Overview of model lunches
We commit to models that Shoot Producers will provide each model on-set on a shoot day a modest but filling lunch that meets their dietary needs and personal preferences.
Shoot Producers claim a Lunch Allowance from the company for each lunch they provide to a model in the course of making abbywinters.com shoots.
Model lunches seem simple, but there’s actually some nuance in it! Lunch can have a big impact on a model’s morale (in turn, affecting the quality of the shoot, and their opinion of working with the company again – and referring their friends to us).
In a nutshell, Shoot Producers;
- Understand the importance of model lunches (to models, and to the Company)
- Consult with models about their lunch preferences before the shoot day
- Provide a lunch that meets the model’s needs and the company’s requirements
- Spend within a budget, and make clear reimbursement claims for the Lunch Allowance
This page contains information in these areas;
- The Lunch Allowance is a specific amount
- The Lunch Allowance is only for models
- We set model’s expectations around lunches
- Lunch affects the model’s experience on the shoot
- Models are consulted about their food preferences
- Allergies must be accounted for
- Vegetarians & vegans are treated respectfully
- There are requirements for food provided to models
- Shoot Producers do not “judge” models food preferences
- Lunches provided are cohesive
- Shoot Producers are not caterers
- Shoot Producers can get lunch in several ways
- Empower models with food on set
- The company asks models about their lunch experience
- Shoot Producers are authorised to by “emergency” food
- If a shoot goes long, we supply another meal for the model
- If the shoot is cancelled at the last minute, we still pay the Lunch Allowance
- Shoot Producers claim Lunch Allowances on their invoice
- Assignments
The Lunch Allowance is a specific amount
We do not publish the amount in this FAQ, but each SP has been notified about the amount applicable to them. Let us know if you’re not sure what it is.
The Lunch Allowance is per model, per shoot day. For example;
- One model on a Solo shoot, one Lunch Allowance applies
- Two models making a GGT3 shoot, two Lunch Allowances applies
- Three models making a SIM each and two DIMs (five shoots), three Lunch Allowances apply (one for each model, not one for each shoot)
It is expected that the whole of the Lunch Allowance is used on the model’s lunch – or at least 90%. Should the requirements listed below cost significantly less, consider some extras – sweets, chocolate or nuts, for example.
It’s not appropriate for the Shoot Producer to spend significantly less than the Lunch Allowance, and “pocket” the difference or spend it on their own lunch! If the Shoot Producer consistently spends less on a lunch that meets all requirements, notify the Creative Director who will discuss how to move forward.
If Shoot Producer spends more than the Lunch Allowance, the company does not reimburse the Shoot Producer (unless by previous agreement with a PDB number, very rare). These overages come out of the SP’s pocket.
If a SP is unable to provide lunch within the Lunch Allowance (for example, to meet the requirements, they need to spend 150% of the Lunch Allowance), they must discuss the matter with The Collective before the shoot day.
The Lunch Allowance is only for models
The Lunch Allowance is for models working as models in shoots being made that day – not the Shoot Producer, Second Camera Operator, Location Owner, or anyone else.
However, on shoot “blocks” (a series of shoots over several days) it’s usually more efficient and convenient to visit a supermarket and buy bulk supplies for model lunches. For example;
Shoot Producer Anna is doing four shoot days this week, a mix of Solo, SIM, DIM and GGT3 shoots. There’s a total of seven model lunches to be supplied.
Adding up the Lunch Allowance for seven lunches makes for a supermarket shop that can get ample food for the models (perhaps also with a “freshness top-up” on day 3).
In that situation, the economy of scale means there’s likely to be enough to feed the SP and SCO as well as the models 😃. However, the models always come first – perhaps on the last day, the SP and SCO need to provide their own lunch.
When an SP bulk-buys food supplies at the start of a block of shoots, they ensure that the quality of lunch on the last day is equivalent to the lunch presented on the first day. SPs need to allow for;
- The freshness of ingredients
- Popular items being eaten sooner than anticipated
- Models unexpectedly not liking something
Every few days, it is probable that SPs will need to visit a shop to purchase ‘top up’ items of food to accompany the remaining items from the initial larger shop.
