To become a cam model is easy but what is a cam model and where do you truly begin. You may not know but there are several types of cam models and how you start your camming business will determine not only your earnings but also how viewers continue to perceive you.
Let us break down what a cam model is and give you some ideas on how you may want to start camming online.
What Is a Cam Model?
What is the meaning of a Cam Model or Camgirl or Webcam Model?
A Cam Model is a self-employed independent contractor; who uses an internet-enabled video/audio streaming device (Computer/Smartphone) to encourage viewers to chat, play games and/or give tips for sexual/non-sexual requests and exclusively produced content.
What Is a Cam Site?
A cam site like Chaturbate or MyFreecams, provides a live-streaming platform for cam models (hosts) to use for free. These site earn revenues from advertising placements and transaction fees from tokens purchases by viewers.
The payout percentages varies from site to site. You won’t ever earn 100% of all the money coming into the website. Keep in mind, these platforms must take care of all the technical work behind the scenes (payment processing, programming, hosting etc.), to keep everything working perfectly.
Look at it another way, 100% of the tips earn in your room is yours. Don’t concern yourself with the sites cut when viewers buy tokens. Focus on connecting with your audience, making your performances the best and earning as much as possible.
The First Cam Model
There must always be a first, and all cam models owe that respect to Jennifer Ringley, who launched JenniCam way back in 1996. She saw the internet as an opportunity to invite the world into her home and watch her life completely unfiltered. For Jenni and some viewers this was a great social experiment while others tuned in hoping to catch her naked or engaging in sex, which she did.
JenniCam received a lot of push back from religious and women’s rights groups, as well as many degrading comments from the public. However, she was a pioneer despite her criticisms and JenniCam became very successful.
JenniCam helped to birth something new, not only for technology and but for the independency of women as well.
You’re an Independent Contractor
Working as a cam model will make you an independent contractor and not an employee of these cams sites. You must become responsible for filing your own self-employment income taxes and maintaining your own health insurances.
As an independent contractor you must also purchases your own equipment (webcam, computer, microphone, Internet service, lighting, props, etc.). Remember to keep your receipts as must of your purchase are tax deductible.
There’s also no manager to overlook you or give you a work schedule. You will need to set your work hours in addition to creatively crafting your shows.
There are some key advantages however and disadvantages to keep in mind when deciding to work as an independent contractor.
Advantages
- You Are Your Own Boss: No more punching of someone else’s clock. Work when you want by setting your schedule, earning goal and rules for viewers to follow.
- Earn More Than Employees: Having the ability to set your own hours means you can work as much as you want, whether 4, 6 or 10 hours a day. Regular employees are capped at part-time or full-time hours and not everyone is offered overtime at their jobs. Also, with the potential of whales, cam models often see very large single tips of $50, $100 and at times over $1000 in a day.
- Pay Lower Income Taxes: Employees are subject to many taxes and insurances withheld by an employer, which you will avoid. As an independent contractor you have full control of your tax deductions allowing you to lower your overall owed taxes and keeping more money for yourself.
Disadvantages
- No Job Security: What happens if you’re not able to connect to the internet or you have no access to a computer, or the camming site is currently down. Many problems can arise which can stop you from working. At any time, a cam site for any reason and with no warning ban you from using their platform. Employees must hold a sense of responsibility and resolve for their employees, but independent contractors don’t receive the same protections, as there or limited laws, and no unions to support cam models.
- Risk of Not Being Paid: Employees earn a consistent paycheck no matter what, whether paid by working a specific set of hours or on salary. There are two scenarios in which an independent won’t get paid, either by not showing up to work online and/or viewers not tipping. The other, is problems with the cam site itself not issuing payments to you on time or at all. As a cam model your earnings are directly tied to others.
- Working Multiple Roles: You wanted to be your own boss and working as an independent contractor means YOU are a business. What viewers see online for a few hours is the preparation of hours off camera. You must wear several hats when running your own business. Top cam models know how to produce/edit their own content, build/set-up websites, promote themselves and manage their own earnings. The stress of managing so much can be a bit much for most.
The 4 Types of Cam Models
Not all models may want to perform nude or explicitly for their viewers. This is a decision that is completely up to you.
Although, you will be working on an adult web camming platform, you are not required to do anything adult related. There are several models who only log on to chat with viewers or comfortable only performing small non-nude teases. Believe it or not but some of these models make really good earnings, nonetheless.
If you are considering becoming a cam model, there are several different types of Cam models you can choose to be as you start your camming business.
The 4 most common types of Cam Models are:
1.
Non-Nude Cam Model

Non-Nude Models are rare on adult web Camming Platforms. These cam models tend to focus more on conversations with their viewers. Non-nude cam models do not get topless/bottomless. They will show you different body parts like feet, butt, face etc.
For most non-nude cam models their intentions are to never go nude. There’s still some hope as Non-Nude cam models may never become nude in public, they may save that exclusively for private 1-on-1’s.
Perhaps you want to play the innocent shy girl but a complete freak in private. This may give some non-nude cam models more control and a great strategy to earn more money when used correctly. The choice is yours how you introduce yourself to your audience and maintain your goals long term.
Non-nude models receive the lowest earnings out of all the cam models, as their viewers count and interaction tends to always remain low.
Keep these pros & cons in mind when deciding if becoming a non-nude cam model is right for you:
Pros
- Low risk of content theft or exposure
- Low level of competition
- Switching to other model types will increase viewers and earnings
Cons
- Lowest Earning Potential
- Lowest number of viewers
- Offer limited viewer tip request options
2.
Nude Cam Model

