FAQs About Cam Modeling

What Is Cam Modeling? 

A cam model is a video performer who streams on the internet (camming websites, specifically) via a webcam as a form of paid adult entertainment. Cam models can do all kinds of things: live shows, one-on-one performances, couple performances, sexting sessions, etc. 

Ultimately, cam models are in the business of fulfilling fantasies. Fans and customers sign up to watch the models, paying for their services via tokens or a pay-per-minute system that is set up through the platform the model is using.

What Is It Like to Be a Cam Model?

The question everyone is dying to know: what is this job really like? Do people enjoy it? Is it difficult or hard to maintain? Should more people be open to doing this as a job? Are people generally respectful?

This article in Greatist dives into a lot of really interesting questions about online sex work. 

• One model interviewed for the article explains: “Women (and identifying females) are 100 percent allowed to explore and enjoy their sexuality — camming is wonderfully empowering...”
• Another warns: it’s not easy money. “The myth that drives me absolutely bonkers is that it’s fast, easy money,” Awesome says. “While a small, visible fraction of people get overnight success, the vast majority of us put in a ton of time and effort before gaining momentum.”
• Because of this, many models (including some from this interview) explain that it’s always better to have more than one source of income as a model. “The more pressure a model can take off their live show the better. Having multiple sources of income allows you to focus on having fun on cam instead of stressing yourself sick over viewer numbers and reaching your tip goal.”

Another article (on Vice) also broke down some real-talk in terms of cam modeling. 

• Being educated and aware is one of the biggest things you need to know as a model - one interviewed on Vice shares: “To be a cam girl, I learned, you have to be able to field sexual requests and be an expert on all kinds of fetishes so that you always know what clients are talking about.”
• Being a sex worker (online included) is essentially like being in the service industry. The author of the article notes (about watching a performance): “She puts on a show, and gives her best, sexiest performance, reading what the client wants, asking questions, and taking directions. All the while, she’s sort of straddling the line between sexual partner, therapist, and moral supporter. It’s a ton of emotional labor—like any type of sex work.”

Is cam modeling legal?

Cam modeling is entirely legal in most places, as long as all parties (the model and the viewers) are over 18 years of age. In some places, there can be certain restrictions - but these vary from country to country. For example, the Middle East and Asia are regions where online activities like this are quite restricted. However, for most other places, being a cam model is legal as long as you are abiding by other laws (paying taxes on the money you earn, not engaging with minors, etc). 

Can Cam Modeling Be Anonymous? 

Yes! This may surprise you, but being a cam model can be entirely anonymous. Even though you’re performing live on these websites, there are quite a few ways you can protect your identity and information. 

Aliases…
Your alias is important for many reasons as a cam model - branding, anonymity, online protection, and privacy...the list goes on. Coming up with a unique, sexy name for your cam model business is a very important first step in the process of becoming a cam model. 

Secure methods of getting paid...
Most camming websites take care of this for you, opting to pay you via bank transfer. However, if you’re open to selling custom content, this may require dealing with customers from your cam model platform one-on-one - and if that’s the case, you will want to make sure you have a secure method of being paid that doesn’t risk your personal information getting out. 

Geo-blocking...
Geo-blocking is a fantastic feature most camming websites have, and now, so does OnlyFans. This feature essentially allows you to “block off” entire regions (provinces, states, countries) from viewing your profile or content. This means that it’s nearly impossible for people you know IRL to find you on a cam model site. Even if they have your exact URL, it would show up as a blank page if they are accessing it from a blocked region. Something to note: VPNs can be a work-around for this, but many people don’t know that. 

VPNs…
Speaking of VPNs...you may be asking yourself: what is a VPN? VPN stands for “virtual private network” and essentially, it’s a condom for your internet usage. That silly joke aside, it really is a way to protect yourself online - your data is encrypted and your IP address can be masked, to look as if it’s coming from another country altogether. This is a great way to protect your location and your information online, and I highly suggest looking into signing up for a VPN - especially if you’re a cam model broadcasting regularly. 

What Are the Best Sites to Become a Cam Model?

There are so many cam model websites - it’s actually a topic we’ve covered before (at length) - so let me TL;DR it for you...

Chaturbate is one of the most popular ones.
Chaturbate is considered one of the most popular camming websites with a whopping 4 million + unique visitors per month. The site has been praised for its diversity and customizable features. 

LiveJasmin has a stellar reputation.
LiveJasmin has been around for over 20 years and is quite dedicated to upholding the stellar reputation they have built. This platform gives you the opportunity to broadcast from their platform to other camming websites, allowing you to maximize your time and efforts.

CamSoda is great for newbies and pros alike.
CamSoda is a great platform because it’s got a lot of stuff packed into it - the ability to cam model, of course - but you can also use the platform to create and sell other types of content (videos, sexting, photos, etc). 

How Do You Earn Money Cam Modeling?

