If a photographer pays you for the photos that he takes of you, it is NOT a good idea to ask if he could send you some for your portfolio. You have been paid, that is that. If you want photos, then do TFP (Time for Prints) or ask to do partial pay/partial prints before the photo shoot starts. Otherwise if you ask, the photographer may not want to work with you again, and he may talk about your greediness with other photographers. The TRICK to this is, don't ask for photos. Here's how it works: because the photographer always gets asked to send photos, he will be surprised that you don't. He appreciates that, so when he is working on the photos, he usually will send one or more photos, and will ask to work you again. I've even had several photographers send me an entire CD of (nearly) all the images, with a note that I can use whatever for my portfolio!
A note about TFP, exchange work, and pay -- TFP is really only good if you're starting out. Pay is always nice, but if there's a photographer whose work you really like, and he doesn't pay his models, try for exchange work instead. In exchange work, both of you get the images and can do whatever you please with them. But exchange work is only good if you have a market in which to sell the photos, such as a paysite. Anyway, each option has its advantages and disadvantages; look at them closely when being hired by a photographer.
Speaking of photographers, rarely does a model ask for references or checks up on those references. A model really should, otherwise she might find herself in trouble (the "photographer" being a fake, or who is very unprofessional). Some photographers don't like you to bring an escort, but I would always suggest bringing one to the first shoot you have with the photographer. If this isn't an option, make sure you tell someone where you are and for how long you will be there. If you do bring an escort, that person needs to bring a book or magazine, he/she needs to keep quiet and out of the way. He/she would never distract you from your job.
Always leave early for a shoot. That way if you get lost, you still might have time to make it to the shoot on time. If you are going to be late, call. Otherwise it sends the photographer a signal that you are not reliable. Also be sure not to wear tight clothing because the red indents in your skin from your clothing can take up to a half an hour to go away. This is wasted time and if the photographer is renting equipment, wasted money as well.
Always read the releases! Most photographers have a standard model release, but a few photographers try to sneak something in there. (I've had this happen to me a couple of times). When you spot something you don't like, talk to the photographer about it. He/she usually agree that that item in the release can be crossed off. Anything that gets crossed off or added in, the model release should be initialed by both the model and the photographer. Make sure you get a copy of that model release in case something should come up later.
If you agree to exchange work, you MUST get a copy of that exchange work release!!!! Because if you try to sell the photos on your own, you will need that release to prove that you are entitled to the money made off those prints. Otherwise the company will take the photographer's side and pay him/her instead.
I would advise not to have children unless you are not doing nude modeling or you do not want to travel. Having children puts a strain on your body, give you permanent stretch marks (some photographers don't want to take the time to photoshop them out), and take a lot of your time. If you are only modeling a few times a year, then go ahead and have children. But if you plan on making modeling your career, wait until you are done with modeling, otherwise you might regret having that child(ren). And this would be horrible, as no child should be made to feel that way. Yes, you can do pregnant modeling and pregnancy-related fetish work, but keep in mind that a pregnancy ends at some point and you will need to take time off to raise your child.
Having your period? No problem! Just cut the tampon string in half before inserting the tampon. Or, shove the tampon string in when you insert the tampon. Some women prefer modeling during their period because their breasts appear bigger (swollen) at this time.
To make your eyes appear brighter, line your eye rims with white eyeliner. Make sure to clean the liner afterward to avoid bacteria. Getting red eyes during the shoot isn't always a good idea unless doing goth.
If you wear eyeglasses, note that in your modeling portfolio. Although you may think you don't look hot in your glasses, other people would disagree. Have one photo of you in your eyeglass in your portfolio. Eyeglasses are great for the librarian/secretary/conversative look. If you wear braces, this also applies. Braces are great for conveying the barely legal/teenager/nerdy look. There is also a big brace fetish out there, so you can work that market just fine. Oh, and I'll mention one more. I've seen a rise in the smoking fetish. If you smoke, put in your portfolio what you smoke (cigerettes, cigars, etc). Just a warning though -- smoking will kill you and those around you.
Speaking of markets aka niches, do your research. You may find that you can fit yourself into several niches. Learn about them and write them down in your portfolio. Also, when you do know what fetish you are catering to, you'll know the specifics of it. Example: the spanking fetish. For the spanking fetish, they want to see tears, they want to hear the screams and groans. If you don't give them that, they might spank harder to make you do the tears, groans, and etc. The harder they spank, the more bruises you'll have. If you know this information before you take the job, you'll know what's expected of you, and you can decide if you want to pursue that photo/video shoot or not.
If you have stretch marks, the best way to take care of them is by lotioning them up well the night before and an hour before the photo shoot. The lotion softens and puffs up your skin and your stretch marks, making them less pronounced. Self-tanning lotions have been said to color the stretch marks as well as the rest of the skin, making them match your skin.
