Swedish amateur model/webmaster

[Emma-next-door]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum, but during the last few days I've read through a lot of threads. It's great help for newbies like myself, so thanks everyone for taking part in the discussions!

My name is not really Emma, but I am a Swedish girl who likes to pose for the camera. It's my boyfriend who takes the photos, so they look quite amateur, although I usually brush them up a bit in Photoshop. A couple of months ago I got the idea to publish these photos on the web and charging a reasonable fee for members to see them. I don't have any problems doing the programming myself (I already have a couple of "serious" websites running), but I've encountered several other problems during the way, so now I'm not so sure about going through with my idea...

For example, I've looked into CCBill's, Paycom's, Verotels's and a few others' terms and services, but when it comes to contacting them or applying for an account you need to fill in your company name and so on. I don't have a company, I'm just an individual. I don't want to register my real name either (I plan to use a false name and post box when I register the website hosting).
- How have you guys solved this? Do you all have companies or is there any other way to get round it? Is it possible to use false names?

Another problem seems to be the reasonable fee. After paying all the merchant account fees and taxes I would only get to keep about 27 % of the original fee I charge. Counting the cost of the hosting this percentage would be even lower.
- Is it normal to get so little of what you charge in the end?

Finally I would very much appreciate if anyone could help me with this:
- How many members can you count with that amateur paysites with solo girls generally get? Anyone who has any experience in this area? I had something like this in mind: steffie . deluxepass . com

- About how many photos should I publish? 100? 500? 1.000? More? (Currently I have only photos, no videos.) How many new photos per week?

- I hide my face on all the photos, behind a mask or my hair, because I don't want to take any risks with my future career (right now I'm a student). Are the photos worth less because you can't see my face?

All help is appreciated, feel free to suggest alternative ways to solve my problems.

[CIVMatt]

A solo site where you don't show your face? I don't think thats going to work too well. MY wife and I have a couple ideas, hit me up on icq or email me at civmatt<at>amateurpimps<dot>com

[ez12]

No pic on a solo site? The whole thing about a solo site is that you reallyu get into the girl. Not just the body

[Emma-next-door]

Perhaps I should also have mentioned I do pretty kinky things on the photos. Still not going to work?

[Twoface31]

we stop your business if you cant show your face!!!!!!!!

[CaptainHowdy]

Post samples...

[Emma-next-door]

You guys have been so helpful in other threads, can't anyone help me with my questions too...?

[Goodings Media]

It think showing samples would be best.

And maybe it would be a good idea to join your site under a larger affiliate network that already has experience with solo girl sites. Your site might have worked a few years ago, but now theres so many high quality sites out there, that ARE doing slightly kinky shit, but they have girls who are 100&#37; committed to the site and dont hide their identity, s members will join as they feel really close and personal to the girls.

Right now it kinda sounds like your only half committed, and that aint gonna work.

Your either in or out

Hit up Tiffany Preston (either via her site or GFY)

[da man]

Perhaps I should also have mentioned I do pretty kinky things on the photos. Still not going to work?

well, honestly this thread is not gonna get too much attention without the pics or URL's

good luck though

[Jenny S.]

It doesn't matter how you look, and I don't need to see pics of you either. Looks, age, etc. are unimportant.

I do own single girl sites, so I can tell you from 6 years experience that a page where you don't show your face is basically worthless. Worthless unless you do something that's so far out that people normally can't get it. I remember a girl called "Chris Extreme" who did it with a mask, and her page did great. But I doubt that many girls are as extreme as Chris. If you intend on selling mainstream, you better show your face.

Also, the times where a page can survive only on photos are over. That was OK in the last 90ies. Vids are elemetary, without them people are going to feel ripped of and cancel, or, worse, backcharge.

Again, there might be exceptions to that rule out there, lets say if you have a celebrity page where people pay to see pics of Paris showing beaver, but that's a rare exception.

For all us mortals out there the rules are:

-show face.
-update at least once a week (quality, not quantity counts)
-have video clips

[CIVMatt]

Well we had a idea for her over at Amateur Pimps but she never wrote us back.

[Emma-next-door]

OK, thanks for the tips, Jenny! :-) I would of course be honest about that I currently only have still photos. As soon as I can afford it I plan to buy a video camera, though.

But showing my face is just not an option. I simply don't think I will make that much money on it so that it's worth risking not getting a proper, well-paid job in a couple of years. I know from my own experience how these things get around and what they can do to you...

Right now I'm trying to figure out whether I should launch the website at all, whether it's likely I'll make enough money on it to pay for the hosting. I've also got the problem that I don't own any business, and that it seems you need a company in order to get your application for an account at e.g. CCBill approved.

