One of the fastest ways for creators to gain new subscribers and buyers, not to mention monetize their existing fan base, is to collaborate with other creators. The extra star power can multiply potential earnings, broaden brand reach and boost a creator’s reputation in the community. This, in turn, can lead to even more collaboration opportunities.
However, a content collab is not just a matter of casually hitting up another creator, filming a sexual encounter and then parting ways to sell it online. What happens before, during and after a collab is critical and requires no small degree of planning and due diligence.
Before performing with someone new, some experienced talent may desire references from mutuals.
Even just those first DMs require respectful communication and careful etiquette, from the initial outreach to deciding on the particulars once a fellow creator agrees to a collab.
Before performing with someone new, some experienced talent may desire references from mutuals. Others prefer knowing someone socially for a period of time before considering a collab.
Once the planning starts, there are model release forms, 2257s, content contracts — often specifying exactly who can sell collab content, when and for what price — and STI tests to exchange. STI testing may require some negotiation since creators who shoot for studios must maintain a rigorous testing regimen for the PASS system, while non-studio creators’ testing schedules may be less formal.
Before shooting, there are discussions about do’s and don’ts to ensure consent, from what words are okay to say to sensitive areas of the body. For all shoots, continued consent and open communication must be ensured throughout.
Suffice it to say, whether creators are brand new or veterans, there are best practices for making sure a collab is mutually beneficial and a positive experience for all involved. To find out how today's creators collab, XBIZ reached out to some of the top names in the indie content game.
Reaching Out
When it comes to handling first contact with a potential collaborator, creators weigh a variety of criteria, from references and caliber of past content releases to whether they see eye-to-eye on how to approach joint projects.
“The first thing I do is look at their social media pages,” says Violet Myers, the reigning XBIZ Premium Social Media Star of the Year. “I like to make sure the person I’m collaborating with has also shot with people I’m familiar with.”
For 2024 XBIZ MILF Performer of the Year Lauren Phillips, efficiency and a compatible work style are priorities.
“When I’m handling collaborations, I look for other content creators who are organized, follow industry protocol and can work together well.”
Maddy May says she does her homework on potential candidates in order to ensure both a positive collaboration experience and the best possible final product.
“I prefer to ask my close peers or industry-based group chats, because for me collabing with someone is about creating intimacy fans enjoy seeing,” she says. “If I do decide to work with a talent I may not know anything about, I always check their social media, from the pictures and videos they post to the things they like. I want to make sure everyone is safe and respects boundaries, so nobody creates trouble.”
Assessing a potential collaborator’s vibe is high on Gwen Adora’s list as well.
“I appreciate collaborators who are direct with what they’re looking for work-wise,” she offers. “I always avoid folks who are too pushy or too horny. Also, complaining about other collaborations while trying to set up work with me is a red flag! That reads to me that you frequently have issues with people you work with.”
Kazumi expresses similar priorities.
“If I review their online presence and see that they are constantly picking fights, constantly emotional, I’ll pull out,” she affirms. “I’m here to work with professionals.”
In addition, Kazumi looks for common ground and shared goals.
“When I DM someone, I always take the time to mention what I like about their work,” she says. “I like to work with people I’m mutually attracted to, with a good style. There’s also a difference between collabing with someone who specializes in POV/amateur versus collabing with someone and also hiring a videographer to capture everything for us.”
Like May and Kazumi, Casey Calvert also does a deep dive into social media whenever someone she does not know personally contacts her.
“I want to make sure a collab would be mutually beneficial for us both, and that our brands align,” she explains. “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time planning a shoot, only to then find out we are incompatible in some way. I look to see who they’ve worked with that I know, and then I check their references.
“Ideally, I have trusted friends who have worked with them whom I can ask,” she adds. “When I’m reaching out to someone else, I assume they’re going to want the same thing, and I try to present that info for them upfront. ‘Here’s who I am and what I would hope to shoot, and I think we know these people in common.’”
Several creators echoed Calvert’s “mutual benefit” theme. One is John Legendary, who makes a point of leading with it when introducing himself to potential collaborators.
