Have you ever thought of becoming a webcam model? Some people might stop you by saying that it is too complex and requires expensive special equipment. We are to make sure that it is much easier than it might seem.

What are Webcam Modeling Essentials?

At the very beginning of the camming career, people look for lists of essentials that people need to start the business. Such lists include equipment like a cam and mic and information and resources. Webcam modeling essentials include laptops, cameras, unique sex toys, lighting, web resources, informative guides, etc. We mean articles that enumerate everything a model should have to enter the camming business by principles. In short, it is an email address, high-quality photos and videos for your profile page, understanding of taxes and the banking system.

All the guides that share lists of essentials are beneficial both initially and for experienced camgirls and boys. Indeed, it doesn't matter what kind of business you are about to run, at first you should collect all available information and prepare a webcam, mic, and all the stuff you need. To succeed, you should be prepared; don't ignore the essentials kit.

The Best Camming Equipment

Many lists provide lists of exact gadgets, but there is an essential point that a model should understand entering the industry. The majority of companies combine such lists to promote their products. Below we made a brandless list of devices that are essential for a successful run of webcam business:

  • PC;
  • Webcam, video, or photo camera with video recording feature;
  • Extra webcam equipment (microphone, webcam splitter, wireless internet connection with high speed, keyboard, mouse);
  • Sex toys and things to spice up your live show;
  • Camgirl lighting equipment

So let's have a closer look at each point, and figure out why it is so essential to check them out.

PC

PC or laptop is necessary to build a career as a popular webcam model. Even though our phones are extremely smart and have high-performance today, in most cases it is not enough to run a cam business.

Webcams & cameras

The central part of webcam shows are live video streams. To offer your audience the best entertainment, you should consider buying a high-quality web camera.

Another essential component of a camgirl career is video and photo content. Think of photo and video shoots that you will have to organize. A good cam is a component of success.

Moreover, both cameras can replace one another. You can take photos on your web camera or run live streams via video camera if you want.

Extra webcam equipment

The list of various tools and equipment is limited only by your offer. It might include:

  • Microphone
  • Webcam splitter
  • Modem with high-speed internet
  • Green display screen
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse

Think of tools that would help you be autonomous and freely move on your stage without losing connection with the audience watching you.

Sex toys

Most people come to webcam platforms to see some hot sexual content and visualize their secret dreams. So for a model, it is a plus to have a selection of toys that can be used in the show and make it sexy.

Advice from experienced webcam models:
Playing with sex toys, remember to use lube. It is recommended by all companies producing sex toys but also looks much better on cam.

Along with sex toys, think of buying some role play costumes. It might be a cute little dress, a pair of fluffy handcuffs, a tail with cat ears. On webcam sites and communities, numerous viewers look for a naughty nurse, a sexy catgirl, or a fantasy fairy to realize their wishes and show off. Remember that viewers won't send tips for ordinary cam shows.

Webcam studio lighting

To run the best shows from the beginning of a webcam model career, take care of lighting. Daylight isn't enough when we talk about a full-time webcam career. Sometimes your shows might take place at high, some of them might be on rainy days, with proper lighting equipment it is not a problem, you and your background would always look good on cam.

Proper illumination like softboxes, colorful neon light bulbs, etc., makes the show look more professional.

Note: Using professional lighting, your makeup must be perfect. Otherwise, lighting would highlight unpleasant things that you'd prefer to hide.

Camming Room

After you've figured out the equipment for your webcam live shows, think of the room or studio where you're going to shoot. It might be your bedroom, a living room, a special studio, etc. It might be any place where you feel comfortable and can place all the equipment, and it should look good on screen.

Many camgirls start their live shows in bed, but that's 100% up to you; it can be a sofa, a chair, or any other surface you feel comfortable on.

Camming area

It is essential to furnish and design the camming room to be handy. Place a small table next to your bed so that you can put there all your sex toys, a keyboard with a mouse, and some other significant stuff.

Webcam Site

Once you have all the equipment from the list above and know where you would cam your shows, it's time to think of a platform or a site where you would place all the content, where you would communicate with the audience, where customers would come and pay to see your live shows and purchase a video from you.

With Modelnet you have the freedom to create a webcam space that would be both user-friendly and provide a high-quality interaction experience.

