The Beginners Guide to Making Money with Homemade Amateur Porn

The used panty marketplace

Back in 2010, a study showed that up to 12% of websites on the internet were pornographic in nature, with 25% of all search engine requests also being porn-related. That was 9 years ago. 

Now, in 2019, there is no denying that porn has become something of a mainstream entertainment source. Big franchises like 50 Shades of Grey have played a key role in pushing the porn industry to new heights. 

Day by day, the adult industry is evolving and the topic of sex is becoming less taboo, making porn more widely accepted to be talked about, looked at and shared. 

What You Should Know Before You Start Selling Homemade Amateur Porn

So - you’re interested in making and selling porn but have no idea where to start. Like any business venture (which is ultimately what this will be), doing some research about the industry can be extremely helpful, and learning more about what it’s like to be a porn star is a natural starting point.

Let’s talk bad news first, to get that out of the way. There will no doubt be some drawbacks to working in the adult film industry, no matter how small of a role you may play.

There Will Always Be People Who Judge You for Your Job 

Although porn is more popular and less taboo than ever before, there are still many who are judgemental towards those who choose to make a living through creating adult content. 

Whether these opinions are from family, friends or people you don’t even know - you have to know that a fair bit of judgment may come with this job and make the decision early on to not let that affect you. 

You may lose “friends” and your family may be upset with you for your choice of work. Even if you’re happy and successful - some people just aren’t able to see past their own negative opinions.

Anything On The Internet Is On the Internet Forever

This really can’t be stressed enough - in the digital era, there really is no such thing as deleting something. Once you upload it, there’s no taking that back. While this may seem fine with you right now, you need to be sure that 5 years from now you’re not going to be wishing you’d done things differently. 

To avoid potential regret, be sure to set some hard limits early on about what you are comfortable with posting online.

It’s Not Just About Sex 

You’re likely thinking: getting paid to have sex is literally the best job on the planet. And you’re not wrong, but it can be a lot more complicated than that. 

If you start earning money from uploading videos or working through cam-sites, you may get into territory where you need to claim the money you’re making and this could even mean starting your own business. The ins and outs of filing taxes when you do any kind of online work can be confusing - but seeking out an accountant and asking about your options is a great way to start.

Okay, now for some good news. 

The Money Can Be Great

Speaking of money...how much do you think you could possibly make selling amateur porn videos online? Well, considering porn is a $97 billion dollar per year industry, it’s a lot. 

It might start out slow, but if you’re interested, selling amateur homemade porn could be a great side gig or something you could even turn into a full-time income. 

In one video listing the pros and cons of joining the adult industry, model turned porn actress Arwin Datnoid talks about the earning potential basically being whatever you want it to be: “...you can make so much money it’s actually stupid...I think my best month I made $20,000...and there are people who make more than I do.” 

You’ll Likely Have Better Sex

Maybe you’re single and want to explore fun and exciting interactive play by making yourself available on cam sites. Or maybe you’re in a long-term relationship and are looking for something fun to do with your partner. 

Whatever your situation, introducing any kind of audience to your games is a surefire way to make things spicy and interesting. 

You Put More Energy Into Maintaining Yourself 

When you work in corporate business, you dress and act the part. You buy suits, you keep yourself looking sharp and you conduct yourself in a professional manner. 

So often, what you do can dictate what kind of lifestyle you have, and being an adult actress (even if it’s just a side-gig) is much the same. 

You start maintaining a good diet and exercise regime to keep yourself looking as best as you can, you buy nicer outfits, and generally hold yourself to a higher standard which can do wonders for your self-confidence.

If you’re shooting from home, you likely will want a cleaner space. You may even do some renovating and decorating to an area of your home that you want to be your studio for filming - because no one likes watching a messy house, no matter how appealing the naked people in it are.

You Get to Control Your Income and Schedule 

For many people, the biggest allure of the porn industry (or any work from home job) is the freedom it gives you. 

Not only can you control your own schedule, but you can also control a lot about the business side of things. On many websites, you choose your pricing and you determine where/how/when to sell and market your services.

How to Actually Get Started Making and Selling Amateur Porn

With sites like PornHub bringing in crazy viewing stats like having over 2.5 billion (unique) visits every single month, the earning potential in this industry, even for amateurs filming out of their bedrooms...it’s outrageous. But how do you get from here to there?

There’s an idea, and then there are the actions that bring the idea to life. It’s great you can find all these websites on why you should or shouldn’t work in the porn industry - but when it comes to actually getting started, the information is scarce. 

Well, here’s what you need to know about actually getting started making and selling amateur porn.

How It Works

Amateur porn is the best kind of porn, according to many people. 

There’s a realness to it (even if it’s staged) that many people seek out when they watch porn. The dialogue is more authentic, and if you’re working with your partner, chances are people will be able to see the chemistry you have together. 

