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It seems like it has been a cultural constant that everyone wants to become the next big star in whatever industry they are interested in making money. Now that more people have recently become more sex-positive (finally!), they don’t much mind the idea of making money as an adult model.
But as enlightened people know, there is so much more to life than making money. While being one of the rich people by dispassionately grinding may sound great, to make something beautiful feels even better.
Trust me, as someone who has dedicated his career documenting damn near everything that happens in the porn industry, I can say that doing what you love feels better than what any industry can pay you.
With all of that said, want to be apart of an industry that emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure rather than simply avoiding pain? Do you think that you are someone who can handle the attention and adoration of fans from all over the world? Do you get wet at the idea of pulling people into a fantasy of your own making based on your interpretation of sexuality?
Then maybe you have what it takes to become the biggest name in the smut industry – perhaps become the female pornstar of our era.
I may write one for the fellas later, but since my orientation and focus is on the ladies, this guide is for female wannabe porn industry professionals, specifically.
Be sure to prepare yourself mentally; then focus on prepping yourself physically
Arguably the most crucial thing to do if you want to make it big in with production companies who produce and distribute porn is determining your motivations. People such as Mia Khalifa, who for a while was a majorly successful pornstar legend, clearly got into the business for some wrong reasons.
I might write more about her later, but this former porn starlet got into the porn industry as a way of getting back at her religiously conservative Muslim parents. If she had the choice now, she has said that she would never have gotten into the porn business.
Don’t be that person.
Instead, as I have documented, there are plenty of arousing rising and erected (see what I did there?) porn performers who opted in for far more fulfilling reasons.
For example, Belle Knox – arguably the porn sensation of the early aughts – wanted to make adult content both as a way to pay for college and because she loves getting fucked. If you watch her videos, it’s obvious she enjoyed doing both a lot.
Then there are those who decided to get into the business for similar motives but also to explore and/or express there own psychology with relation to sexuality, including examples such as Nina Hartley, Levi Karter, and Lisa Ann.
So, make sure to remember that just because you are passionately fucking a studly male porn star doesn’t mean that he loves you. This is what porn industry people, such as Mellisa Monet, have brought up before as a major handicap to being successful.
As a porn performer, you should be able to distinguish between the fun of fucking and the intimacy of lovemaking. The first is great for porn; the second is best kept behind closed doors.
Once you have your mind right about why you want to snag a job in porn – if not make a career about getting into the adult entertainment industry – make sure you understand how to protect yourself physically.
After all, to be successful in this business, you are going to be fucking a ton of people who have had sex with others in the adult industry…and likely other people outside of porn. While people on all of the worthwhile sites are registered with the PASS system, you should take extra precautions to protect yourself.
Before you go into porn, I think all girls should take as many precautions which include getting tested independently, get vaccinated against hepatitis A & B and HPV, and, most importantly, start taking PrEP.
Here is where I recommend you start when it comes to finding work
Like any other industry in the world, the porn business has its share of the aboveboard and low brow actors out there. Understanding this and how to sort the porn industry best from the shady assholes is particularly important when you are first applying for jobs.
Sure there are sites like Craigslist and other knockoff websites which some pornographers use to recruit talent. But that’s kind of like going to a fast-food restaurant and expecting to find a long-term carer path.
Yeah, it is technically possible, but it’s not likely to happen.
Instead, you are going to want to go to specialty sites, casting agencies, and studios. The top advertising site which vets both advertisers and applicants are PornApplication.com, Adult Staffing, and Sexy Jobs.
PornApplication is definitely the most recommended way “to enter the porn industry. They work with 100 percent legitimate porn studios.
Sexy Jobs is also of the popular platforms among recruiters. As of right now, there are hundreds of ads just for ladies, with dozens being added on a monthly basis.
Adult Casting Center can be a decent site, but most of the gigs posted are for guys.
Applications are (usually) detailed and list the recruiter’s studio or agency, the point-of-contact person, and an email or number to reach out to. I can’t say this is true universally, but this site seems to be free of shady characters. I can undoubtedly say most of the advertisers are either upstarts and middle-industry studios.
Noodling around for casting agencies through a search engine like Google is generally a good way of going about finding agencies, not on sites I just mentioned. However, you should follow a few guidelines when getting work through these companies.
For one, keep in mind that these are professional photographers and marketers. So, like other people in their business, they should show off models they have promoted before. The first good sign on these sorts of sites is seeing a collection of galleries of models.
On a related note, seeing testimonials, while not gospel, is another reassuring thing to see.
Second, agency websites should thoroughly list their contact information, including a phone number, and email address, and either their physical location or places that recruiters travel to. Further, they should be firm in their where and when you are supposed to be for your interview, and photoshoot is supposed to be.
Wishy-washy, show-up-whenever-to-the-set responses are a definite red flag. Getting a reply like that does not mean that they will take advantage of you, but more likely, it is a sign they are not good at their jobs.
Third, as a general rule, the more detail an agency gives on their platform and in their first volley or emails, texts, and mobile calls, the better.
