Model Talk Made Easy with Promodel Service

Your Modeling Journey Starts Here

So, are you looking to be a model? That’s exciting! We know it can feel a little scary at first. New faces, bright lights, abrupt commands and a lot of words you’ve never heard before. But don’t worry. Once you get the hang of the terms everyone uses in this industry, you’ll feel way more confident. You’ll walk into castings and shoots knowing exactly what’s happening, and that confidence will make you stand out.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of essential modeling terms. Think of it as your starter kit for the modeling world. Learn these, and you’ll step into every casting, fitting, or photoshoot with a little extra sparkle with Promodel Service.

The much-needed Glossary

Understanding these words will make you feel more confident in castings, shoots, and client meetings. Let’s break them down:

• Casting: Often known as Casting Call, is like a job interview (an unpaid audition of sorts), where you present your most authentic self in front of a photographer, clients or agencies as a potential talent. Your image and casting clips are collected to evaluate your potential for future projects or a specific campaign.
• Comp Card (Composite Sheet / Set Card): A model’s business card with headshots, body shots, and details like height and measurements. Also known as Zed cards as the card’s name reflects its use as a comprehensive portfolio, including A to Z details about the model.
• Fitting: It’s an important process where a costume designer or stylist makes the model try on outfits to check and adjust garments to ensure a perfect fit and achieve the intended look for a shoot.
• Headshot: A close-up of your face and shoulders that highlights your natural features. Headshots are a must for a professional portfolio.
• Modeling Kit: A collection of essentials you bring to every shoot. You will be requested to add a pair of clean heels, makeup basics and quick-change accessories, perhaps a second change of clothes, a simple hair tie and hair spray.
• Mood Board: A collection of visuals (images, videos, patterns or text) that show the creative direction of a shoot or campaign.
• Mother Agency: The first agency to discover and give one-on-one career guidance and helps you build a career long-term through referencing.
• MUA (Makeup Artist) / HMUA (Head Makeup Artist): They are the experts behind your beauty look. HMUA leads the full makeup vision for any larger project where a larger number of models are involved.
• Natural Look: A natural makeup look is frequently requested by clients for social media shoots. Minimal prep and quick turnaround for content challenges budgets. In cases like this, clients request models to do their own makeup. A natural look does not mean no makeup up but it means makeup to cover flaws, have a flawless complexion and highlight your best features naturally.
• Portfolio: Your collection of professional modeling photos showing versatility and style. Must include a headshot, body shot, fashion/editorial shot, commercial/lifestyle shot, black and white, location shot, and an emotional shot.
• Polaroid: Natural, unedited photos that show a model’s true look without heavy styling. These regularly updated sets of photos are essential for agents and clients to assess a model’s raw potential and authenticity for bookings.
• Scout: The talent spotter who discovers and connects fresh talent with agencies.
• Styling / Wardrobe: Clothes and accessories carefully curated by a stylist for your shoot.
• Stylist: A professional who selects and coordinates clothing, accessories, and other elements for a photoshoot or ad campaign.
• Storyboard: A well-organized visual plan that consists of simple illustrations, images or even text displayed in sequence for the purpose of mapping out how a photoshoot or campaign will unfold.
• Tear Sheet: A copy of a model’s published work, in an advertisement or a magazine, proving credibility to his/ her portfolio as a model. Nowadays, it also includes digital PDF or JPEG versions of the published work.
• Test Shoot: Often done for free, these practice photoshoots are done to test your abilities, make sure to use it well to build your portfolio and sharpen posing skills.
• UGC (User Generated Content): Content made by real users (here, models or influencers), often used for creating brand shoot BTS for documenting or a sample video created to share with the client before the shoot for final approval.
• Usage: Defines the specific parameters of where and how a model’s images will appear – online ads, social media posts, billboards, or magazines.

Conclusion – You’ve got this

Knowing these words makes life so much easier. You’ll walk into castings more confidently, understand your photographer better, and show clients you’re professional. Plus, being prepared helps you stand out in a room full of fresh faces. Every great model started somewhere and today, you’ve already taken your first step into the industry. You’re not just preparing; you’re investing in yourself.

Ready to put this into action? Connect with Promodel Service today and let’s shape your journey into a confident, professional, and unforgettable career.