A Week in My Life as a Hand Model: Three Days on Set, Two Cities, Zero Chipped Nails

Last week was one of those weeks that reminded me exactly why I love this job, and also why I never let my nails anywhere near the dishes in the sink after a manicure.

Here's how it actually went down.

The Bookings: A Classic "Wait, Both?!" Situation

The week started with a puzzle I know all too well in this industry: the hold situation.

I had been on hold for one job for 11 days. Eleven. When another booking came through for Tuesday and Wednesday in San Francisco, I figured the hold was probably a no-go at this point. So I accepted the SF job. And then, one hour later, the hold converted to a confirmed booking. In Los Angeles. On Thursday. Everything happens quickly in this industry!

Suddenly I had two back-to-back shoots in two different cities, and a very fun logistics problem to solve.

Getting There: Why I Flew Instead of Drove

Before I had 2 jobs booked, my instinct was to drive. SF to LA is totally doable, and I'm used to making it work on the road. But with two shoots on consecutive days and needing to be camera-ready for both, flying was the smarter call.

Before I locked anything in, I checked in with production on the LA job first. And it was super helpful in this situation to have worked with this team before and know how they run things. I wanted to know how early they'd need me on set so I could figure out whether flying in that morning was even realistic. They were completely accommodating and said late morning was when they would need me.

That was the green light I needed. I booked a 6am flight, painfully early, but it gave me wiggle room in case of any delays. (No delays, thankfully. The airport gods were kind.)

There's also the accommodation piece that doesn't always get talked about. When you're traveling for a shoot as a local hire, the production isn't booking you a hotel. So that means reaching out to a friend or family member in the area and asking if you can crash with them. I'm lucky to have people in LA who are always willing to have me, but it's one of those behind-the-scenes realities of building a career across markets.

Monday: Prep Day

When people ask what hand modeling is really like, the prep day is the honest answer.

Monday was full send on everything I could get done before my manicure appointment, because once those nails are done, I shift into protective mode. So: workout, pack, restock my set bag, and cook meals for the week. All of it.

Speaking of the set bag, mine goes everywhere with me on a job. It includes a nail care kit with extra polish, clippers, a file, a buffer, hand moisturizer, and Essie Break-Fix in case of any chip emergencies. Beyond that: a phone charger, protein bars and snacks, a water bottle, and sometimes a laptop if I think there might be downtime between setups.

Then I got my nails done, a french manicure for the first shoot, and went into low-key mode for the rest of the evening. No cooking, no heavy lifting, nothing that could chip a nail. It sounds overly careful, but a chip shows up on camera immediately, and fixing it last-minute adds stress nobody needs before a shoot day.

One thing I'm often asked about: gel vs. regular polish. I avoid gel unless it's specifically requested or absolutely necessary. Gel is more durable, but it's harder on the natural nail over time. Regular polish keeps my nails healthier in the long run. The tradeoff is that it chips more easily, which is exactly why the post-mani routine matters so much.

Tuesday and Wednesday: Shoot 1 in San Francisco

First day on set, and it was a great one. I was working with a team I know well and genuinely love collaborating with, and those shoots always have fun music and a great atmosphere.

And bonus: the shoot location meant I could take BART straight there. Public transit saves me a bunch of time if I need to commute into the city. It is wildly busy on the weekdays in the mornings and the evenings.

We spent two solid days filming product videos, and it went smoothly from start to finish. By Wednesday evening, though, I was already pivoting to job 2.

Wednesday Night: The Repacked Bag and the Polish Change

Production on the LA job sent a wardrobe brief the night before, which meant repacking based on what they needed and adjusting my accessories options.

There was also a change in plans, nail-wise. While we initially talked about keeping the french tip, the brief called for a neutral pink nail. That meant switching out the manicure I'd been wearing the past 3 days, and I didn't find out until nail salons had closed for the day. I did my best to handle the color change myself that evening, and I crossed my fingers that I'd have a few minutes before call time to get a professional touch-up if needed.

This shoot also had an extra layer of excitement to it. The client had hired me previously solely for hand modeling, and after seeing my full portfolio, they wanted to bring me on as a regular model as well. That meant coming prepared with styled hair and makeup looks in addition to the usual nail and hand prep. A fun opportunity, and honestly a good reminder to keep your full portfolio current, because you never know what a client might want to explore next.

Thursday: Early Flight, LA Set

Up at an hour I'd rather not admit, caught my 6am flight, and made it to LA with enough time to get a professional polish change before call time. That was a win, and the most glamorous I felt all week. 2 manicures in one week? What fun.

Then it was on to set number two, another team I've worked with before and enjoy immensely. The day went well, fun energy, beautiful setups, and we got everything we needed.

The Stuff Between Sets: Agencies, Expenses, and Invoices

One thing that doesn't always make it into the conversation about this career is the admin side, but staying on top of it is part of doing the job well.

I was in touch with my agencies throughout the week, tracking expenses as they came up: parking, manicure costs, travel. It's easy to let that pile up if you're not logging it in the moment, and it matters when it comes time to invoice. Invoicing is always the last step of any job, the punctuation at the end of the week, and then you do it all over again.

The Bottom Line

Two cities, two shoots, one week, zero chipped nails.

This job asks a lot: the prep, the logistics, the physical care that goes into protecting your hands and nails around the clock. But getting to do creative work with talented photographers, videographers, producers, and art directors makes it completely worth it every time.

Want to Book a Hand Model Who Gets It Done?

If you're looking for a hand model with experience across food, beverage, tech, beauty, and lifestyle, someone who shows up prepared, communicates clearly with your production team, and can handle the logistics of fast-paced, multi-day bookings, I'd love to work with you.

Need a hand?

I'm currently accepting new bookings and would love to hear about your project.