It's hard enough choosing a profile picture for a social media account, let alone for your camgirl profile - so what type of profile picture works best?
One day in late June we logged on to MFC and tallied up the types of profile pics used by the top 50 models in that day's MissMFC chart. It was close to the end of the month, so it's fair to say they were the models most likely to end the month in the top 50 - the 'best' models on the site, if you want to look at it that way.
 |
| The Girl and the Camera by Heidi Rewell |
The Top 10
The 3D chart below shows the results for the top 10 models, then the top 20, and so on - the bars on the back row show the totals for the full top 50.
We found that, broadly speaking, the top 50 profile pictures could all be placed into one of eight categories.
In the top 10, only four of these categories were used:
- Torso implied: The model is pictured from the waist up, topless but either covering her breasts with her arms, or pictured from behind with nothing showing.
- Face covered: Only the model's head is visible, with her face either completely covered, or partially (but significantly) covered.
- Face visible: A 'standard' profile pic you might see on a social network, pictured from the shoulders up, facing the camera.
- Torso clothed: Pictured from the waist up, fully clothed - in general this didn't just mean a bra, but some kind of shirt or blanket too.
Interestingly, we found three models used a profile picture with their face at least partly covered, and all three were in the top five models on the MissMFC chart on that day.
Even more surprising, these were the only three out of the entire top 50 models to fall into the 'face covered' category - marking this out as a category used only by the very top models.
Both of the other two models in the top five used torso shots with implied nudity but nothing actually visible - and note that none of the categories actually includes nudity, except for perhaps a bare back or a hand bra.
None of the top five models on the day we checked showed 'significant' nudity in their profile picture - and three at least partially covered their face.
The Results
 |
| Top 50 MissMFC profile pics by category, June 2016 |
The chart isn't as confusing as it might look. The front, dark blue bars represent the profile pictures of the top 10 models. The second row of red bars adds in models 11-20, the green bars represent the top 30, and so on.
Where the front bars are as tall as the back-most bars, such as in the covered face and implied nudity torso categories, this suggests that fewer models outside of the top 10 have a profile pic that falls into that category.
Where the bars get progressively taller, such as the visible face, clothed torso and 'butts' category (more on that one in a moment!) it's a sign that the category is used further down the top 50.
And where there is no bar at all towards the front of the chart - as in all four of the categories towards the right-hand side - it's a sign that only models outside of the top ten use that type of profile pic.
The Top 50
So outside of the top ten, what patterns begin to emerge? As we added in the remaining 40 models, we found four new types of photo were used:
Conclusions
Does a profile picture determine your success? Probably not. Could it make a difference? To an extent, probably yes. It's the first thing many members see when you appear on their homepage menu.
Remember though, many other members will see a preview of your cam stream rather than your profile pic, depending on their settings.
It is interesting to see that the top models tend to be quite covered up in their profile pics though - even covering some or all of their face.
Further down the list, there are more topless photos and implied nudity, but there's still nothing really graphic.
If you feel obliged to 'show something' in your profile picture, it is perhaps worth remembering that the top models don't, and nor do most of the models further down in the top 50.
Admittedly this was just a snapshot on one day - the ranks of the top 50 models change all the time, and models change their profile pics frequently too - but it gives a glimpse of what was happening on that one day in late June.
- Bikini: We used this for any model who was pictured in either a bikini or in underwear/lingerie that covered a similar amount of her body.
- Torso topless: The model was pictured from the waist up, topless with breasts and nipples visible.
- Butts: Our favorite category! We used this one for profile pictures that showed one or more butts in close-up, with little to no other body parts visible.
- Full body topless: Similar to 'torso topless' but with the model visible below the waist.
As you can see from the steadily growing bars as you move from the front of the chart to the back, these categories are all quite evenly represented throughout models 11-50 in the list, even though they were not used by the top ten models.
For some reason there were more butt close-ups near the bottom of the list, with three added to the total in the 41-50 range, but there's probably no great significance to that.
Apart from the occasional butt, the only graphic nudity among the top 50 models' profile pics were topless photos - we didn't see any vaginas at all.
Conclusions
Does a profile picture determine your success? Probably not. Could it make a difference? To an extent, probably yes. It's the first thing many members see when you appear on their homepage menu.