More cam models start off this way as nude cam models. This model will become topless and/or fully nude during public chat with viewers.
Nude cam models tend to take more private 1-on-1 shows than any other type. They are usually willing to do more there to avoid risking any potential problems in their personal lives.
For many cam models this is a great way to test out a web camming platform or your confidence before you fully commit.
Keep these pros & cons in mind when deciding if becoming a nude cam model is right for you:
Pros
- High level of earning potential
- Moderate level of competition
- Switching to an adult model may increase followers and earnings
Cons
- High level of scams
- Moderate number of viewers tip request options
Strategy: A great strategy some nude models use is to start off as a nude model for several weeks/months, gradually doing more adult related acts (explicit teases or penetration) as they build their loyal followers.
3.
Adult Cam Model

This is the most common type of Cam model, who is willing to become nude and perform sexual requests in public chat for their viewers.
Adult cam models receive a large number of tips in public chat for performing or granting any sexual request they have available on that particular day. Another large portion of earning for adult cam models are with private shows.
Keep in mind, adult cam models tend to earn more from privates than the other types because they are willing to offer more, but they may or may not accept private shows (1-on1, group).
Keep these pros & cons in mind when deciding if becoming an adult cam model is right for you:
Pros
- Highest earning potential
- Numerous viewer tip request options
Cons
- Highest level of competition
- High level of scams
- Highest number of freeloaders
- Reverting to another type of model may reduce loyal followers
4.
Anonymous Cam Model

This model is a blend between all other the other cam models mentioned above. For obvious reasons, an anonymous cam model wants to keep her identify as a secret. This cam model may use makeup or wigs to change their appearance, to wearing a mask or completely hiding their face on cam.
Remaining anonymous online is hard work, especially when you’re constantly moving around on cam, readjusting the cam or simply talking about yourself. Before you start you should plan out exactly how you will appear online and the exact cam and body angles you will use while online.
Depending on if you decide to become a Non-Nude, nude or adult anonymous cam model, the potential to earn a lot of money is still there. Your personally needs to shine through as viewers will focus more on it. Although, generally anonymous cam models earn less but there are also several who still earn over $5000 per month consistently.
Keep these pros & cons in mind when deciding if becoming an anonymous cam model is right for you:
Pros
- Maintains highest level of confidentiality
- High earning potential
- Moderate level of competition
- Numerous viewer tip request options
- Switching to adult model type may increase loyal followers
Cons
- Highest level of competition
- High level of scams
- Moderate number of viewers
- High number of freeloaders
Choose Wisely
You may not want to be open for just about anything on day 1, and this is ok. Some cam models know exactly what they are doing or want to grow their fans and viewers as quickly as possible; so, they do not mine starting nude or granting sexual requests from the start.
Yet, other cam models may want to slowly offering more explicit requests as time goes on. This is great for building your viewers and giving them a reason to come back seeking and wanting more over time.
Among the financial benefits and lifestyle, there are several risks you must consider before becoming a cam model. Loss of friends and loves or the risk of being ousted publicly are just a few.
Webcamming Is More Than Just Chatting
Web camming today is a completely immersive and interactive experience as compared to only a few years ago. Apart from just chatting, there’s now the addition of playing interactive games, selling content, and engaging loyal followers across several platforms.
There’s tons of tipping games you can play with your viewers. Exciting games like spin the wheel, blackjack, pick a number, as well as raffles and contests.
Playing games can bring so much fun and life into a room and when combined with sexy prizes. Chaturbate, have some great apps that offer tipping games and chat bots to help boost your chat room and make it more interactive. Not all cam site offer this.
The most also create additional revenue streams. Selling exclusive products can provide a big portion of your income. Sell anything you can imagine once you have a loyal following, everything from photos, videos, panties, memberships, and self-branded products. So, remember to take advantage of promoting yourself on social media.
Is The Money Worth It?
Webcam modeling is one of the highest paying Work-From-Home jobs.
No matter what your decision may be for starting, the opportunity to become financial independent is easily available. On average, cam models make between $500-$1000 per week part-time and considerably more full-time just from web camming.
The money is absolutely worth it when you are truly focused on your business. For example, would you be ok with making $50, $100 or $200 per day only for a few hours of work? Keep in mind that’s much more than the standard minimum wage.
The most successful earns hundreds of thousands of dollars per year with many of them becoming millionaires. To be honest, sex sells. So, the money available isn’t the problem; the question is, are you willing to succeed.
Can I Become a Cam Model?
As we mentioned before, it’s easy and anyone can. If you are above the age of 18, simply apply to any of the top web camming platforms available. From there, it’s only a matter of setting up your profile, having all required equipment and simply logging on.
In Conclusion
Whether you decided to start off your camming business as a non-nude or adult model, the choice is yours. To become a cam model is easy, however it requires hard work although incredibly rewarding.
Always think long term, not only solving all of your financial problems in one day. Once you’ve made the decision to become a cam model, focus on becoming a top cam model.
Now, you know the true cam model meaning, and have an idea of where you want to start. But, before you start, we want you to put yourself through a short mental test to see if you’re ready for what’s to come.
Take that test here: Start Cam Modeling After Answering These 10 Daring Questions
After you’re done, and you still want to become a cam model, there’s nothing stopping you.
Good Luck!