We set model’s expectations around lunches
During the shoot booking process, we set models’ expectations about what to expect from a lunch on set. If a model requests or demands something not described there, the Shoot Producer will have been consulted (this is very rare). For example;
On a Shoot day, Shoot Producer Kelly is surprised when the model she is working with insists that the Shoot Producer should provide a morning and afternoon take-away coffee.
This does not sound right to Kelly, so she checks with The Collective on WhatsApp. The team makes it clear that the model was not promised any such thing (and in fact, we explicitly say that take-away coffees are not supplied).
In fact, SP Kelly did not even need to ask The Collective – everything we tell models about lunch on set is contained on the Lunch info page for models. Perhaps once a year there is an exception. This will always be recorded in the MDB as an Important Note, the model’s “Food preferences” section will be updated, and the Shoot Producer will be notified by email before the shoot day.
Models are not expecting a 3-course meal from a fancy restaurant, but they are expecting a meal that leaves them feeling full and sated after eating. Models expect their dietary needs and food preferences to be met.
Models expect their meal to be planned-for and cohesive. They do not want to feel like an “afterthought” as they choke back tears eating a raw carrot with mashed potatoes.
Models expect to be able to enjoy their lunch selection without feeling judged or isolated because of their choices.
Lunch affects the model’s experience on the shoot
Feeling hungry and drained is unpleasant. Many models get up earlier than is normal for them to travel to shoots, and most models report feeling exhausted (in a good way!) after a full day of shooting. Therefore, a replenishing and satisfying meal in the middle of the day will impact their mood and performance significantly.
We know that some people are shy or embarrassed about their dietary restrictions. A model presented with a shop-bought sandwich that any “normal” person would like, but which contains an ingredient she does not like (say, cucumber) may feel embarrassed to bring it up or stupid for being so choosey, causing her to feel upset on top of feeling hungry!
When SPs are working with a model across several shoot days, they check in on how the model found that day’s lunch, as this may impact lunch for the following day(s) and models might be too shy / polite to initiate a conversation about it. It might be that a model adores the salad bowl provided and wants that exact same lunch every day… or they may asked for the salad bowl but now discovered they were not a fan of that day’s lunch and want something new. Some models will find comfort in lunches remaining the same, others will want variety.
It is not ok to assume what a model wants to eat on subsequent work days based on her consent from today. Model lunches are a small demonstration of how consent works on set, the same principles that apply bigger things such as Posing Levels should apply to smaller things like lunches as well.
Lunch is also an opportunity to confirm to the model that she is being listened to, and everyone likes to feel remembered. For example;
Shoot Producer Belinda is due to make another shoot of Wendy – it’s been 10 months since their last shoot together. It went well, and both of them are looking forward to working together again.
On the last shoot, it came up in conversation that Wendy loves donuts. It was just a passing comment, but Belinda – prompted by the item in the Media and Metadata Ingestion checklist – updated Wendy’s Food preferences in the MDB for the next time Wendy is shot.
10 months later, Shoot Producer Belinda checks Wendy’s food preferences in the MDB while preparing for the shoot. Thinking that the donuts will be a nice surprise for Wendy, she does not ask Wendy about them beforehand – she just grabs some from the supermarket with the rest of the food shopping for that shoot.
Of course, Wendy is delighted to have donuts on-set, and is pleased that the busy and professional Shoot Producer remembered her small preference almost a year later.
What could you do with food on your next shoot, to make the model feel special? (Birthdays are a great opportunity, but other days should present this option as well!)
“I will do anything for a bacon sandwich!”
Model Masie (now Shoot Producer Trainer) recalls her first shoot as a model with abbywinters.com in October 2010.
In subsequent shoots, while the Shoot Producers would always ask for lunch preferences, certain staples often appeared for me.
- Hummus and tortilla chips
- Huge bucket salads
- The best one being the blue cheese and pear salad, and the SP always took one for herself. I always felt special having the same lunch as the SP, as they were really cool! 😍
- A particular brand of chocolate biscuits with little houses printed on the front.
The above lunch became synonymous with the abbywinters.com shoot day experience for me. Existing models would tell new models about the chips and hummus that we always got, and long after the SPs who started that tradition had left the company, models would ask for this exact lunch and were a little disappointed when something different was provided.
The above food items were nothing special – in fact they were easy basics from the local supermarket that was next to the company’s office – but they became special, they were part of the experience. A good lunch can add to a model’s experience of a shoot day.