Remember though, many other members will see a preview of your cam stream rather than your profile pic, depending on their settings.
It is interesting to see that the top models tend to be quite covered up in their profile pics though - even covering some or all of their face.
Further down the list, there are more topless photos and implied nudity, but there's still nothing really graphic.
If you feel obliged to 'show something' in your profile picture, it is perhaps worth remembering that the top models don't, and nor do most of the models further down in the top 50.
Admittedly this was just a snapshot on one day - the ranks of the top 50 models change all the time, and models change their profile pics frequently too - but it gives a glimpse of what was happening on that one day in late June.
You don't have to show nudity - or even your face - to get to the top of the MissMFC rankings. In fact, the models higher up in the rankings usually show less than those further down.
Your first time on cam can be pretty daunting, to say the least - and even the most experienced camgirls still feel nervous or anxious before they start broadcasting for the day.
Here are five tips for new camgirls, based on some of the most common problems encountered in brand new rooms.
1. Be Ready
Here are five tips for new camgirls, based on some of the most common problems encountered in brand new rooms.
 |
| The Movie by Heidi Rewell |
It's a very general tip, but make sure you're fully prepared - test your webcam and microphone beforehand, not once you're live on a paid camsite.
You might want to use your first session as a 'getting to know you' opportunity, but it's better if you can hit the ground running and at least offer teases, flashes, or something to keep your viewers engaged.
Without anything at all, you miss out on your first opportunity to start building a regular repeat audience, and some of those viewers simply will not come back.
(Remember, on some sites you are given 'new model' status for a limited time when you first start, so it's especially important to use this time to its best, and not waste it fiddling with settings you could have figured out in advance.)
2. Get a Decent Webcam
Of course you can cam with a built-in laptop webcam, but this might not be high-definition, and offering any kind of close-up view will be all but impossible.
Logitech are the brand of choice for many camgirls, and if you can afford to invest in a Logitech C920 it's a strong start to your camming career.
You can always upgrade once you're certain camming is for you, or add it to your wishlist, as if you get yourself an admirer, they will often spend the money out of their own pocket to get a better view of you.
3. Lower Your Volume
This tip is in two parts, and first of all you should find the volume control for your microphone, and lower it slightly.
You don't have to take it down by much, but don't keep it at 100% - this is what causes the distortion you hear in many cam rooms, so take it down a notch and the loudest sounds shouldn't crackle or get clipped.
It's also important to adjust your own speaker volume, particularly if you're playing music; built-in speakers and microphones can be very close together, leading to deafening music for your viewers even when it seems pretty quiet to you.
Finally, beware the tip noise! Again, if your speakers and microphone are close together, or if you open a member's webcam with audio on, you can quickly develop some mean feedback that will come across as a loud squeal not only on your computer, but for all of your viewers as well.
4. Don't Get Scammed
This is part of being ready to begin, but it's worth mentioning in its own right as well. Make sure you know what scams are common on your chosen camsite.
Be certain of what a tip/donation/tribute looks like, and don't be fooled if somebody tries to tell you they've tipped by using some other way of changing how their text looks.
Know where your total tips/tokens/coins are displayed in the broadcaster software, and you can easily see if a tip is for real or not - don't be held to ransom if you don't think the member has actually paid for what they're demanding from you.
Also beware of PayPal, which is not allowed for transactions of an 'adult' nature and may get your funds frozen, and of Amazon wishlists which may display your name and city to people who make a purchase.
If you are unsure, play it safe. You can always ask another more experienced model for advice before you carry on (or tweet us and we'll try to help!).
5. Know Your Limits
Finally, don't be pushed into anything you don't want to do. This means don't do things you never agreed to, just because somebody has given you some money, and also don't agree to things you don't intend to go through with, just in order to get the money.
Long-term success means being consistent about what you will do, and following through on the promises you make.
If you have a clear idea of your hard limits, everyone in your room will have a better idea of them too, and this can avoid awkward moments not just in your first days of camming, but over the long term too.
Happy new year to all our readers! The start of a new year means there's just six weeks to go until Valentine's Day, so we've picked out four of our favorite heart sex toys in plenty of time to place an order, or even to add them to your wishlist as a cute extra item for pervs to buy you in February.
