How To Shoot A Porn

How To Shoot A Porn
The Horniest Taylor Swift Lyrics of All Time
Exclusive All-Inclusive Resorts? Take My Money
80 Cool Gifts Teenage Girls Will Actually Love
Ahem: The Best Eyelash Glues on the Internet
How Rhaenyra Targaryen Is Connected to Daenerys
Andre Shakti
Andre Shakti is an educator, producer, activist, and sex worker devoted to normalizing alternative desires, de-stigmatizing sex workers and their partners, and not taking herself too seriously.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Our 4-Week Oral Sex Challenge Is Right This Way
The Horniest Taylor Swift Lyrics of All Time
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Here's *Exactly* How to Tell If They Like You Back
Yep, These Are the Best Dating Apps of the Year
Found: Flirty Pickup Lines to Text Your Crush
Cedrik Lorenzen Is Here to Whet Your Appetite
How I Got Banned From (Almost) Every Dating App
Oh, This? Just Cosmo’s Best Sex Tips of All Time

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.

I've been shooting porn for over four years. While I mostly shoot ethical feminist content, the vast majority of porn leaves people wondering, Am I supposed to look like that? How does she even get into that position?! But viewers can rest more easily knowing that the process behind the product is far more awkward than they've been led to believe. Porn stars: We trip over our own feet just like the rest of you!
So in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm going to give you the dish on the behind-the-scenes action, which is way sillier than it is sordid. Because hey, how many secrets can you reasonably expect to keep when you're naked on the Internet?
1. What looks like a bottle of lube is not always a bottle of lube. Porn sets are usually rife with production assistants (PAs) who will give you a variety of lubricants to choose from. Problem is, many sites take care to cover up any product labels on props, which means all their liquid dispenser bottles are wrapped in tape. Identically wrapped in tape. I can't tell you how many times I've reached for what I thought was a bottle of Swiss Navy, only to have a PA dive in front of the camera to save me from squirting hand sanitizer on my crotch. Many performers are not so fortunate, and trust me, there are no moisturizing benefits to Purell.
2. Sometimes the blow job comes before the handshake. While finished porn may look like a very linear scene, the way that it's shot is anything but. The director may want you to whip off your clothes and shoot the blow job first, then throw them back on, fix your hair and makeup, and shoot the introductory dialogue. Which basically means you're having oral sex with someone before greeting them verbally. Additionally, directors will frequently freeze the action if they want to get a tighter shot — doesn't matter how much you're enjoying yourself or how close to orgasm you may be. For men, this is the worst, as they have to keep erections up despite the constant stopping-and-starting. I once had a director call "freeze" while someone's entire hand was inside my body. During which my scene partner and I had to awkwardly talk about the exorbitant San Francisco housing market while the crew adjusted their lenses and lights. For 15 minutes.
3. Preparing for an anal sex scene is an art form. Asses are assets in the porn industry, and they're treated with the same meticulous care, consideration, and maintenance as an expensive foreign car. Performers, particularly women, get paid extra money for anal sex on camera. While many enjoy anal sex in their "real life," it's also become a financial decision that sometimes hinges on whether rent is due tomorrow or not. The struggle is real. Anyway, preparing for an anal scene truly is an art form. There are the dietary restrictions (usually performers coming in for a late morning shoot will not have eaten since dinner the night before), the endless "cleaning out" (enema after enema after enema, both pre-shoot and during), and the hair removal (waxing is recommended, as there is nothing worse than a razor cut on your bum). Plus you usually spend your leisure time during your shoot crouching awkwardly in the corner sticking butt plugs of increasing sizes into your body to relax your ass. If you're lucky, your scene partner will do it for you, and you'll get to lie on a couch or a bed. While you talk about the San Francisco housing market. Again.
