10 Easy Steps to Professionalism For Freelance Models
By Benet Raine

For those of us struggling to make it in the highly competitive freelance market, it is imperative that we form professional relationships with our clients and content providers. Outlined below are the ten most successful, foolproof methods of gaining trust and an excellent reputation in the world of Internet and freelance modeling. This list was compiled over years of experience as a manager of Internet models.

1 Never speak directly to anyone by phone. Your time is very important, and you should always be slightly unavailable. This conveys the impression to clients that you are a hot commodity, and they must move quickly and make an offer you can’t refuse to catch your attention. If possible, never answer your own email or private messages, or even post too many of your own forum posts on sites such as Model Insider. Instead, have a trusted assistant, such as your current romantic partner, post for you, and dictate terms you have laid out previously as to what types of assignments you will or will not accept. Contact me if you need help.

2 The Internet and text messaging are the primary modes of business negotiations in the 21st century. Learn the language- no1 haz time 2 read the long wordz u type out, d00d. Using proper writing language will only mark you as hopelessly old in a market that thrives on youth.

3 When you arrive at a shoot, it is always a good idea to provide your own beverages. Although it is a rarity, you never know when someone might slip another party favor into your wine cooler, thereby upsetting the perfect balance of diuretics, vitamin and energy supplements, and Ecstasy that is required to get that perfect glamour look and attitude. Naturally, a polite guest always bring enough to share, so be sure to offer the client access to your stash. Manners go a long way in maintaining a good reputation!

4 Between sets, show your down to earth attitude and practical approach to your career by lounging naked on the couch in full view of the photographer. If he joins you during the break, by all means feel free to adjust your position to accommodate him in whatever way seems most conducive to future work together. It is perfectly natural for a photographer to want to get a hands-on approach to your body. How else are they going to capture your curves in the best light? If you are at all unsure about how to go about this, ask your manager. He'll be happy to spend as much time as necessary to teach you.

5 If you must bring an escort or driver, make sure that they are hot, and comfortable getting naked in front of the camera. If they are willing to make out or simulate sex, even better, because everyone knows, sex sells. Many photographers will set up a video camera in these situations, and select stills from the tape. This allows them to come over and help pose and adjust things as needed for the best shots.

6 Nice girls never win. Sleeping with the client is the best way to make sure your reputation spreads, and book future paying gigs. Choose your photographers carefully, and make sure that you give priority to those who talk the most and will play you up on industry websites, such as Model Insider or OMP. Be sure to provide your own birth control, as artistic types should never have their creativity stifled by something as mundane as a condom.

7 Thank your photographer sincerely at the end of the session, and wait patiently for your prints. Remember, you are working with professionals, and they don’t appreciate being rushed!

8 If by some twist of fate, a photographer does not send prints or payment in a timely matter, DO NOT seek legal counsel. This will only aggravate the situation, as well as ruining the reputation you worked so hard to build up. Instead, post several tasteful messages on industry forums, hinting that one or more photographers have not delivered their end of the bargain, and have your trusted assistant or romantic partner start a campaign of politely insistent letters via private email or messaging to the photographer.

9 If the photographer becomes unreasonable, escalating your campaign of phone calls, emails and letters is advisable. After all, you are attempting to collect a debt, and we all know how collection agencies go about that. If you happy to know an Italian guy named Guido, you should ask him for assistance as well. Italians know the art of negotiation.

10 Sit back and wait for the work to come to you. There is no need to market, audition and respond to castings. You have the look and the goods, and they will come to you. Only hopeless wannabes work at promoting themselves- stars have others to spread the word about them.