GUEST APPEARANCES, L-R: Jess Janssen, Miss Mandy, Marilyn Yusuf, Yeva Shiyanova feature in current guest spots (photos: Peter W Czernich [1, 4], Jocke Jonsson [2], Sebastian Cauchos [3])
“The exclusivity of the member zone means that the models don’t have another member zone or another way where people can pay to see more pictures, videos and online content from the model.
“And also, the pictures they give us are exclusive for Terminal F — you will not see them anywhere else.”
The only exception, she adds, is when images are released for specific promotional purposes, such as with this very article, or on social media.
Are there, I ask her, Terminal F content rules that contributors must abide by?
“We don’t really have content rules, but at the same time we never intended or intend to do porn. It’s simply not in line with our models’ work,” she says.
“Basically in the EU, and especially in Germany, there is a huge youth protection programme. And since we are a German company, we wanted to avoid our users having to go through the process of registering with their ID. It’s a big hassle so we wanted to make it easier for our users.
“Also, since we are not producing porn, we didn’t want to have to separate what we want to be an open platform from the rest of the world when there is no need for it. We just want to focus on the art and the artists and the possibilities.
“The focus is not to create a certain type of content. The member zone is just a part of a bigger plan we have — it’s a way for the models to express what they want to express and create awareness.
“Most people are very familiar with our models; they all have their own well-defined style and this is what you will get in our member zone. Our models are free to create the content that they are happy with and feel is representative of them.”
‘Most people are very familiar with our models; they all have their own well-defined style and this is what you’ll get in our member zone. They’re free to create the content they’re happy with’
Susanna goes on to reveal that despite Terminal F’s non-porn ethos, it was so difficult finding a bank that would provide the secure credit card processing necessary for the business to operate that the site’s launch ended up being delayed.
“Everything just took so long, and many times I felt I was giving up hope, because out of 50 banks no one wanted to work with us. But eventually we found a bank that would accept us.
“We knew we wanted to work with a company mainly based within Germany to make it more safe for us and for our customers. And also one that could offer us a good deal so everything would not be eaten up in fees.
“All of this was what you could call an unforeseen obstacle, I suppose.”
This is also the reason the Terminal F site carries an 18 USC §2257 exemption statement, even though it is not a US business covered by America’s 2257 legislation (which requires US porn producers to keep age verification records).
“It was the last rule from the bank to accept us,” she explains, “because then they don’t have to constantly keep an eye on us and our content, and it takes that responsibility off their shoulders.
“But we have no intent to go any ‘harder’ and none of the models we have are interested in tapping into more erotic styles or porn, so it’s purely for legal reasons.”
Happily, says Susanna, even though its launch was delayed until the end of January this year, it was “pretty clear even after the first week” that Terminal F would reach its goals for the first year.
“After just two months we’d already reached the number of clients we wanted to have after half a year, so that was pretty good. Of course it will fluctuate before it stabilises in the long run. But we are definitely pleased with the response and overall it’s pretty much what we had expected.
“As mentioned previously, the member zone is a great thing but it is also just a part of the big plan — a marketing tool for us and the creatives to create awareness so we can work with models, advertisement, brands, marketing, sales actions and more.
“And we are always looking for everyone who wants to improve their sales, their reach or their business in general to get in touch with us to see what the possibilities for working together are.
“We want to help people in the scene to connect and get more out of each other, whatever that may be. We have many, many ideas of how to go about this so people should not hesitate to get in touch.”
So let’s talk more about that bigger plan. Since Terminal F is envisaged eventually as a support system for fetish creatives of all kinds, I ask Sister Sinister to pinpoint the three main issues she would like it to address.
“One big issue is that most models and photographers are working the scene mainly as a hobby. They have little knowledge about how to professionalise their career, but at the same time they have the intention to earn at least a little bit of side money with it.
“The second problem is lack of knowledge of the rights you have as a model or photographer. I have the opinion and the experience that most models are being taken advantage of, and are not really making much — or any — money from their work.
“Most of the time this is probably not out of bad intentions from the people or brands they’re working with. But there could be a lot less of this if they have more knowledge about their rights and the value of the work they do.
“The same goes for photographers. Many people don’t know what you can do with copyrights, what the legal status is in their country, how you can exploit copyright and license copyright.
“What’s the value of your own person when you have a big name in the industry that is actually a value that you can earn money with? This is very attractive for brands to connect themselves with.
“The third issue is that there’s also a lack of knowledge about this in the designer and party community, or sometimes more a willingness to exploit the lack of knowledge of the models and photographers.
“[It arises] when designers or events use their photos for free. Or when designers have models pay (fully or partially) for clothes and then expect the right to use the pictures [of the model in those clothes] in a commercial way, and use the model’s name in connection with their brand for free.
“Again I don’t think this is out of bad intentions but is probably an information and communication problem.
“I would say these are probably the main problems, and the services I would want to offer with my team of legal professionals, marketing specialists, entertainment lawyers etc are first to inform people in the scene about different ways they can improve their career, business or brand.
“We are very happy to share information and try to collaborate in different ways.
“I want to bring people in the different parts of the industry together and help where I can to inform about different ways of doing things, and help everyone work together in ways that will be more beneficial to all parties involved in the collaboration with fair deals and shares.
“Terminal F is just one tool to generate a bit of awareness from brands and designers for example, but also from models and photographers, and from the people where the money actually comes from: the end customer.
‘Models are influencers and I see most of them doing different types of work for free or very cheaply, and brands profit from this and the huge awareness of these models and their reach’
“And of course my goal is also to make money with it. I am definitely profit-orientated, but I want to and I try to create projects where all of these groups can be involved in a fair way and get something out of it as well.
“So this is the main intent for Terminal F. The member zone is just a small part for the customer and the biggest part should be a contact platform for models, designers, photographers and events, with someone in the middle who has the knowledge and willingness to create opportunities for the people involved, and sell things with brand awareness and influential models.
“Models are influencers and I see that most of them are doing different types of work for free or very cheaply, and brands profit from this and from the huge awareness of these models and their reach.
“I think there are many ways that collaborations could be fairer to the model and at the same time bring even more to the designer or brand, so they don’t lose profit but gain more, for example working with the model on specialised and targeted marketing.
“To actually work together on bigger and more pinpointed marketing campaigns as a team would be better for everyone involved.”
Terminal F is, Susanna admits, also a way for her and the other models involved to professionalise themselves.
“And that for me is an act of emancipation for the models, not only to be looked at as an object but to make themselves a business, build more professional connections to brands and be a partner on the same level as the rest of the industry.”
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Alexander Horn
Alx (no link)
coJac
Daniel Kopp
Jocke Jonsson
Peter W Czernich
Sebastian Cauchos
Sister Sinister
Stéphane Roy
Terminal F
BELOW: BONUS VIDEOS — watch our selected short clips from Terminal F’s six resident models!
Tags: Business Matters, Latex, Leather, Lingerie, Models, Websites
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