Site Rules
Model Mayhem is a diverse community of artists seeking work, portfolio expansion, and growth. We aim to promote professionalism, creativity, and innovation through safety, respect, and inclusiveness.
By opening an account, you agree to follow the Site Rules, Terms of Use, and Membership Requirements. These rules may change, so stay updated.
Remember: Ignorance of the rules does not excuse you from consequences for breaking them!
Rules at a Glance:
- General Site Rules
- Image and Content Rules
- Forum and Posting Rules
- Casting and Notice Rules
- Consequences and Recourse
All users of Model Mayhem must adhere to the following rules, with discretion on acceptable behavior resting with the administration and moderation teams.
Pornography, Sexual, and Imminently Dangerous Content:
- Do not use Model Mayhem to network for or solicit pornographic, sexual, or dangerous content or activities.
- Do not link to pornographic websites.
These rules apply to all areas of Model Mayhem and off-site communications originating from it.
Model Mayhem takes intellectual property laws seriously. Copyright violations may lead to profile removal or membership rejection.
We want to see your original work. Models should upload images of themselves modeling, photographers should upload their own photos, and makeup artists or designers should showcase their creations. Uploading images you did not create is strictly prohibited, even if you have rights to them.
Violations include:
- Uploading others’ content as your own.
- Using content without permission, including proof images.
- Misleading others with mock tear sheets or advertisements.
Content must clearly establish copyright, and we may request proof of ownership. Creators should provide original copies of their images, and users of stock images must show proof of permission or licensing.
Model Mayhem expects all members to accurately represent themselves. Accounts are for personal, individual artist use only.
We do not tolerate dishonest account ownership, which includes:
- Creating an account for someone else.
- Allowing anyone other than the account owner to access the account (exceptions: spouses/life partners in a photography team and identical twins with model profiles).
- Pretending to be someone else or maintaining a fake profile.
We may request proof of identity to verify account ownership.
Model Mayhem does not allow promotion, advertising, or recruitment for other modeling, portfolio, or networking sites. This includes all forms of communication on the platform, such as PMs, casting calls, forum posts, Tags, and profile text.
Links to profiles on other sites are permitted.
Examples:
- Prohibited: Sending a PM saying, “Sign up for this new modeling site, it’s great!”
- Permitted: Including in your About Me, “Here is a link to my profile on…”
- Keep it professional: Model Mayhem is not a dating site, housing network, or management platform. Use the site appropriately.
- Be respectful: Communicate politely and do not upload harmful or objectionable content.
- No harassment: Do not shame, insult, or bully other members. “Outing” others is prohibited; report inappropriate behavior to staff instead.
- Provide critiques only when asked: Limit critiques to the Critique forum and discuss work quality, not the person.
- Be safe: Keep your login information private; administrators will never ask for your password or credit card details. Never enter your login info on other sites and watch for scams. For more information, read this article: Avoiding Scams.
- Respect others’ privacy at all times.
- Do not post personal information (phone number, address, email) in your public profile or forums.
- Only share contact information if you are sure the person is legitimate.
- We protect members’ privacy; do not post confidential information without consent. Exceptions apply to public figures and publicly-available content.
- Do not re-post private or moderator messages publicly without permission from all parties involved.
- For more on protecting your information, refer to the Member Safety and Avoiding Scams pages.
Pro Tip: Avoid using your real name as your display name to protect your privacy, as it can be archived by search engines and linked to your profile.
- Member profiles are intended for individual artists under our approved categories, not for companies, groups, teams of individuals or persons who qualify more for a Talent Recruiter account. Additionally, profiles are only extended to members to be used in the capacity for which they were approved.
- Artists whose business is a reflection of their individual artistry are permitted to utilize their account with their business name.
- Spouses and/or life-partners who work as a photography team and identical twins with model profiles are permitted to share a profile.
- Member profiles are not to be used on behalf of third parties, or on behalf of businesses where a member works outside the capacity for which their profiles were approved.
- Artists whose work with businesses is the same as their approved membership are permitted to network, as long as the role within the business is clearly stated.
- For example, this means if you are a photographer contracted with a company to take promotional photos, you are welcome to use your profile to network for that business’ project. If you are a model acting as a model for a company’s advertising campaign, you are welcome to use your profile to network for that business’ project.
- All non-approved or other third party or business uses of a profile are strictly prohibited and may result in profile suspension.
- In order to maintain a member profile, you must meet our membership requirements at all times: at least 4 visible images pertaining to your membership type and a biography.
- Profiles that do not meet the membership requirements can be suspended until they are in compliance.
- Your profile should only display work you contributed to in your profile’s member category.
- For example, this means if you are listed as a model, you should only be showing images of you as a model. If you are a photographer, you should only upload images you shot as a photographer.
- If you would like to show off other artistic skills, you are welcome to open a new profile!