“I either mention a specific element or video that caught my attention, or I may note that I see some alignment within our respective brands,” he explains. “There are times where I take it a step further and provide a description of the type of collaboration I envision us creating together and detail what that may look like.”
Another is rising creator Hayley Davies. She analyzes all of a candidate’s platforms to look for that overlap, then vets the person in other ways as well.
“I’ll send them a professional and friendly message asking if they would like to collaborate,” she says. “If someone is really unreliable or bad at communicating, then generally I won’t collaborate with them.”
Professionalism and respect are also key for Cubbi Thompson. She says she always reaches out to creators she knows who have worked with a potential collaborator, to hear about their experience.
“References are extremely important to me, and I trust what they say,” she notes. “There have been times when references told me professionalism wasn’t high on someone’s list, so I have declined the collaboration. This is a job to me, not a dating experience! So I like to make sure the people I work with feel the same, and want to create beautiful art on camera. We need an atmosphere where we can be safe and professional.”
Cassie Curses does not have an explicit set of requirements, but takes a more intuitive approach.
“A potential collaboration always begins with casual conversation,” she shares. “Then, if I feel like the other person meshes with me on a personal level, we’ll move forward. I always look out for potential collaborators who fit my online persona and who will benefit from the collaboration.”
2024 XBIZ Trans Performer of the Year Emma Rose is particularly strict when it comes to following one particular rule.
“I get a lot of requests online, but I’d never think of moving forward with anybody new that way,” she underscores. “I would never agree to collaborate with anyone I haven’t met in person first. In my opinion, you can’t really know if you have any kind of chemistry with someone until you meet them in person. That’s why industry events are so important! It’s a great way to meet new performers, or performers you’ve always wanted to work with.”
As for 2024 XBIZ Cam Model of the Year Chloe Wildd, she is on the same page.
“I think participating in events where people can meet you is the best way to get things going,” she says. “It’s hard to find collabs! I have to think about my fans and find collaborations that they will like. I also want to collab with a model who is positive and has a friendly attitude. I want someone simple and easygoing. I don’t want someone who takes themself too seriously.”
Sometimes, she notes, it comes down to basic communication.
“You also have to find a model who will answer when you write to her, and not waste your time!” Wildd says. “Here’s a message to the creators out there: Use an email for collabs so we can write to each other and I can communicate with you! Mine is on my website.”
When it comes to the importance of communication, Leana Lovings seconds the motion.
“I love someone who is upfront, welcomes questions and has resources and examples of their work ready for me to view via email,” she says. “I love looking at past performers that my potential collaborator has worked with, and then asking them what I should expect out of an upcoming scene. Do they get tested regularly? Are they considerate of my ideas and what I’m looking for that can work for both of our brands? What’s the usual turnaround time on content? There are so many factors to review, but it gets easier the more familiar you become with collaborations.”
Eva Elfie includes her team in the process, to help her examine the details of potential collabs and weigh positives and negatives.
“Positive factors we look for are professional conduct, structured communication, an interesting project idea and fair financial conditions,” she explains. “Negative factors tend to be obvious: nontransparent conditions, the person lacking a presence on official social networks or not having a dedicated presence on a content website.”
Little Puck advises that, while there is no one “right” way to pick collaborators, there are things creators can do to minimize risk and maximize the chances of having a fun, rewarding and professional experience.
“Choose creators you’ve been mutuals with for a couple of years,” she counsels. “Since you’ve already developed camaraderie, gained insight into their values and seen how they handle the ups and downs of the business. Or if you’re thinking of working with someone you don’t know much about, do your research! Search the model’s name to see what comes up. Reach out to models who’ve worked with them. Join a Telegram or Twitter group of models — these are great places to ask for advice or references, or potentially hear about negative experiences.
“Then, listen to your gut!” she continues. “Are you enthusiastically ready to work with this person? If you are, then consider how your collab could benefit the both of you. Are you looking for more followers, engaged interest with certain brands or directors, more money, an artistic endeavor, a particular piece of content? Brainstorm with your collab partner to see how the two of you can work together to mutually meet your goals. Make sure to communicate your boundaries and business practices, respect theirs — and once the professional parameters are established, have some fun!”
Zac Wild has developed his own system for launching new collabs.
