Model Release Program

Our Modeling Release Program is designed to mutually benefit both the model and our company. It is a way for models to receive quality work images with no financial investment. The only investment required is your time.

Since we are also quite active in the generation and marketing of stock commercial photography, we often need models to pose or convey a concept for these images. We then market the resulting images to various commercial photography outlets. Because the images are aimed at commercial advertisers they do not involve nudity or tasteless poses. We are reimbursed for our efforts when an advertiser decides to use one of our existing images for an advertisement. Despite the common perception that advertisers will do anything to grab your attention, they generally use images that are professional and discrete.

The compensation we receive from an advertiser is generally not very large. While there are exceptions, the general payment structure requires that we maintain tight control of our costs. To control the costs of producing these images we often utilize models in exchange for one or two 8x10 photographic prints resulting from the work. The advantage of these prints is they have the look of commercial photography. This can greatly augment the standard images available in most model portfolios and may prove to be a significant advantage to a model. We provide one 8x10 photographic print for each hour of modeling work. If the modeling work is especially arduous or fruitful we may, solely at our discretion, provide one or two additional 8x10 prints as compensation. If models require additional prints, they can be purchased at our standard prices.

Models who participate in this program are required to sign a model release for each photographic session. The model release gives us permission to use the resulting images in any manner we deem necessary to promote our business and generate revenues. The only other requirement is that models make themselves available in increments of at least one hour for photographic sessions. Many of these sessions occur in our studios, but at least an equal number are done on location. There is no fixed work schedule; we simply work together when our needs and schedules dictate.

This program offers a win-win situation for both the models and Munson Photographic. Models get professional images by investing only their time, and Munson Photographic gets quality modeled images to promote to advertisers.

An additional benefit to models is that we may provide tear sheets for them should an advertiser utilize one of our images. This is a great way to demonstrate that the model's work has been published. We make tear sheets available to models when we receive more than one tear sheet from the advertiser or publication. Unfortunately, in many cases we do not receive a tear sheet. However, we habitually ask publishers to supply more than one tear sheet so that models may receive this valuable proof of publication. So, there are no guarantees regarding tear sheets, but we make them available whenever we can.

If a photograph has proven to be exceptionally lucrative we may provide some subsequent financial compensation to the model. The compensation amount, if any, is solely at our discretion. Most models do not receive such compensation because the monetary benefits from the sale of the image do not warrant it. But, where an image has been very successful we are pleased to share some of the financial rewards with the model.

This program is not for models who need to quickly build a portfolio of classic poses. For that effort we refer you to our standard modeling portraits program. Models who already have these classic poses and who are looking to augment their portfolio with professional quality work images can benefit from our Modeling Release Program. Please contact us for more details.