Who Pays When the Outfit Rips?
Inside the Liability Problem Freelance Models Quietly Face On many shoots, models are dressed in borrowed or showroom pieces—items that are delicate, expensive, and not always practical for actual movement. Yet the industry rarely discusses what happens when something goes wrong. A dress tears during a pose that the photographer requested. A white blazer stains during a rushed outfit change. A vintage piece gets caught on lighting equipment. Suddenly, a freelancer—especially one without agency protection—is pressured to cover repair costs or pay for dry cleaning. Most shoots don't involve clear written agreements. Models often step onto set with no explanation of how much the clothing costs, its condition, or the liability rules. According to 10 Photoshoot Liability Risks , clothing damage is one of the most common issues on set, yet rarely addressed beforehand. Fashion on Loan shows that even celebrity clothing loans operate in a gray zone with unclear responsib...