Then there are, of course, the studio sites and their parent networks, which are often looking for new talent. It can be harder for those who are a bit niche in their aesthetic, have an alternative look, or don’t have the look of top-tier sites. But if you do, consider directly applying to networks like Team Skeet or properties owned by Mindgeek – i.e., Brazzers, Twisty’s, Why Not Bi. If you impress, you will probably be hired to work much faster.
Another way to improve your chances of getting hired and putting your name out there, I would recommend auditioning with a Backroom Casting Couch type website. For a complete list of the best premium amateur websites to get your career started on, look up this epic compilation complete with full reviews here.
And I’ll put this in here not because I want to (or in a sense really should) but that I have to: do not sign up to do porn work until you are 18! Contrary to popular belief held by some ambitious minor-aged teens, angry feminists, and the anti-porn right-wingers, studios do not want to shoot those who are underage.
And if you want an example of the incredible drama sparked by some fuckers who thought they could get away with getting into the industry underage look up what happened with Brent Corrigan and Cobra Video. While it is not directly related, that whole shitstorm included an actual murder.
Learn how to market yourself as an established pornstar would
If you are not going to go through an agency, you are going to want to get a portfolio of high-quality pictures and maybe some video footage to showoff to websites and recruiters. One way to go out this would be to find a photographer who has experience working with models but is conformable shooting nudity.
Usually, this can be a bit tricky if you live in a rural area, and even if you do, you might have to pay them. However, if you do enough digging, you might only be able to find someone in your area who knows what they are doing but might do it for a discount or even for free.
That may sound strange, but I know this is possible because I have had people contact me to see if they can shoot me for free. One guy even offered to pay me to do it.
If you are going to reach out to or receive offers from indie photographers, remember to keep yourself safe. After all, getting cost-free offers can be a great deal, but there are some weirdos out there. So, just like when you go to an audition with an agency or to a porn studio, bring a close friend with you who has a fully charged phone with the cops on speed dial just in case.
Moving on, when you do get promotional samples of yourself taken, you are going to want to stick to a few guidelines which everyone who gets callbacks. First, you are going to want to show yourself off clothed, though I think wearing something revealing or at least sporty is advised.
Of course, you are going to want to take some full-on nude photos as well, which show off your entire body front and back. Beyond that, you should get some shots which are close-ups on your tits, ass, and squish muffin.
When it comes to you v-jay, right now, trimmed or shaved pussy is in. However, there are some studios who don’t care or prefer ladies who are au natural like Abby Winters and some sites in the Kink network.
You are going to need to sell the idea that you love to fuck. Sound obvious? Well, yes, but you’d be surprised who many industry veterans on both sides of the camera complain about girls who want to be the new pornstar and then freeze up on set.
Those are the general suggestions that apply to everyone, but you are going to want to show aspects of your character which are unique to you. Obviously, this is going to vary from person to person, but to give you an idea of what porn sites like, it always helps to have a gimmick.
So, if you enjoy BDSM, invest in some bondage gear and include it into your promo pics. Like getting down and dirty outdoors? Roll around in the mud in your nearest clothing optional resort of camping site.
If you have an unusual birthmark, are unusually flexible, got a strangely shaped body part, or something else about you, which is highly unique? Great news as adult video makers love discovering someone with a completely unusual feature to them to fetishize for a uniquely pervy group of porn consumers.
I already wrote about how to become an OnlyFans superstar on my blog, but this is a great way to get discovered, create a portfolio, build a fandom, and get discovered while making money. A similar avenue to pursue would be to become a webcam model, which I also have written about.
You could also start posting videos and GIFs of you and a fuck buddy making homemade pornos to a tube site. There are hundreds of those platforms to choose from, but I would recommend going with one of the more popular ones like xTube, YouPorn, or the biggest of them all PornHub.
Finally, you could take advantage of nudity friendly social media platforms. Unfortunately, one of my favorites, Tumblr, is no longer an option. However, there are plenty more options out there.
Perhaps the most popular site out there is Twitter, which is super easy to leverage to promote your suggestive to totally explicit content. Other options include the many thousands of adult-oriented subreddits and other imageboards, several of which have tens of thousands of followers.
What’s in a name – picking the right smut title to be a true pornstar
People often underestimate the importance of getting the right kind of name when they become start their trajectory to becoming a porn star. In the old days before the era of the world wide web, it was important. Now in the digital arena, having a unique adult star is more important than ever.
The first reason is that there are literally tens of thousands of performers operating out there, many of whom have similar-sounding or exactly the same name. For established porn stars and legends in the industry, this isn’t a problem.
But when you are competing for fans, it’s going to make it damn near impossible to get famous when your name rhymes with Kayden Kross, Sasha Grey, or Asa Akira.
In the case of that last female phenomenon, she might actually sue you.
Another reason to put some thought into your performer’s name is to help you get picked up by search engines. Not only will this help the studio you perform for since catchy names which blow up on social sites will promote your work and your company – they will promote you.
Traditionally, porn stars pick their names based on this formula – first pet > first name + street you grew up on > last name = adult alter ego. But if the family dog’s name was Santa’s Snatcher and you were raised on Tit Wobble Lane, you might want to consider something else.
