So you want to make shoot your own adult content. That's cool. The adult Internet got successful because of people like you. People willing to take matters into their own hands because they faced nothing but turned backs from the "powers that be".
A little cyberporn history:
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"Those OG geeks did what geeks do. They bought their own cameras, hired their own models and shot their own content. An industry was born as well as the OG niche - Amateur. Adult webmasters proved that Internet surfers didn't care whether the smut came from Porn Valley or from some guy's garage." |
The early days of the adult web were a touch shady. Many an adult webmaster made his/her fortune by selling access to sites where the content was "'liberated" from nudie magazines. While nobody's excusing anything, there was a reason for this collective content "borrowing". That reason being that the folks in Porn Valley wanted nothing to do with the World Wide Web. Technically, there's only one place in the whole United States where it is legal to photograph and film adults having sex for commercial purposes - the state of California, primarily, the Los Angeles suburb of Chatsworth. That's where the pornstars work. That's where all the major U.S. adult video directors, producers and studios are located. When forward-thinking geeks would approach these folks about buying their goods for sale on the net, they all said; "No". Those OG geeks did what geeks do. They bought their own cameras, hired their own models and shot their own content. An industry was born as well as the OG niche - Amateur. Adult webmasters proved that Internet surfers didn't care whether the smut came from Porn Valley or from some guy's garage. Smut was smut and people would pay to see it on their home computers. Your desire to shoot your own content is okay by us.
Chances are you don't know a damned thing about making your own content. That's okay too. This is more of an overview article. Basic stuff to get you started. There will be no talk of shutter speed, fancy lenses or filters. You don't have to be a master photographer/videographer. As long as your imagery is clear and in digital format, some, somewhere is going to pay to see it. There are over a billion Internet users in the world. Trust us. Somebody will shell out the bucks to see your fat ugly girlfriend get fucked by a hobo. There a six, basic things you need to shoot adult content and here they are:
Okay, odds are you can't afford a lawyer and even if you could you might not be able to find one that specializes in obscenity cases or Internet law. Just the same, remember we mentioned that thing about Chatsworth being the only place in the US where it's legal to shoot sex acts? The truth is, no matter where you live, there's a good possibility that photographing the MILF next door, shoving cucumbers up her ass, might be considered an act of prostitution by your local sheriff or county prosecutor. It is imperative that you know not only the local laws concerning obscenity but the state and Federal laws as well. You're swimming in untested waters and you don't want to be caught without legal protection. Super important: Familiarize yourself with US CODE TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 110 > § 2257. This is the record-keeping portion of the law that covers model Ids and your responsibilities as a Custodian of Record IE, a content producer.
Buy what you can afford but try to get one with the highest resolution possible. Look for something in the 5+ Megapixel range. Try to get something with a zoom lens. If you're a practiced photographer with your own dark room, then this article isn't for you. You already know that no matter the medium, your stuff is going to have to be converted to digital anyway. For you newbies, you want a digital camera because you don't want to take your film rolls to the fotomat unless you want to go back to step one. Save some steps. Get a digital camera or video recorder.
Acquiring models for a porn shoot is tricky business. Remember, Chatsworth, prostitution, lawyers. You can't just go up to hot babes at the mall and ask them if they want to enter the fabulous world of online smut. Taking out ads in the classifieds is chancy - less chancy if you live in a really big city. A lot of content producers hit the strip bars when looking for talent. The work is a lot easier than dancing and the ladies and/or gentlemen are more open minded. Another approach is to find someone you know personally that won't shit a brick when you ask the big question. Avoid actual prostitutes. That way is trouble. Oh, and most important of all - Have money to pay your model. Not only is money a good incentive, it's the right thing to do. Pay half up front or pay it all at the end. These small details are up to you. A good starting price is $100.00 and hour.
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Step number one again, baby. Release forms protect both you and your model. You need your model to release the rights to his/her image to you. Your model needs proof that they got paid. You also want your model to bring an ID. A state-issued driver's license is the best but a Passport will do in a pinch. Examine that ID carefully. Your model MUST BE OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE. You're going to want to photograph your model while he/she is holding the ID next to his/her face. This must be the clearest, cleanest photo you take. This photo, along with the signed model release are the documents that will keep your ass out of jail. If you intend to sell your content to other webmasters, you can block out real names, addresses and license numbers. The most important elements of the ID photo are the license picture, the model's face and the D.O.B. For your own records, keep the original, un-redacted image.
Technically, you can skip the sets and costumes. Your choice. Just remember that some hotels don't take kindly to people shooting commercial porn on their premises. If you have to shoot on someone else's property, try to get permission. If you have no choice but to use a hotel, try to camouflage the furniture and bedding. That's where the sets stuff comes in. If you can fancy up your tool shed or are willing to have the world see your own bedroom, more power to you. As for costuming, it's really up to you. Some models bring their own clothes and do their own makeup. But whatever you choose, do not forget to bring some free-standing lights. Camera flashes suck. Room lighting is always too dark. You want your fans to see your models and their assorted bits.
PhotoShop, Paint Shop Pro, Gimp, some video editing software. Once you've completed your shoot, you're going to want to format it so that it can be displayed on the web. Sometimes the art comes after the shooting is done. A soft filter for a harsh model. A bit of smudging to conceal a nasty pimple. A few steps sharper because your focus was a touch fuzzy. Resizing, cropping, converting to another format. A video editor to cut out the boring bits. With the right software touches, you can turn the mediocre into something stunning.
There you go. Six things you need to shoot adult content. There is a seventh thing you're going to need and that's patience. Even the boldest babe can get a little shy when the cameras are on. You have to treat your models well. Be kind. Be respectful. Be patient. This isn't as easy as it looks. In fact, it can be downright hard - no pun intended. Also, don't look to fuck the models. That's just bad form.