Whether you’ve started with cam work and are interested in reaching more people or you’re wanting to launch yourself into the adult film industry and create a name for yourself - creating and selling homemade amateur porn can be easy, if you know how to get started. 

There are quite a few ways of selling your adult content because that content can be anything from photos and videos to live cam performances or texting services. Every site offers a multitude of ways to sell your content (more on each site below), but most have the same overall layout of how things work. 

With any content or performance, you get a certain percentage of your wages, and the platform also takes a percentage - this is called a payout. Most cam sites offer their performers payouts between 30% - 60% of the overall earnings, and most sites who accept video content offer you a 60% - 85% payout. 

Some of these websites will also offer things like affiliate programs where you can also earn money through advertising on your channel or profile. 

Deciding On Your Brand

You likely don’t want to use your real name for privacy reasons, and coming up with a cute, sexy and fun screen name can help you develop an online personality and brand yourself as something someone will remember. 

It’s at this point that you will also want to set some goals and rules - consider what you want and what you’re willing to do to make it happen. Once you have chosen a name and brand for yourself, you can look into things like logos for watermarking your videos and other ways to market your services. 

Consider Finding a Niche 

Along with branding, consider how you will be marketing yourself. If you specialize in something (say most of your cam work will be self-bondage, for example), consider what props and toys you can use to make your videos entertaining. 

Splurging early on sexy costumes, lingerie and toys can help attract people to your videos. 

Just creating and uploading random videos without any marketing plan or system can mean your audience is confused about what you have to offer them and in turn, don’t stick around. 

Search through some sites and find some things that peak your interest and start with that. As your audience grows, you can branch out to do more things - but in the beginning, find what you love to create and make that your main priority.

Don’t Just Upload - Optimize

Simply creating and uploading good content might not be enough to really draw in your audience - after all, have you seen the amount of porn available online? 

Adding the right keywords, creating an alluring video description and adding eye-catching thumbnails are the best ways to ensure people find your videos and click on them.

See What’s Working for Others & Do it Better

Everyone has their favorites, and they’ve become our favorites for a reason. 

Think about what your favorite channels are doing right (what you like most about them) and implement that into your own channel. I don’t mean copying content - this is about watching how people you follow promote themselves, how they market their channel and even keeping an eye on things that are trending in the market right now.

For example, 2015-2017 were great years for people who created bondage videos due to the release of the popular 50 Shades of Grey franchise. 

Promote & Market Yourself As a Business 

Promoting yourself in fetish communities and posting your videos across various platforms is the best way to build an audience. If you want this to be the primary or secondary income of your life - treat it like it’s a business. 

For things like this, the devil is often in the details - adding a seductive bio with some juicy information (such as some of your hobbies, things you like and what languages you speak) are all great ways to make your audience feel like they have a genuine connection with you without giving out too much personal information. 

Invest in Good Equipment 

I’m talking a good camera, some lighting equipment, a tripod, maybe some decor to make the room look nice, a good laptop or computer to edit your videos on, and you may even need to invest in some editing software. 

The nicer your videos look, the more views you will get, the more money you will make.

Many People Start with Cam Performances

Cam sites are a natural starting point because they are fairly easy, you’re in total control and the earning potential is big. 

First, you set up a channel on the cam site of your choice. You set a price for viewing and then start broadcast yourself from the comfort of your own home. 

Most profiles on cam sites include some type of “menu” where you list what you do and how much a guest needs to tip (referred to as credits or tokens) to see each service. For example, maybe you are masturbating on camera and for any tip over 100 credits, you reward the viewers with adding a toy to the mix. 

Likewise, a couple might prolong their foreplay on camera until they reach their target of 5000 credits, at which point they will start having sex. This is a great incentive system to keep your audience engaged in what you’re doing and on the edge of their seats waiting for your next big move. 

Some of the more popular cam sites to register with are: 

The main difference between cam performances and actually selling your adult content in video form is that cam performances only bring in an income while you’re live - whereas selling your adult content allows you to continuously make money from those videos. 

One more thing - if you are looking to start on a cam site, check out this super helpful beginners guide from Pleasure Seeker.

Selling Your Photos & Video Clips

Aside from being a webcam model, you can also sell your photos and audio/video clips online. Selling clips is a bit different from selling full sets of amateur porn videos, but it’s a great way to transition from live cam work to the next level. 

Along with some of the sites listed below, many cam websites now offer the option for their performers to upload and sell video clips to their guests.

Some of the more popular sites for selling clips are: 

For many people, selling your clips and photos is a natural next step from cam work, but getting started selling video content can be tricky - it would be very beneficial if you have already built up some kind of following or branded/marketed yourself well.

Where Do I Sell My Homemade Amateur Porn?

Now that you’re ready to really get started, it’s time to decide where to start selling. 

While you will want to choose a few different platforms and broadcasts yourself in different ways - what site(s) you choose to partner with can really determine how well you do. 

Take a look at some of the descriptions below that can hopefully help you determine which sites would be the best fit for your content.