- You must be at least 18 years old and have the correct birthday listed.
- Validation of age may be required.
- The use of any tool that automates messages, behaviors, or the utilization of features is not allowed.
- This includes macros or other means of posting announcements, sending friend requests, posting comments or Tags, etc.
- Do not spam.
- Spam is any messages, ads, or other information that is unsolicited and indiscriminately posted or shared across any location across the site, such as through announcements, Tags, private messages, comments, forum posts, etc.
Spamming may result in removal of the profile or suspension of all posting privileges.
- If you have a bad working experience with someone, you are welcome to talk about the experience, but not discuss the person publicly.
- Remember that you are liable for any posts and comments you make, so ensure you consider what you share carefully.
- You may say you do not recommend someone publicly, such as “I do not recommend Model Mayhem member John Doe #123456”
- You may provide more details when asked.
- Model Mayhem does not arbitrate member disputes, such as model or image releases, payment issues, failure to appear for scheduled work, personal disagreements, etc. Claims of unprofessional behavior will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- These situations are best resolved privately and directly, however please report any illegal or fraudulent activity as direct on our Safety page. A member of the Model Mayhem staff will review your report.
- If a private solution cannot be reached, then you will need to explore your legal options.
The rules below apply to any images or other content uploaded to or shared on the Model Mayhem network.
Images are moderated and judged on their appearance. We moderate images by ensuring the rules focus on elements presented in an image rather than artistic quality. We also do our best to be consistent and fair, but each image is unique so each judgment is also unique. For more information about images and how they are moderated, please see our Edu article: Model Mayhem Image Rules
Tip: Please report any violations of these rules to the moderation team if you see them. Your reports will be kept confidential! Reports can be filed directly from an image via a link at the top right of the page under “Report this image.” Alternately you can click Help and then Contact Model Mayhem to report other violations.
Any images uploaded to Model Mayhem should follow these size guidelines:
- Photo Size, in pixels:
- No less than 200 wide and 300 high
- No more than 16 million total pixels (eg, 4,000 wide by 4,000 high)
- File Size, in kb:
- No less than 7kb
- No more than 1500kb
Rules and Guidelines for Multiple Images (Diptychs and Triptychs)
We allow visually compelling diptych and triptych layouts while keeping moderation consistent and objective based on the following:
Allowed Formats
- Diptych (2 images)
- Triptych (3 images)
Prohibited Formats
- Any combination involving 4 or more images
General Requirements
1. Cohesion – All images in a diptych/triptych must belong to the same series, theme, or set. – Randomly assembled or mismatched images are not permitted.
2. Orientation Rules
a) Vertical images (portrait orientation) must be placed side by side (horizontally). Stacking vertically (one above another) is prohibited.
b) Horizontal images (landscape orientation). Must be stitched vertically (one above another). Side-by-side arrangement is prohibited.
3. Image Treatment – Borders, spacing, and alignment should be consistent across all panels. Ensure uniform padding/margins so the join lines are clean and intentional.
The use of diptychs/triptychs to circumvent portfolio limits is prohibited.
Any layout that violates the above rules will be flagged and removed. By standardizing layouts by image orientation and limiting to 2–3 cohesive pieces, we reduce subjective judgments, accelerate reviews, and preserve a high-quality visual experience across the site.
The elements provided below are allowed in Model Mayhem portfolios and must be marked Mature in order to ensure the Worksafe mode can be properly triggered. Any elements not listed here are permitted to be included in a portfolio without the Mature mark and are considered “Worksafe.”
- Nudity
- Pubic area
- Also known as the bikini area, from the pubic bone down and from thigh to thigh
- Any area that would normally be covered by pubic hair
- Genitals
- Female nipples or areola
- Bare buttocks
- Implied sexual activity
- Blood, guts, gore, or violent situations
- Bondage situations of any kind
- Watermarks that are links to pornographic or sexual websites
- Any transparent or semi-transparent clothing or body paint that shows any of the above
- Implied Nudity
The elements provided below are not allowed in spaces considered “Public” on Model Mayhem, such as in the avatar space, on a profile page, or in the forums. Any elements not listed here are permitted to be used in a public space.
- Nudity
- Pubic area
- Also known as the bikini area, from the pubic bone down and from thigh to thigh
- Any area that would normally be covered by pubic hair
- Genitals
- Female nipples or areola
- Bare buttocks
- Implied sexual activity
- Blood, guts, gore, or violent situations
- Bondage situations of any kind
- Watermarks that are links to pornographic or sexual websites
- Any transparent or semi-transparent clothing or body paint that shows any of the above
- Implied Nudity
Notes:
Images that utilize body paint, stars, stripes, emojis, blurring, etc, to block or hide the above Mature elements are still considered Mature.
