Creating content to fit the niche/style.

[Paul Markham]

What ever the niche or style of porn you're creating or selling. The content has to fit the illusion that's paramount in the viewers head. If you want him to keep looking, the button to take him back to where he was, is too easy to hit. He's not captive. It's the content that will make him captive.

Being an amateur or newbie cuts no ice with people spending money. AND there is no such niche as crap amateur photographer in porn.

Big tits should be girls bigger than DD.
Ebony have to be Afro.
Indian
Asian
And it goes on. To every niche there is.

Amateurs are people doing anything for the fun of it. The enjoy it and do it for love. In porn it's the girls next door from 18-80, who has a secret side and if you get to it. She/He will fuck you with a smile. They do not have to look beautiful, they do have to look willing. You can combine any niche with Amateur, except glamour.

Glamour is glamorous, up market, well dressed, good location, more suggestive than blatant. It's often the unachievable, to be worshipped and admired. You can combine any niche with Glamour, except Amateur.

Teens have to be girls who look like teens. You can combine any niche with Teens.

Just because your content doesn't fit the niche, doesn't mean you can change the above. Because what we think isn't important. When the surfer's looking to get an erection.

[Paul Markham]

So for those setting out to shoot a new niche or starting to shoot porn, here are some tips.

1. If you don't know and love the niche, question why you're shooting it.
If you do then shoot your version of it, to please yourself.

2. If you don't then go and research the niche.
This today is difficult because many search for the wrong sites to justify their abilities. Look at people like Score, market leaders in big tits and have some good teens. Same with Hustler, Evil Angel, Penthouse, etc. In fact anyone who was publishing offline will be a good place to start.

3. Unless you're a professional level trained photographer or like me have years of experience, start out shooting amateur.
Because anything else will expose your weaknesses to your model and audience. Both have a habit of spotting someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

4. Remember what the niche/style is really about to the viewer.
Your idea of what it's about often won't sell unless you really know the niche/style. Those that buy have a fixed idea in their head, long before they look at your samples. you meet that idea or you fail, you will not change their minds with text.

5. You can fool some affiliates and bro lovers some of the time.
But you can't fool the surfers any of the time. Even if you don't get why someone's content or paysite sells. What puts cash on the table is what customers buy. AND customers don't buy bro love. And they don't buy from affiliates who sent traffic based on BS, guesses or bro love. Affiliates will soon discover this in their stats and pockets. Then redirect traffic. Knowing what sells without having to test it with traffic saves time and money.

These rules, with some adjustment, apply to anyone creating a product to sell. It doesn't matter if it's online, in a store or on the street.

But I'm sure many will tell me because it's online the rules are different. AND their site or work is how it should be done. Beware snake oil salesmen.

[CurrentlySober]

i like poo?

[Va2k]

Great read Paul! ty

[Paul Markham]

Thank Fungus, will add more soon.

[papill0n]

lol what a load of bullshit

any idiot can shoot porn

PIRIOD

[papill0n]

teens have to be teens

blacks have to be black

i mean you cant pay for information this good

[Paul Markham]

90% of people starting out will be shooting as beginners and amateurs. They have to truly understand the meaning of the word and niche. It isn't and never has been an excuse for bad porn, it's tougher to shoot than many think. Because creating amateur porn is 90% about model motivation. Getting the rest right is easy.

Cameras, location, lights (even amateur needs some light, the more the better) sound equipment, clothing and toiletries for models. Plus refreshments.

Models need to interviewed before the shoot. I have written extensively on this as it's vital to sort out the right girls from the wrong one.

The shooter needs to set the mood, pace and establish he's in charge. He needs to impress the girls he knows what he's doing. Never ever as a new shooter tell a model to do her own thing. It might be wrong. He needs to explain what will happen, where, when, how, what's expected of her and what's in it for her. This is perhaps where your shoot starts to succeed or fail. Picking the wrong girl will not give you the right scene.

When they arrive, greeting and establishing yourself as as the guy who knows what's to be done is essential, drink non alcohol, sit down tell them what will happen, ask them if they have it, send them to the shower with a robe and all the necessary stuff, make sure the clothing and toys are ready, make sure the partners have shown their STD tests, make sure they have IDs with them, make sure they don't have stubble around their pussies, you did bring razors and foam didn't you, then get them ready and into the location.

Where you had already set the lights and arranged everything.

Lights. The more light, the better the image. A HD camera is useless in poor light. So one or two strong lights are essential. Set them so it doesn't look professional. Cuts out shadows and doesn't bounce right back into the camera lens. Don't shoot into the light or into a very dark wall. Shoot a test before the models arrived. Test lighting with a light meter, pro's can get away without, amateurs should not. Sound too professional? It's down to how you set the lighting. If you want a darker than normal image, close the aperture down. Make sure all the lighting is even so there are no high lights. Make sure the room looks like a home with the usual debris. Don't use amateur as an excuse for crap or to cover up your failings.

Models in, now tell them to get going the way you discussed. It needs gentle direction, keep your mood to set the mood of the shoot. This is where real skills come into play, a bad mood = crap scene. Shooters set the pace, atmosphere and direction. Even if models are doing their own thing, it needs to be the thing the shooter needs.

I liked to start by doing stills to warm them up. With solo it's the model looking into the camera with a look that say "Come here" to "Fuck me hard NOW". It mustn't say I'm bored, scared, don't like you, fuck off loser. If I have to teach you how to get the look, think long and hard if you're in the right business. Swat up on the positions you want the model to pose in and load them into your laptop to play on a a Slide View. AS A NEWBIE, don't wing it.

For couples, let them get together and get it on to your previous instructions, any hesitation has to be sorted out very fast. Don't have girls continually looking into the camera, it upsets the flow. If the lights have been set right the shooter can move around a bit to catch the action from different angles, start with kissing, petting, letting it build. STOP and faking.

There are some shots where the models will look at the camera as a third person they want to join in or show the action to. In fact all the time this has to be the theme, yet not with the girls in a BG or GG looking at the camera all the time.

Amateur is in the action, not the exposure, not an excuse for bad porn. It's about delivering an illusion the models are getting it on for fun. If they are having fun, it's easier. Getting paid models to come into a shoot and have fun fucking, sounds easy. The first shoots will show how hard it can be.

I have barely scratched the surface of how to shoot good amateur porn and those who can't do this will tell you I have it wrong. Go figure. Some who have never shot a scene will tell you I'm a broke dumb ass who has to work to make the rent.

So I'm off to walk the dog.