Excellent Better Business Bureau Rating

Most unsatisfied customers, rather than going to an attorney, file their complaints with the BBB. In the 34 years we have been in the Texas market we have only received three complaints through the BBB, and all were resolved in our favor. In the modeling business, and over such a long period of time, this kind of record is virtually unheard of.

Release of Image Copyrights to Models

Owning the clear copyrights legally allows unlimited reproduction of portfolio images. Most agencies and photographers do not release the copyrights of the model's portfolio to the model at all. Of those that do, there are often hefty fees for each image, which make it prohibitive for a model to afford the purchase of the copyrights. Sunshine Productions allows the clear copyrights to all the model's portfolio images for a low flat fee of $100. On training/photo sessions that may comprise 200+ images, this can bring the price of owning the copyrights down to less than 50 cents per image. This is an incredible bargain, as many photographers and studios charge more than $100 for the copyright release to just a single image.

Lower Commission Rates

Most agencies charge up to 25% commission fee on jobs they book for models and 20% commission fee to clients who hire models . Sunshine Productions only charges 20% commission to models and 15% commission to clients. We often even waive the client commission entirely if enough models are hired for a particular job, allowing them to use more models. To clients or models, a 5% difference equals $50 for every $1000 spent or earned.

Higher Pay Rates for Models

Our models are paid on par with models from agencies on the East and West Coast, but live in an area (mostly North Texas) where the cost of living is far less. Most models earn between $100 - $250/hr for most convention or promotional work, and $300 - $500/outfit for most commercial print jobs. We also require the clients to guarantee two hour/two outfit minimums - and we're the only agency that has these minimums - (other agencies will book their models for one outfit or one hour, sometimes pro-rating them to even less than that).

Portfolio Options

Sunshine Productions offers two different kinds of portfolios at two different price points. Most models choose a Book Portfolio (usually averaging $60-65 per included image) which includes the personalized binder, archival slide pages to protect all photos, Photo CD of all the portfolio images, a jewel case with custom artwork for the Photo CD, and all the images in three formats - Singles (best of the best, typically ½ to ⅔ of the total images - one image on a page), Duocomps (two images almost full size per page, all portfolio images included) and Multicomps (a grid of varying size showing all images on one to three pages). For models on a budget, we offer an Online Only portfolio at a reduced rate of only $50-55 per included image. All images are displayed online as full size singles, and the clear copyrights to all portfolio images are made available to the model for an additional $100.

Using Technology to Save You Money

In the old days (pre-1995), models were regularly required to go on auditions, or
"go-sees". These would consist of going to a venue with as many as several hundred other models, waiting around (sometimes all day) until you were called in front of a client, or a casting director. After being looked up and down, perhaps asked to turn around, you would be given a curt "Thank you, we'll let your agent know." Many models brought their portfolio book with them, and were disappointed to discover that the client never even asked to see it. If you were being seriously considered for the job, notification would be made by the agent within days, or weeks, to check availability.

Over the last decade and a half, the Internet has changed all this. We have watched the number of models being hired strictly based on their online portfolio climb every year. From 5-10% in the mid 1990s to almost 100% by 2010. The only types of jobs for models that still regularly require an in person audition are for runway shows, where the client needs to see the model's walking and stop-turn skills, as well as their ability to stay in various spacing and lineup formations (tridents, chevrons, etc). The clients generally trust the agency to describe the personality and demeanor of models who are being hired for convention or promotional work, as these attributes are just as important as their physical appearance these types of jobs. For commercial print (the most lucrative and sought after types of modeling jobs), almost all hiring is based solely on the model's online portfolio, which is after all, a perfect example of images of that model which would end up in a commercial print ad.

As gas prices rise, no one wants to drive more than necessary, especially if the model lives an hour or more from the client. Sunshine Productions was the first State Licensed Modeling Agency to go fully online in the 1990s, and our comprehensive website generally allows models to be hired by clients without the time and expense of in person auditions. This saves both the models and clients a significant amount of money. In short, when a model travels somewhere to meet a client, they are usually going there to work, not just be considered for future work.

Our "One and Done" Photo Shoot/Portfolio Policy

Most agencies require models to keep their portfolios updated, and those models have to pay for subsequent photo shoots and portfolio updates on a yearly basis (sometimes even twice a year). Sunshine Productions believes in rewarding hardworking models, and so we update book portfolios at no charge to models with the use of tear sheets (hard copy photos taken from commercial print jobs). If, for any reason, we need additional photos of a model for a particular job or client, it will be done at no charge to the model. These photos can later be added to the model's online listing at no additional charge.