“I essentially have an ingrained template covering all the bases,” he says. “I look for talent I think I would work well with, both in terms of performance and communication skills. The better we communicate, banter and brainstorm, the better our scene can be! Negatives I avoid include drama, unreliability or lack of professionalism. Then, if I’m the one asking, I see it as my responsibility to provide the paperwork, wardrobe and set up the day and location.”
Hime Marie vets potential collaborators in a number of ways.
“If they are vehemently averse to having anyone else there, or insisting they can’t perform with other people around, that’s a red flag to me,” Marie shares. “The purpose of a liaison is to ensure safety and act as a witness for both of us should something go awry. Most professional and seasoned performers have no problem at all with liaisons.”
She also views a potential collaborator’s X.com presence as a useful resume or portfolio.
“I look at the follower count, how many mutuals we have in common and if they have worked with any mutuals,” Marie says. “A performer doesn’t have to have the largest follower count, but having at least some sort of built-in audience is important to me. I also look to see if the type of content they put out is pleasing to look at.”
Chloe Foxxe sees X.com as a kind of LinkedIn for adult creators, and says she finds most of the people she works with there.
“Being able to see what type of work they do directly on their page, and if it matches up with what I’m comfortable with, is key,” she notes. “Then I send them a DM asking where they’re located and if they’d want to collab. But I usually wait to DM until I’ve followed them for a while, and have really got a sense of what they’re all about and if I think we’ll get along.
“This definitely isn’t like most work,” she adds. “You need to really vibe in order to make good content together!”
Prep and Paperwork
Once the initial outreach and preliminary discussions have taken place, talent must then navigate legal and health best practices such as sharing STI testing results, ensuring consent and getting model release forms signed.
“Since it’s pretty well practiced in the industry, I always show up fully prepared upon meeting for the first time,” Chloe Foxxe notes. “All paperwork and test results are filled out and shown before any clothes come off! Discussing boundaries and likes/dislikes is so important as well, and is sometimes recorded for safety.”
Hayley Davies likes to receive collaborators’ STI results the day before a shoot, so that if someone is missing a test she wants included, there is time to get it done.
“I am strict with my testing,” she offers. “I only work with people who are doing Mgen every month. With the tests, you get a QR code too, so you can check that it’s not photoshopped. If there is a big event where STIs are circulating, I will make people have a fresh test done after the event concludes, before working with them. I get paperwork signed before we shoot too.”
To ensure maximum professionalism and results, Casey Calvert essentially treats collaborations as if they were mainstream shoots.
“I follow the same PASS protocols,” she says. “I bring my paperwork packet to the shoot for them to fill out and encourage them to do the same. I negotiate everything in advance, including how media delivery is being handled, who’s editing, when we’re going to release the content, etc. Then, on the day, we do an in-depth consent conversation about the tone of what we’re shooting, what sex acts we’re performing and not performing, limits and concerns. It’s very important that everyone is on the same page about what we’re doing.”
Violet Myers similarly approaches collab best practices with the same rigor that she applies to her frequent studio work.
“I always make sure to bring a copy of model release paperwork and the like, not just for myself, but also for the talent, in case they don’t have any paperwork,” she says. “I make sure that I have all of my IDs and that the person I’m shooting also has their legal docs.”
When it comes to health, Myers always makes sure collaborators have a 14-day test and all swabs accounted for as well.
“Contracts, contracts, contracts,” emphasizes Cubbi Thompson. “I won’t even take pictures with someone unless we can sit down and talk about boundaries: what we are and are not comfortable with while shooting, plus what we are comfortable with having posted, tagging agreements, etc. Within the first five minutes of meeting my collab, we share test results and make sure everyone involved feels safe and protected in every way. Legal, medical or environmental, I want to always feel in control of the situation and my health, and I want my colleagues to feel the same way.”
Little Puck makes sure to cover everything beforehand so there is no miscommunication.
“Before we meet, I’ll generally have an idea of what content we’re shooting, but bodies and minds can be in flux, so the day of the shoot is a great time to run through how we’re feeling, what our boundaries are and how we’d love to be touched that day,” she says. “I always print out my model release form and 2257 and I bring two IDs. Make sure all the paperwork is filled out before the shoot! You need these records to be in compliance and you want to make sure your content is legally obtained.”