When I was a jobbing model, I would literally recommend working with companies based on how good the lunch was – Playboy had a whole buffet room, and ATK’s photographer would hand you the budget at the door of a local supermarket and encourage you to indulge!
Working with fussy eaters
We’ve all experienced not getting the lunch we wanted when we are tired, and can appreciate how it can be more upsetting in an environment with new people and potentially new and intense experiences. The impact of a poor lunch experience will hit a lot harder than it would when alone at home. When presented with a meal they don’t like, they may feel upset, rejected and possibly even foolish or of low self-worth.
“Fussy eaters” can be embarrassed about their diet restrictions and can find their diet to be isolating and emotional to navigate.
For example;
Three models are on set for an Intimate Moment shoot day. The SP picks up lunch from a local deli they are familiar with on their way to set. On arrival, the SP tells the models about how these are the best sandwiches in town and how much they are going to love them! The SP also managed to get four of their special cookies. These treats are baked fresh every morning and sell out really quickly. Lunch will be the best part of the day! The models are a little excited for this amazing lunch.
But, uh-oh! Unfortunately the SP didn’t check the models food preferences first. 😕
Two of the models begin lunch and enthusiastically discuss how amazing the sandwiches indeed are. The third model doesn’t like the mayonnaise that has been generously applied. And, the special cookies the SP purchased have some nuts in them, and this model doesn’t like nuts.
This model is now hungry and isolated from the rest of the room. The model feels excluded from the conversation because they can’t eat the food. She does not want to be a “bother” to the busy Shoot Producer, so they lie about not being hungry today – and anyway, she’d prefer to keep her unusual food preferences private from the other models.
This is likely to affect her shoot performance for the rest of the day, and probably causing her to not want to work with this Shoot Producer – or possibly even with the company – again. And, less likely to refer her friends.
The SP in this situation tried to do a nice thing but instead made one of the models feel vulnerable and singled out – and hungry! Always speak to models about their lunch needs before purchasing, never assume.
Models are consulted about their food preferences
Tastes vary between people and culturally, and the lunch provided must be one the model actually wants to eat. Individual model dietary needs must always be accommodated for. Some models may have ethical or lifestyle preferences (eg, vegetarian, low carb, raw diet), or – like us all – some models just dislike some foods.
For example;
Shoot Producer Sven buys the same lunch he bought for a model last week, a box of chocolate biscuits and a bottle of full-strength Coke. She loved it, so he’s sure it’ll be a hit with new model Angela as well.
But model Angela is really into healthy eating and clean living, and was expecting a salad and a piece of seasonal fruit for lunch. She’s a little offended Sven would provide such poor quality food, as well.
Whatever happens next is going to be time-consuming and will affect the mood of the day if not handled carefully (not to mention, wasteful!).
Of course, the inverse also applies;
Thinking that most young women are health conscious, and based on some recent models’ positive reactions to the lentil salads she’s been buying, Shoot Producer Julie leans-in and buys a vegan salad and some related items for new model Stephanie.
Stephanie is making the most of her youthful metabolism by living on cake, so she is fueled by sugar (oh, to be young again!). She will not respond well to the healthy lunch that Julie bought (she does not need a healthy diet “intervention” from the SP, she knows what she is doing and would like a lunch that leaves her feeling satisfied – not judged!).
We gather basic info about each model’s food preferences as part of onboarding them into our company, stored in the MDB.
To ensure an appropriate lunch is provided, SPs engage with models before the shoot day to find out what models like (and don’t like) in more detail. The SP suggests what they plan to provide for lunch, based on the model’s preferences recorded in the MDB and what’s available, and the model shares her feelings on that.
The Shoot Producer is not expected to be a Deliveroo driver, a chef, or a servant. While reasonable requests from the model should be considered, it’s ok to reject demands for specifics (for example, the model wants McDonalds, and the nearest one is 8km / 5mi away, there’s not enough time to do that).
After the shoot, as part of the Media and Metadata Ingestion process, Shoot Producers consider if the Food Preferences field in the MDB needs to be updated with new learnings, to help other SP’s (and themselves) in the future when working with this model.
