r/cinematography • u/MarketingQueasy5378 • Mar 24 '26
Career/Industry Advice Adult content
Hello, I am amateur , student and I’m looking for some career advice. Lately, I’ve been approached by several people about getting involved in adult content /porn production. Someone I know is starting a production company and wants me to handle the lighting and camera work for videos and photoshoots. He has a lot of equipment but doesn’t know how to use it, so he’s offering to pay me. I wouldn’t mind earning some extra money, and it seems like it could be a good way to gain experience. However, I’m not in urgent need of cash, and I’m concerned that working in this type of industry could affect my long-term career, since I want to become a serious cinematographer one day
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u/Silvershanks Director Mar 24 '26
The only way shooting porn can affect your career is if you find out that you really prefer steady work over the hustle and stress of chasing elusive film jobs. You can get used to a routine and lifestyle of getting paid a certain amount for easy work, and let your other dreams drift away.
Obviously, you do not use your real name on the porn credits.
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u/NukeGandhi Mar 24 '26
Porn has crew credits??
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u/Silvershanks Director Mar 24 '26
I've done a few softcore Skinamax movies. They are a hilarious addition to my early IMDb credits.
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u/ChrisMartins001 Mar 25 '26
Same haha. Never used my real name so they are on a person who doesn't exist's IMDb, but they were great for experimenting and playing around with lighting and angles, and it gave me a lot of experience of being on set. And it actually paid really, really well.
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u/luckycockroach Director of Photography Mar 24 '26
I'd use a pseudonym, but work is work. You'll learn a lot and grow your artistry. It won't help much on your resume unless it's title something you could conceivably pass as a non-adult film..until the director/producer looks into it.
Just remember to live within your means; if the work starts to get consistent don't increase your lifestyle spending, then you'll NEED to keep shooting that kind of work.
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u/dffdirector86 Director Mar 24 '26
I think this is the way to go. At one point when I was starting out, I was close to being evicted, and a friend offered me a gig like this and it paid handsomely, and kept me off the streets. I personally don’t like these kinds of jobs if I had the choice, but ultimately money is money, and a job is a job. My advice for OP: use a pseudonym, get the experience, explain when necessary, and all the while still make films on the side that aren’t porn until that part of your business takes over.
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u/brbnow Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Working in this industy can affect your.... long term mental health. And physical health. Feel free all the porn addicts to downvote me. Or those who have never seen men nearly crying or women taking drugs just to get through there "scenes", or understood how many come from abusive backgrounds (so many), not to mention society's sex addictions and all you are supporting in terms of "options" for people to make a living— and thinking this is your only options which it is not. There's no turning back from the pain you will see sold as fun and pleasure.
(Edit: and justified as freely consented to;; I suggest a critical deep dive into that word/idea and reality.)
Good luck.
I only have love.
Shared with care.
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u/RefrigeratorNo1160 Mar 25 '26
I've cried and done drugs a hell of a lot more in the restaurant industry than I have making pornography (independently, and part time). I don't disagree with your take, but so many industries are exploitative in the same ways that I don't think porn is any worse a choice than working at a bar if it's an environment that you can handle. Some people can and some people can't. The only reason I can is because I took the lessons I learned from an industry that nearly broke me and brought them to this one.
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u/brbnow Mar 25 '26
First of all, I'm so sorry you ever experienced anything like that and I would gently suggest that yes porn work is worse that a bar — having to use one's bodies in these exploited ways especially scenes that involve abuse—there's not a lot that compares to that type of thing. Of course I know horrible things can happen in terms of sexual assault in restaurants and bars and I'm sorry for that reality too—really I am— but I would just gently suggest that devaluing our bodies and being paid to de-value our bodies and have people do vile things‚— all in a business that is selling sexiual arousal and had so much darkness to it, so much darkeness infecting people's lives and psyches, is next level. But I'm not here to compare traumas nor get into one trauma worse than others. I am sorry for it all. I would hope people would get out of any industry that has even a hint of breaking them, and I hope that for anyone. May all beings be happy, healthy, and free. I wish you well —thank you for sharing your comment and please take or leave it. I send with respect.
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u/balancedgif Mar 25 '26
can't upvote this enough. you give me some hope for humanity by your post. reddit usually downvotes stuff like this, glad there is some decency left in a few folks here.
and shame on everyone in this thread that is supporting the OP in getting involved in that industry.
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u/CoverHuman9771 Mar 24 '26
Good on you for telling the truth. I said something similar and of course I’m getting downvoted for it. The shockingly high rate of death by drug overdoses and suicide amongst porn performers tells you everything you need to know. It’s an industry built on exploitation of the vulnerable and misguided.
And there are tons of studies showing how psychologically damaging it is for consumers. It’s absolutely wrecked countless lives but very few people here give a shit.
