Modeling Terminology

Modeling Terminology – Terms that every newbie model should know

Modeling Terminology Every profession comes with its jargon and the language that we need to be aware of to understand things in the business in the day-to-day working. Young aspiring models must know such words and what they mean so that they can focus more on their work rather than wondering what is being asked for. Below are listed a few of the words that are prevalent in the modeling world that you ought to know if you are soon to become a part of the fashion world.

• Beauty shot

A headshot where the focus is on your face, beautiful makeup, and decent hairstyle. Not over-accessorized and the only things highlighted are your face, skin texture and tone, also the jawline, sharp nose, brows, and other features.

• Book

The portfolio, the model’s book is a book of photos.

• Haute Couture

High-end fashion is a French word for high fashion

• Comp Card

A marketing tool for actors and models. People call it Zed card or Sed card. It has the best and most recent photos of the model’s portfolio. Also, Models typically use it as a business card.

• Test

It is a test shoot that the models are called for, can be conducted by agencies or privately. The test shoots are generally paid for by the models, where they get to test out various styles and shots from different angles to get to know what suits them best and for their model books.

• Tearsheet

It is a torn-out page from a magazine or catalog or any other prints that the model has worked for.

• Stats

The word suggests. Hence, it is the statistics of the model, their measurements height, waist, bust, hips. But those are for the female models. Also, for the male models, it’s chest, waist, height. That is the compulsory information.

• Mini book

The model book is quite elaborate. Also, you cannot carry it everywhere and at all times. Hence the mini book is a smaller version of the actual model book that can be sent to clients. Almost archaic now.

• Model agency

The Company that represents models and helps them get clients and book jobs.

• Mother agent

The first agency that got you jobs that lead to your big break, might be an agency or an individual. Models are allowed to sign with multiple agencies but there is only one mother agent, they are the ones who will help you in the long haul and not just hand out temporary jobs.

• Market

It can mean various things but cutting down to the chase, it means where you can sell your work, be it geographically that means the fashion industry market about different cities, New York, Milan, Paris, LA, London. Or the category your work falls into. Also, the plus market, petite market, fashion market, commercial market, or print market.

• Age category

The age range that a particular model falls into.

• Call Back

Once a model has auditioned at some agency or for some client, a call back is when the agency calls again to make the final decisions.

• Chart

A list of things that are on the model’s schedule to be done throughout the day.

• Day rate

The money that the models charge for a full day’s work

• Fitting

Models try out clothes before a shoot, walk, or a fashion show to see how the clothes. To see whether the clothes fit, or they need any alterations.

• Look Book

It is a compilation of photographs of the models wearing a particular designer. Also, of a particular brand sent out to clients or editors to display the season’s look.

Therefore, some abbreviations that the industry use that might come up is listed as well.

• A/W- Autumn/Winter
• F/W – Fall/Winter 
• FW- Fashion Week
• MW- Men’s Wear
• AAFA – American Apparel and Footwear Association
• AAMA- American Apparel Manufacturer Association
• AL- Affordable Luxury
• CFDA – Council of Fashion Designers in America
• FF- Fast Fashion
• FIT – Fashion Institute of Technology
• NBC- Names Brand Clothing 
• NYFW- New York Fashion Week
• PPS- Pre-Production Sample
• TXT- Textiles.

Modeling Terminology