Learn how to shoot porn.
 

OK this is just my way of doing things, other shooters will work their way. But we can all learn from each other.

Ask questions and anyone can answer.

This is straight out of my forum and some of the equipment may sound dated. LOL

tip of the hat
 

tell me some about your way of doing things.

Learn to Shoot good porn.
 

A little about me.

The porn industry is supplied with a very large part of it's content by guys like me. Some are trained photographers and video cameramen, many are guys like me with little to no training. Just a love of porn and the experience and information to make a very good living taking photos and videos of sex. Without guys like us, porn consumers would have a lot less to consume.

I started shooting soft porn in 1977. I was married, with a new born daughter and facing bankruptcy when a friend gave me an idea. Shoot naked photos of my wife and sell them mail order. Sounds quite reasonable today, with all the Amateur Internet porn sites popping up almost daily, but in 1977 and in the UK it was a pretty new idea. So I asked my wife, bought some rolls of film, a P.O. Box and a classified advert in Exchange and Mart. A weekly UK publication of nothing but adverts for everything from a house to naked pictures of someone's wife.

Within a few weeks I was making $300 a week, a few weeks later I was taking photos of another guys wife, sometimes with my wife and sometimes with me. 30 years on I make slightly more than $200 a week.

In the last 30 plus years I've made a good living, made lots of mistakes I learned from and slept with enough girls to make a pop star blush. Today I live and work in the Czech Republic, in a long term relationship with a woman not born when I started shooting. I'm living the life most dream of, but can be achieved by anyone, because I don't have any outstanding skills or talent. Just a lot of experience learned from making all the mistakes. And listening to guys who know more then me.

So why am I writing this and sharing what I know? Well the obvious answer is to make money. some surfers will read it and like what I have to say and join my site, some will want to do what I do and sign up as members to this site and hopefully find it helpful enough in their endeavors to do what I did and some professionals will see it and buy from my content stores.

Why.
Why do you want to shoot porn? Identify your aims and targets.
This is vital as it will allow you to set your targets and check your progress.
Do you want to shoot pornography, erotica or photography?

Where to start.
How to prepare yourself to shoot good porn and make it successful.
You will need a plan of action, this will help you build the right knowledge and experience.

What to shoot.
Deciding what to shoot and why.
What niche or niches, what are your capabilities and limits, how much can you do and most importantly is how to learn what to shoot.

What do you need.
Equipment, props, locations, etc.
Work within a set budget and add to your equipment as the profits mount.
I will also give you some good tips about the equipment I use and what you can get away with, within a budget.

How to use the equipment.
Practice with the equipment so you do not look foolish and get the best from your models.
Technique is everything when shooting, here I will tell you how to be master of the equipment, build your technique using it and find out before you start paying expensive models how to benefit from mistakes.

How to find models.
Best places to find models, what motivates models, what turns them off.
One of the things so many find hard and professionals find it's the easiest part of their job.
Where to find them, how to approach them and most importantly is to establish trust.

Interview and castings.
How to run a professional casting, prepare the ground for the future shoots.
Everything is up for grabs at a casting.
How to establish respect, understanding and trust.

Preparation for a shoot.
Get the groundwork right and the shoot can be a breeze. Get it wrong and it will be hard work.
Knowing what you want before you start.
Planning out the day.
Having the right tools, props and support.

Greeting models on the day and preparing them.
Looking professional, prepared and relaxed is easy. If you know how.
Few models care if the work turns out well, they care about going home early, with as much money as possible and for as little work as possible.

Shooting.
Every scene has a start middle and end. You need to know where you are and what you're doing.

Retouching and editing.
Get the shoot right and this is an easy task.

Selling content.
Great porn makes big money, bad porn makes a hole in your pocket.

not all pornographers are photographers

shooting porn is like this:

Buy SLR cam
Point at whore in motel
Become pornographer

:1orglaugh
too often too true :2 cents:

How to Photograph Girls - The Professional Way -- Part 1
 

How to Photograph Girls - The Professional Way -- Part 1

This is an old article I wrote about 8 years ago and since then digital has changed some of the points I made, and prices. Still some good points raised.