Allergies must be accounted for
Allergies information is stored in the models MDB record, however SPs always ask first-time models if they have any allergies (including food allergies) ahead of a shoot day, in case anything is missing from the models notes (if there is, the SP updates the notes in the MDB record to be sure).
Models who have severe allergies may require that not only her meal avoids certain ingredients but also that of her shoot partner (in the case of GGT3 shoots) – or indeed anyone at the location if the allergy is really severe.
We always take allergies seriously, as they could literally be a life or death situation.
Vegetarians & vegans are treated respectfully
Vegans and Vegetarians are often presented with side dishes or an incomplete meal by people who do not follow the diet themselves, the assumption being that vegetables are what these people eat and little else.
In fact, it is possible to be a Vegetarian or even a Vegan and not enjoy vegetables or even healthy foods! Like people with no food restrictions, Vegans and Vegetarians appreciate variety and texture in a meal.
There are requirements for food provided to models
Lunch supplied must meet the model’s dietary needs, considering their allergies, diet requirements, and general preferences.
A model lunch consists of several components;
- Main item
- Side dish
- Snack
- Drink
While the exact contents of each model lunch will be different depending on their personal tastes and needs, the structure of the lunch should always be the same.
Each component must be un-expired, and fresh food must be actually fresh.
When it’s not necessary to provide all four components
Providing the four components is required in all situations, unless one of the exceptions occur;
- The model expressly says they do not want something (eg, “I’ll bring my own drink bottle, and refill it with water, so no other drinks for me”)
- The model says she’s bringing her own main / side / snack
- It’s a shoot event (eg, 10+ models) and we have organised formal catering
Main items examples
Some examples of Main lunch items include;
- Large sandwich or wrap
- Shop-bought, or put together using ingredients on set
- Large salad
- Shop-bought or put together using supermarket ingredients on set
- Must contain more than just lettuce, must be a meal-based; eg have a meat / fish / cheese element supported with multiple vegetables, dressing etc
- Pasta or rice
- Shop-bought, or cooked on set
- Pizza
- Soup and bread
Sides item examples
Some examples of suitable Sides items include;
- Crisps
- Hummus and tortilla chips
- Fruit salad
- Bread roll
- Corn on the cob
- Small couscous pot
Snack item examples
Some examples of suitable snacks include;
- Fruit
- Biscuits / cookies
- Chocolate
- Yogurt
- Lollies / sweets/ candies
- Ice creams / mini ice lollies / icy pole
While snacks can be consumed at lunch time, they are available to models throughout the shoot day, and intended for models to “graze” on as they choose (this grazing can always be incorporated into the shoot being created, at the very least, Backstage images).
Drink item examples
Some examples of suitable drinks include;
- Tea / Coffee (not take-away)
- Fruit juice
- Bottled drink
- Fizzy water
If a model says she only drinks water and the tap water at the location is of drinking quality, it is ok to not purchase a separate drink – but models must be consulted.
Shoot Producers do not “judge” models food preferences
Shoot Producers never pass negative judgements on a model’s food choices. We are an inclusive company and do not judge others, even when their approaches do not align with our own personal opinions. For example, it’s never appropriate to make some comments;
❌ “You know an animal died for you to eat that! It always makes me feel a bit ill watching people eat animal flesh…”
❌ “I’d go crazy if all I ate was healthy food all the time. Don’t you ever have food for the pleasure of it? Won’t you eat some cake?”
❌ “How can you put that crap in your body? You know that there is no nutritional value in that! Just wait till you are 30 then that food will attack your body and you will put on weight and get indigestion if you keep eating only junk!”
Positive comments are always fine, for example;
✔️ “That sandwich you have just made looks like it was made by a chef – that looks delicious!”
✔️ “What lovely weather we are having at the moment!”
Perhaps like your grandma said, if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.
Lunches provided are cohesive
Buying several different meal elements for models to pick between and mix and match on their plate can be a great way to ensure models get the exact meal they want (plus, preparing food together is a nice thing to do). However models must be given all the ingredients they need to make a satisfying meal – not just some random ingredients! For example;
❌ Bread, Cheese, Ham, Lettuce
The above is the start of a good sandwich for sure, but there needs to be something to “lubricate” and flavour the food. Some ideas include;
- Mayonnaise / butter
- Salad / ranch dressing
- Chutney / pickle
- Salt, pepper, paprika
Consider this example;
❌ Pasta, eggs, corn on the cob, tomatoes and rice cakes.