4. Having a bad day? Porn don't care. I've had a shoot where a staffer ran on set to exclaim that my car was being towed, a shoot where I had an allergic reaction to the bed sheets and had to quickly take Benadryl while a nasty rash worked its way up my stomach, and a shoot where I ran outside barefoot to intentionally dirty the soles of my feet and accidentally stomped through a family of fire ants in the process. We may be creating and selling fantasy, but when we're on set, we're just as susceptible to bad fortune as anyone else. When you're in a good mood, sex work is the best work. But if you're feeling down, usually the last thing you want to do is get naked in a room full of strangers.
5. There are few things more awkward than completely silent sex. Due to copyright infringement laws, porn sites can't just use any music to accompany their scenes. Either they forgo music altogether, record music specifically for their project, or purchase the rights to the music they want. As you may have guessed, forgoing the music altogether is the least expensive and thus most popular option, and it also means that performers are usually having sex in complete silence. So if you're someone who likes hitting the bass beat with every thrust, or just someone who needs a sensual melody to relax and get in the mood, you're out of luck.
6. You're not always having sex with someone you're even remotely attracted to. Porn performers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors, and sexual orientations. Many heterosexual performers will readily have gay sex on camera, and many gay performers go "straight for pay." While I don't need to have a full-blown relationship with my scene partners before we work together, I do like knowing that they are generally into "me" (read: alternative-looking Italian ladies). This means we have a greater shot of achieving on-camera chemistry, and I like to make my shoots as authentic as possible. But once in a while I'll get paired with someone who, well, isn't picking up what I'm putting down. And let me tell you, there are few things more bizarre than having to show a woman how to use a strap-on harness before she uses it on you.
7. Porn injuries are real, and they're uncomfortable. Due to the rigorous athletic nature of the work, porn performers are constantly walking away from sets with battle scars. In my relatively short career, I've received genital burn from hours of condom friction, been hit in the head with a large vibrator when a PA tossed one to me, slipped on multiple sneaky patches of spilled silicone lube, and actually torn my rotator cuff during a pornographic wrestling match (I received workers compensation for the latter injury). This doesn't include the numerous mornings I've woken up after a shoot feeling like I was hit with a truck. Too many upside-down pile-drivers; not enough stretching. Please repeat after me: Porn is for consumption, not imitation!
8. You often have to do an interview right after you have wild sex. Like, right after. Many porn sites I work for (like those within Kink.com, for example) are committed to showing that the performers are real people who have enthusiastically consented to the days work. So it's not uncommon for the director to shoot a short interview with you after your scene. You know, when you have makeup running down your face and are covered in a delightful combination of sweat, body fluids, and general debris. Let me tell you, the last thing I feel like doing when I've been contorting my body in various strenuous positions for five hours is sitting down for a broadcasted chat. It's safe to say that I've never had the desire to watch any of my post-scene interviews. I'm pretty sure I would just throw in the towel then and there.
9. You have to find a way to have sex in a tree. And in a kitchen. And in a gym. Our society is prone to fetishizing taboos, and since most of us are used to having sex in bedrooms, the thought of doing it elsewhere can be very tantalizing. I've shot porn scenes just about everywhere: cars, trees, parks, railroad tracks, gyms, and numerous bathrooms and kitchens. And let me tell you, I'd prefer a bed any day of the week. The more "unconventional" the porn set, the more unknown variables you have to work with. Being in public, for example, you have to negotiate the legalities along with your own personal comfort (just because I like to have sex on camera does not mean I like to have sex on a street corner in full view of thousands of passersby). Having to work in undesirable weather conditions or environments that aren't temperature-controlled can be quite uncomfortable — and there's no way to make a shower stall or a marble countertop feel like a four-poster California King.