You've started your adult website and now discovering the images you want are not available, too expensive or just not quite right. So what are you going to do? And in a flash it comes to you "I'll take the pictures myself". And without thinking further you're off to the cupboard to find your old camera and ask one of the local girls if they would like to do some nude modeling. So after dealing with some very irate boyfriends, shunned by the neighbors and had your photos shown to the authorities, you're thinking, "Not the greatest idea I ever had" You should have first asked yourself. Do I want to take pictures to make money, get in front and close up to as many naked girls as I can or to prove to the world that my fetish sells?

Reason one keep reading.

First thing to decide is; am I going to sell these pictures to magazines or just use them on the Internet. If the answer is Internet only, go buy a good digital camera. An excellent one for the beginner is the Nikon D70 or if you have the money the D20. To be honest, as a pornographer I know little about photography and cameras. For some one starting to shoot, digital is fine for the Internet.

You will need a camera with a "Hotshoe" or sync lead socket for the lights sync lead. The most important thing with any kind of nude work is colors and skin tone.

Take a couple of days learning to calibrate the color by photographing someone. If it's only them in a loose top to get the skin tones right. Find the best colour setting on the camera to suit your tastes. You must have a zoom lens. Models get put off if you keep moving in and out to take those, so necessary but intimate, close ups.

Now you have to decide, shoot indoors or out? Unless you live in the desert or tropics, consider buying studio flashlights and a light meter, for indoor work. Not expensive two heads, stands, soft boxes/umbrellas and light meter, should see some change out of $1500. Unless shooting in a barn don't go for anything too expensive or powerful, there's no need. You could shoot with a camera-mounted flashgun, but the best flashguns will not give the quality a studio flashlight will. Of course if the "Amateur" style pics a flashgun will do the trick very nicely ($500). But be careful it takes a lot of practice to master shooting porn with a flashgun.

Now spend a few days experimenting and getting to know the camera. Do not suddenly discover a button is not working, as it should, in front of a model. Credibility is everything with the models. Seen the pictures where the girl is looking at you as if she thinks you're a loser? That's what she thought of the photographer who took those pictures. Or even worse bored, that's because she has been waiting twenty minutes for him to figure out how the camera works. Get very comfortable with the equipment even if it's only shooting the cat. If you can get your wife or girlfriend to pose even better. Getting them posing together would be ideal!! But for now nude is not what it's about; it's about learning to use the camera and lights. This is a good time to get down to your local bookstore and buy a couple of books.

Budgeting to spend around $2,500 for the camera and lights should be about right. It can be done cheaper, but this is about doing it right. If you are going to improve you will not do so by cutting costs. Our cameras cost a minimum $3000 and we shoot with a minimum of 4 lights. So when thinking about saving money think, do I want good pictures or pictures. Read the books and manuals that came with the equipment. Then practice using the equipment. Lighting is crucial and you can only learn this by trial and error and a good book on lighting. There are many excellent ones, they have examples of what effects you can achieve and then show how to achieve it. With a digital camera it's possible to check the results immediately after taking the shots.

So that's it for now. Sorry I have not got you in front of a brand new, drop dead gorgeous blonde, performing your every wish or at least posing as if she wants to. That's for the next one.

The images you need to create the great banners, galleries, tours etc. are not done so easily. Thankfully. LOL

What a great idea for a thread. Well done Paul.

I totally understand, and agree, but the facts are the facts, many people shooting porn never took photography class etc... just sayin.

