Question for Charms and Fans

[mickey62]

This question is for the charms.. would also like to hear what other fans think too. Most of you that are regualar posters on this forum are established charms and have many updates on your site, but I know it has to be hard getting members when just starting out? I know Im not the only one but I would think twice about joining a new girls site with only just a few photo sets and then she might only update once every couple of weeks or so. Im not being critical of them but I kinda feel like your not getting your moneys worth with someone new. So Im sure it takes a lot time and work getting established and getting new members. Seems like a lot of the new girls are figuring that out...so many start a site and then maybe add a set or two then nothing!! So Kudos to all of you charms that update regularly and strive to make your site the best it can be!!!

[AmberSC3]

I'm not sure what the question is? It does make sense to update regularly (at the very least twice each month) to keep your site fresh. Of course - everyone is different and everyone has a different amount of time available to dedicate to the site. With so many Charms hopefully everyone will find just the perfect Charm (or Charms) that satisfy what they are looking for!
Hugs, Amber

[Xandusk]

I have had a few members who joined my site the month it went live, and are still members. Other than the summer I travelled for work, I have consistently updated twice a week. That summer I did the best I could with the internet available, and sent out random pictures through my phone.
As for people finding me when I first started out. Let's just say I've been Xanduskk since the day I got on the internet and I was an avid BBS user for years before that. I've been a dancer, model and member of a few Fetish communities for close to 2 decades so my name was already out and I've never been shy about saying what I do for a living.

[Wendy Watkins SC2]

I actually made the most money I ever made on SC when I was on the New Charms page, whereas a girl that joined a month before me made hardly anything as a new charm. I really didn't advertise at all, but I did reply to every email I got for the first 3 months, whether they seemed like freeloaders or not. I think that helped a lot to get myself established as somebody who planned to stick around. I also updated at least twice a week for the first few months, and still try to do so.

But in the end it's all relative. Fans never know if a charm is going to stick around, and a charm will never know how many fans she'll get. It never hurts to email a new charm and see what she has to say. Maybe she'll be honest and say she doesn't plan to update often or stick around for more than a few months.

[timboy]

Yes the competition is hard for the new charms when they have only 4 uploads. So they must be patient.
I have joined some who had very few uploads. One was kicked soon after, I think she used the same pics on other non-sc sites. I got my money back. But I was glad I got the few but thrilling pics she got posted!

May I give some more advice?
Whatever texts you make to the update, dont use black letters on a black ground. It cant be seen. Same with light yellow fonts on white, etc.
Dont post totally off focus blurred pics. Shoot some new ones rather.
If you dont know how to use an advanced camera, shoot outdoors or use the flash. Better to have a shadow on the wall than a dark and grained photo.
You can also make your own cheap studio lamp: work light to put on the floor in construction work are usually quite cheap. But too strong, so get an umbrella and set the lamp at some disctance.
Check pics on your laptop while shooting.

[RosiePieCharm]

That is the same advice we get when we join timboy! You almost sound like you work for SC, hehe. <3
It's a HUGE hassle to stop in the middle of photos to check them on your computer. It's better to just take a lot of pictures so enough come out good.

To answer your first question.. I made quite a bit of money my first month as a Charm. I made a LOT of sales the first day. There are a lot of people who buy into new Charms simply because they are new. Then they move on. Thus I made quite a bit less money for a few months. After my first 50 sets went up I started making a lot more money and the amount seems to jump about every 50 updates and has been growing since. I do believe you make more money the more sets you have. I would feel the same way you do about joining a new girl's site. It's a gamble and there isn't much to see at first. But if she's pretty and has interesting content I'm sure I'd join anyway.. But I'd always want to join girls with lots of sets more so I'd know I'd get my monies worth.

[innesSC1]

I made a lot of sales on my first couple days. I can see how you'd be worried about joining someone's page when she's first starting out. But keep in mind, a one month membership is under $15 ... so even a new charm who has 10 sets out ... I think you're getting your money's worth, if you like the charm!

[Christo]

I don't think I've ever joined a Charm who was "new", or had fewer than 50 or so updates. You'd like a substantial amount of content to justify your investment. But then I remembered that in my youth I used to buy old Playboys and Penthouses at this used bookstore, they were like a buck apiece. And I had my favorite centerfolds--Cindy Brooks, Mardi Jacquet, Kathy Shower. But there are far fewer photos of Cindy Brooks out there than you'd find in a single member's update of a Southern Charm. So if there's a lovely lady who really revs your motor and she only has a handful of updates, joining her site might be very worthwhile. Especially as new Charms could maybe use the positive reinforcement so they keep updating and don't leave too soon.