She also avoids sending screenshots of her test results, preferring that both she and the other talent show their PASS status in person.
John Legendary does the same, to avoid potentially faked results and remove doubts.
“I do all of my paperwork electronically via Docusign,” he says. “I make sure that I have all the required information so that my compliance paperwork is accurate. As far as consent, I make sure we go over our do’s and don’ts — but also discuss things that the talent may really enjoy, to make this a great experience for them.”
Hime Marie recommends exactly the same sort of discussion. She also tries to take care of all paperwork the day before a shoot, as well as exchanging tests.
“Doing this ahead of time ensures that you can read paperwork thoroughly, have both parties agree to terms before getting to set, and check for any potential discrepancies in their test,” she explains. “Testing facilities are very helpful and forthcoming in providing information on when a performer last tested. When in doubt, give them a call!”
“I always send and expect a test before we meet up,” Kazumi offers. “Best practice is also sending all the documents we need to sign before the meetup as well. Don’t wait for after! You may never see them again.”
“Paperwork is extremely important to be on top of,” agrees Gwen Adora. “I’m currently getting my lawyer to draw up my own forms, but I use the Quick2257 app if I’m in a pinch.”
In addition to testing, paperwork, and contracts specifying where and how content can be posted and sold, Chloe Wildd likes to take collaborators out on a ‘date’ a day or so before a shoot.
“It’s great to connect a bit over good food and a drink,” she explains. “At that moment it’s all about connecting and having fun. We will talk about what we want to shoot, talk about the scenes and what we want to do for the collab.”
Among the creators, there is universal consensus that health and consent come first. Zac Wild sees testing and consent as the two cornerstones of collabs.
“Everyone should be getting tested at least every 14 days, with a full blood panel, urine test and swabs,” he says. He cautions vigilance against faked tests, which have sometimes led to talent being called out on social media and fakers being banned from the PASS system.
“When it comes to consent, it’s the easiest icebreaker to take four minutes prior to starting a scene, politely ask your co-performer what they’re okay with and what they’re not okay with,” Wild explains. “Boundaries should never be crossed unless explicitly stated otherwise by the talent. Even with performers I’ve worked with a dozen times or more, I’ll always ask what their boundaries are.”
Emma Rose relies on her attorney, clear communication, and thorough testing to ensure legality, professionalism and safety.
“All of my 2257 forms, model releases and consent forms have been approved by my lawyer,” she says. “With a good team behind me, I keep everything organized and professional, and have as many discussions as it takes to make performers comfortable. I do require seven-day testing when it comes to collaboration scenes, as feeling the safest makes me feel the sexiest!”
Leana Lovings agrees that STI testing, consent talks and model releases are non-negotiable.
“It’s a vital part of ensuring everyone’s safety,” she says. “Any performer worth their salt will participate in all of these things. Anyone that doesn’t want to go through the everyday legal and health prerequisites is raising a red flag to future workmates!”
Quality Production
Indie shoots typically do not have a studio-quality production setup, but creators nonetheless aim to create compelling content. When it comes to production best practices, from managing assistants and gear to lighting and editing, many factors can impact the quality of a collab.
“I personally like to hire a videographer and photographer,” Kazumi says. “If that’s not in your budget, choose a space with great natural lighting and research what makes good POV content. Also make sure there are no distracting sounds, like construction or the AC blasting.”
Another frequently studio-shot talent, Lauren Phillips, is also partial to a polished look rather than a purely indie aesthetic.
“I prefer a more professional look with my content, so I hire a camera guy, and makeup artist, and secure a location,” she explains. “When it comes to collaborating, my goal is to get as much content as possible, so that the other content creator and I are both happy with the process and both get material that matches our brands.”
Chloe Wildd sees nothing wrong with shooting on a phone if amateur vibes are the goal. Like Phillips, however, she prefers a “studio” look and advises anyone who shares that aesthetic to invest in quality equipment.
“You need a 4K camera, a good ring light, an LED light on your camera and a tripod for different scenes and angles. But that’s still only 50% because you also need good actors and a good scenario!