Modelnet site builder allows models without knowing even a line of code to create a website to boost their webcam influence. Webcam models from all over the world choose Modelnet for our features, experienced support managers, and simplicity of usage.

Let's take a look at points that stand for our words better than anything else.

  1. Modelnet offers advanced technology to receive and transmit audio and video for webcam models who mostly run live streaming shows.
  2. Modelnet data centers are located in the USA and Europe, so webcam models with Modelnet sites can enjoy our web hostings in very good conditions.
  3. It is up to a model to decide if the site would be a personal platform or shared with other webcam models. It is a good business strategy to start as an individual model and then invite other models to work on your website and earn commission from their shows as a business owner.
  4. Price setting is entirely the site owner's responsibility. It is up to you to decide on tips, subscription options, paid chats, and live shows. Modelnet does not take any commission fee from a model or viewers.
  5. The image of the webcam site can be either changed on your own, in the admin panel (logo, colors, theme, texting), you can change predesigned free templates, or contact our managers to get a personal design for a fair price.

There are two options to pay for the Modelnet software; you can make a webcam site with a monthly subscription for $395 per month plus a $95 installation fee, or buy a lifetime subscription for $3995 with a $99 hosting fee.

Modelnet is a good solution for those webcam models who don't see any perspectives in public webcam sites, and are ready to run the webcam site on their own terms. Don't waste your time and contact Modelnet managers to get more information.

Get demo

Tax and Legal Information

Along with starting your site, study the legal and tax aspects of running a webcam site and selling sex-related content online.

A legal part includes such issues if a webcam is legal in your country or region (in the Middle West, it is prohibited), the legal age of becoming a representative of the webcam industry. Also, it is recommended to check out if a webcam model must have a license for producing and selling sex content.

If you don't have enough time to study this question or just don't want to do it yourself, you can always hire a lawyer or get an online consultation. By the way, there is a Scrile Meet platform that unites experts from different niches; check it out to find your ideal online lawyer.

As for the tax aspect, the most frequently asked question is if a webcam model has to pay any taxes from the income. Well, modeling for webcam sites, a camgirl is considered a contractor. Consequently, it is obligatory to pay taxes. Taxes are a part of any business, so don't even try to run away from them; otherwise, IRS (internal revenue service) would come for you.

Some webcam models prefer to stay aside from this procedure by hiring an accountant, but indeed it is not as frightening as it might seem. It would take some time to get on well with all the steps for the first time, but in the end, you'll see that any model can handle it.

Banking Options

To have the income to pay taxes from, create reliable payment methods, so your viewer can pay for the shows, send tips, and buy original content like NFTs. Webcam business constantly develops, and the market offers various payment systems; below, we compared five of the most popular options that camgirls apply to their sites.

Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, etc., we all know them and with time they become a routine for us. It is the best option to keep anonymity for both sides of the transaction. Cryptocurrency is a unique adult-friendly currency with examples designed especially for the webcam market: SpankChain, JizzCoins, Crypto Titties, Red Bux.

Gift cards & Wish lists

It is not precisely about paying money, but it is an opportunity for viewers not to feel that they buy your attention. Presenting a gift card to a model show a kind of romantic gesture.

Checks

At first, this banking option sounds strange for webcam business, but it can be sent via mail and don't incur any extra processing.

Paxum

Paxum is a payment platform that allows your audience to send money transfers from all over the world. With Plaxum, it is available to submit transactions directly to Visa and Mastercard cards. It is known for more than 50 countries in 20 currencies.

Bank transfers & Cash payments

The best option for instant money transfers. It is usually used when models give special time-limited offers. Also, it is used when a camgirl does some guest shows on some other webcam sites.

Physical and Mental State

Some people would find it surprising, but webcam models also have health risks with webcam shows. Most importantly, using various sex toys, models must take care of them. Before and after each show, a toy must be washed with soap and water. To prevent toys from damaging, take out the batteries; otherwise, it might result in short-circuiting while the toy is inside the model. Remember to use lube each time you make a show for your viewers with a toy to prevent unpleasant feelings.

Remember that you are a webcam model and a human being that faces various individual health issues: menstrual cycle, migraine, vagina PH, acne, hormonal changes, etc. Modeling and representing all the best features, camgirls corner themselves, so in the end, a webcam career seems to be torture.