Oh yes...money. One of the biggest questions about this industry: how much do I make, how do I cash out, what percentage of my tips do I get to have...let’s dive into the money talk.

Pay per minute is a very common system on many platforms.
The pay-per-minute system is exactly what it sounds like: customers pay per minute to join your room. Usually, this option is very common with private one-on-one sessions. 

Cashing in tokens is the other common system used on camming sites. 
The token system works like this: users purchase tokens from the camming platform, and then they use those tokens to pay you. The tokens have a value, which the cam models can then cash in.

Tips are a model’s best friend. 
Tips are always helpful in the content creation industry, and you may be surprised by how generous people can be with the tips. 

Customs & more…
If you’re open to doing custom content, you can use platforms like cam modeling websites and/or OnlyFans to sell custom content (such as videos, photos, etc) to earn extra cash. 

Payouts & how it works…
You may be wondering how it works on cam model websites in terms of getting paid. Here are some things you should know…

• The platform keeps a percentage of your earnings. Typically, this divide ends up being something like you take 60-70% of your earnings, the platform takes the rest. 
• The platform can hold your earnings until you hit a budget threshold - most likely $50-$100. 
• Some platforms stick to payout schedules - once a week, twice a week, etc. 
• Your earnings should be declared on your taxes - if you’re confused about this, consider asking an accountant how you can do this, as the rules vary depending on your region.

What Are the Pros & Cons to Cam Modeling?

If you’re new to the cam-model business or are considering getting into it (but aren’t quite sure) - there are lots of pros and cons you should consider. 

✔️ Your times can be flexible
One of the best things about cam modeling is that you are your own boss - you can set your schedule, decide when you’re going to perform and how often. This kind of flexibility is really attractive to most people. One thing to note, though, is that you’re going to want to come up with a regular broadcasting schedule so your fans can know when to tune in! 

❌ The money can be inconsistent
One of the frustrating things about online work of any kind can be inconsistency. If you’re looking for cash on a consistent schedule - relying on cam modeling as your main source of income may be a mistake. Cam modeling, especially in the beginning, should be looked at as a sexy side hustle. 

✔️ It can be really confidence-boosting
The best thing about creating NSFW content or being an adult performer is the confidence boost, hands down. Getting ready for a show, putting on your best lingerie, taking some time to do your makeup and your hair, cleaning the space around you...all of these things can make you feel more confident and sexy. 

❌ It can be emotionally draining
A difficult (and very little talked about) thing with NSFW content creation or adult performing is that it can be quite draining. You’re in the business of fulfilling fantasies, which means your “on” switch needs to be, well, on - all the time. This can be really exhausting over the long term if you don’t have coping mechanisms and proper breaks for real-life stuff in place. 

✔️ Performances happen in real-time - they are not easy to steal, copy, or illegally download.
Other adult performers (people who make homemade porn, OnlyFans creators, etc) may struggle with the idea that people can easily “take” your content (screenshots for personal use or straight up stealing it and creating a fake identity). One of the good things about cam modeling is that your content is performed and consumed in real-time, making it more difficult for people to take advantage of that. 

❌ Society can be quite judgemental of this profession
Unfortunately, society can still be quite judgemental about sex work - and online sex work is no exception. This is one of the main reasons why many people choose aliases and use VPNs or geo-blocking - to avoid people from their lives (coworkers, friends, family members, etc) from finding out what you do as a side business. Sadly, though, this fear stops a lot of people from truly embracing their livelihood as an NSFW content creator. 

How Do I Get Started As a Cam Model?

If you’re interested in becoming a cam model - one of the biggest questions you’ll have is: where on earth do I start? 

First, you’ll need the right equipment. 
This means a proper laptop that has streaming capabilities, some lights, a nice background or room to record in that is private. Next, you’ll want to throw in some nice things such as lingerie or sex toys that you will use during your performances - but you can always build on those things later.

Then, you’ll need to choose the right brand for yourself. 
Branding yourself, as I’ve explained in prior articles, is super important. You need to get people to notice you, of course - but they also need to remember you. There is a reason why Riley Reid and Mia Khalifa are names everyone knows - they are brands. They are great performer names that have built up a reputation that everyone knows. 

Next, you’ll need to choose a platform. 
This will take some research (luckily, we’ve got you covered there, with a few links at the bottom of this post!) You need to find a platform that is offering you what you’re looking for in terms of payout schedules, earning potential, broadcasting potential, and security. 

Then, build your empire. 
This means social media accounts, promoting, creating a broadcast schedule and sticking to it, cross-collaborating with other models. Building yourself up to be a name people remember and a brand people want to tune into can help you break into the model industry with a bang.

Are you interested in becoming a cam model? Check out our other articles on this topic! 
Rookie Mistakes to Avoid as a Cam Model
How to Protect Your Privacy On Cam Model Sites
How to Get Started on Chaturbate

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