Hourly Rates

All life models members are strongly encouraged to set their rates to whatever they feel is appropriate for the requested booking, location of booking, their individual skill, and perceived ability of the organisation to pay, as long as these rates are above the minimums listed in our Working Conditions. It is the position of the Life Models’ Society (LMS) that $50 an hour (increased as of 1 October 2024) for a minimum of two hours is the bare minimum acceptable for any booking for life drawing.

The reference photography rate has been $85 per hour (with minimum 2 hr call out) without increase for a number of years. As of the 1st of February 2026, this is increasing to $90 an hour (for a minimum of two hours). We are also clarifying the rates for other types of photographic modelling work: the minimum for fine art photography will be $200 an hour, while commercial photography will attract $250 an hour. 2 hours remains the minimum call out for all work.

Reference Photography is for one individual artist to take photographs for the purposes of completing one artwork.

Fine Art Photography is photography where the resulting image itself comprises the artwork or part thereof.

Commercial Photography relates to photography shoots where the resulting still images are to be used by an organisation or artist in promotion and advertising of a product or service.

The minimum hourly rate to engage our members for nude film work is $150p/h, for a minimum call out of 2 hours ($300).

At those rates, negotiations MUST include allowance for travel to and from the studio. It is unreasonable for a model to drive and hour each way for 2 hours of modelling for $90, for example. Models earn nothing at those rates and travel costs. However if it is 5 minutes up the road, it may be acceptable. LMS recommends a rate of 50% the agreed modelling fee as appropriate for travel time, or refer to the ATO for up to date travel rates.

In making this decision we have considered the NAVA Code of Practice rates for Performance Artists, the unseen costs for workers (such as superannuation and insurance, transport costs) as well as the ability of private art groups and institutions to pay. We acknowledge that many non-subscribers use our working conditions as a guide. We remind all parties involved in photographic work to use appropriate model release forms, with clear stipulations as to the usage, storage, and time limitations on the resulting images.