How to Be a Pornstar

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Ever wondered how you can get into the porn industry? As one of the most lucrative entertainment industries in the world, porn production brings in almost $100 billion worldwide each year. [1] X Research source Though the life of a porn star might not be as glamorous or carefree as it seems, you can make good money and have fun starting a career in adult entertainment. We’ll walk you through exactly what it takes to be a pornstar, how to land your first gig, and how to launch your porn career.

Understanding the Porn Industry

• Your image, once filmed, will be online forever, even if you try and switch careers.
• You need to take the time every day to stay in shape, eat well, and keep clean and hygienic.
• You are not having sex for fun, you are doing it for your job. Expect the intimacy and spontaneity of sex to disappear during a 4-hour video shoot.
• Maintaining a committed relationship while in porn can be almost impossible, as jealousy is only natural. [2] X Research source

• You must bring proof of age (valid passport, ID, etc.) to with you to a shoot in order to act. Producers are required to copy this proof and keep it on record for years. [4] X Trustworthy Source United States Department of Justice Official website of the U.S. Department of Justice Go to source

• The average female porn star averages $50,000 a year, but can make upwards of $350,000.
• Top male performers can make more than $100,000 each year, but average far less. [6] X Research source

• Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, California. This is the porn capital of the world. [8] X Research source
• New York City, New York
• Orlando, Tampa, and Miami, Florida [9] X Research source
• San Diego and San Francisco, CA
• Portland, OR

• While no one should ever force you to do something, having wider preferences and being willing to try more things will lead to more gigs and greater success.

Getting Your First Audition

• That said, make sure you show your best side for the camera. Exercise, a healthy diet, and a good posture will all help you go far on camera.

• Full body, clothed scantily (tight t-shirt and shorts, lacy tops, etc.)
• Full-body, nude. Men should have a full erection.
• Headshot.

• Your local Planned Parenthood.
• Your physician.
• The hospital or health clinic.
• The CDC has a free search engine to find clinics across the country that will test you for HIV and STDs free of charge.[10] X Research source

• Fetish: Fetish porn is made to fit a specific, often odd, desire. It can feature almost anything, from costumes of famous TV shows to a predilection for feet.
• BDSM: Standing for “Bondage, Discipline, and Sado-Masochism", this extreme variety of porn features various power dynamics. It is widely known for whips, chains, handcuffs, masks, and black leather.
• Sexual Acts: There is a variety of sexual acts and specialty porn genres out there, and you need to know what you are signing up for before showing up. When in doubt, do your research on the large list of porn terms and vocabulary.

• You will have to begin in amateur porn before you will be paid for professional porn.

Petition porn studios with your photos. Go directly to nearby porn studios and send them your information through their website’s “contact us” button. Go online and research “Adult Film Studios + your area” to find nearby studios, or check out aggregate sites like Sexyjobs.com to find potential listings.

• For detailed information, classes, and up-to-date changes on laws in adult education, you should sign up for a free National Association for the Advancement of Science & Art in Sexuality (NAASAS) membership online.
• If a gig seems too good to be true (paying 1,000s of dollars for minimal work) or does not give you concrete details (what you’ll be doing, where, for how long, and for how much), don’t take the gig.

• Look nice – wear clean clothes, shower, and groom your private areas.
• Be on time.
• Have proof of age and a recent (2-weeks old or less) STD test.
• If you’re a man, show up with a girl. Ron Jeremy famously said that the only way to get into porn is to bring a woman with you. Make sure she is willing to take part as well. [12] X Research source

• Focus on what makes you happy. Be natural on camera and the audience will enjoy it.
• You can point potential producers to these videos later as a sort of “porn resume.”

Building a Career in Porn

• LA Direct
• OC Modeling
• Burning Angel
• Spiegler Girls
• Lucas Entertainment
• World Modeling [14] X Research source

• The most common first names are Lisa, Angel, Nicole, Jessica, and Vanessa (female), or David, Tony, Mike, Steve, and Jason (male).
• The most common last names are Love, Star, Foxx, Rose, and Sweet (female), or Lee, James, Stone, Steel, Black, and Williams (male). [15] X Research source

• Hit your placement – there is usually a place on the ground, marked by tape, that you have to find and stand on without looking down.
• Show up on time, with the proper paperwork documenting your age and STD test.
• Be open and honest on set. Tell the producers your limits beforehand and ask for some time if you have trouble getting it up, getting in costume, or setting a scene.

Know that you will have to conform to someone else’s standards. Porn is entertainment for other people, and the director, writers, and producers will all have a vision for what is the most appealing scene. You need to be flexible and willing to change, whether that means putting on costumes, working frequently, or using shots and pills to enhance your “goods.” This won’t always be pleasant, but is necessary to develop a strong, lasting career.

Do not sign a modeling release form until you have been paid. This may anger producers, but you need to look out for yourself to avoid getting scammed. Wait until you have cash or a check in hand to before signing the contract to make sure your rights are respected.

• Remember, the weirder the shoot, the more you usually get paid.
• Scenes with multiple or same-sex partners often pay the most.

Community Q&A

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Yes but be careful, because your social life could be ruined. If someone finds your video or plays it on campus, it could be hard to make friends after that.

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No, it shouldn't be. You can try to treat your acne and scarring if you're worried about it though. wikiHow has lots of articles on getting rid of acne and reducing acne scars.

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Think long and hard about a career in porn. Once your face is on the internet, there is little chance you will ever get it taken down. You need to be 100% ready for a career in porn before you embark.

Never take gigs that make you uncomfortable, or work with people who will force you to do something you don’t want to.

Beware of stalkers. Celebrities of all types have had to deal with at least one overzealous or out of touch fan that for some reason latches on to them and won't let go. If you find yourself confronted with such a fan then report them to police and notify your agency's legal department in case you need help filing for a restraining order.

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1. ↑https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/porn-industry-feeling-upbeat-about-2014-n9076
2. ↑https://www.lovepanky.com/women/girl-talk/dating-a-male-porn-star
3. ↑https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2251
4. ↑https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/18-usc-2257-2257a-certifications
5. ↑https://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/20/porns-dirtiest-secret-what-everyone-gets-paid.html
6. ↑https://www.comparably.com/salaries/salaries-for-male-porn-star
7. ↑https://thoughtcatalog.com/rachel-hodin/2013/06/17-little-known-facts-about-the-porn-industry/
8. ↑https://www.dailynews.com/social-affairs/20150112/porn-industry-still-at-home-in-san-fernando-valley-despite-condom-laws-web-piracy
9. ↑https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/orlando-porn-capital_n_1496507.html

1. ↑https://gettested.cdc.gov/
2. ↑https://www.pornhowto.com/
3. ↑https://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_400/436_how_to.html
4. ↑https://bklynr.com/not-quite-barely-legal/
5. ↑https://bklynr.com/not-quite-barely-legal/
6. ↑https://jonmillward.com/blog/studies/deep-inside-a-study-of-10000-porn-stars/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 130 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 4,387,513 times.

To be a pornstar, start by taking some photos of your body that show off your best features so you can send them to producers. You’ll need a full-body, scantily-clothed shot, a full-body nude shot, and a headshot. Before you apply for any auditions, you should also get a full HIV and STD test to make sure no one contracts any diseases on set. Once you’ve taken some photos and been screened for STDs, look through modeling forums for casting calls in your area. You can also contact nearby porn studios directly and send them your photos. Alternatively, look into joining a talent agency, which will help you book gigs and cover legal issues. For more tips, including how to come up with a screen name for your porn persona, read on!

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