So what turned it into a bad situation for you?

Basically, the fact I trusted him and he was trying to use me. But then after he posted my photographs on the ModelSwim forum, I started reading what other guys were saying, and some of them were addressing me directly. And then I started thinking: 'hmmm, maybe these other guys are right.' So I decided I would start promoting myself a bit and start answering the people in the forum directly. And when I started answering people, everyone was saying 'Hey, you could turn this into a career.'

Did that surprise you?

Completely. I was very surprised. I thought it would just be a one-time deal and that would be it. I've told Jason this ... if it wasn't for ModelSwim I would never have come to New York. I probably just would have stayed home watching cartoons or something. (laughs).

So it opened your eyes a bit to what might be possible for you?

Yeah. I think it showed me it's OK to color outside the lines.

Then a couple of managers approached you through the forum, is that right?

Yes. But the photographer was trying to maintain control and capitalize off me, he didn't want to lose control.

How did you ultimately decide who you could trust?

I tried to figure out who had the least hostile intentions. It took me a while to figure out who had truly genuine goals. Like, Adam (Silver) at Strengthnet (now Silver Model Management) offered to fly me down to New York to meet with him, but I told him I wouldn't be comfortable flying down by myself. So he told me it would be fine to bring someone down with me. So my sister flew down with me, and the fact he agreed to that made me pretty comfortable with him. I didn't feel that I was being forced to do anything. He prompted me through a photo shoot, and he told me to just be myself. There are a few posed pictures, but a lot of the photographs were just me hanging out and being relaxed.

So trust was very important to you?

I think having a good relationship with your agent or your agency is one of the most important things. And I could tell right away that Adam respected me as soon as I met him. You don't necessarily have to go out for drinks or be best friends, but you have to have a mutual respect. And that's what's most important. Everybody clashes at times, so there are times you may not feel like talking to them, but what they do for you, what you do for them, what they say on your behalf ... it all has to be mutual.

Now, I don't want to sound homophobic, but I grew up in a small town and it was kind of strange being around homosexuals for the very first time in my life. So when I got down to New York I was intimidated at first. But when I realized they weren't just looking at me like dessert ... (at this point in the interview I break out laughing) ... "no really," Joseph says very earnestly, "that's honestly what I thought. That's what I expected right from the time I was fourteen or fifteen years old. But when I got to New York I was surprised. Then later I found out my friend Matt was gay - I didn't have the slightest clue. I never would have guessed. Actually, that turned out to be true for about 3/4 of the guys that were gay that I knew. I just didn't realize it at the time."