How to Photograph Girls - The Professional Way -- Part 2
 

Now onto the next phase. What style to shoot? This is easy to answer. Look under your bed get out all the porno mags and ask yourself "What do I like" If you do not have any STOP. Think about it, would you buy a steak cooked by a vegetarian? Gays shoot gay content; boob guys shoot big tits, etc. This is what you understand and if you haven't had many years reading and "enjoying" porno mags, how the hell are you going to produce something for anyone else to enjoy. Or worst still if there is no magazine produced with your fantasy, there are two reasons. It's so off the wall as to appeal to such a small number of people it's not worth publishing or IT'S VERY ILLEGAL!! :1orglaugh

However if your fantasy is one of those that are just for a small number, the Internet is ideal. Sites can exist on a membership of 100 members. Try searching for that fetish, before going any further. See what is out there and how well it's done and think "How can I do it better and different". If you are doing this, purely to make money and no interest in what you produce, other than money. Be careful the porn game is a minefield for these guys; they do not understand what it's about. The consumer does and will not buy what is not right. Our thing is 18+ and we are constantly amazed at the photographers who try this with a 25 year old in pigtails.

Look at the poses, study them memorize them, the settings and the progression/order they appear in. Remember which poses are popular, repeated and full page. These are the pictures the readers liked (try wearing gloves for this).

Never ignore the magazines, at this point they are essential. They have been satisfying men's fantasies for years, the editors started out as assistant editors. They learn what to do and this is an excellent way for anyone to learn. Would you try to learn French just by doing it yourself? Every day an editor's mailbag is full of readers letters commenting on the girls, poses and settings. This is how they know, what is popular and what to include and leave out. The Internet is just a new medium to bring to men what we've been looking at since we started painting on walls. It's usually the excuse of the failed that say, "This is a different market where the normal rules don't count". Or "I'm trying to do something different" usually means "This is all I can do" Yes I know you want to bring in your own style and "signature" to the work, that is for later when you know a more. Learn to crawl first and then walk before you run.

Here is the best piece of advice I have for. I've been shooting for more than 20 years and still use a posing book. It's a display folder, with all the poses, for a style and situation (solo-Girl/Girl-Boy/Girl), laid out in order. All photographers lose the plot or dry up during a shoot and the folder becomes very helpful. For the novice it is essential. How many times do you see a set on the Internet containing 120+ images? Thinking it should be good, you view the thumbs to only find that he has repeated every picture 3-6 times and in truth the set has only 20 different poses. This is the biggest fault with the "Amateur" photographer. I've taught photographers to shoot a minimum of 100 different shots; it's easy if you plan it. See how the models are looking at the camera, this look sells a photo. This look will vary according to what style you are shooting. "TEENY" will have a different look to a "LEG FETISH". Learning how to do this is the trick and there is no way to teach you. I can tease and flirt with a model to get the looks I need. I'm 51 and it still works. My 29-year-old partner who shoots and a 25-year-old photographer, who both get different looks from the girls they shoot.

All I can suggest is her first, second and third impressions of you are very important.

Now we have to think about the settings and props. The setting is all-important. It has to fit the fantasy to be created. Again look at the magazines; too many "Internet" photographers completely ignore the mags because they never satisfied them. Their work usually suffers because of this. Look at the style of the photo and then the setting. An "Amateur" magazine will pose a housewife in the kitchen, Playboy fly girls to the Seychelles or hire a multi million dollar house for their shoots.

Oh yes, for now do not try to imitate Penthouse, Playboy or similar magazines. You did not learn to drive in a Ferrari, take it a step at a time.

Think about the setting, clothing and props and have them all ready. Changing underwear or bed linen does not make it a different set. The guys doing this are not thinking and trying to shoot 10 sets in three hours to keep the cost down. Why do they need to keep the costs down? Their work does not sell. No prizes for why, it's a chicken and egg situation.

Sofas, bed, lounges and bedrooms are the most popular, see how you can be more creative and find different things and places to shoot models. And very important on where you shoot her is making sure you will not be interrupted or disturbed. If you're using studio flashlights make sure the neighbors can't see the lights flashing. Many years ago I was shooting at a house in Palm Springs, when suddenly we heard sirens and saw police lights flashing. To our shock they stopped outside the house. With quick thought, we got rid of the couple performing in the living room. Laid out a white sheet and put a Cornflakes packet on it. When the police came in, to check out the neighbors complaint, "Why there were lights flashing for hours". We told them we were shooting pictures for an advertising campaign. Luckily they believed us and even though we did not have a permit allowed us to carry on. It could have been so different.

