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In the past, I’ve written about how working pro bono (that means free of charge) can be a great way to enhance your resume and portfolio. Now it’s time to talk about getting money for your efforts.
Too often, fitness models sell themselves short by working for free when there’s money to be made. Of course, there are obligatory freebie jobs you’ll have to do to work your way up the ladder of fame, but there will come a time when you can ask—and expect—to be paid.
I may ruffle a few feathers among the photographers and publishers out there when I say that fitness models tend to get the short end of the stick, but I’m pretty sure most of them know exactly what I’m talking about. If I were a model in any other industry, I’d be pretty wealthy from the amount of exposure I’ve had over the years.
The fact is, fitness models are usually too eager to get exposure, money or not. I’ll admit to it—I caved in too easily in the beginning just to get my face on the cover of a magazine. I’m sure I’ll do it again at some point if the exposure can help promote my supplement line, my clothing line, or my books, but I won’t sell my soul to the devil just for the sake of being recognized, and neither should you.
If you’re a new model, especially if you don’t have an agent representing you, I suggest that you at least determine how much money you need in order to make a photo shoot worth your time and effort. Figure in the expenses of gas, food, and taking time off from work or missing a PT client, not to mention the fact that you were asked to model—it is work, by the way!
Most magazines have a day rate of $300.00 at best, but typically photographers won’t pay models for spec shots that may or may not get sold. You need to decide in advance what’s a fair price for your time and your image. I know for a fact that it isn’t easy to find people who are in super shape and ready to shoot at the drop of a hat, so if you’re in fantastic shape that has to be worth something.
I’ve already told you that you won’t get rich, even at the highest levels of fitness modeling, but that doesn’t mean you need to go broke, either. If your bottom line is $200.00, then ask for it. If you’re honest and can explain your situation—and you do a great job on the shoot—most photographers will understand.
It’s all part of the art of negotiation, an essential skill for any business. Before you book a gig, be sure to get all the information you can—when, where, what it’s for, and whether or not it’s spec. Ask if you’ll be getting paid, and how much. If it’s less than you want, name your price and start negotiating.
Great Stuff!
Clark,
Thanks for that information that is incredibly helpful for all of us fitness models trying to make a name for ourselves in the industry. I hope there will be a day when the model gets paid like the photographer. The model is just as important as the photographer and I still don't understand why the model gets $300.00 and the photographer gets several thousand dollars. The logic in that doesn't make sense to me whatsoever. It is amazing how the rate for a fitness model hasn't changed since the early start to the peak of your career. Will it ever change?
Funny huh???
It's simply because it's such a narcissistic industry. I promise there are people who would actually pay money to be on the cover of a magazine. Here's the deal...you really have to become 'wanted" like a Greg Plitt where people are actually coming to him and asking him to work. He's the "golden boy" of the industry right now, but the fact remains the same that he will get $0.00 for many covers he shoots. The shoots where people actually want you and request you then you have some leverage so you should't collapse too easily. I know I've done that too many times where I said yes to the first offer. I got smart later in my career and didn't care if I got the job then it became easier for me to negotiate. That's really the key...you can't seem or come off as too anxious, if you do then you end up not getting what you deserve. Other than that, every job is a calling card for the next, so never gripe, bitch or complain just be happy and use that job to get your next.
Clark Bartram
I hear you!
I hear you on that. Christian Boeving told me that 95 percent of the covers he's done he never got paid nothing. You know what is funny with us talking about money and fitness models. And I hope I don't sound like someone that is out for money because this year I've done nothing but spend money to promote myself as a fitness model and I don't have an issue with that especially when noone knows who you are.
I guess covers of fitness magazines are something different than shooting a fitness video or something. I want to use this as an example that got me so upset and insulted today by an email I received from my manager today.
A casting for fitness models for a 5 day video shoot. It was 8 hours a day for 5 days not counting rehearsal days that was a pay of $800.00. Now when I received this email I was incredibly insulted that this company actually had the audacity to ask top ripped fitness models to commit themselves to a 40 + hour week project for $800.00.
I mean I know the fitness magazine world is a different story and personally I would do a cover of a magazine for free or I would pay to get on a cover of a magazine espcially knowing you won't spend more then a couple of hours in a shoot like that, but when it comes to doing a video project for a company that requires the amount of time they needed for the amount of money they were offering I really felt like that this was taking advantage of a fitness model and in some ways exploitation.
I think in many ways fitness models are exploited and under appreciated. It's funny because sports modeling is so similiar to fitness modeling and I never felt that type of exploitation. I guess at the end of the day you need to recognize what your worth from what Clark said. But there always is a flip side to everything such as the small jobs sometimes leads to big jobs.
Thtis has happened to me before many times accepting small modeling jobs that have lead to something big but those jobs never required 40 plus hours of your time generally it was a couple of hours or at most a day...LOL. You know me I always keep it real and honest on this site.
OO.