Nudes have been at the top of the adult content game for a long stretch, but in the sexting hierarchy, there’s another link in the chain: provocative videos. Anyone can snap a quick nude here and there, but making a sexy video takes a little more effort and creativity, and is therefore more highly valued—literally, meaning it deserves a higher price tag. Moreover, users love videos because they offer a more captivating and immersive experience than photos can.
If you’re up for surprising your audience and boosting your earnings, let me walk you through the wonderful and easier-than-you-think process of creating sultry videos that will make jaws drop and money roll in.
Choose a Shooting Location
This should go without saying, but the background of your video is important. Nobody wants to get distracted by disarray in the background or clutter in the shot. To keep your audience’s gaze all over you and nothing else, you should ideally make sure that you choose a clean and simple background, unless you’re doing a thematic video. Also, depending on the kind of content you want to produce, you can consider different locations like the kitchen — wet show anyone? — or the shower.
Nail Your Best Lighting Setup
It’s no secret that the key to getting good footage is having good lighting. Without proper lighting, even the best cameras and equipment can produce subpar results. If you want optimal lighting conditions, aim for natural light: this is always the best choice. You can try shooting in a space with large windows or outdoors during the “golden hour,” which is the period of time right after sunrise or just before sunset, when the sun’s light is softer and warmer. Just make sure you’re not visible to the public, as that could create legal troubles.
Otherwise, you can go for soft lighting, which is a popular choice for video production as diffused lighting gives you a natural-looking glow. A ring light is always a good option for this, as it creates a flattering, shadow-free effect that can enhance your appearance.
Select a Tease-Worthy Outfit
Just because you’re making a naughty video doesn’t mean that you have to get naked right away. Instead, consider slowly peeling off layers throughout the video for a teasing, tantalizing effect. Or you can simply wear skimpy clothes that still leave something to the imagination. If you’re feeling like dancing, you can opt for a revealing yet flexible outfit or go all out with just stockings and heels.
Being sexy isn’t just about on how clothed or unclothed you are. Rather, it’s an attitude. You can be naked in your video if you want — especially if you will perform any type of penetration — but remember that choosing what to wear is one more possible way to tease and get creative.
Find the Right Music
Adding some killer tunes can make your content stand out or give it a certain vibe, if that’s what you’re after. If you decide to include music, choose a beat that hits all the right notes and sets the mood for you and your followers. Just be mindful of copyright issues if you’re using original works by others.
Know Your Poses
Even if your video is intentionally amateur-looking, it should have some preparation behind it. That means that instead of getting in front of the camera and winging it, you should have practiced at least a few different poses and angles before you hit that “rec” button. If there are certain body parts you’d like to highlight in your video, keep those front and center, with a pose that you can sustain in a comfortable way for the duration of the content. Most importantly, do what feels right for you. Only you can know what poses make you feel empowered and sexy.
Decide What Content to Film
Here you can let your creativity run wild and free. You can just show your body in a sensual manner, tease your audience in the pool if you have one, dance, show off some sensual yoga poses — extra points if it’s while naked — or perform any sexual act you can think of. You can also give fans a voyeuristic experience by placing the camera behind the halfway-open door while you’re taking a shower, to create the illusion that they are “spying” on you.
You also can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned striptease. Start by slowly walking toward the camera, caressing your body and gliding your fingers up and down until they stumble on something to unbutton. Combine that with hair whips and then start removing your attire in a rhythmic way.
Maybe you just want to tease your audience by touching yourself, spanking your ass or playing with a toy. You can also add props to the mix like handcuffs, dildos, butt plugs, gags, chains and even whips — though for that, you first need to define very clearly what the video will be about. Do you want to feature BDSM, for example? Another option is simply to talk dirty to your viewers. Why not give jerk-off instructions (JOI)?
In short, you can use any fetish, niche or adult category as inspiration, so the possibilities are endless! Just make sure that you gaze directly into the camera in a provocative way to mesmerize viewers on the other side of the screen. Eye contact is always key.
How to Sell Your Spicy Videos
It’s also very important to decide on which platforms you plan to sell those videos. Different platforms may offer different features and options to help you sell your content.
Apart from the obvious pay-to-unlock albums that platforms and most cam sites offer, some sites include mass-message features you can use to sell your content directly to fans. Some also have detailed statistics pages where content creators can see not only their income, but also the geographical locations of their clientele and other information. This can help you understand your audience and their behavior, and know what kind of content they’re more likely to purchase so you can produce accordingly. You can then mass-message them with videos tailored for their tastes, and success will be pretty much guaranteed.
You can also sell custom videos via personalized content requests from fans, or offer a “request whatever you’re craving” option where users send you their personal requests, to which you can agree or not. Users will be more willing to pay for this option since it is custom.
And of course, don’t forget to promote your videos on your content-selling platform and on your socials to attract customers.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Last but not least, don’t forget to enjoy the process and have fun with it. If you feel confident, comfortable and genuinely have a good time, it will show in the video. Trust me, people love it when you’re just being yourself. So let loose, embrace your inner goddess and get in your groove.
Eva is an industry insider who helps performers make money on their own terms. When she’s not writing a blog post, poking around online or networking, she is practicing yoga or doing Netflix marathons. Contact her at eva@stripchat.com.
