Written for working models in United States. Top places: New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago. Explore United States in our directory.
Why the confirmation matters more than the phone call
A booking usually starts with a quick call or message: you are optioned, then confirmed. The confirmation that follows is the record of what everyone agreed, and it is the document you will rely on if the hours run long, the images turn up somewhere unexpected or the invoice is slow to clear. Many working models skim it for the call time and address and move on. It is worth five calm minutes before every job, because small gaps in a confirmation tend to become arguments weeks later. Read it the evening before at the latest, and reply in writing to your booker or the client with anything that looks wrong or missing. A short written question now is far easier than a dispute after the shoot.
How confirmations differ across the main US markets
The United States has several distinct modelling markets, and the jobs you confirm will look different in each. New York is still the centre of the American fashion industry, with magazine editorials, runway shows and fashion advertising campaigns, so editorial rates and show bookings sit alongside campaign work there. Los Angeles leans towards commercial, advertising, lifestyle and music video work, and crossover with acting is common, which means usage and media terms deserve close attention. Atlanta has grown into a major film and television production hub, with commercial, film and TV, music video and brand activation work, so check whether a job is print, screen or both. Miami is a market of its own, known for swimwear, lifestyle, fitness and Latin market commercial work, and much of it is seasonal, with clients travelling there in winter. Chicago is a major base for catalogue, e-commerce and corporate commercial work. Whatever the city, the same core lines should appear on the confirmation.
The basics: who, when and where
Start at the top. Check that the client name, the production company and the photographer or director are stated, and that the job is described in plain words: a catalogue shoot, a runway show, a campaign, a fitting. Then check the date, the call time, the expected wrap time and the full address, including the studio floor or location contact. If the job involves a fitting, a travel day or a rehearsal, each should be listed with its own time and rate, or with a clear note that it is included. Look for an on-set contact name and number. If any of this is missing, ask for it. It is reasonable to know exactly where you are going and who is responsible for you on the day. In New York, clients must allow you to be accompanied by an agent, manager, chaperone or other representative; elsewhere, ask in advance if you want someone with you.
Rate, hours and overtime
The rate line should say what you are paid and on what basis: a day rate, half-day rate, hourly rate or flat fee. Some agencies base a day rate on an eight-hour day unless the contract says otherwise, so check how many hours the day covers and what happens after that. In New York State, the Fashion Workers Act, in force since 19 June 2025, requires clients to pay models at least time-and-a-half the hourly rate for work beyond eight hours in a 24-hour period, and to give a 30-minute meal break on those longer days. Other states have their own rules, so if you work outside New York, ask your agency or check with your state labour department. Either way, make sure the confirmation shows the overtime rate, whether it is calculated by the hour or part-hour, and whether weekend, holiday or early call times change the rate.
Usage: the line that decides your real fee
Usage describes how the images or footage may be used, and it often matters more than the shoot rate. A good confirmation states the media (for example social, online, print, in-store, outdoor or television), the territory (one country, a region or worldwide) and the duration (six months, a year, or longer), and whether any extension needs a new fee. Be wary of vague phrases such as all media in perpetuity, which can mean a single fee covers years of use. If the job is a test or editorial with no commercial usage, that should be stated too. Digital likeness is now a live issue: in New York, your management company needs your clear written consent, separate from your representation agreement and setting out scope, purpose, pay and duration, before creating or using a digital replica of you, and clients need your clear prior written consent too. Even outside New York, ask that any such use is excluded unless agreed in writing.
Cancellation, weather and changes
Look for what happens if the job is cancelled, postponed or shortened. Some agencies publish standard terms that scale the cancellation fee by notice, for example a full day rate when a job is cancelled with less than one business day's notice, half the day rate with less than two, and full fees plus expenses when travel was involved. Others set terms job by job. For outdoor and location work, check whether a weather day is paid and at what rate. If you are on hold or first option, know when the option expires and whether a later confirmation from another client can replace it. When anything changes after the confirmation is sent, ask for an updated confirmation rather than relying on a call.
Payment, deductions and paperwork
Finally, check how and when you will be paid. Agency confirmations should show the agreed commission, and any expenses the agency has advanced on your behalf should be identified clearly. In New York, the Fashion Workers Act caps management company commission at 20 per cent of your pay, bars deductions beyond the agreed commission and advanced items, and requires the company to give you the final agreement it negotiated with the client at least 24 hours before the job begins. Management companies must also register with the New York State Department of Labor, and their registration number should appear on contracts. If you work freelance in New York, the statewide Freelance Isn't Free Act may entitle you to a written contract for work worth $800 or more, including several jobs for the same client within 120 days, stating the services, rate and payment date; check whether it applies to your situation. Tax treatment depends on whether you are paid as an employee or an independent contractor, so keep every confirmation and invoice, and check your position with a qualified tax adviser or the IRS.
A simple routine before every job
Build a habit: open the confirmation, read it top to bottom, and check the job description, date and times, address and contact, rate and hours, overtime, usage, cancellation, payment and any digital likeness terms. Reply in writing with questions and keep the answers with the confirmation. If something feels wrong, or you believe your rights have been breached, the Model Alliance offers a free support line for models, and the New York State Department of Labor takes complaints under the Fashion Workers Act. Outside New York, your agency, your state labour department or an employment lawyer is the place to start. Clear paperwork protects your time, your image and your income.