A two day casting is enough when the brief is clear
Most product shoot castings drag on for a week because the brief is vague. Models ask the same questions, the shortlist keeps changing, and the photographer's date slips. When the brief answers every question up front, two days is plenty to go from "we need a model" to a signed booking.
This guide is for brand marketing managers and producers at e-commerce and DTC brands. It assumes a single product shoot or UGC batch with one to three models. Agencies running castings for several clients can use the same steps with shareable client shortlists, described in our casting management software page.
- Day 1 is about the brief, posting and first review.
- Day 2 is about checks, the final pick, the agreement and logistics.
- The shoot itself happens on a date you already have locked with your photographer and studio.
Lock four decisions before you write a word
Every late change during a casting traces back to one of these. Decide them with your team first.
- The shoot date, location and call time. Models plan around them.
- The look you need. Write it as customer traits, not just looks ("busy parent, 30 to 40, natural makeup").
- The budget per model, including any usage add-on.
- Usage rights. Where the images will run and for how long.
Usage is the decision teams skip most often, and the one that causes the most disputes later. Organic social for 3 months is a small license. Paid ads on all platforms plus print for 12 months is a big one, and models price it that way. On PostModels, usage rights are set per casting and written into the booking agreement, so nobody has to remember what was said in a chat.
The 48 hour casting, hour by hour
| Time | Task | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Hour 0 to 1 | Write the brief from the template below | One page brief |
| Hour 1 to 2 | Post the casting with filters for city, dates, sizes and rate | Live casting |
| Hour 2 to 3 | Search the talent pool and message strong matches who have not applied yet | Invites sent |
| Hour 6 | First review pass on applicants | Long list of 15 to 20 |
| Hour 10 | Second review pass and replies to questions | Updated long list |
| Hour 20 | Close the long list | 15 names |
| Hour 22 to 24 | Shortlist 5 and share the shortlist with your team | Shortlist |
| Hour 24 to 30 | 10 minute video checks with the shortlist | Notes per model |
| Hour 30 to 34 | Pick first choice and one backup per role | Final picks |
| Hour 34 to 38 | Send booking requests with agreement and usage | Signed bookings |
| Hour 38 to 42 | Confirm call sheet, wardrobe, sizes and travel | Call sheet sent |
| Hour 42 to 48 | Release other applicants with a short thank you | Casting closed |
Hours 6 and 10 are deliberate. Applications come in waves, and early review lets you answer questions while models are still active. Do not wait until the casting closes to start reading.
A good brief cuts applicant questions to zero
Use this structure. Keep it to one page. Everything here is something a model needs to decide whether to apply.
- Title. Role plus product plus city, such as "E-commerce model for activewear shoot, Los Angeles".
- Brand and product. One line on what you sell.
- Role. What the model does on set, such as wearing 25 outfits on white background plus 5 lifestyle shots.
- Look. Customer traits, age range (adults only, 18 and over), sizes of the outfits on set, hair or skin notes if relevant.
- Date and hours. Shoot date, call time, expected wrap.
- Location. Studio address shared after booking, city shown on the casting.
- Rate. Hourly, half-day or day rate, plus overtime terms.
- Usage. Channels, territory and duration.
- What to bring. Plain basics to wear under clothes, neutral shoes, clean nails, no fresh tan.
- Apply with. Recent digitals and one line on availability.
Avoid vague phrases like "open to all looks" or "rate negotiable" when you already have a range. They attract hundreds of applicants who do not fit, and that is what breaks a 48 hour timeline.
Fair rates fill castings faster
Underpriced castings get fewer and weaker applicants. Use general market guidance for your city. These ranges are common in many US markets, not fixed prices.
| Shoot type | Common rate | Usage add-on |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce on white | $75 to $150 per hour, or $500 to $1,200 per day | Often included for site use |
| Lifestyle product photos | $600 to $1,500 per day | Paid ads often add 25 to 100 percent |
| UGC video batch | $75 to $400 per video | Paid usage often priced per month |
| Promotional event staff | $25 to $60 per hour | Not usually applicable |
For more on finding talent at these rates, see hire models and commercial modeling jobs, which explain what models in each category expect.
Review applicants against the brief, not a gut feeling
Fast castings come from fast, consistent review. Score every applicant on the same five points and move on.
- Look matches the customer traits in the brief.
- Sizes match the outfits you have.
- Available on the shoot date and call time.
- Rate fits the budget, including usage.
- Recent digitals and, for UGC, at least one clip in a similar style.
Mark each applicant yes, maybe or no in one pass. Only re-read the maybes. With filters for city, sizes, height, availability and rates, the long list builds itself in minutes. A Brand plan includes 10 shortlists and 50 messages per month to models who have not applied, which covers a typical casting with room left over.
A 10 minute video check prevents a bad shoot day
Photos do not show how someone takes direction. A short video call does. Keep it friendly and structured.
- Confirm date, call time and that the rate and usage are clear.
- Ask them to turn to the side and do three poses with a simple prop, such as a mug or a phone.
- For UGC, ask them to say one hook from the brief to camera.
- Check that their current hair and look match the digitals.
- Ask if they have any questions.
Take two lines of notes per model right after each call. Decide while it is fresh.
Book in writing with held payment
The booking is where most informal castings go wrong. A chat message is not an agreement. Use a written booking for every model.
- Send the booking request with the date, hours, rate, overtime and usage from the casting.
- The model accepts, and the booking agreement records the terms for both sides.
- Payment is held by the platform and released to the model's payout account after the job.
- Book a backup for each role and tell them they are first in line.
Booking through PostModels carries a 10 percent platform fee on the booking amount. Models never pay clients, and clients never ask models for money. More on the full flow is on our model booking page.
The call sheet goes out 24 hours before the shoot
- Exact address, parking and entrance notes
- Call time and expected wrap
- Contact on set, through platform messages
- Wardrobe list with sizes and what the model brings
- Hair and makeup plan
- Lunch and break times
- Reminder of usage terms
A clear call sheet keeps your photographer's day on time. It also shows models you run a professional set, which makes them more likely to accept your next casting. Pair this with our model safety standards: shoots happen in professional spaces, and anyone can bring a companion.
Pick the plan that matches how often you cast
| Plan | Price billed yearly | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | $49 per month ($588 per year) | One brand casting a few times a month |
| Agency | $149 per month ($1,788 per year) | Agencies casting for several clients |
| Studio | $399 per month ($4,788 per year) | Studios and production teams with many seats |
Monthly billing is also available. Compare everything on pricing, or build a free one-time casting preview at /start/brand before you subscribe.
