A strong case could be made for the idea that the most important part of any shoot is obtaining a signed model release from the model and sharp copies of two forms of her identification (at least one being a photo ID). If you’re going to make money from your photography, you’ll need to stay on top of the business side of things. Trust me, there’s nothing more important than getting the proper paperwork completed at every shoot. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to get it done. Considering all the perks that come with this job, spending a few minutes to take care of the paperwork is a small price to pay.

There are two significant reasons why you must get the paperwork completed at every shoot: The first reason is that there is no legal way for you to sell your pictures to anyone without a proper model release signed by the model and two forms of identification confirming that she is of legal age.

No legitimate magazine, website, or any other type of media will accept your photographs unless you, the photographer, can provide the proper paperwork. Undoubtedly, spending time with a beautiful woman (especially a nude one) offers rewards that money can’t buy. However, if you’re reading this, I assume you’re also looking to make money from your hard work.

The second reason to have the paperwork in order is so you don’t end up with any future legal problems regarding a model’s age. By being diligent about this, I’ve never opened myself up to any possible problems – and you shouldn’t either.

There is no excuse for not checking to make sure a model is of legal age before you work with her. It’s a simple matter of checking her IDs. Never make the mistake of simply taking a model’s word for it when she tells you her age. Don’t allow your desire to photograph a particular model cause you to take any chances regarding the age issue. It’s impossible for me to emphasize this strongly enough.

The first thing you’ll need to do is find out what the legal age is for this type of modeling in your specific location. This age can differ from state to state and country to country. As an example, the legal age in California is 18. However, I strongly advise you to do a quick search to confirm, with absolute certainty, what the legal age is for your particular state or country. I discuss this topic in more detail in my ebook, “Money Shots: The Insider’s Guide to the World of Nude & Erotic Photography” (available for purchase and immediate download at http://moneyshotsbook.com).

As far as the actual process, it’s really very simple. When the model shows up for a shoot, ask her for two forms of identification. One of these IDs must have a photo of her on it and it should be an “official” ID (a driver’s license, state ID card, etc). Preferably, the second ID card would also have her photo on it, but this is usually not absolutely necessary. A Social Security card is often a convenient second form of ID. The next step is to simply confirm that the model standing before you is the same person that is pictured on the photo ID. In addition, make sure the names on the two IDs match.

After you’ve made copies of the IDs, turn your attention to the model release. A dated model release has to be signed for each individual shoot (however, if you shoot the same girl on more than one occasion, you will only need to get copies of her IDs the first time). Many photographers ask the model to sign the release before the shoot begins. I agree that this is the easiest and surest way to do it. Still, I usually take care of all the paperwork after the shoot is done. Fortunately, I’ve never had a situation with a model being unwilling to sign a release (potential objections of this type should be taken care of well before the shoot).

Author Bio: Michael Charles is a professional photographer based in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of \”Money Shots: The Insider\’s Guide to the World of Nude & Erotic Photography\” (this book is available for purchase and immediate download at http://www.moneyshotsbook.com). For over a decade, Michael has shot exclusively in the world of nude, erotic, and adult-oriented photography. His work has been featured in hundreds of national and international publications and appears on a wide variety of prominent websites. For a complete course on the techniques, styles, moneymaking secrets, and amazing fringe benefits of nude and erotic photography, visit http://www.moneyshotsbook.com.

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