This list of food contains items that are all great for part of a model’s lunch, but they do not form a logical meal when combined together – even if the model had access to a kitchen to cook with some of the ingredients!
Consider a third example;
❌ Cherry tomatoes, whole grain bread, cookies, bananas, corn cobs.
The model has several things that would be good to snack on, but nothing that would make up a Main Meal item (and this list lacks the elements needed to make a satisfying and filling sandwich).
Finally, consider this example;
✔️ Tortilla wraps, humus, lettuce, roast chicken, mayonnaise, tortilla chips, mixed nuts with raisins, sparkling water.
This is a good meal, touching all the required components and meeting the model’s preferences – and on-budget! Below, the shopping baskets for this meal from a UK and Australian supermarket.
Shoot Producers are not caterers
Shoot Producers are not expected to create elaborate meals for models. Instead, they facilitate a cohesive and filling lunch. For example,
Shoot Producer Andrew visited a supermarket on the morning of the shoot, to buy a bunch of suitable ingredients for the two shoot days he’s working with model Stephanie.
The Stills component is complete, Andrew announces it’s lunch time. Stephanie checks the groceries on the kitchen table, then describes her sandwich order to Andrew.
She expects Andrew to make it for her!
Of course, that’s not how it works, and we set that expectation for models in the shoot booking process.
Shoot Producers can get lunch in several ways
Shoot Producers take whatever approach to sourcing model lunches best suits them (or a combination of options). Some options include…
Pre-made food from a shop
Almost all modern supermarkets have a section for food “on the go”, with items like premade wraps, sandwiches, salads etc. These are generally fresh and reasonably priced, and very suitable for lunches on our shoots.
Buying from a sandwich shop is another possibility – a local shop, or a chain like Subway.
Taking the model out for lunch to a local sandwich shop or restaurant (eat-in or take-away) is always fine (these excursions are excellent opportunities for Backstage, too!).
Shoot Producer Ursula in Barcelona often takes models for lunch at a local restaurant – much of Barcelona is medium-density housing, where there are four floors of apartments above ground-floor shops. Almost every block has a local restaurant with a range of fresh food options. A hot meal in winter – even in temperate Barcelona – is always appreciated!
One glass of wine or beer is acceptable with lunch, but no more (if it fits in the budget – the model may choose to pay for her own, if not). See Can I have a drink (or, some other “pick me up”) for courage on the shoot day? For more context.
Collect ingredients to make food on-set
Collect simple raw ingredients from a supermarket, from which models can construct their own sandwiches / wraps.
This works well when there are multiple models on set, with the meal becoming an interactive picnic.
It’s always best to use this approach if there are several shoot days in a row, as there is a large economy of scale meaning a better lunch for everyone within the Lunch Allowance amount.
Make food at home for lunch
If they enjoy cooking, SPs are welcome to cook for the model, but this is never required. For example, baking cookies the day before.
Taking the time to prepare food for someone, even simple food like a boiled egg, suggests that the person doing the cooking cares. Some models refer to Shoot Producer Guilia (Amsterdam) as their on-set mother, as she often cooks for the models at lunch time. The models always comment favorably on how this made them feel cared for, and how they look forward to working with her.
Of course, as always, the SP confirms with the model before the shoot day that they will enjoy the planned meal (once, an SP cooked an elaborate meal only for the model to admit in her post-shoot check-in call that she didn’t like the style of food, did not want to offend the Shoot Producer’s work, and it was really awkward and she went hungry!).
Get food delivered
Using Deliveroo / UberEats (or similar service) is fine, but SPs need to factor in that this might be more expensive due to the delivery component (plus a tip for the deliverer!).
When using a food delivery service, the Lunch Allowance must still allow for the model to get the four required components (Main Item, Snack, Side and Drink), despite the additional delivery cost that will come on top of the food items themselves.
Empower models with food on set
Shoot Producers show models where the food and drinks are at the start of the day, and invite models to help themselves. Models never need to ask permission to have a drink of water or grab some nuts.
When outlining the shoot day plan, Shoot Producers inform models of when the planned lunch break is, but also asks models their opinion on that plan, and invites models to speak up if they need to stop for a meal sooner.
