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Do You Shoot Your Own Content? I Need Advice...
I'm thinking of getting into the business of shooting content to sell. However, I would like some advice on how to get started or where to go with the content to sell it. It will be solo girls content. I'm not certain I will be doing this until I understand more about what is involved.
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Bump for some advice...
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Paypal me $200 and I will tell you everything you need to know because I like competition.
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I guess that answer means I won't be getting any real advice. I honestly didn't think it would be something that was so closely guarded. I understand that if I got involved I would be competition but there are countless other content providers out there. I'm not trying to take business away from anyone, I am just curious as to what it involves if I want to get started.
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nobody is going to write you a 'how to shoot porn' but if you did some searching you'd probably find what you want.
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However, if I were you bud, and I was serious. I would plan to go to one of the shows, like Vegas. Track down Jimmy Gunn (I would include others in this list as well, but not all attend a lot of shows), and shoot the shit with him for an afternoon. If you understand from that point, move forward. You will learn more in an afternoon at a show with someone in the biz, then you are EVER going to be told on ICQ, or on a board. That is just the fact of the matter. Mainstream, or adult, that is honestly the nuts and bolts of it. However, you can go to NP or some other board that talks about camera shit. Even a photography board would help over just looking for adult help. As some will tell you, go to a community college, and take some photography classes. :2 cents: |
Fly to Vancouver .. bring bags of money ..pay me exorbitantly to hang over my shoulder and hassle me for the secrets of shooting porn ..you'll leave with the idea that it looks fun but sure is more work than you ever thought .. wouldn't be the first time .. ;)
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That's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for and I very much appreciate your help. |
good luck if you don't even have much photography skills
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That was my first thought too....does this guy even know his ass from an aperture.
Without that he is just another moron who should be taking pictures of people eating at his family reunion. |
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You gotta start somewhere right? |
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your best bet is to just do your own research - try it out and show some people your content... No one here will offer you any pro advice... attending a show might help you out but i still doubt you will get any gold from anyone. trial and error man... Im in the same boat as you right now... I have been here for years and the most i Have gotten from anyone is lighting information. some techniques but mostly what product to invest in... no hands on workings... Bought myself a canon 40d and im just practicing... I suggest you do the same... canon or not... you need to know your hardware - your model manipulation (making them look sexy if they cant do it themselves) - LIGHTING IS KEY! DO not skimp on your lighting - Then work on marketing your content... theres you a great start - if you can get to the point of and hurdle the marketing - then id say you made it... |
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Thanks Deej for the great advice. And everyone else in this thread who's actually given me some advice on this. :thumbsup |
If you think asking a question like this is a good way to start, then the only advice to be given is IT'S NOT FOR YOU. You already show no initiative or comprehension regarding the depth and breadth of what's involved.
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I believe I have taken the initiative by starting this thread and asking for advice. And of course I have no comprehension of what's involved. In my first post I stated that I want to learn about what's involved. But, as previous posters have advised...I will do my own research and learn by trial and error. So, I appreciate your :2 cents: |
eprater78 where are you located?
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I'm in Kentucky.
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To far, I shoot in LA.
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Learn Photoshop on how to touch up your photos.
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Buy a simple camera, learn to use it. Get to the point where you can take good crisp clear pictures. Buy some lights, learn to use them with your camera.