Then it's what will a model wear? Never assume she'll turn up with a suitcase full of clothing suitable for the assignment. Girls do this because they need money. Be ready to provide whatever is required for her to wear. Before booking ask what size she is and get the appropriate clothing and underwear for her and the shoot. Whatever style the pictures are, the clothing must fit. The bottom line is UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING CREATED. 18+ is not about a girl in full make up and stockings and suspenders, Fem/Dom is not a cutie in white socks. Of course for shooting "housewives style" none of this applies. Tell her to bring NORMAL clothing.

Next vibrators or props, whips, chains, shoes, etc. to suit the style. Plan what you are going to do. Make sure there is a selection, don't use the same things in every set. Have everything ready before she turns up.

Also make sure any toys or vibrators are washed before and after use and let the girl see it being done. They never ask a boy "When was the last time you washed that" But they will with a vibrator. Also have a couple of different sizes, do not get out a dildo the size of a baby holding a peach and expect her to use it.

So that's it for now. This cannot be taught in two sides of A4. Next we get to "How to find girls

still photography lighting is largely a mystery to me. when you say "You will need a camera with a "Hotshoe" or sync lead socket for the lights sync lead" are you talking about syncing the lights/camera for flash?

Paul thanks for sharing your story..

Like you I'm working my way up by making mistakes and learning from it..

Same as you I'm living in a dream. Which is stay independent and make profits from my own porn sold trought my own affiliate program.

But I'm still not there where my true ambition lays.

Such as me. But my earliest work sucked. Not because I was shooting"Amateur" but because that's all I could do. It was a few years before I started to shoot well enough to sell to magazines on a regular basis.

But the real key is in who you are and how you communicate with models. Photography is relatively easy until you get to the higher quality stuff, getting the models to act how you need them to is the tough part.

Yes. The hot shoe is where the camera takes a small flash gun or lead or auto trigger to set of the lights. Sync socket is where you plug the lead from the camera to the strobe lights. This is not used so much today.

This should become part of the educational series imho. Well done again on such a good idea.

For me much of today's porn is very formulaic. First the "interview" section with some lame questions and answers. Camera guy's voice is too loud (because his mouth is 1cm away from the mic) and model's voice is barely heard. Then on to the strip section, then the stuntmeat enters the scene. The usual standard positions and camera positionings ensue, usually with two (or more) people that obviously have no connection whatsoever to one another and have no idea how to convincingly pretend that they do. Might as well be two robots fucking. It's often hard to tell if most of these girls are even enjoying it.

Then there's the bad sound issue. I often find myself wondering why so many shooters won't invest in a few wireless mics and place them strategically hidden so they level out the sound, but no. They rely solely on the camera mic. Can't hear what the "actors" are saying half the time. The shooter then fails to use the zoom and instead moves the camera physically closer to the model's face, thus causing the sound level of her moaning to go through the roof and blasting out your speakers.

Wireless mics are really not that expensive these days, and so worth getting.


Lighting? Don't get me started. I'll just say that when you pan in for the crotch/fuck shot you really do need to get extra light up in there (espcially if the girl has dark skin). All too often I see such shots and you can't see a damn thing, just "dark" and what looks like some gyrating movement. In other words why bother, it's a waste of a shot.


I have more peeves but those are the biggies for me.

Good thread Paul.

Are there tricks/tips in any interview/screening process so you can weed out the ones that would look harder to work with?

All this has been on the Internet before. On this board and others. Last time I posted an article it was about running a casting. Your suggestion was nothing new. You need to look around for my thread on castings.

I think it was called.

"Who here shoots their own content or thinking about it?"

great thanks for that info. i did notice people are still selling used D70's with lens for under 500 bucks which seems like a great deal. its 6.1 megapixel compared to the newer ones 12 megapixel but what the hell, if you are shooting for the web 6 megapixel sounds quite adequate!

i remember some old dude strolling along 7 years ago calling 98% of our pictures crap and the other 2% somehow ok. ;)))

and he was right - at least at that time. :P

Just lack of planning, knowledge and sometimes budget. So much porn today is "a girl on a sofa/bed" type that it's no wonder buyers are hard to convince.