I know I'd pay $15 for a few of my favorite Charms who are no longer on the site, so striking while the iron is hot is probably a good idea.

[Playful Cougar SC4]

I still consider myself fairly new (Feb 10, 2012). I got my first member the day my site went live and he was a 3-monther. My members have so far been coming and going with a couple that are repeat and 1 who has remained on automatic renewal. I am averaging updates once a week due to my schedule/photo supply - I'm up to 14 updates including today's (which pleasantly surprised me by making staff pics already - was not expecting that). I'm hoping things will start picking up shortly as my sets increase in number but either way, I don't plan on going anywhere - having too much fun ). Actually, just took my first short vid last night but need to make sure it is formatted correctly and such before able to send it in so might still be a week or two depending on what I need to do with it (need to check out those guidelines still, lol)
I do want to thank everyone for their support though, charms and fans, and especially RosiePie because I would have never known about the site if not for her plus all the help/info she gave which helped me to decide to become a charm.

[timboy]

" Check pics on your laptop while shooting. "
Interrupts the shooting, yes.
Bu what you could do is, before you get really started, to click just one test pic with the light source you plan to use, put that cable in the cam, open the pic on that laptop, and see what it looks like.
I am not as skilled as the photographers that some of you charms use (hi Italian Lace!) so I too have miscalculated and made too grainy no-flash pics indoors.
Check it while you are still discussing clothes and poses.

May I post another advice (one that glockenspiel would agree too)?
Bring a comfy little stool to the set, for the photographer to sit on, to get the angle slightly from below right.
So often charms with great hips and legs have those assets shrink, when the photographer is standing up shooting a model standing up.

[Xandusk]

" Check pics on your laptop while shooting. "
Interrupts the shooting, yes.
Bu what you could do is, before you get really started, to click just one test pic with the light source you plan to use, put that cable in the cam, open the pic on that laptop, and see what it looks like.
I am not as skilled as the photographers that some of you charms use (hi Italian Lace!) so I too have miscalculated and made too grainy no-flash pics indoors.
Check it while you are still discussing clothes and poses.

May I post another advice (one that glockenspiel would agree too)?
Bring a comfy little stool to the set, for the photographer to sit on, to get the angle slightly from below right.
So often charms with great hips and legs have those assets shrink, when the photographer is standing up shooting a model standing up.

Not all of us are 'on set' when we are shooting. Many of my sets have been done because I have been out and happened to find someplace fun to shoot, so I do. There is no way to check the pictures on my computer when my computer is at home and I am not. The spontaneity of the sets would be lost if I only shot in pre designed places. One of the things I hear most from my members is they enjoy the updates that just happened. I think it would be boring if everyone only shot preplanned, perfect studio pictures all the time. Sometimes it is a lot more fun just to get out and shoot, like the amateurs we are.

[timboy]

-. Many of my sets have been done because I have been out and happened to find someplace fun to shoot, so I do. There is no way to check the pictures on my computer when my computer is at home and I am not. The spontaneity of the sets would be lost if I only shot in pre designed places. One of the things I hear most from my members is they enjoy the updates that just happened. I think it would be boring if everyone only shot preplanned, perfect studio pictures all the time. Sometimes it is a lot more fun just to get out and shoot, like the amateurs we are.

You've got a valid point there!
If that place is outdoors you have no light problem (other than too much sun on the model).
But the cam person might have to squat down some times!

[Sherri Blake]

I love outside pictures! I have so many pictures from inside the house and lighting is crazy in there. How do you ladies in the states find outdoor places? Most of the places around here are a bit too public

[RosiePieCharm]

I love outside pictures! I have so many pictures from inside the house and lighting is crazy in there. How do you ladies in the states find outdoor places? Most of the places around here are a bit too public

I live around a lot of trees and beaches so it's easy to just walk a bit away from where people hang out and get nude. Also asking friends with back yards never hurts if you aren't shy. Plus being tricky and quick works out. I take photos at parks on slightly colder days when no one is hanging around, I just don't get completely naked (I just pull my panties to the side and such).
I can get away with saying it's "art" too if I'm accidentally caught in some locations. People are willing to accept art pretty easy and move on.