by Sarah Jacobsson Purewal Published: Apr 17, 2014
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Creating a private sex tape can be sexy and thrilling for you both. Just proceed with extreme caution … and good lighting.
Kim Kardashian ruined the homemade sex tape. Now every girl who would have potentially been up for getting hot and heavy on camera is weighing the pros and cons: She knows that the likelihood a leaked sex tape will vault her into a multi-million dollar reality show empire is far smaller than the likelihood that she’ll lose her job, her friends, and her reputation.
But if you handle your approach well, shooting anything from some sexy half-nude photos with her up to full-on romp isn’t impossible—and it could jack up the excitement in the bedroom for both of you. “Not everyone wants to be a porn star,” says porn actress and director Dana Vespoli. “But everyone wants that confidence you get from looking sexy on camera.”
Here are some tips for making your foray into filmed sex a successful one.
1. Start talking.
Don’t be coy or surreptitious about this—ask her if she’s on-board. “Anytime you want to photograph somebody, you need to ask point-blank for their consent,” says sexologist Yvonne K. Fulbright, Ph.D. “But bringing it up out of the blue can be awkward.” Instead, try to tie the conversation to something relevant—for example, when she’s flipping through your Playboy , mention how sexy she’d look in the pages and gauge her reaction.
Before you whip out your cameras—and anything else—you should discuss all of the hard details, such as how the photos or video will be captured and what you’ll do with the evidence afterward. “This will make both of you feel more comfortable, and ultimately have more fun,” Fulbright says.
2. Put her in the mood.
Lucky you—she’s on board to get down in front of a camera. That doesn’t mean your work is done. “The camera isn’t foreplay. You still have to seduce her,” Vespoli says. “The more you can get her in the mood, the more comfortable she’ll be on camera.”
According to Vespoli, who directs primarily girl-on-girl scenes, novice actresses are often nervous and insecure on set. “To make her feel at ease, you’ll want to basically lavish attention on her: Tell her how sexy she is, tell her how much she turns you on, and be completely positive,” Vespoli says. “If she brings up her flaws, even jokingly, play dumb—don’t even mention them by name. If she says ‘love handles,’ say ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. I can’t even see that.’”
3. Make it a fantasy.
If you’re laying on the charm and she’s still feeling insecure in front of the camera, you can try to make the whole thing into a role-playing fantasy. “There’s a huge difference in making your own sex tape versus taking on a role play of ‘let’s pretend we’re porn stars,’” Fulbright says. “One is about being yourself, while the other is about taking on the character/fantasy girl mentality—which is what real porn stars do, as they’re real people, too.” Plus, Fulbright notes, making it a fantasy will help her focus on a storyline rather than her insecurities.
To help her play pretend, Vespoli suggests offering to spring for professional hair and makeup, or a sexy new role-playing outfit. “You could even try a masquerade fantasy and have her wear an eye mask—that way she has a degree of anonymity on camera, as well,” Vespoli says.
4. Set the lights, camera, angles.
You don’t need studio-quality lighting or an HD video camera to shoot a good sex tape. In fact, bright lights and a professional camera can have a decidedly un-sexy effect, according to Vespoli. “I always say HD is the worst thing to happen to porn,” Vespoli says. “Nobody needs to see that much detail. If your setup is too professional-looking, she’ll feel like she’s on a set or a stage, and that’s not exactly the intimate, foreplay-sex-tape feel you’re going for.”
Here’s how to manage lighting, camera, and the right angles:
Lighting: According to Vespoli, natural light is the best light. But if you can’t get it on during the day, warm, yellow-ish incandescent lights even out the skin, hiding blemishes, dimpling, and cellulite. You only need one good light source—too many lights and she’ll get that on-stage feeling.
Camera: A phone camera will work just fine—and if she’s nervous about a potential sex tape scandal, it can be her camera. You don’t need any professional equipment, but you’ll probably want to pick up a phone tripod such as a GorillaPod.
Angles: The best angle to shoot from is actually from below, looking up. “This angle flattens the stomach, makes her butt look rounder, and makes her breasts look bouncier,” Vespoli says. “Top-down is only good if you’re shooting oral sex.”
5. Plan your positions.
Having sex on camera is a big step for an otherwise vanilla-sex kinda girl—this is no time to try new, acrobatic stunts in bed. However, there are some positions that just look better on camera. “Basically, any position that elongates the body and makes her look taller and slimmer is going to good,” says Vespoli. “If she can stretch or lean back, that’s even better.”
According to Vespoli, the best positions include cowgirl and reverse cowgirl, doggy style, and an open spoon—when you’re behind her while she faces the camera. Bad positions include the piledriver and anything too complicated, which will give her rolls in weird places. Note how the focus is on how she looks—not you. “Most porn focuses on the woman, because that’s the audience it’s catering to,” says Vespoli. “So it’s really all about her—not you.”
6. Calm her nerves.
The main reason she shies away from being on camera? She’s not 100 percent sure you’re not an asshole who will pass the tape around to your friends—or worse, post it online. Instead of asking her to simply trust you, put her in control of the final product: Shoot the whole thing on her camera phone and let her keep the evidence, Fulbright suggests. “You can also adjust the lighting or promise not to capture identifying evidence—such as a tattoo—if she doesn’t want parts of herself seen.”
Another way to factor in a fail-safe? Make sure you’re also on camera. “Don’t do POV shots or just take pictures of her—make sure you’re also visible, and recognizable, in the shot,” Vespoli says. “She’ll feel more comfortable knowing that anyone who sees the tape is also going to see you.”
7. Don’t kiss and tell.
Obviosuly, revenge porn is a terrible idea. But it may soon be an even worse idea, as lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation that makes revenge porn—the non-consensual distribution of lewd content—a crime. “Breakups are rarely, if ever, feel-good events left on good terms,” says McAfee security expert Robert Siciliano. “But we don’t have to make them worse by potentially having our private moments open and being exposed for all to see.”
If you’re unsure about whether you, or your partner, will ever be inclined to break your promise, simply don’t put yourself in that position, Siciliano says. “Think twice—digital is forever. It will haunt you and follow you,” he says.
6 Porn Stars Share How They Stay Fit
How to Search for Porn Without Getting Hacked
Women Are Trying to Set a New Pole-Dancing Record
How to Watch Porn Without Getting Hacked
While You Were Enjoying Super Bowl Sunday, Your Wife Was Watching Porn
Can You Have a Totally Hands-Free Orgasm? The Erotic Hypnosis Community Thinks So
Porn Stars Share Awkward On-Set Horror Stories
Asa Akira Takes Us Behind the Scenes at the Oscars for Porn
5 Amazing Sex Toy Trends You'll See In 2018
3 Porn Star Couples Reveal How They Make It Work
MILF Porn Star Brandi Love Talks Penises, Orgies, and Whether She'd Bang Trump
6 Steamy Porn Trends You'll See In 2018
Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site.
©Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, Aug 31st 2022
9AM
18°C
12PM
18°C