Never liked wireless mics. There is always a risk of getting to a location and finding out the mic picks up a hiss or interference. Much happier with a boom mic with a lead. But you are right about camera mics.


They've never heard of a pussy light. :1orglaugh

Lighting is just one of practice and common sense today. Try shooting on film and not knowing if you had it right until it got back for the lab. :Oh crap

You're welcome. Learning by mistakes is the best way. :winkwink:

Yes, but many won't have seen it. In the Edu series there are non original articles. I think this is worthy of that series and should be part of it.

When someone takes the time to share valuable knowledge it should be part of the educational series, imho.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh GREAT

how much you can earn? :)

Maybe that's an affliction of the cheaper ones? Wireless mics are used on talk shows and reality shows all the time. Very few problems with hiss/interferance there.

There's definitely a knack to knowing how to properly use them, as with anything else in shooting any sort of production.


Well yes, boom mics would be great, but I wasn't going to mention them because it may be way too much to expect for most of these "have vidcam, will shoot" shooters out there to invest in them or even have the first clue about how to use them.

How to Photograph Girls - The Professional Way -- Part 3
 

So now every thing should be ready, equipment, posing book, location, clothing, and props. So what's missing? The girl.

This is one of the difficult things, which even though I'm going to tell how to find them, does not always work. Finding girls and interviewing them is very important. This is when to establish first contact and make those very necessary first impressions. Who is this girl, will she be suitable for the job, is she bored, frightened or going to try to be in charge. Remember she needs the money, more than you need 4-6 hours with an attitude you would not take from a waitress. It's your money going down on the table. This is not the time for her to be in charge.

Establish credibility, firm but fair. "You know what this is all about."

Even though in charge you're an easy person to get on with. Always have a joke to ready, just make sure it's not derogatory or sexist. There are different types of girls that model. To be honest most of them do it for the money. They either need a quick buck or are "Sex workers" which includes everything from models to hookers. And all need handling different.

Do not try walking up to girls in the mall, it will end in trouble. Try placing an ad in the local free paper or classifieds. In a big city it works, if you're in the mid west Bible belt they probably will not take your ad. Advertise for a Kalashnikov no problem but not for a nude model. Look at other ads and you may find agents that deal with "Erotic" modeling. But the most obvious is the Net, search for models and agencies. Try to avoid strippers and lap dancers. This is just a general rule but over the years I've found these girls to be
difficult to work with and normally not worth bothering with. There are couple of sites on the net that are strip clubs who decided to come into the Internet and generally the work is not of a required standard. These girls work of an evening so when you want to shoot, she would normally be sleeping, think about it.

One of the ways that we find girls is through the girls we work with, they had such a good time they tell other girls to come and see us.

Whether dealing with new girls or experienced old hands, explain exactly and precisely what you're doing, when, where, how much, who will be present (Never shoot a girl without someone else there, preferably a woman) and most important, how much she will earn. You cannot tell how long it will take because you do not know how quickly she can work. It's best to say we do this, this and this and then we are finished. Leave nothing to chance. Get her to fill in a form with her name, sizes and lists the type of work you do. To which she agrees or disagrees to each category, with a simple YES NO or NOT SURE. Models have a habit of suddenly stopping and saying "I did not agree to do that" and usually followed by "But will for extra money". She thinks she has you in a fix. I then show her the form and explain this is what she was booked and being paid for and she can always go home. In fact if she does not want to do it she might as well go anyway. They usually discover its no problem. Just determine that if it is a problem then you will not force her and she can go home. This makes sure she does it with the right look.

To resell the images she has to bring two forms of valid government picture ID and sign a model release granting the rights to resell her image as YOU see fit. Without the right to approve such sales or pictures. She is being paid to model for pictures to be sold.

Now she's been told everything, ask her to do a couple of test pictures. Need to see her nude the last thing you want to discover on the day of the shoot is that she's had open-heart surgery. Or got a picture of Bob Marley tattooed on her back along with another Rastafarian who turned out to be her boyfriend. I kid not, ask me to show you the pictures!!