The best time to shave is the night before the photo shoot. Otherwise you'll still have red bumps (shaving burn) for your photo shoot. Waxing is much better than shaving, as there is no stubble (on models with pale skin tone, this is a common problem, the 5 o'clock shadow). Waxing makes skin feel softer and lasts longer than shaving. Still, with waxing, do this a day or more before the photo shoot, so that the reddness goes away.
Wash off makeup throughly. Most importantly, wash off all makeup before bed. If your face goes for hours without a rest from makeup, your pores begin to clog. Your skin needs to breath and makeup can close off it's air. Clogged makeup causes blackheads and bumps that look like pimples, but they are of your skin tone. Much worse, they don't disappear after awhile like pimples do. You'll need special treatment for that.
Keep all your receipts when buying stuff for modeling, such as clothing, makeup, props, etc. Keep receipts when getting your hair and nails done. When you travel, keep track of the miles you travel, both there and back. If you purchase gas to go to your photo shoot, keep that receipt too. Keep the receipt from paying your car's tabs and etc. Much of this is tax deductible and counts as an expense. For your taxes, you'll write that you're self-employeed as a model. Remember to save a bit of money from each job; you'll need it to pay the IRS the taxes due on the money you made. Any time someone pays you $600.00 or more, they are required by law to file a 1099-Misc and they have to send you a copy.
Bring straws with you when you model. This way your lipstick stays on you and not on your drink. The photographer does want to stop halfway through the shoot so that you can touch up your makeup. Do your touch ups on your break time(s).
If you don't want the photographer to know where you live, get a passport and a post office box. Photographers do need a government issued id for any photo shoot that has nudity. With a driver's license, the photographer knows your home address. Passports don't list your home address. Many photographers will still need an address, but you can give them your post office box address.
Before you go into nude or adult modeling, you may want to think if you want to use your real name or your stage name. Chose one name and stick with it. After awhile whatever name you choose will be the name you will be known as. I would advise choosing a stage name, because if you should become well-known or famous, people will try to find you and try to visit you at home. If you use your real name, unless your name is common and you live in a big city, people will be able to find you quite easily. Also, if you must give out your phone number, either give an unpublished/unlisted phone number or your cell phone number.
Before you go out on any modeling assignment, ALWAYS tell someone where you are going and when you should be back. 98% of the professional photographers out there are professional, but a few aren't. Also, things can go wrong on the way to or on the way home from a photo shoot. If someone knows you are gone and that you haven't arrived home when you said you would, the quicker help can come to you.
This brings me to the next point, bringing someone with you (an escort). Some photographers hate escorts because they feel that the model will be distracted by her escort. (Some don't like escorts because they feel that they can't make the model do whatever they wish then). If you plan on bringing an escort, state that in your portfolio. When I hire models, I will ask if they will be bringing an escort, and if they are, to tell that person that they can watch, but they must stay out of the way. Your escort should take a chair and just sit and watch. The escort is not there to talk to you or the photographer. He/she can not walk around. Cell phones should be turned off or turned to silent. The escort will want to bring a book to read because it will get boring for him/her.
Exposure is key! Put your portfolio on as many free modeling portfolio sites as possible. Never pay for a modeling portfolio site unless many people whom you know personally tell you that it's a great site that actually works. The following sites are free and have gotten me work, so I know these ones are well worth the time in updating my portfolio there with new photos:
One Model Place -- great for models all over the world, and of all ages
Model Heaven -- great for models in the United Kingdom/Europe
Muse Cube -- good for all models, all over the world
Akt -- great for when you plan on modeling in Germany. Note that many of these photographers expect nudity.
Remember to keep your portfolio updated. And don't start a portfolio until you have photos ready! Once you click on submit, a notice goes out to photographers that a new model has arrived. You don't want them to look at your empty portfolio and then delete the link 'cause there was nothing there to see.
Oh, and I hate to mention this, but NEVER slept with a photographer or do sexual favors. Although the number of photographers who ask or try this are few, my modeling friends and I had enough of them asking us about this to warrant a warning. The photographer may promise to put you on a cover of a magazine or the chance to be famous, but do NOT believe him! It is the magazine's art director's job to chose the magazine's layout, NOT the photographer. The photographer gets paid for the photos, that's all. If he turns you down because you won't sleep with him, then he's losing money with the magazine. And that would be stupid for him to do. Some of these jerks don't realize that models talk too and his reputation can get damaged. Just tell the photographer not to contact you again. If he does, call the police and report it as harassment. I find this sick that some photographers try to treat models as hookers.
If you have any questions that I or the modeling guide I lined to didn't address, please email me. Good luck and have fun!