Being a cam model isn’t always as glamorous as it’s made out to be. Yeah, it can be a very lucrative practice, but it doesn’t always start out that way.
What many new models don’t know is that they won’t be making top dollar starting day one — at least, not consistently. It takes time do build a clientele, and you need to invest in the business.
If you’re a new model, here are some tips to help you get that hot start and ball on a budget.
Don’t Quit Your Day Job Just Yet
Camming is a great way to make extra cash when you start off — but unless you already have people lining up to buy your nudes, your first paycheck isn’t going to be enough to pay the bills.
Work hard and build a clientele before you give your two weeks notice. Use that extra money to invest in your cam career — get cute outfits, buy some lingerie and get a good quality sex toy.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Do not go out and buy a fancy new camera your first month in. You probably already have a smart phone, and your laptop might already have a built-in camera. Use them! Don’t worry about high definition. As long as your personality is HD, you’re golden.
Good lighting will enhance the quality of any video, so play around with lighting and see what happens — but don’t feel compelled to go out and buy some studio-quality equipment. Use the lighting you have, and if that means using your desk lamp, do it. If you have two lamps, use them both! If those options aren’t available to you, you can find cheap LED lights. These LimoStudio Continuous LED Portable Light Lamps are only $17.99 on Amazon, and there are even other less expensive options available.
Another lighting option — why buy lights when you can get it for free? Utilize natural lighting. If you’re going online during the day, cam in front of a window. (Just keep eyes out for potential IRL shows — yikes!)
Cam Room Decor
Add a little bit of personality and intrigue to your room with decor. You can find cheap tapestries online — they’re a fast and easy way to add flare to your background. Find a design that embodies who you are (or, who your cam persona is), but make sure it’s not too distracting or busy. If you’re extra like me, you can add twinkly lights or have lit candles in the background. They’re cute and set a mood.
If tapestries aren’t really your thing, find something to hang on the wall. The clients are there for you, but having something in the background can make your room look more inviting. Explore your nearest dollar store and see what you can hang up. Bullseye’s Playground at Target is great if you want cheap, seasonal decorations.
Use What You Got!
Finally, lket’s be honest — lingerie, costumes and sex toys are expensive. Though shopping can be fun, don’t think you need to get all of those things before you hit the play button. In fact, you probably already have all of these things — enough to get you started.
Use your favorite pair of undies that make you look and feel good. If you’re going to do any role play, look through your closet. Glasses, skirts and heels are highly requested items that are probably already in your closet in some form or another. Don’t have any toys? Just remember that anything can be a dildo if you really want it to be…
In the end, setting up your room, getting good shots and even building up rapport with customers are processes that rely on creativity. You could have all the money in the world to spend on your cam start, but without some ingenuity and creativity, money really doesn’t matter. YOU are your most important resource, and starting out on a budget may actually help get your creative juices flowing from day one — and that’s a good thing!
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Ariane Torres is a writer who says funny things on occasion. Email her at ariane@ynotcam.com and find her on Twitter at @tofulumpia.
Image via adrian keith.
[…] into your career. There are some ways to start out small — check out our tips on “Successful Camming on a Budget” here — but eventually some costs will […]