If she has any problems showing you herself, nude think why. The plan is to spend money, based on what she looks like and how she performs nude. Most girls will understand and strip off with no problems, so be warned this is a good time to establish how "Cool" you are about her nudity. Check the "Roving eyes and slobbering tongue" it will not impress her.

So every thing is fine, book her and ALWAYS get her to confirm 24 hours before the shoot she is still coming. They have a habit of changing their minds or getting another better paying assignment.

Check that she will not be menstruating that day. Ask coolly as if you are asking her what bus she catches to come to the shoot. For men it's a problem, for woman normal. Make it sound normal to ask.

Do not book girls 1-2 days before a period. It can turn out messy, or she could have PMS, which could be worse. Again a good way to establish your credibility, don't tell her the reasons, she's a woman and knows them.

The interview is where we find out who is or is not suitable. It's all a judgment and experience. If a girl is frightened but worth shooting, how do we make her feel comfortable. Is the girl doing us a favour by modeling? Is she on drugs? Does she think she will be in charge? Or will she show what's between her legs, but not between her ears?

Porn is not just a girl with her legs open, that's meat and we shoot the dream that she wants to satisfy our fantasy. But she is not to be used. In fact she is using us. And we are happy, or so she thinks.

This is the hardest thing to teach and to be honest US girls are one of the most difficult girls in the world to photograph for porn. Just glad we are in the Czech Republic. I hope this is being useful and starting to show that it's not so easy.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

More about castings.
 

This was something I posted recently and will post again.

Never had a big problem finding girls or women to model, though it's tougher today with the Internet and it's exposure. Turning those who phone from an ad is the key to success and here are a few tips to help you. Those with experience might learn something, what ever you have to refine it to your personality.

The ad wording I always used was something like this.

The phone would ring with girls saying the saw the ad and it's important to remember here that what draws them is the Earn "$500" a day. part.

Take command gently by giving her your name and asking hers. Then explain briefly something like this.

As the ad said "Susan" I'm a professional photographer, shooting for the Internet and I require girls to model nude. I need girls who are over 18, good figures and not shy. How old are you?

What's your dress size?

I'm doing casting next XYZ would you be free to come?

Any questions now?

You will get questions like "Do I have to show my face, open leg poses, have sex with someone, etc. Be honest, relaxed and smile when you speak.

So the girl has arrived at your casting. Welcome her with a smile and then explain you will tell her all about what you do, where, how you work and how she can earn money. She can ask any questions she likes at the end and tell you what she's willing to do. You only shoot girls doing what they are willing to do.

Then tell her everything about the work, when, how and the money. You've seen her so you should have a good idea of what her value is. Tell her you will be taking some test shots of her, if you do that. Assuming you have not given her a cup of tea and sent her home as unsuitable by now.

Answer her questions honestly and at all times watch her reaction to the type of work she might be asked to do. The face gives away a lot. You can tell a lot from an interview/casting like this. Then ask her what she is willing to do. If her answer suits your needs take her into the studio or location and shoot some test shots of her. This is when you see her body and assess her attitude and suitability to the work.

From here it's up to you, book her or tell her she's not what you need at the moment.

I've used this method for years and refined it to the situations I was in. When it was 30-40 Czech girls turning up in a day it was put to paper and they read it to themselves, then filled in a form telling me what they were willing to do. When it was one girl in the UK I talked to her and told her there and then of her chances of making money.

The key is to be presentable, look the part, smile, be pleasant, relaxed and stay in control. You're the man with the money and a professional who does this time and time again.

In the good old days the earnings were better. Today a lot depends on how you sell and how well you shoot. Earning 6 figures a year is possible.

You hit the nail on the head with that, CDSmith! For a reasonable investment of under $300, you can get a nice and compact LED that can either be mounted onto the camera's overhead shoe, or, even better, mounted onto any standard audio boom and held by an assistant to get the light in where it needs to be to illuminate the main point of the video content. Easy to find dimmer knob. Low-tech construction meets LED high-tech and works like a charm.