At the very beginning, webcam modeling appears to be nothing more than a fun and easy way to earn some money. But prepare yourself; camming is not that easy regularly. Webcam models regularly receive tons of requests and attention from the audience, sometimes it might be annoying, but camming isn't just a hobby; it is business.

Here you should remember that your life is more than a webcam; behind those lights, screens, and cameras, you have people who value you. If a model feels that she is about to fizzle out, she should take a break. The webcam site won't fall apart without a model in a couple of days. But for a camgirl, it would be a perfect rest to come back with some inspiration.

There are many tips on how to calm down if you are about to burn down on the internet. Do some yoga, meditate, go for a walk without gadgets and internet connection.

Knowledge Base

The Internet is full of various articles and guides on "How to start a Webcam Model career", "Webcam Model business: from A to Z", "Webcam Modeling for Beginners" all of them provide a lot of valuable information, but first-hand advice is more life applicable. Consequently, we recommend you to check out some niche forums where experienced models exchange tips. Some forums would be about the best toy shops, costumes, lighting, and equipment sales. Others discuss tech news, marketing, promotion tactics, and what shows bring more tips from viewers.

Being an active forum user, you can become a part of the webcam modeling community. You know people who share similar interests, have the same daily issues with camming tools, and annoying viewers. Some people can understand you probably even better than a friend, just because they know how it feels to be a webcam model.

Quick tips to get success at webcam modeling

To build a webcam modeling career, there are some key aspects that a model should remember.

  • Make a nice-looking modeling profile on your site. People want to come and see that there is a real person on the other side of the screen. Tell them a story through your profile page. Use graphics and extra media in your profile.
  • Regularly upload new content to your profile, be creative and make it look good and appealing. Appealing content in your profile would increase the chances of other people subscribing to it.
  • Social media networks like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok are great to make more people know about you.

Self-promotion and social media marketing are important for building cam modeling awareness. Popular cam models spend a lot of time modeling in front of the cam and promoting their sites.

The Dos and Don'ts of Webcam Modeling

If it is still not clear for you, what to start your webcam modeling career, and you are too afraid to make a mistake, here are some theses for you to check out.

Do it babe! Think once more
Do research before you start camming. Turn off your laptop's in-built webcam.
Even though webcam modeling seems fun and lucrative, it is real work that takes a lot from you. It is better to be prepared and know everything in advance. Unfortunately, in-built webcams aren't as good as particular webcams. Initially, it is created for people to have live video calls; in this case, the quality of the video is not as important as in the case of webcam modeling. It would never result in a 1080p picture.
Be the boss. You don't have to follow each request you receive from viewers.
If you decide to run a solo webcam site, you become a webcam model and a boss of the business. Think of marketing, promote your show and site, make a schedule of shows, and strictly follow it. The audience prefers to pay for content that they are used to. In communication with your webcam audience to set clear borders that you would never pass over. If a viewer pays you for something you don't want to do, just don't do it. Overall it's your site; you are the boss.
Run your webcam site. Be sober on shows.
The market is full of regular webcam sites with models interested in easy money. Be different; create your webcam site with a unique atmosphere and vibe.
Viewers are tired of average models lying alone in their beds and doing nothing.
When a young model starts camming, at first, it might be frightening and stressful, but don't even think of drinking alcohol or using drugs before going live on shows. At first, it shows disrespect to your audience. Secondly, you would do something that makes you regret it after all.
Be creative.
For the audience, it is significant to see that the model values them as much as they do. Make the room where you create your shows look nice and catchy. No one would like to watch a show with the same decorations all the time. Also, make some new costumes and roles to make an intense intrigue.
Control your style; you are not a porn star.
At the very beginning of a webcam career, many models make the same mistake; they try to dress up as hot as possible, so they become blindfolded and, in the end, turn out to look vulgar. The audience doesn't come to webcam sites for dirty and vulgar models; erotic and spicy looks are way more profitable.

Final Thoughts

Webcam modeling might be challenging, but it is a real career with its benefits. If you always wanted to be a model, do live shows in front of the cam, so thousands of people could admire you from all over the world and send tips and gifts for your charisma, then start a webcam site and enjoy it.

Contact us

Back to home page

16 min read
Polina Ponomarenko
Polina Ponomarenko
Marketing manager at Scrile. Creating and promoting content for Modelnet and Scrile Connect over 2 years, covering a range of topics in online business industry.