What a day rate does and doesn't include
- Included: the model's time on set for that day.
- Not included: usage/licensing, travel and expenses, and the agency's commission — these are added or deducted separately.
Day rate vs usage vs buyout
- Day rate — payment for the day's work.
- Usage — a licence for where and how long the images run (often larger than the day rate).
- Buyout — a fuller transfer of rights, sometimes in perpetuity.
Who sets and negotiates it
Your agency negotiates the day rate and usage with the client and takes a commission, so your take-home is less than the headline number. Rates aren't public and swing a lot — editorial pays little (for prestige), commercial and advertising pay far more. For a market-by-market breakdown, see how much models make.