Now evaluate your skills compared to what you see on paysites and samples posted here. If you know someone to be a test model that should be your next step, learn lighting, skin tones, closeups, etc. Then you'll have to decide if you have the beginnings of a business or not. |
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I was thinking of getting a good digital camera. Is this a good idea or should I get one that requires film? Or does it matter? I was going to go for the digital because it would be easier to transfer the photos onto my computer. |
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I'm no expert. Not by any means, but that's just what I've learned, and been taught by the mutha' fuckin' masta. Quote:
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And now... let me offer you my own advice based on my personal experience. QUIT WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD! Hear me out... I got into shooting photos years ago as a hobby. I never thought about shooting models until one the clients I edit for saw my photography. He could see that I knew how to compose and shoot a good photo, and he wanted to see how I'd do with a model. So he set up my first shot and loaned me some lights. (I still use those lights to this day in fact) Looking back, I was a disaster. I didn't know fuck all about lighting, or how to pose the model. In time I got better but I never felt comfortable shooting for anyone other than this one client. So I'd shoot for this guy only occasionally for the next few years. Then one day I had a real opportunity to work with a VERY established photographer right here from GFY, bm bradley. I took a chance and went for it. I became his assisstant/videographer. For the first time I got to see what being a real shooter was all about. And brother.. let me tell ya'.. you won't want any part of it. Hustling around for work, models not showing up, busting ass to get as much content in a certain amount of time, arguing with clients over money, chasing money, getting paid and then going and blowing all the pay on gear or set dressing. And the pay is shit too, no one wants to pay the proper amount of $$$ for custom content these days. It was a nightmare and a disaster. We parted ways, and since then I've gone back to shooting for the same client I started with, and I took what I learned and I apply it when I can. For the most part, I show up, shoot a few sets in a very calm and relaxed environment, and get my shots. The pay is the same, and they've hired an office accountant so I send an invoice and get paid the next day. They are always more than happy with my work, and I shoot at least once a week when I'm not editing their DVD's. The bottom line is, the custom content world is more competitive than you could possibly imagine. My advice, find one or two clients and shoot for them at your own pace, or you'll burn out. If shooting is something you LOVE to do, then don't do it as a job, or you'll end up hating it. For me it was a hobby and now that I shoot at my own pace, I enjoy it again. I still feel like it's a hobby to me, because I don't rely on it for income. The pay is like a bonus now. And when I was doing it as a job, I fucking hated it. Take from this what you can. In the meantime, here is a few shots I took recently. And I did them at my own pace, again in a relaxed environment, and had a lot of fun with the models. It didn't feel like work at all. Alice, (sweet Alice) http://redshoe.net/photography/alice-01.jpg Andi Anderson http://redshoe.net/photography/andi-04.jpg Andi Anderson http://redshoe.net/photography/andi-03.jpg And finally Helen. http://redshoe.net/photography/helen-04.jpg |
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Do you own a camera at all? Do you know how it works? Have you got any talent in the field? Because taking good pictures does require a certain talent. You might be major crap. It seems to me you think: "shooting hot chicks is a great job, I wanna do it!" like some little kid that wants all the shiny toys from the toy store. Seems to me you don't know anything about cameras. Let alone the rest. So learn how to use A camera first. |
Dude redshoe - that last photo - Remeber when you posted the big booty chick squatting in front of a chair - might be the same kaboose....
Anyway i said rotate your light source... see in the last photo - thats exactly what i meant - so there is the drastic light source right at the edge of her curves.... Thats gold man! BM bradley would be a great tutor - I heard way back in the day he was hands down the best lighting guy shooting ... and like i said lighting is key. Looks like you learned a lot :thumbsup |
Thanks RedShoe for all the advice. And that's what I planned on doing. I want to start out slow at my own pace and learn as I go along. The purpose of starting this thread was to get some input and advice from the people that are already doing it. And you are right, this is the start of my research. To talk to some of the people who are involved with it. I don't wanna jump right into shooting models or anything. I plan on learning how to take a good picture first and how to edit and all that. So, I greatly appreciate advice from everyone who wants to offer it.
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Yes, I am a long way from being a photographer...that's why I started this thread. No, I don't own a good camera...that's why I asked what kind I should start out with. I don't know if I have talent because I've never attempted it. And I do plan on learning how to use the camera very well. Thanks for all the tip! :thumbsup |
And also, no offense taken. I've been on here long enough to know you gotta have thick skin when talking to some people. Some will help you out but others just wanna give you a hard time. I know how to roll with the punches...so to speak.
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Get a canon 20d and a good lens - that alone will set you back 1500 give or take if you find the right deal - GOOD LENS!
you need to learn to use it - aperture and shutter speed! learn that shit - youre asking the questions you need to ask in 3 years. Notch down a bit and learn basics. No camera means no grasp. Grab a little before you walk up and ask what the meaning of life is... |
hey man, I'm actually selling my Nikon D-80 body. You'd need to buy a lens. A good 18-55 should be good to get you started.
I'm asking 500 for it. |
Dean Capture, thats all I gotta say...
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Buy any digital camera to start. The deal RedShoe is offering is a good buy.