Here's the one that we use a lot at Wasteland:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...era_Light.html

Runs on four AA batteries and has a filter snap on/off filter holder to stick in CTO or any other color correction gel you need, depending on your lighting. Just keep lots of fresh batteries handy as it will drain them down in a few hours, but way better than having yet another cord hanging off of another device for the camera operator to get tangled up in!

Good series, Paul
Keep it up!

Cheers,
Colin

The upper end have people like sound engineers. Was not going to go that far. :winkwink:


Everything takes time to learn. Some think it takes a camera and a girl to shoot porn. They soon learn. :1orglaugh

Thanks Colin.

Prefer lights run off the mains. A4 battery lights might go out half way through a scene. Then you have to stop the hot action, change the batteries and start again. Cords are a problem that you have to be aware of. A light on a boom held by a good assistant is the best IMO. Or outdoors a reflector.

For you, Paul, wired lights off of main panel are the perfect way to go.
But for our BDSM footage, the poor cameramen need to be able to get out of the way of flying floggers and bouncing butt plugs in a hurry (not to mention airborn loads of squirt aimed at live a/c electrical devices is just bad), so we put up with the AA battery issues in order to enable speedy get-aways! lol

Colin

Yes I can see how too many cords could be a problem in your niche. :)

How to Photograph Girls - The Professional Way -- Part 4
 

At last we are there, the day of the shoot. Ready?

Run a checklist

Equipment ready

Locations ready

Clothing ready

Housecoat ready

Props ready

Music ready

Refreshments ready

Model releases ready

Forgot to say, girls normally do things better to music. And do not think she will want to listen to your Metalica or Frank Sinatra collection. Have some choices ready and before starting to photograph her, ask what kind of music she would like to listen to.

NEVER give a girl alcohol it leaves you open to giving her more and she will lose it or she could accuse you of making her drunk. Have juice, coffee, tea or sodas ready. Also get something light for a break midday. If it's an all day shoot.

She will need to get out of her day clothes into a robe or house coat, don't want to shoot her with pantyhose and bra lines on her. Unless that's the style.

Is the location ready? Did you remove your dirty socks from behind the sofa? Best check. Got the right clothing, bedspreads and covers to suit her A mistake a lot of photographers make, is shooting a very pale girl on a white sheet. It's unflattering and will make her look and feel bad. And beware of something that will give a colour cast, bright oranges and yellows are to be avoided.

This is like flying an airplane, check and then check again before take off.

As she arrives greet her, do not thank her for coming. Ask her if she would like a drink. Give her the robe and tell her where she can strip off and put it on. When she's changed and sitting with her drink. Go over what you agreed at the casting she was doing today. Confirm that she has her IDs with her. Then if you have make up artist it's over to her while you go check the lighting or a cigarette because everything is ready. Now the work starts.

The first shots to every set are the ID shots. Get her to hold both IDs next to her face and photograph it as close as possible, got be able to read the IDs on the image. Never forget, do this at the beginning of the shoot. She may have forget to bring them and if the work is done has to be paid. It's your fault for not checking.

Getting a girl to remove her clothes, show her body and her sensuality is an art but it's not about art?? Talk to her calmly but not bored, show her she is desirable but you are used to this and can resist her. Flattery and flirting are acceptable, but be warned if it comes over as being pushy or that after more than pictures, most times you might as well pack up and call it a day.

JUST BECAUSE SHE'S NAKED AND SMILING DO NOT "HIT" ON HER. On the other hand do not act so cool by yawning. The pictures or video needed are of her looking ready, willing and able. Not looking for the way out. Tell her she looks beautiful in that outfit and if it's her first time or just started, that she's a natural. Every one likes to be flattered. What I have not mentioned in your preparations is YOU.

Did you shower and shave this morning? Clean your teeth and gargle with mouthwash. Are you clothes fresh on? If you have a "beer belly" wear something loose. Buy expensive aftershave. Use deodorant. Think about what you are going to talk about.

