Most often, the client or photographer doing the photography is a serious professional that will treat you with respect and take care that you enjoy the experience and not go away regretful or embarrassed. However, others may have ulterior motives. Regardless, anyone considering nude modeling should keep the following issue in mind: If you sign a model release without carefully studying its content, your image could turn up anywhere at any time, even though this was not your intention. Usually, modeling agencies advise their beginning models not to pose in the nude, or at least carefully evaluate model releases for all their models.

While nude modeling is most often very high paying, and can be quite often a lot of fun, you should also consider your future goals. If you have the looks and desire to become a high fashion model, tv or movie star, be very careful of the type of nude model work you agree to do. Most figure work or even solo erotic modeling will not harm future careers, but if you're considering stepping up to more erotic or "action" types of modeling, these can and do affect futures. The example of Vanessa Williams should be considered here: she lost her Miss America crown after very explicit photos of her (taken many years earlier) surfaced in a national magazine. If you have such lofty goals, you shouldn’t agree to do anything more than tastefully done fine art or other solo nude work - overly erotic work should be avoided.

If, on the other hand, you’re uninhibited about being photographed nude, and you’re in it mostly for the money, by all means go for it and enjoy yourself. Many thousands of women (and men) have put together very large bank accounts and secured their futures almost entirely on nude modeling, erotic dancing, etc.

Before agreeing to model nude however, be sure to check out the laws in your state. Photographers are governed by strict laws regarding keeping of records, and some local ordinances may prohibit any kind of figure work, even though the Supreme Court has already ruled that it is legal. It is still left it in the hands of local governments to decide in most cases. In some states, suggestive poses or masturbation are considered "educational material", but in another states even suggestive posing would violate that state’s obscenity laws. In many US states, x-rated photos such as actual or even simulated sex acts are illegal. Don’t set yourself up for trouble just to make money. Be sure you’re protected. If the police kick the door down, everybody inside is going down - not just the photographer!