but it isn't true. Doing adult work is something that will be found out eventually so, if you are afraid of people finding out in the future, it would be best to avoid this work all together. Video work usually pays between $500 to $1,000 per video. As a model, you need to understand the difference between artistic nude and adult nude. You need to do your research and make sure you know what you are getting into and be sure that you are comfortable with it.
Acting is yet another form of modeling and there are a few types of work models can find in this industry.
Stage acting is primarily theater and performance art. It is best that you know how to read a script, and having some experience or training in acting is always a plus. Theater usually takes a huge amount of time and energy, but it is good for experience and exposure. It is also fun, but usually doesn't pay much at all -- unless you become a Broadway star.
Film Acting usually mean work in feature or independent films. Be careful to always read the script and check out the director. As a film actor or actress, you can be any age and have any look. Film acting can pay nothing or it can pay millions. It all depends on the level of the production and the role you play.
Commercial acting is where you are acting to promote a product or store, etc. such as Coke or Macys. Commercial acting also pays anything from little to nothing but it can also pay millions depending on the situation. To be a commercial actress or actor, you pretty much just need a headshot and a resume. Commercial acting is open to people of all ages, all sizes, and all types. There are agencies and online message boards and online agencies for this type of acting.
TV Acting is for things such as sitcoms, soap operas, dramas, and so forth. Most of the work is in LA, but some is done in New York and other locations as well.
Models may also find work, depending on their talent and skill and look as singers, dancers, musicians, performance artists or as voice over talent