Got Questions? We have answers.

Bad Employers have used fear to silence Unpaid Models for too long

It is illegal to retaliate against you for demanding your unpaid wages.

If the defendant retaliates, then you may have an additional claim for compensatory damages, treble damages, and punitive damages. Labor Code §§ 1050, 1054; Korea Supply Co. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 29 Cal.4th 1134, 1153-1154 (2003)

California law protects its workers by ensuring YOU ARE PAID ON TIME

Models are entitled to your original payment PLUS 1 day’s pay for each day your money is late, up to a maximum of 30 days. These are called “waiting time” penalties.

For example, if a Client agreed to pay the Model $5,000 for a shoot, and the Client is more than 30 days late paying, then the Model may be entitled to the original $5,000.00 PLUS an additional $5,000.00 per day for 30 days. This totals $155,000 in “waiting time” penalties that the model may be entitled to.

California law protects models by setting clear and strict time frames on when models need to get paid

If you finish a shoot or work between the 1st and 15th day of the month, you must be paid by the 26th day of the month. If you finished a shoot or worked between the 16th and last day of the month, you must be paid by the 10th day of the following month.

The Photoshoot Pay Easement Act 

Models are employees, not independent contractors, even if the contract or talent agency says that you are

This is important because as employees, you are entitled to “waiting time penalties”, which means that a Client must pay the model the contract amount EACH DAY that they are late in paying us, up to 30 days maximum.

A licensed talent agent must pay the model within 30 days of receiving the funds from the client. If there’s a delay, your agent should provide documents explaining the delay, including a copy of the check and a record of the deposit. You may also be entitled to a refund of any agency charges for “advances” during the agent’s own delay.

Models are not entitled to waiting time penalties from their agents for a delay in payment, but we may be entitled to waiting time penalties from the client

You should ask your agent in writing if the payment has been received and confirm the response in writing.

If the payment has not been received, ask the agent in writing to send you a copy of the check when it comes in. This is important because a licensed talent agent must pay funds received from a client to the model within thirty (30) days. Labor Code § 1700.25

The answer is No. Anyone in the industry that is holding your hard-earned money for months is violating the law. Let us help you break the silence.

The Answer is Yes. If a model has no money for legal fees you can still get help. The lawyers at UnpaidModels.com work on a contingency, which means that the lawyers only get paid from money collected for you.