We've chosen a selection - two cute-looking dildos, a great vibrator, and a set of butt plugs, so whatever you're into, there's something to help make your Valentine's Day webcam show extra-special on February 14th.
You can also click here to see all of Amazon's 'heart' sex toys.
1. Utimi Glass Pleasure Wand 'Romantic Love Heart'
We start with this beautiful Utimi glass pleasure wand, with a standard mushroom tip and raised 'romantic love heart' artwork on the shaft.
It's suitable for heating or cooling - even down to freezing temperatures - it's waterproof, hypoallergenic, and it comes complete with lube and a storage pouch.
Size: 7" length, 1" diameter.
2. Orino Sex 3pc Heart Anal Plugs
These cute heart butt plugs are made of aluminum alloy, with a heart-shaped acrylic 'diamond' set into each plug in a selection of random colors.
We like the selection of sizes, so whether you're a beginner or experienced with anal play, at least one of these Orino Sex heart butt plugs should suit you.
Size: Small anal plug 7.5cm length, 3.3cm diameter; medium anal plug 8.5cm length, 3.3cm diameter; large butt plug 9.5cm length, 4cm diameter.
3. Crystal Glass Heart Pleasure Wand
This beautiful heart pleasure wand is over 8" long, but that includes the heart base as well, so don't worry - it won't go too deep.
A maximum diameter of 1.2" means you won't need to stretch too far either, whether you use the wand vaginally or anally, and it's really worth reading the customer reviews, as they make much more sense than the actual product description on this one!
Size: 8.4" long (including heart), 1.2" diameter at widest point.
4. Doc Johnson Wonderland The Heavenly Heart
We love Doc Johnson sex toys, and The Heavenly Heart is a fantastic option if you want an actual vibrator, rather than a glass wand or dildo.
It has plenty of hearts on it, making it a perfect sex toy for Valentine's Day shows, and it's easy to use - just push a button to select one of ten different functions.
You can even use it in the shower, thanks to its waterproof design, and it's not too big, again making this suitable if your shows aren't too extreme.
Size: 5.6" long, 1.3" at widest point.
 |
| Turning my back on the sinner by SLR Jester |
We've chosen a selection - two cute-looking dildos, a great vibrator, and a set of butt plugs, so whatever you're into, there's something to help make your Valentine's Day webcam show extra-special on February 14th.
You can also click here to see all of Amazon's 'heart' sex toys.
1. Utimi Glass Pleasure Wand 'Romantic Love Heart'
We start with this beautiful Utimi glass pleasure wand, with a standard mushroom tip and raised 'romantic love heart' artwork on the shaft.
It's suitable for heating or cooling - even down to freezing temperatures - it's waterproof, hypoallergenic, and it comes complete with lube and a storage pouch.
Size: 7" length, 1" diameter.
2. Orino Sex 3pc Heart Anal Plugs
These cute heart butt plugs are made of aluminum alloy, with a heart-shaped acrylic 'diamond' set into each plug in a selection of random colors.
We like the selection of sizes, so whether you're a beginner or experienced with anal play, at least one of these Orino Sex heart butt plugs should suit you.
Size: Small anal plug 7.5cm length, 3.3cm diameter; medium anal plug 8.5cm length, 3.3cm diameter; large butt plug 9.5cm length, 4cm diameter.
3. Crystal Glass Heart Pleasure Wand
This beautiful heart pleasure wand is over 8" long, but that includes the heart base as well, so don't worry - it won't go too deep.
A maximum diameter of 1.2" means you won't need to stretch too far either, whether you use the wand vaginally or anally, and it's really worth reading the customer reviews, as they make much more sense than the actual product description on this one!
Size: 8.4" long (including heart), 1.2" diameter at widest point.
4. Doc Johnson Wonderland The Heavenly Heart
We love Doc Johnson sex toys, and The Heavenly Heart is a fantastic option if you want an actual vibrator, rather than a glass wand or dildo.
It has plenty of hearts on it, making it a perfect sex toy for Valentine's Day shows, and it's easy to use - just push a button to select one of ten different functions.
You can even use it in the shower, thanks to its waterproof design, and it's not too big, again making this suitable if your shows aren't too extreme.
Size: 5.6" long, 1.3" at widest point.