“I think a best practice is to take breaks between scenes to check what you filmed and make sure it looks great,” she continues. “I always double-check every scene with my husband and the model before moving on to the next one.
“Lastly, you need good editing software — and to develop good editing skills,” Wildd adds. “When we collab, normally I like to control the editing because I prefer to edit the movie to my own high standards.”
Hayley Davies agrees that top-notch shoots require a pro camera, but otherwise finds that her iPhone can capture quality content.
For those using phones, she advises: “Edit the pictures using your camera roll editing functionalities and other editing apps, depending on the level of editing you like. But if you’re going to require your collab to use only edited content, I think it’s important you get them the edited pictures within 24 hours. For video, I just use CapCut. It has so many great editing functionalities.”
One such phone aficionado is Chloe Foxxe. She finds shooting between noon and 1 p.m. is best, to ensure plenty of natural light.
“I’ve shot the majority of my content with my phone, and find the quality great,” she shares. “Thank you, iPhone!”
Not every shoot can take place at midday, though. That’s why Violet Myers always makes sure to have all types of lighting on hand, including colorful lights, ring lights and more options. So does Cubbi Thompson, who says lighting is simply the most important visual element.
“You can really set the vibe and the mood with just a few lights,” she observes.
John Legendary also zeroes in on lighting as the most essential element in capturing quality content.
“Good lighting can make a decent camera perform better, but a great camera can’t combat bad lighting,” he cautions.
According to Little Puck, planning is half the battle. She strongly recommends talking out scenes beforehand, creating a storyboard and even sending a collab partner inspirational pictures.
“Get a feel for what you’re trying to create together,” she says. “Is there a cameraperson who can help you achieve your vision? If not, consider how you can create an immersive experience for the viewer by framing your shots thoughtfully, establishing a consistent visual style and engaging with the camera. Invest in a quality mic! Capturing that clear, crisp audio is such a game changer. Think about how you want the trailer to look and make sure you’re capturing the right angles and positions to snag a scroller’s attention.”
For Hime Marie, an attractive shooting location can make a world of difference. She has two rooms in her home that she often uses for making content, and always aims to keep them clean and free of clutter.
“I want the main focus to be me and my content partner,” she says. “Having good lighting, cameras and sound quality is also important — but with a clean space and natural lighting, you can make almost anything look good.”
Another aspect Marie sees as potentially pivotal is editing.
“Usually for a short sex tape, fetish content or something else without too much camera movement, I can edit myself nicely,” she notes. “But for other types of content, including bigger projects like threesomes, orgies and such, I will sometimes hire a professional editor because that can really take things up a notch.”
Emma Rose always asks collaborators what vibe they want the scene to have.
“For intimate scenes, using an iPhone works great because it gives the viewer that voyeuristic feel,” she says. “Technically, those scenes don’t require anything beyond the basics; they just need you to bring the passion. But I also have a team that can make the production look like a very high-end set. Our fans enjoy and request it both ways, so it’s really about which way you want to go that day.”
As an XBIZ Award-winning director, Casey Calvert is best known for highly cinematic scenes. However, she is also happy to give fans the fairly casual, amateur vibe they seem to enjoy when it comes to her collabs.
“A nice location with nice light, and simple cinematography,” she recommends. “I don’t often go crazy with cameras, lighting or editing — unless it’s a really special occasion, like the double anal scene I just did for my birthday! Sometimes a scene demands full makeup, lighting and one or more camera people, and sometimes a scene just wants to be shot with a cell phone in available light. I usually try for a happy medium.”
While hardcore action is ultimately the main focus, Calvert also advises shooting some SFW material during collabs.
“It’s a pain sometimes, but worth it,” she notes.
Gwen Adora agrees on both counts.
“Getting SFW or BTS content is always tricky for me, as I usually collab on trips where I have multiple shoots, so I’m working on making a content checklist to ensure I don’t get overwhelmed,” she explains. “The video is the most important part, but slacking on the promotional content can be detrimental to selling your scene.”
In Maddy May’s experience, it is not necessary to have a perfect location, the most expensive camera or to shoot whatever is trending.