Learn the camera, start with photos of a wooden folding chair. Learn to work with the shadows, the slats, then move on to lighting. Suggested the chair just because they can be complex to shoot, have angles, curves and shadows and most won't argue with you :) |
Shoot only in manual mode:2 cents:
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Wanna know something Deej, when I wanted to starting shooting video. Who I wrote and he said sure come over it was Mike South. No matter whatever question I had he always made time for me.And now in the 6 yrs we have grown to be close friends and I consider him a member of my family. Mike is one of the few people that I know if shit went down,he would be there for me without question no matter where he was.
My advice to eprater is you have a possibly picked the worse time possible to start a content selling business. You really have to look at costs and what you have to sell things for to make a profit. Learn who the competitors. figure what are you going to bring thats different to the table. No one is going to do the homework for you. I wish you best of luck. |
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Thanks for the offer man but I think I'm gonna look into getting something cheaper to start with. |
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Thanks for the advice and kind words Tony404! |
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And like redshoe said contradictory to my previous statement about no one here giving golden advice... well i didnt mean at all or in person... or even in icq messages - but i highly doubt any skillful knowledge we be spewed out here on GFY... nothing too indepth besides whats been posted here already and basic "go out and practice" advice... am i right? |
Yea, I didn't expect anyone to give me universal knowledge of shooting content. Just some advice and opinions on the subject. And so far most everyone has been a major help on getting me started.
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Perhaps the others are right in assuming you are not ready to take on this hobby/profession My first step in my photography journey beyond an instamatic was dropping 1400 on my first manual camera... The tripod alone was 300+ lighting and lenses is where your money really goes... so let me reiterate for everyone else.... are you sure you are ready? |
Yes I'm ready and if you and others think I should start out with a bigger investment then that's what I will do. Someone in this thread advised earlier to get a good digital camera and that's what I was thinking of doing. I really good one should run me about $200 or so but I was gonna look around to see what I could find.
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you want to learn photography right? not just point n shoot, right? i assume with the initial thread starting question you want to learn photography... what redshoe offered you is a great start - although no lens the body alone for a basic GOOD digital camera is in the 500 and up range... since you dont seem to worried with initial quality - check ebay for some deals... you scan enough and you will find a good deal over time... to do it right htough which seems more like your initial question here...you need to spend some money... |
yea I understand what you are saying. And thanks again. I am going to seriously consider his offer but I still want to look around a bit. I don't anyone in this thread to think that they are wasting their time talking to me or anything. Everyone's input has been very helpful.
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I wonder if this thread gets bumped in 3 years time.
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It took me a looooooong time to get my foot in the door.
I started out on my own, not knowing the difference between white balance and an F-stop. However I did by a good 3 chip video camera at the time and a pair of cheap video kit lights from the local camera store. I had a little digital camera that got me through just fine for a long time before I upgraded to an SLR and started shooting DVD box covers. Mike South was a HUGE help to me, taking the time to answer my questions about shooting and the industry. He actually spent some time and took me around at my first AVN show (2000) and introduced me to people and talked about the product I had. He was also a straight shooter and told me how to make what I had better. For that, I'm always grateful to him, and I suggest you find someone like him (someone suggest Jum Gunn) who is willing to take the time to give you a hand and not blow smoke up your ass. Then along the way I was able to sit in on a few sets of veteran shooters and I learned a lot of little tricks. I shot a LOT of crap while I was learning. I mean a ton of it. Buuuuut.... over time it got better and doors started to open. Now I am turning down work almost daily. I still suck if you put me up against someone like Dean Capture but the bottom line is I MAKE A LOT OF MONEY and SELL A LOT OF PRODUCT with the limited skills I do have, so I'm living proof you don't totally need to know it all to make a living. CLIFF NOTES: * Get the best gear you can afford. * Read everything you can about shooting and your gear. * Practice, practice and practice! Then compare it with others in your niche. How does it pair up? * Find someone who will allow you to pick their brain. * Don't expect pro results overnight. * Make as many contacts as you can and always hold up to what you tell them you will do. Always deliver. * And then somewhere along the line you have to learn how to deal with models and talent and get them to do what you want. |
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You're not "in" until he lets you call him Maurice. |
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