Strange as it sounds girls are not turned on by middle age rednecks, with bad breath, stomachs hanging over their belts and popping the buttons on their shirts. You want her looking into the lens, with a look that will give the viewer the thought that she was "Ready for a FUCK" Not a look that makes him feel like a loser that could not get laid in a brothel. Every day guys who think they can do this email us pictures. One look at the picture tells us, what the model thinks of him.

Remember the poses and shoot them in the progression normal for the style.

When it comes to that moment when to use a vibrator hand it to her and offer her the lube. Did you remember to wash the vibrator, now wash them again so she knows they are clean? You could always buy new ones for every shoot, but still wash them.

Keep her involved in the shoot and try to keep her mind as open as her legs. This is the art and it will take a few shoots to develop a comfortable technique the models will respond positively to. Do not expect to be good at it from day one.

After each set let her have a drink and cigarette, assuming she smokes. Relocate the lights for the next shoot. Never leave a model alone in a house, have a female assistant sit with her. Two reasons, don't want her rolling up a joint or going through your cupboards.

When the shoot is finished and another drink break sign the documents and then pay her the money.

NEVER PAY FOR A SESSION UP FRONT. It might remove her willingness to work properly so she just goes through the motions.

Thumbs up for your post.

Shooting porn is more than taking an expensive cam and start "doing something".
For exgf style it is okay :winkwink:

What I do miss on the most sets is a good illumination.
Light is often terrible and for that the photos are less good as they could be.

Great post!

A lot of guys aren't going to realize just how important that point is.


Personally I would keep it non-alcoholic, at least before and during a shoot. There are other ways of loosening up a model and making her feel relaxed, as you've covered in other parts of your posts.


There's nothing wrong with taking some time a night or two beforehand and writing a script. This is another pet peeve of mine. With much of today's porn too many shooters try to "wing it" and also have their talent do the same, but unless you're super quick-witted (which most aren't) they end up stuttering and fumbling around for things to talk about, they talk when they don't need to be talking, stupid nervous laughter ensues, then with the dumb annoying questions and cheesy commments, and on and on. UG! Enough yapping already, get on with the show! is what the viewer is screaming at their monitor.

I say to the masses; try being imaginitive. Sit down, think about what you can write down in the way of dialogue that will make the shoot not only more interesting but go smoother. Then when the girl is sitting there waiting between takes or whatever she has something to look over and keep her occupied.

Can't write a script? No time? Pay a writer to do it. I could bang off short scripts by the dozens in my sleep, I'm sure there are several others here who could as well, and for a reasonable price.


If there was a bible for porn shooting this would be the first commandment.

Great tips in this thread. Looks like I have most stuff covered.

I love the posing book tip. Thumbsup!

I couldn't care less about shooting porn. I just want some great shots of my kids and I'm happy.

This is brilliant Pauly. I tell you off for pretending you need new glasses and explain that you should offer tips.

http://www.adultmarketing.co.uk/2010/04/marketing-fail/

I explain the first thing you should do is to post here offering tips.

2 days later you Post Here Offering Tips.

I am SO GLAD you took my marketing advice to heart. Nice one.

1) Start a photography tips section on GFY and post in it once a week with tips. You have a lifetime of experience. So I would focus (hah) on that, rather than your horribly unlucky personal life.

I posted that about 4 days ago, and now I see you taking my advice to heart. Brilliant. Let me know if you pretending you need glasses is more or less effective than this.

xxx

Paul is too old and almost dead to care about shooting kids.

Actually, I'm pretty sure he has a young one of his own.

I really like the way Jules Jordan shoots. Something about his choice of angles and positions.

awesome thread, this really should be one of the GFY Educational series :thumbsup

On my sets for the coochie light we use a bendy neck desk lamp with a white balanced light bulb in it and plug it in with a light extension cord and either I or my videographer wraps it around their arm and then holds the camera OR just set it on the floor and angle it the right way....

Pretty good info though... keep it coming... oh and definitely don't work with strippers or escorts unless you know them real well. Escorts especially don't have the right mindset from my experience... plus not all but many have that worn out look that isnt good for porn...

:2 cents:

Lighting is the key to getting good stills and video. It takes skills, but with todays digital equipment there is no excuse.

Sadly too many wing it.