“To me, it’s about creating a team that understands your goals and creative ideas,” she offers. “I work closely with Natasha Inamorata by sending her my outfit, ideas and mood boards, and she brings her lights, her ideas and her high-quality camera. Working together, creating ideas and having someone learn your style of movement and personal mannerisms will always help with creating an authentic product.”
To Leana Lovings, producing a successful collab requires both polished production and raw authenticity.
“Having multiple angles to capture the up-close and the wide view of the down and dirty, and setting it all under wide light that leaves nothing hidden, is a recipe for happy fans and good profitability,” she declares. “But I also always want genuine intimacy with my fellow performers. As much as the technical aspects of a film are important, we can’t forget the raw sexual energy that we’re capturing. Viewers can tell if the people on screen are having fun!”
For Cassie Curses, the best thing about collaborating is that two creative heads are better than one.
“During the shoot, and while editing, I try to remain open to the other person’s input,” she says. “It’s a group effort, and the best collaborators respect each other’s creative processes.”
Monetizing and Marketing
As important as fun and creativity are to the production process, ultimately collabs are still a business proposition. Creators must therefore negotiate how to monetize and market collab content.
That can include anything from a free-for-all with no restrictions to hammering out an ironclad price point and scheduling agreement dictating when, where and how content can be released, and what it will be sold for.
“I run through all the details before we shoot, because I don’t want there to be any surprises later,” says Little Puck. “Everyone does this differently, so be prepared to keep notes on how each creator expects their collab content to be administered. You want to be on the same page!
“I know what works for me, but if the other model has a game plan that works better for them I am happy to be flexible,” she adds. “Engaging with different business practices is also a great way to learn and grow your own business. Together, you can evaluate audience reach, distribution strategies and expectations regarding pricing over time. As you see how the collab does over time, you can analyze the data to identify what worked for you and what didn’t, then use this feedback to optimize the marketing strategy for your next collab!”
Chloe Wildd finds marketing and monetization agreements to be fairly straightforward — the easy part of a collab.
“We sign release forms so each of us can sell the content we shoot on our own platforms,” she explains. “We also make sure to settle on a price for content we create together, and a release date so we can sell the movie at the same time. It’s easier if the model has her own OnlyFans or platform so she can sell the content on her own. If we shoot with a model who does not, then I’ll pay the model for the shoot and take the content for myself like a studio porn movie.”
For others, the experience can vary more widely. Because every collab is different, Hayley Davies does not insist on following a set template every time.
“Personally, I don’t do price matching, but I’m always happy to share what I’m selling it for in case they would like to match the price. And if you agreed on a price before shooting the content then that is fine. As far as marketing, I discuss doing collab posts and usually we agree on a release date — but not always.”
A shared release date is very important to Violet Myers, however.
“It’s very rare for me to let someone release the content before I do,” she affirms. “I like to have everything on a schedule so we both can equally share the content and repost on all of our pages.”
Myers also likes to make sure that both parties sign off on all trailers, photos and SFW content before posting because, she says, she knows how valuable a creator’s image is.
Cubbi Thompson asks all her collab partners to sign a contract that clearly states terms for promotion and monetization.
“For example, you may post clips, photos and up to five minutes of content publicly or on free sites, but past the five-minute mark is where I draw the line,” she explains. “Promotion is super important, so I do think putting some of it out there for free will always be more beneficial than keeping absolutely everything behind the paywall.
“As far as monetization goes, I discuss that case by case. Some creators are comfortable with people unlocking their content for a lower price; others want to set it higher. I’m not picky, so I like to make sure the people I work with are comfortable first.”
Chloe Foxxe does not care how much her collaborators sell their videos for, noting that everyone has different subscription prices and ways they manage accounts.
“I find being picky with pricing can be difficult to keep track of,” she says. “Plus, I like to have control over my content, so I want the same for any performer I work with. As long as it’s not free, I’m good with it!”
Zac Wild puts it even more simply.
“This is America!” he points out. “Capitalism works differently for everyone.”
Wild says that while he will never set a price for collab content, he usually discusses a shared release date and other marketing matters.
“Ideally we both agree to keep trailers pretty basic, under 35 seconds or so, to not give out too much,” he says. “I also always try to tag my co-star on social media, to give them the credit and acknowledgement they deserve.”