Small things like this help keep the right “power-balance” between models and Shoot Producers on set.
The company asks models about their lunch experience
We make a check-in call after some shoots, to discuss the model’s experience. We provide a copy of the report to the Shoot Producer. In the check-in call, we ask questions about the model’s lunch experience.
Shoot Producers are pre-authorised to by “emergency” food
If something happens and food is needed urgently, but it’s over the Lunch Allowance, Shoot Producers are authorised to spend reasonable amounts to ensure models are fed appropriately. For example;
- The SP had already spent the full Lunch Allowance on lunch, but the water supply to the apartment is switched off unexpectedly, so the SP buys a few 1-litre bottles of water to ensure everyone is hydrated. No worries, company will reimburse.
- Lunch was put into the fridge on the morning of the shoot, but when it came to lunch time at 1pm, we find the fridge was not working and the lunch is warm and distasteful! The SP has to buy lunch all over again. No worries, company will reimburse.
- A model on set is diabetic and is having a “sugar low” (she’s hypoglycemic), so the SP heads out to buy some additional fruit juice and cookies for the model, putting them over the Lunch Allowance. No worries, company will reimburse.
- Compassionate grounds – the model just started on her period, broke up with her partner, or is just feeling low – an emergency ice cream might help a little?
- Event based; it’s a model’s birthday on the shoot day. A small cake is sure to be appreciated, and makes for great Backstage pics. No worries, company will reimburse.
In these cases, the SP emails HQ with a brief explanation of what happened. They are provided with a PDB Number to use on their invoice and charge the Lunch Allowance plus the extra costs incurred.
If a shoot goes long, we supply another meal for the model
While a shoot should never run longer than 10 hours, if it does the Shoot Producer is authorised to purchase another meal for the model (a delivered pizza, for example). Similarly, if the shoot is spread over two days, a second Lunch Allowance can be charged.
In these cases, the SP emails HQ with a brief explanation of what happened. They are provided with a PDB Number to use on their invoice and charge the additional Lunch (meal) Allowance.
If the shoot is cancelled at the last minute, we still pay the Lunch Allowance
If the shoot is cancelled at the last minute (that is, the morning of the shoot day) and lunch has already been purchased, it’s appropriate to charge the Lunch Allowance, even if the shoot did not occur.
In this case, the food should be offered to the model to take home / back to their accommodation so it does not go to waste. If there are multiple models on set, and only one model is leaving set early, work to portion out their lunch if possible.
As always when something unusual happens, the SP emails HQ with a brief explanation of what happened. They are provided with a PDB Number to use on their invoice and charge the Lunch Allowance as normal (but no PPCMS ID can be provided, which is ok – the PDB Number will provide the context needed).
Shoot Producers claim Lunch Allowances on their invoice
When Shoot Producers invoice the company each month (more info), the Lunch Allowance is listed as a separate line item on their invoice, on a per-shoot basis like this:
| [PPCMS ID] [Shoot name and type] Lunch(es) | €[amount] |
|---|---|
| 36562 Maya B Solo Lunch | €10 |
| 38580 Adelina & Francisca GGT3 Lunches | €20 |
| 39311 Jill & Jack GBT3 Lunches (two shoot days) | €40 |
Each lunch line item should be listed beside the other charges (ie, shoot fees) for this shoot (not shown in the example above).
Supporting receipts are not required to be provided for the Lunch Allowance, if the lunch provided meets the requirements listed on this page.
Assignments
If you have been asked to complete assignments relating to model lunches, here are the details.
Assignment 1: Make a shopping basket screenshot
Ask your Trainer to confirm what amount the Lunch Allowance is in your area, if you do not know already.
Using the online ordering system from a local supermarket, make a selection of items that meet our requirements. Assume the model has no dietary limitations or allergies.
Switch to English if that’s an option. Make a screenshot showing images and names of the items, and the total cost.
Do this once for a single model shoot day, and again for a three day shoot block (that is, three shoots of the same model).
Submit the screenshots to your Trainer, and link to this FAQ page.
Assignment 2: Assess some lunches
Download this zip of backstage lunch images. Make a new doc, add each image, and analyse the food that seems to be available to the models.
Does it meet the requirements? If not, what is missing?