Modeling & Acting Talent Agencies & Industry 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'booking out' mean in the modeling and acting industry?
- Notifying your agency of dates when you are unavailable for bookings (Correct answer)
- Officially accepting a job offer from a client
- Ending your contract with a talent agency
- Canceling a confirmed booking with a client
Correct answer: Notifying your agency of dates when you are unavailable for bookings
Booking out means informing your agency of specific dates when you are unavailable — due to travel, illness, or other commitments — so they don't submit you for jobs you can't take.
Question 2: What is a 'test shoot' in the modeling industry?
- A free or low-cost photoshoot done collaboratively to build portfolio images (Correct answer)
- A final shoot before a model is officially signed to an agency
- A shoot used to test new camera equipment with model stand-ins
- A shoot where models audition by performing specific poses
Correct answer: A free or low-cost photoshoot done collaboratively to build portfolio images
A test shoot is a collaborative session between a model and a photographer (sometimes a stylist and makeup artist) done for little or no pay to build portfolio images for all parties.
Question 3: What does 'on option' mean when a client holds a model for a project?
- The client has a right of first refusal on the model for specified dates but has not confirmed the booking (Correct answer)
- The model has been formally booked and cannot accept other work
- The agency is negotiating the model's contract terms
- The client is considering the model but has not yet seen their portfolio
Correct answer: The client has a right of first refusal on the model for specified dates but has not confirmed the booking
Being on option means a client has reserved the right to book a model for certain dates, and the model's agency must contact the client before accepting conflicting bookings from others.
Question 4: Which document legally establishes the financial terms, usage rights, and obligations in a professional modeling contract?
- The booking contract or model release (Correct answer)
- The comp card agreement
- The casting call notification
- The agency registration form
Correct answer: The booking contract or model release
A booking contract outlines all terms of engagement including fees, usage rights, duration, and both parties' obligations, forming a legally binding agreement.
Question 5: What is 'portfolio padding' and why is it considered problematic?
- Filling a portfolio with unrelated or non-professional images to make it appear more substantial (Correct answer)
- Carrying excess printed images to a go-see
- Digitally enhancing portfolio photos beyond recognition
- Charging clients extra fees hidden in the modeling portfolio fee
Correct answer: Filling a portfolio with unrelated or non-professional images to make it appear more substantial
Portfolio padding is the practice of including unprofessional, irrelevant, or excessive images to make a portfolio appear more experienced than it actually is, which misleads potential clients.
Question 6: In the US modeling and acting industry, what does 'SAG eligible' mean?
- A performer who has qualified to join SAG-AFTRA but has not yet officially joined (Correct answer)
- A performer who has submitted their dues to SAG-AFTRA
- A performer who is currently a full SAG-AFTRA member in good standing
- A performer who has completed SAG-AFTRA required training
Correct answer: A performer who has qualified to join SAG-AFTRA but has not yet officially joined
SAG eligible means a performer has met the criteria to join SAG-AFTRA — such as working a SAG job — but has chosen not to officially join yet, allowing them to still do non-union work.
Modeling & Acting Talent Agencies & Industry 2
What does 'booking out' mean in the modeling and acting industry?