5-Day Forecast

RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next
Porn stars reveal how many times they've had sex in one day
No compatible source was found for this video.
Foreground --- White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan --- Opaque Semi-Opaque
Background --- White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan --- Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent
Window --- White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan --- Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400%
Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow
Font Family Default Monospace Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Sans-Serif Casual Script Small Caps

Embed icon

Embed Most Watched Videos

By embedding this you agree to our terms and conditions

Cancel
Copy code
Tick icon

Code copied

Site
Web

Enter search term:
Search

PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing
Get inspired by the newest styles and offers
Click through for ASOS promo codes this Autumn
Missguided - Get the latest fashion
Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes
Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories
Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture

Home

News

U.S.

Sport

TV&Showbiz

Australia

Femail

Health

Science

Money

Video

Travel

Best Buys

Discounts

Published: 08:49 BST, 10 October 2016 | Updated: 16:31 BST, 10 October 2016
Gareth May for Metro.co.uk found out what really goes on behind the scenes at a porn shoot...
‘We’re going to need the p***y light. Can someone go and grab the p***y light?’
Justin Santos, the owner of Joybear Pictures turns to me. ‘I don’t like calling it that really but… it’s an industry term. We use it for close ups. It’s very bright.’
A shorthaired, bespectacled runner – the spit of Milh
Kasia Smutniak Nuda
Taimanin Asagi 2
Pormcomix

How To Shoot A Porn

Report Page