Hime Marie is also careful to respect her collaborators and their wishes.
“I have shot a few bigger projects, like orgies, threesomes and foursomes, where we usually outline a release and pricing plan more thoroughly,” she says. “I find that most performers don’t like to release new content for less than $20 and don’t do discounts until a month or two after release.
“I think the golden rule of releasing content is to never upload a full video to a free tube site without consulting the other performers first,” Marie reflects. “You never want to negatively impact someone else’s earnings by offering content for free! I only release content on Pornhub if it’s more than a year old and I have permission, in writing, from the other performer or performers.”
Cassie Curses makes an effort to coordinate release dates and likes to settle on a similar price point, but follows no hard-and-fast rule.
“It is something I always discuss with the collaborator,” she says. “But it is never something I stress over.”
Emma Rose, on the other hand, likes to have everything in writing.
“I let collaborators charge their own rate and from there I will negotiate,” she says. “There are times I will pay for exclusive rights, but my hard nos are: I will not allow the content to be put on a free site.”
Casey Calvert’s nos revolve around ensuring fairness.
“I require hardcore content to be kept behind a paywall if it’s a collab,” she shares. “I don’t think it’s fair for either one of us to ‘give away’ the scene. It also doesn’t seem fair for someone to profit off selling it to a site that is then going to sell it themselves, so I also ask that it not be sold anywhere other than on fan sites and clip sites.”
Sometimes, performers get around these issues by shooting two completely different scenes during a collab, so that each can walk away with their own exclusive content and no special strings attached to what they do with it. Lauren Phillips swears by this approach.
“I do not negotiate monetizing or marketing when it comes to collaborating on content,” she says. “Most of the time when I collaborate, I get my project idea and they get theirs. It makes for a nice productive day and exclusive content for both of us.”
By contrast, Leana Lovings is all about negotiation.
“What are each of our sales prices for scenes of this particular length?” she says. “What date do we feel comfortable releasing the content? Dates can be very important to discuss because it will quickly tip the scales of who makes what. If you release the same scene earlier, then you could be taking your collaborator’s fans from their page to yours. While that might yield more sales in the short term, it could hurt your relationship with the person you’re working with.
“I find that if both parties promote the scene a week ahead of its release, and we provide each other advance notice of when we plan to do that in order to overlap our promotions, then release our scenes on the same day, it makes for better sales than releasing it entirely on your own — and there’s still a good intersection of fans who will discover your content,” Lovings elaborates.
“If there is a steep price difference, we can always meet in the middle,” she adds. “Or the person with the higher price can release their scene first. There’s always more than one solution to any difference in business practices. All you need to do is communicate.”
John Legendary says he only discusses setting prices and release dates if the other talent brings it up or has a strong position on it.
“It’s their content as well, and we all have our own fans and pricing models that work for us,” he observes. “So I want them to be able to release the content when they want to, and for whatever price they want to — though preferably not the whole video for free! That being said, I typically have a huge editing backlog, so if the other person wants to release the video sooner, I would need to prioritize it in my editing queue.”
Maddy May typically has a turnaround of two to four weeks on any given project, which affords her and her collaborators time to establish a presale and generate hype.
“It also gives us a good time frame on when we should make the release,” she says. “With so many platforms, it can get confusing, but OnlyFans always gets the drops first. If someone wants to release a project two-plus months out, then it would be a conversation to make sure all parties will be happy."
Making sure everybody is satisfied, from the creators themselves to their professional advisors and fans, is certainly the name of the game when it comes to collaborations. Of course, with so many factors in play — from making that first contact with a would-be scene partner to deciding what to shoot, establishing everyone’s boundaries, negotiating prices and settling on a promo strategy — satisfying everyone can be a challenge. The very diverse needs of different creators mean there is no black-and-white rule for pulling off a fruitful collab.
No wonder, then, that the word “communication” pops up so frequently as creators share their collab tips. The more they can put their ideas and expectations into words, and/or put those words into contracts for maximum security, the more likely they are to succeed. Ultimately, getting on the same page frees them up to do what they set out to do: connect, collaborate and thrive — together.