Anyone who knows:
- Is there any way you can charge money (anonymously) without having to start a business?
- How many members is it likely a my website will get per month? 0? 10? More?

[Emma-next-door]

Well we had a idea for her over at Amateur Pimps but she never wrote us back.

I sent you an e-mail earlier today, better check your mailbox... ;-)

[Jenny S.]

OK, thanks for the tips, Jenny! :-) I would of course be honest about that I currently only have still photos. As soon as I can afford it I plan to buy a video camera, though.

But showing my face is just not an option. I simply don't think I will make that much money on it so that it's worth risking not getting a proper, well-paid job in a couple of years. I know from my own experience how these things get around and what they can do to you...

Right now I'm trying to figure out whether I should launch the website at all, whether it's likely I'll make enough money on it to pay for the hosting. I've also got the problem that I don't own any business, and that it seems you need a company in order to get your application for an account at e.g. CCBill approved.

Anyone who knows:
- Is there any way you can charge money (anonymously) without having to start a business?
- How many members is it likely a my website will get per month? 0? 10? More?

I was thinking about your "hiding identity" thing, and I have not a good feeling. I normally try to encourage people but I don't have a good feeling when someone says from the start "it's not worth it".

Honestly, I think you shouldn't be doing porn at all. First, it's virtually impossible to hide your identity with billing companies, because you need tax ID numbers, bank account etc. but that's not the point.

The question is, why would you do something if you don't feel comfortable doing it? If you can't walk the street upright and proud because you feel embarrassed you did porn, my advice is, don't do it. Once a photo is on the net, it's basically there eternally. Don't count on short memory with the Internet, there is a difference between printed media and the WWW. The Internet never forgets. Ever.

If you intend to become a prime minister's wife, a CEO of Volvo, or a church person later down the road, don't do it. These photos will come back and haunt you, eventually, wether you wear a mask, or not. That happened with many famous people. Sophia Loren's husband, a producer and billionaire, tried for decades to purchase back nudies of Sophie, that she did before she became a famous actress. He didn't succeed, there are still quite a few out there, and these magazines were only printed in extremely small circulation numbers.

Then, there are many other women out there, like the French singer Catherine Ringer, or the Italian former Parliament member Ilona Staller, who did porn and are proud of it.

If you can honestly say, I do it because I like doing it, and I am OK if my father, my my neighbor, or my boss finds out, if you have the backbone to stand up in front of people and say, "Hey, that's me, and I love what I am doing, and I don't give a crap what you idiots think", then do it. Otherwise abstain. Whether the page has 1 member or 1.000, the money is not worth the mental anguish.

[Swedish6]

hello Emma,

I am a swedish webmaster aswell, and I hope you will do great with your site. I don`t have any experience in single amateur sites so I can´t help you with feedback on that.

I was thinking about your concerns about starting a registred company. I read on TextTV, today actually, that the swedish taxdepartment "skatteverket" is launching a new razzia on websites to find "black money", in pornsites, pokersites and such. They say they will tax all income in Sweden even if it´s maid on the international market. How refined their methods are or how easy it it to stay hidden I can´t say.
I´d just thought i should inform you.

All the best and good luck!

Mia

[CIVMatt]

Once again we have something for you if your interested in modeling for someone.

[Emma-next-door]

Jenny and Mia: Thanks for the advice! I'm going to think this through properly before I decide what to do. My boyfriend thinks I should go for it and not worry about the costs, but he also thinks it's important that my identity doesn't leak out...

Matt: I sent you another e-mail, but since I havn't got any response I suppose the e-mails don't get through to you. Anyway, I don't think it would be possible for us to work anything out, because I live in Sweden and I don't have any video camera.

[justFred]

Find a person you can trust who has experience with this industry, and use them as a mediator.

This person, just like any "agent", will represent your anonymous photos, and be the sole carrier of your personal info. (S)He would set up the CCBill accounts, hosts, etc. Given the right marketing, you could even turn the anonymity into a niche rather than a setback. Think of something dark, mysterious, or whatever... and turn it into YOUR niche.

It may or may not go well... that depends on a plethora of variables.

I'd also like to add that I mostly agree with what Jenny said, if you're worried about the repercussions, don't do it.

One last thing, and this advice goes to ALL beginning webmasters: CONSULT A LAWYER before you start.

Good luck!

[Emma-next-door]

Thanks, Fred! :-)

[Jenny S.]

Good Luck with that

Find a person you can trust who has experience with this industry,...

LOL