Then again, that moniker could work for some fetish sites. And side note, yes I checked – Tit Wobble Lane is a real street located in Australia.
Anyway, in addition to coming up with something unique and memorable, it should be something that reflects your personality, or at least the characteristics of your porn star character. Picking a single name or something which sounds like a title like Lady Fyre can work, but you better be able to deliver a killer performance.
To give you an idea of what other porn star veterans pick here are a few examples:
Tanya Tate – This industry legend picked an alliterative title similar to the characters created by Stan “The Man” Lee, like Peter Parker, Susan Summers, Bruce Banner, and Matt Murdoch. What also influenced her name was the fact that, at the local gym she attended, people started calling her Top Totty.
Come to think of it, with a name background like that, you might think that Tate would have starred in more pegging scenes.
Chanel Preston – At first, this blonde bombshell only went only by the single name Chanel when stripping. As she transitioned into porn, she retained the first name and added “Preston” because, in combination, the whole title sounded bourgeois and unique.
Nina Hartley – Honestly, I was surprised to find out that, unlike most performers, her name actually isn’t her legal one. Not saying she isn’t talented – given her work she clearly is – but Nina Hartley, to me, sounds kind of vanilla.
Anyway, Hartley picked her title for a few reasons. In high school, she studied Japanese, and that is an easy way for native Japanese to pronounce her legal name. Further, she has ancestors from southwest German, and there is a region in that part of the world called Nina.
In keeping with her unique formula, Hartley sounds similar to her real last name. But it is also an homage to the 1980s marketer Mariette Hartley.
Onset, this is what you can expect
Production companies in the erotic space in many ways can be incredibly different from one another, but the ones worth working with always adhere to certain guidelines. As a rule, the ones you should avoid will show certain signs almost immediately if you start making a scene with them.
You might hear the occasional giggle, glance, or googly-eyed stare from fellow performers or a member of the crew. While it is a professional environment, everyone is bound to look at your attractive figure, but don’t take it as a bad thing.
After all, you’ve been hired to look hot in front of others. It’s common on porn sets I’ve found for everyone to keep a respectful distance and refrain from touching others.
Well, that is, of course, until you start pounding your porn partner.
But no matter how much you are paid, what the benefits are, or what kind of video you are filming – even if it as a super extreme submissive scene – the cast and crew should always be respectful of your boundaries. Remembering this is incredibly important if you are doing a kink film, especially since some people get lost in the moment.
With this in mind, you should, as other pornstar performers do, make sure to tell the director and your scene partner(s) what your limits are. Even if it isn’t a kink scene, ask the person in charge what the safety word is or what kind of signal you should give to stop filming if you are uncomfortable or in pain.
If there is not one, demand there be one.
Remember, even the world of porn, which has contracts and conditions which you will find with any other industry you have rights. If you do want to do something, no one can force you to have sex with them or erotically perform for them.
So, if you are on a porn set and want to end the scene for any reason WALK OFF THE SET.
Here is how much money in porn you can expect to make
From everything that I’ve heard porn can be a fickle pickle of a business when it comes to getting paid a consistent amount.
Earnings each pornstar can expect to make depends on a number of factors starting with the studio you work with. Second, are the kinds of scenes you perform in and what exactly you is that you do. Masturbating by yourself is usually at the low end while doing girl-girl or girl-boy scenes should net you a higher check.
It depends on the studio, but doing a movie exclusively with women or a couple of men will get you more, and the big thing these days is filming porn with some anal sequences.
There are other factors which include ethnicity, consumer demand for what kind of porn niche you are making that month, and how much the director likes you.
Still, to give you an idea of what you can expect, at the absolute low-end for a respectable porn company you should go no lower than $400 for a solo scene, and expect to earn minimum $800 and $1,000 for a partnered scene and an anal or threesome, respectively.
Be open to other ways to supplement your porn income
Just like the mainstream entertainment industry, being in porn often involves cycles of feast and famine. Sometimes performers are rolling in work offers while others, even those models who are rising starlets or established models, might find themselves desperate for a job.
To avoid this financial risk (or ending up doing a scene or two which you regret) when you are making your plan to get into the porn industry, consider other ways to capitalize off of your body and brand. I brought it up before, but even if you did start this way, consider continuing to do webcam modeling and work on sites like OnlyFans and on your preferred tube platform.
Doing this will not only promote yourself to fans but to other porn makers as well. While doing this, you can make even more money off of the adult toys, lubricants, and other items you might use in your porn content.
The obvious choice is to post affiliate links to your pages to sex toys on sites such as Adam and Eve, but there are other types of products you might make money on. I would suggest including promotional links to the lighting, audio recording, and filming equipment that you use.
Hell, if I was an aspirational pornstar who was looking to get paid, I would promote the pillows which I sleep on.
ThePornDude’s final words
At any rate, going from being a mere porn performer to being a shining starlet in the adult industry can be a lot of work, but between the fame, glamor, money, and mind-blowing sex can be a highly rewarding experience.
If any of your ladies (or indeed fellas) have additional questions about crafting your image as a porn model or are looking for exposure, send me some of your stuff. If I like it I’ll give you a promotional review or something similar.
