Non-academic modeling

Models are hired by a variety of creative professionals, including not only painters and sculptors, but video game designers, furniture designers, people who craft artificial limbs, etc. This work varies somewhat from modeling for a class. The conventions for this type of modeling are much less well defined, especially as the models are often friends or family. Artists who regularly hire strangers will usually hold to art school standards in order to make models feel more comfortable, and to avoid possible legal issues.

Professional artists often have a circle of models they work through, hiring and adding as time passes. When a comfortable working relationship is established, many painters and artists relax their standards and models do the same. Longer poses, more comfortable and casual environments, and more collegial relationships may develop. However, in a professional studio environment, with an artist on a deadline or with commission guidelines, art school and art-model industry standards generally apply, with higher rates of pay and longer, more demanding poses.

Models are now especially used in the publicity industry, often combining posing with more active work such as the catwalk. The career is an attractive profession for the more successful models, and professional modeling agencies help regulate the market as well as assisting their client's modeling careers.