Extra Lunch Money 

ExtraLunchMoney is the place to be - which is why it’s first on this list. Not only can you sell photos and videos, but the platform also has so many other options that simply aren’t rivaled by the other amateur porn selling sites. 

ExtraLunchMoney offers the ability to sell your video content, do cam model work, sell lingerie and panties and allows you to arrange cross-platform shows on social media accounts like Skype and Snapchat. You can even get paid to send and receive flirty texts. 

It’s truly the “all-in-one” platform for selling homemade adult content and can offer you some great opportunities that you couldn’t find elsewhere. 

ExtraLunchMoney offers you between 60% - 65% of your earnings, which is considered a decent starter payout level. The main benefit of ExtraLunchMoney is that it’s easy and convenient, making it a great place to start if you’re new to the industry. 

SideDaddy

SideDaddy is perfect if you’re looking to grow as the most popular name in a certain niche or catagory. With options to sign yourself up as an individual model or a studio house that creates and sells amateur porn, this is a good choice if you’re looking to make this into a full time gig.

SideDaddy offers you 60% - 70% of your earnings, which is considered on the average end of payouts.

MyDirtyHobby

Why not take this international with the European platform MyDirtyHobby? 

On this platform you can participate in live cam chats, upload your photos and videos and even earn money by chatting with other members via text message. 

Many affiliates enjoy this site because all of the cam work done on this site is web-based, meaning there isn’t any additional software you need to download to get started. It’s an even 50/50 split between the platform and the performer, so you are taking home half of every tip that comes your way. While this isn’t the greatest payout option, it does offer you the chance to grow your audience in ways other websites can’t guarantee. 

This is also a great site for people who want to appeal to multilingual audiences. 

XHamster

XHamster (a personal favourite of mine) offers separate portals for three major catagories: straight, gay and transgender - making it a great place to go if you’re looking to appeal to one audience in particular. 

You don’t need to count on your audience searching for the right keywords in the search bar of a massive website teeming with millions of videos on varying topics. You have a smaller pool of videos in each section, meaning you have more of a chance of being seen.

Selling your videos, registering as a cam model and actually interacting with your audience through chats and comment sections can help you build a name for yourself. 

PornHub ModelHub 

Ah yes, PornHub. Everyone knows it - but if you’re not a model there yet, you might not know about what they have to offer their performers. 

The PornHub network offers you the chance to benefit from the over 100 million daily users the site averages. With amateur porn being one of the most commonly searched things on PornHub, this is a great place to start for anyone interested in creating and selling amateur porn on a higher level.

Offering payouts through popular methods such as Paypal, Wire and Paxum - it’s super easy to get started selling through this platform. 

Practical Tips for Being Successful in Selling Homemade Amateur Porn 

Now that you know how to get started, let’s talk about how to be successful so you can keep this going. 

Below are some tips I’ve found on amateur porn sites from men and women who are already working in the industry to give you some insight on how to make this successful and fun. 

Appeal to All the Senses 

Good lighting and sexy lingerie aren’t the only keys to having a successful channel or cam profile. Addressing the room, engaging with your audience and using your microphone are all good ways to appeal to all the senses and allow your audience to be completely captivated by your performance.

You know how some people get that tingly feeling while listening to ASMR? 

Well, our sense of hearing can allow us to put ourselves into a fantasy unlike any other sense can. Make use of your microphone by letting your audience hear everything that’s going on, in great quality. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Hit Pause

There is nothing worse than being in the heat of the moment and having something completely shatter the fantasy you’ve built. Talk about a mood killer. 

You don’t want to do that to your audience, right?
Whether it’s editing a not-so-sexy portion out of your video (like setting up or changing positions) or actually pausing a live cam session to blow your nose or answer an urgent phone call - it’s better to pause than to completely ruin the moment. 

Put Some Personality Into It

It’s not just about looking good - giving your audience someone who is funny, vibrant, sexy and lively is a great way to make them feel connected to you. 

People who put a bit more into the performance part of their videos and let their personality shine through a bit are the people who are more likely to have repeat audiences. 

Take Notes & Grow With the Industry

It’s just good business to try to improve after every performance. If you notice one particular video has more views than any other or that there was a surge in tips during one point in your cam performance, maybe adapt your channel to be geared more towards those things. 

Give the people what they want. 

Be Consistent with Your Schedule 

This is critical if you want to build a loyal following on any platform.

Uploading random videos here and there or appearing live on camera when no one is expecting it can mean low view rates, which ultimately means you don’t have as much success.

Having an up-to-date schedule of when you will appear live or having a set day of the week you upload videos will help people find you easily and know when to expect new content from you. 

Protect Your Content 

Sell on sites that abide by DCMA/copyright guidelines. Consider adding a watermark to your videos to avoid theft. Check if the sites you’re using are protected against people downloading and sharing your content without your permission. 

Protecting your content is the best way to ensure you are able to derive a good income and profit from them long-term.