You could get away with being a one girl operation 10 or so years ago. There were lots of girls who ran little fan sites without ever getting in front of a "mainstream" porn camera. Wifey and Becca Lynn come to mind. I don't think they could start a similar business model today.
Very true. Before porn, it didn't take much other than the most candid, raw and amateur photos that would throw people over the edge in excitement. I did this for almost two years before making a slow entrance to porn. If it wasn't for that and the long time performing combined, I wouldn't be fortunate enough to have my life as it is today utilizing this industry. Good times!
Throw into that mix that hi speed access was a thing of the future, so a 1 minute video took several tries and at least a day to download. Somewhere floating around I have a box of floppies full of 10 second to 1 minute videos. The point is that it was a picture based thing. No editing, just taking an hour so of taking pictures and culling out the not great ones.
I think the ones who have thrived and lasted are just doing good business. They update when they say they will, they answer their own mail...it's very personal. That's appealing.