The PurplePort Glossary of Terms

Below is an overview of terms and acronyms you may encounter on PurplePort and elsewhere.

This glossary is based on (with permission) Iain Thomson's glossary from his website.

Common acronyms and terms

• PP - PurplePort
• FPI - Front Page Image. These are images added to Front Page Image (FPI) Collection and displayed on the homepage to visitors. 
• WTWW - Want To Work With. This is one of the default lists on PurplePort.
• NSFW - Not Suitable For Work (sometimes called Not Safe For Work). See our Image Upload Guidelines. 
• SFW - Suitable For Work (sometimes called Safe For Work). See our Image Upload Guidelines.
• Collaborate - Work together (generally without payment) to create images for your portfolio.
• Syndicate - Work together (generally without payment) to sell those images and share in the revenue.
• PP/Post Processing - The changes needed to make a finished image (could be a film or digital image). 
• Edit/an edit - Used to describe the process a photo goes through before it's finished.
• MUA - Make-up Artist (a common abbreviation)
• Tog - Photographer (a common abbreviation, though many photographers don't like this term).
• Test/Testing - This is where you attend a shoot and have some shots taken to see if you fit the brief for later paid work. Testing is not where you work for free. Consider a test shoot as practically the same as a traditional interview.
• TFCD/trade/collaboration - Time for CD (e.g. you give your time in return for a CD or digital copies of images from the shoot). 
• TFP - Time For Prints. As mentioned above, you also receive photographs. 
• TF or TF* - Time For (the same as TFP, TFCD, collaboration, etc.). 
• Part-paid/part TF - You receive some payment and some images in compensation for your time.
• Lads Mag/Middle Shelf - Refers to magazines typically found on the middle shelf of your newsagents (such as Maxim, Nuts, Loaded, Front, FHM, etc.).
• Men's Mag/Top Shelf - Refers to adult magazines commonly found on the top shelf of your newsagents. (such as Penthouse, Hustler, Men Only, etc.).
• G/G - Girl/Girl. A shoot involving two female models. Always check what is required since this could involve various Shoot styles (also known as levels), such as Fashion only to explicit Adult. 
• B/G - Boy/Girl. The same applies as mentioned above for Girl/Girl. Always check what Shoot styles (also known as levels) are required. 

For information about collaboration (TF, TFCD, trade, TFP, etc.) photoshoots, see our guide for How to Arrange A Successful and Stress-Free Trade (TFP) Shoot.

Modelling Levels

Even if you clearly state the Shoot styles you work to on your portfolio page, it's likely you will still be asked what your levels are. 

The best thing to do is always to find exactly what the photographer wants in simple terms, so there are no misunderstandings. Don't be afraid of plain speaking, and be prepared to state what you will and will not do. 

Once the levels of a shoot are agreed upon, no reputable photographer will ask you to exceed them during a shoot. Any request beyond what was agreed is level pushing and should be politely but firmly declined. You are within your rights to terminate the shoot if the photographer persists. Level pushing is not tolerated on PurplePort. If someone pushes your levels, please report this to us by creating a support ticket from our Help & Support page.

The following are terms frequently used in the UK, which are only relevant to the UK (not Europe or the USA). These are only a guide and by no means definitive.

Portrait

Simple as it sounds. Fully clothed portrait-style shots.

Fashion

Generally fully clothed, wearing particular outfits.

Glamour

This is the most challenging term to deal with as it covers everything from lingerie to explicit adult nude levels. It is best to find out exactly what's required before committing to shoot.

Lingerie

Wearing lingerie or swimwear. If you do not do nude work, be aware that some lingerie is see-through, particularly under flash lighting. 

Implied Topless/Nude

This is where you wear clothes, but it looks like you are topless or nude.

Concealed Topless/Nude

You may be topless or nude, but no nipples, male bits or lady bits are showing. Usually, this is achieved by careful placement of items.

Topless

Breasts and nipples on show.

Artistic/Classic/Figure Nude/Nude

Full nude but no generally explicit poses. This could be in the artistic style with no provocative posing or sexual implications, or it could be a suggestive glamour style. Best to find out before the shoot.

Adult

A generic term. Generally means explicit images in some way. It's best to confirm what is wanted/required to avoid embarrassment later.

Playboy Nude

This is the middle ground between artistic and adult level nude. Playboy is the least explicit adult magazine. Difficult level to explain. This style generally means fairly artistic nudity.

You may be asked to do open-leg poses but not show your "undercarriage" in detail. You will probably be standing, sitting with legs apart or maybe side-on or facing away from the camera (rather than full-on facing the camera with your legs behind your ears at 10 to 2 in the explicit adult style. This is still regarded as open leg. 

Top Shelf Levels

This style is found in magazines on the top shelf of your local newsagent and is a massive market in itself, making up a large chunk of the glamour industry. For a model, it is a relatively quick and easy route to a good income because publishers are constantly looking for new faces but be aware once your images are out there in print or on the web, they are there permanently.

UK Magazine

This is an old term that refers to open leg posing of a style found in UK magazines that used to be less explicit than their US counterparts. This is no longer the case, and most UK top-shelf magazines now require the same levels as the US ones. For this glossary, UK mag means wide-open leg posing, genitals on display but not holding open or inserting anything.

US Magazine

The "industry standard" level for most UK and US men's magazines. Involves open-leg posing with the genitals held open. There are no insertions or use of sex toys etc., at this level.

Continental

So-called because at one time, this level of posing could only be found in continental magazines. It involves the insertion of sex toys or fingers or whatever in the genitals.

This level is now found on the website versions of many top-shelf mags in the UK and is essentially the "industry standard" for the US market. Some reasonably well-known publications such as Penthouse and Hustler sometimes now go up to this level. When someone offers you a "continental" level shoot, please be aware it is unlikely they mean a trip to San Tropez.

Girl/Girl Artistic

Like artistic nude, nude - no explicit posing.

Boy/Girl Artistic

As above for Girl/Girl Artistic. 

Girl/Girl Soft

Be very careful if asked to do this, and ensure you know what is required. Some may interpret these levels as the same as artistic, but "soft" girl/girl in magazine terms is an explicit level and involves just about everything short of actual penetration with toys etc. Just be clear on what's required.

Boy/Girl Soft 

As above for Girl/Girl Soft.

Girl/Girl Hard

This level crosses the boundary between modelling and porn. If you wish to do this, you would be well advised to take advice from people in the porn industry regarding health precautions, certifications etc.

Boy/Girl Hard

The same advice as above applies, but even more so!

Gonzo/POV

These are porn industry terms (which are forbidden on PurplePort - see below). We included these terms because models may receive requests asking if they do gonzo or POV. 

Gonzo is where you interact with the photographer or videographer (i.e. you perform a sex act on them while he/she films you or vice versa). POV means "point of view" and is much the same and involves you performing a sex act on the person filming. 

Gonzo/POV is forbidden on PurplePort. If someone offers this, please report them to us by creating a support ticket from our Help & Support page.