[SultrySerenaSC2]

This question is for the charms.. would also like to hear what other fans think too. Most of you that are regualar posters on this forum are established charms and have many updates on your site, but I know it has to be hard getting members when just starting out? I know Im not the only one but I would think twice about joining a new girls site with only just a few photo sets and then she might only update once every couple of weeks or so. Im not being critical of them but I kinda feel like your not getting your moneys worth with someone new. So Im sure it takes a lot time and work getting established and getting new members. Seems like a lot of the new girls are figuring that out...so many start a site and then maybe add a set or two then nothing!! So Kudos to all of you charms that update regularly and strive to make your site the best it can be!!!

I think a charm's first reason for doing SC should be because she enjoys it and it gives HER a thrill to do it.

Making money shouldn't be the reason. For those that don't stick around longer than the 3,4,5 etc first few updates, I imagine it's because they thought they'd get rich and when that failed to happen, they just dumped their site.

For those of us who DO stick around, I think it shows that we have a sincere enjoyment of not only posting our pics on the web, but of "meeting" guys who oggle our updates, whether it be email, forums or chat "meeting"

[Suzzanne]

I think a charm's first reason for doing SC should be because she enjoys it and it gives HER a thrill to do it.

Making money shouldn't be the reason. For those that don't stick around longer than the 3,4,5 etc first few updates, I imagine it's because they thought they'd get rich and when that failed to happen, they just dumped their site.

For those of us who DO stick around, I think it shows that we have a sincere enjoyment of not only posting our pics on the web, but of "meeting" guys who oggle our updates, whether it be email, forums or chat "meeting" [/quote]

Agree with you entirely and as a new charm and whether or not you update frequent which is a must the most difficult thing is to generate a following. viewers/members find a charm or charms they like , a sort of "brand loyalty" and therefore getting members to join your site can be hard word. Yes when you are brand new you get a lot of attention but keeping it going is full time!

I personally link up with various forums and make the effort to cultivate new member to SC rather than from within SC

The second thing is getting feedback on set content and what viewers want to see, yes there is the forum but on the scale of SC it seems very few charms or viewers actually use it. I also know from running my own stand alone site, it is extremely difficult to get actual contact with members. I've even gone so far as to send a welcome e-mail to each new member but the return is just non existent.

Suzz xx

[timboy]

I love outside pictures! I have so many pictures from inside the house and lighting is crazy in there. How do you ladies in the states find outdoor places? Most of the places around here are a bit too public

I live around a lot of trees and beaches so it's easy to just walk a bit away from where people hang out and get nude. Also asking friends with back yards never hurts if you aren't shy. Plus being tricky and quick works out. I take photos at parks on slightly colder days when no one is hanging around, I just don't get completely naked (I just pull my panties to the side and such).
I can get away with saying it's "art" too if I'm accidentally caught in some locations. People are willing to accept art pretty easy and move on.

I once photographed 3 amateur girls in nude bondage in a wood close to a small town. A place popular for strolls, but we went some 50 yards from the nearest path, on a Monday early afternoon. Only one passer by found us (even with the girls giggling loudly), and I asked him politely to go somewhere else since we were working. He went.

[Sherri Blake]

I like the idea of sayin its "art"

[timboy]

Well in my case it was art! I was shooting material for photo montages, that have been shown i fine arts galleries.

But yes, you can get away with anything if you have a camera present. 'Art performance' or photo art.

An Art tip: kinky porn star Madison Young has a gallery primarily for female artists, Femina Potens, in San Francisco.
Check it out at feminapotens.org !
Join her site, and the police cannot touch you. You can say "Stop, in the name of Art".
And maybe you will get a show in her gallery one day.

[bbwmelsc3]

After my 50th update 100th my sales went up. I noticed shooting hardcore helped also! I post on BBW forums and smoking forums! I dont do this for money but as a hobby! I enjoy it! I dont have "pro equipment" I am all amature with a older camera. I dont have a studio! I do a lot better now I post videos money wise! I have fun and love shooting outside the best. I have permission from farmers for hunting/fishing so we go there and so far never been caught. Sometimes we drive and see a pretty bridge or creak and decide to try to get a set in. I like the risky SCARED feelin I going to get caught!