Implied nudity includes images that use body parts or objects to cover Mature elements. For example, a model covering a Mature element with their hands or an object. If it appears that the model isn’t wearing clothing, it’s a mature image, whether mature elements are covered or not.
The elements provided below are never allowed to be posted or shared on Model Mayhem in any form. Using Model Mayhem to network for these types of images is also prohibited.
- Any images showing persons that appear to be under the age of 18
- Bodily fluids, excluding blood, sweat, tears, and non-sexual saliva or nose-snot
- Erections, of any level
- Manipulation of genitals or buttocks to “spread” them
- Genital or anal penetration of any kind
- Explicit sexual content of any kind
- Intimate photographer/subject or “Point of View” content of any kind
- Sexual contact of any kind that appears to be between the photographer and model(s)
- Emphasis on the genitals or anus, such as images that are specifically of the genitals, comprised mostly of genitals, or appear to be focused on the genitals.
Lists are publicly visible but engage the Mature filters provided by the image’s portfolio settings.
Lists that violate these guidelines may be removed without warning.
- Lists should not be compiled to degrade, insult, bully, or otherwise harass members or their images.
Tip: Images that are in a private album or are not set to be viewed by the public at large will not be able to appear in a list.
The forums are a great way to communicate with your fellow members, but there are some rules which apply to your usage of them. If you would like to know how to utilize the forums, please check out our Edu article: How to Utilize the Model Mayhem Forums
Forum-Specific Rules and Professionalism
Each forum has varying degrees of professionalism, and we encourage you to use the correct levels of professionalism as possible when posting. We also encourage you to be mindful of your professionalism in these forum posts due to the public and searchable nature of our forums. Please review the descriptions for each forum, as well as the individual forum rules pinned at the top of the forum you will be posting in. If you have questions about the rules, please go to Help and contact a moderator.
- This is a forum, which means by posting you agree to let anyone post their thoughts and opinions to the topic.
- Respect your fellow posters. Period. No personal attacks, name calling, hate speech, etc.
- The Model Mayhem forums are not the place for mature and/or vulgar topics or language. Mature images can be linked to, but not displayed as an image.
- Sarcasm is ok. Trolling is not. Not all sarcasm is trolling but some trolling is sarcastic.
- Critiques belong in the critique forum and only if people ask for them.
- Stay on topic as best you can. Don’t hijack topic or bump old threads – just start a new thread. Topics do tend to ebb and flow, but if the topic gets too far away from the primary point, start a new thread!
- Do not use images as a signature. Excessive usage of images in forum posts is also generally frowned upon.
- Some controversial topics, posts, and discussions can and should happen, but some topics, posts, and discussions aren’t meant for the forums. These include, and aren’t limited to, politics, religion, etc.
- Spamming is not allowed on Model Mayhem. See the site-wide rules for more information.
- The forums are meant for discussions. They are not a place to post casting calls, job listings, and fundraising campaigns.
- If you see a thread or post that violates the site or forum rules, please copy the thread URL and click Help to Contact-a-Moderator so the moderation team can review the thread. If you are reporting a specific post, please click “Link” on that post, then copy the URL that populates into your browser.
- Try and post in the right forum with your topic. Topics posted in the incorrect forum will be moved as necessary.
- When possible, posts that violate rules will be hidden so that the thread may continue.
- Threads and posts can and will be locked or hidden at the discretion of the moderation team based on the application of Terms of Use, site rules, forum rules, and specific forum rules.
Posting a Casting Call or Notice
Model Mayhem is a great place to find work and we have three separate ways you can actively seek out castings and work opportunities. Please choose the appropriate one that fits your situation:
Post a Casting Call if you are looking to hire someone for a project.
Post an Availability Notice if you are looking for work local to you.
Post a Travel Notice if you are traveling and are looking for work where you’ll be visiting.
The following represent the rules associated with posting and responding to Casting Calls, Travel Notices and Availability Notices. All castings and notices must comply with the local laws associated with the respective project.
Casting and Notice Violations
If you see any casting calls or notices that violate the following rules or the site rules, please use the flag icon in the casting to report it to the moderation team. Moderators monitor these reports regularly and will take the appropriate actions.
Violators will be warned when a casting is taken down. Multiple violations may result in the revocation of membership.
Casting Call and Sponsored Casting Call Rules
All castings and notices must provide truthful information about the project and comply with the local laws associated with the respective project. Please note, if a Sponsored Casting Call does not follow these Site Rules and all other terms of use related to Model Mayhem, it may be deleted without refund.
Please note that any casting labeled “PAID” means that you are looking to hire and PAY someone. Bartering of any kind is not considered pay. Deferred payments of any kind are not considered pay. Paid casting does not mean you want someone to pay you.
- Casting Calls must provide as much basic job information as possible, such as:
- Date of casting
- Time of casting
- General location of casting
- The pay or compensation rate
- Important details about the job being casted, such as the type of model you’re seeking or the qualifications of the photographer you want to hire.
- Private information, such as specific addresses, etc, are allowed to be omitted and can be provided to people you wish to hire.
- Asking to be contacted for more information is not permitted.
- Casting calls cannot request payment of any kind, nor require that the applicants compensate the person posting the casting call or any third parties.
- Profiles are only extended to members to be used in the capacity for which they were approved. In other words, a model profile should be used for that individual’s personal modeling projects, and a photographer profile should be used for that individual’s photography projects, etc.
- You must state the nature of your involvement in the casting call.
- Networking for sexual activities or pornographic content of any kind is strictly prohibited anywhere on Model Mayhem.
- Casting Calls are NOT advertisements. Casting talent to work for the following is permitted, but castings that are intended to advertise or promote the following are not allowed.
- Events
- Workshops
- Classes
- The following are never allowed as a Casting Call.
- Non-modeling related work of any kind.
- Model management of any kind.
- Housing opportunities of any kind.
- Attendees/hosts for “nightlife” events/parties/clubs/etc.
- Contests, such as online contests, etc.
- Pageants requiring any fees or paid reservations
- Studio rental listings (Members, please use Model Mayhem’s Market Forum.)
- Requiring talent to join or participate in your website or network. Model Mayhem is not a place to populate your website or network.
Availability Notices are to be used to alert others of your availability for projects that are within a reasonable distance to the area of your normal place of residence. Solicitation for transportation is permitted.
Travel Notices are to be used to alert others of your presence in a geographic area outside of your normal place of residence. Solicitation for destination accommodations, such as airport pickup and shelters are permitted.
- All notices must provide basic information, including:
- Date of availability
- General location of availability
- The pay or compensation rate expected
- Important details about the job being sought.
- Asking to be contacted for more information is not permitted.
- All notices should only be for your personal projects. Other parties are welcome to create their own account!
- Networking for sexual activities or pornographic content of any kind is strictly prohibited anywhere on Model Mayhem.
Additional Information and Details Regarding Sponsored Castings and Proactive Alerts
- Sponsored Castings can only be placed by logged-in Talent Recruiters and approved members.
- Prices vary depending on the amount of time a Sponsored Casting is selected to be posted on the Site as well as membership type and subscription levels.
- Sponsored Castings will only appear in up to 5 cities, chosen by the person posting the casting call.
- If more than 5 locations are desired, the poster can post another Sponsored Casting or pay an additional fee to have the casting be “Nationwide” to appear throughout all cities in that country.
- Sponsored Castings appear in the Casting Call search results as one of three pinned listings at the top of the search results.
- Sponsored Casting search results are randomly generated for each user and are not guaranteed to appear on any page.
In addition to posting Sponsored Castings, Talent Recruiters have the ability to send “Proactive Alerts,” which act as private messages to either user-selected member accounts or to accounts pre-selected by Model Mayhem, if desired. Proactive Alerts must abide by these Site Rules and all other terms of use related to Model Mayhem. In addition:
- Only Talent Recruiters can send out Proactive Alerts. Members can use their Private Messages.
- Proactive Alerts can only be sent after posting a Sponsored Casting, by checking the “Proactive Alerts” box.
- Proactive Alerts cost an additional fee on top of the Sponsored Castings listing fee.
- Talent Recruiters can only currently send a total of 20 Proactive Alerts per Sponsored Casting. If any additional Proactive Alerts are desired, the Talent Recruiter must post an additional Sponsored Casting.
- Please note that members may or may not respond to any Proactive Alerts sent. It is up to the individual member to respond. Model Mayhem does not guarantee or get involved with having a member respond.
I’ve got more questions. Where do I go?
There are a few places you can go to get your questions answered.
If you’re curious about how images are reviewed, check out our article on Image Rules. This should hopefully answer the majority of your questions about images.
If you have other questions, check out the site-related forums or the contest forums. Most people in there will be able help answer your questions.
If you still have questions after that, click Help and then Contact Model Mayhem
The discretion for acceptable content on Model Mayhem lies with the moderation and administration staff. Model Mayhem reserves the right to terminate any membership at its discretion.
If rules are broken, consequences may include:
- Warning messages in your Moderator Message folder.
- Suspension from posting in forums, making announcements, submitting casting calls, or participating in contests.
- Removal of offending content (photos, posts, comments, etc.).
- Membership suspension, which can occur without warning and affect all past and future accounts.
New profiles created by suspended members will also be suspended unless reinstated by the moderation team. The moderation team strives to be fair and objective, and we ask for respect towards them.
Model Mayhem reserves the right to remove any account at any time without notice. To appeal or discuss a decision, contact us via Help > “Contact Model Mayhem.”
If you feel a moderator has violated site rules, you can request an administrator review.