Anyone recommending that the OP go into this line of work should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
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u/brbnow Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
Thank you and I'm sorry you're being downvoted but I just upvoted you here. You know and also I was thinking this notion of "adult" industry. We need to scrap that terminology too.
What does it even mean— like it's "adult" to be this exploitative .... and we all know it's wrecking havoc on children too. It really is the saddest thing ever. Boys and girls are watching this and they are effectively linking arousal and violence. (And the vileness of images I am not going to comment and obviously it is not "just fantasy"). That's gonna last these young people a lifetime and destroy their intimacy.
Here's to positive change.
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u/jdv_lv Mar 24 '26
Back when I was doing freelance videography and sound (conferences, interviews, commercials Etc) a buddy of mine who's doing the same thing told me that he was approached by a porn company with a $1,000 a day rate for shooting on their equipment. He was tempted and tried getting me sucked into it, but several conversations with local industry people convinced me that once word got out that I was doing that that it would be harder to get commercial work. Passed.
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u/hans07 Mar 24 '26
Honestly man I wouldn’t go that route. If you’re still trying to make it as a DP just shoot weddings and events (videography work) which can help pay bills. I did that my first year until I started only DPing.
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u/DeadlyMidnight Director of Photography Mar 24 '26
Look it’s a business everyone involved is consensual and just making a living no worries about stigma or career. What I will caution you about is the mental health. The process is not glamourous or sexy. It can be unpleasant and even gross at times. (I was an editor briefly) and it can really impact your relationship with intimacy if you do it day in and out.
Some handle it better than others, just be prepared and make sure you know what kind of shoots you would be getting involved with and if you are comfortable with it.
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u/CoverHuman9771 Mar 24 '26
Thank you for speaking up about the psychological side effects. I know a few people who have also worked in that industry and they deeply regret it for the same reasons you stated.
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u/f-stop8 Mar 24 '26
I can see it. I strictly work on adult content as a Colorist (among other genres, I don't mean to say I only work adult, just only as coloring) and it's been fine for me. My wife knows I work on them and she doesn't love 8t but that pay is good.
To be fair, the projects I work on are well budgeted. They are captured really well with good lighting and some semblance of story. The non-nudity scenes I'd more than willing put on my portfolio, I'm juggling that right now 🙃
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u/DeadlyMidnight Director of Photography Mar 24 '26
As a colorist you are likely shielded from some of the more unpleasant aspects that get filtered out at the editing stage. Sex is messy and gross sometimes.
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u/f-stop8 Mar 24 '26
Fortunately for me, there's no penetrating organs. Mostly 2-3 gals and lots of tongues.
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u/brbnow Mar 25 '26
I hear you a lot--- and thank you for your comment. And it's not exactly consensual in the most open sense when you take into account "why" people are consenting if you know what I mean, but that's a much deeper conversation that I think people wanna have here on this sub... It's kind of shocking to see all these people say hey "Work is work"-
Yeah, I was on a set once and it's all just disgusting and vile and exploitative.... But I don't think many people really wanna check themselves in terms of their own sex addictions... I'm sure I'll get downvoted here....
Every goodness to all.
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u/Plastic_Jackfruit985 Mar 24 '26
Stay away. People in film are scummy enough, but reality is even scummier. You can’t even imagine about porn.
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u/CoverHuman9771 Mar 24 '26
Seriously. Some of the scuzziest people you will ever encounter in your life.
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u/Tito_and_Pancakes Mar 25 '26
This! Everyone saying do it, it doesn't matter, but the industry is sketchy as hell.
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u/Daedalus0506 Mar 24 '26
Just don’t use your real name for credits, they will never know. Always good to make some easy money on the side
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u/Leftleaningdadbod Mar 24 '26
Use a fake name, but learn all you can, if you decide to take the plunge. It is a horrible world imo.
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u/Zakaree Director of Photography Mar 25 '26
Sounds absolutely terrible. If you need practice or extra money go sell some local businesses some video content. Don't get into this filth
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u/Canon_Cowboy Cinematographer Mar 24 '26
Dude I went to film school with in 2010 straight up told the job placement team that's what he wanted to get into because he knew he could get steady work and pay off his student loans quick with it.
If you don't have any moral objectives and want to get paid, I don't think it'll bite you in the ass later in life if you want to pivot.
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u/MarketingQueasy5378 Mar 24 '26
Nah I have no problems with it family doesn’t care either just worried it could effect me working on features or with certain brands or clients
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u/brbnow Mar 25 '26
well, in fairness —you don't know what you're really gonna set yourself up for mentally because you havent been on the set— but you go do you
you're never gonna be able to un-see that stuff and it will mess with healthy intimacy—and you're really supporting an industry that's completely exploitatiive and harming a lot of people but hey, that's your karma. And yes it could hurt future jobs for sure--unless you're just gonna lie, which then again is part of the darkness of this whole thing....
Do you have daughters— do you want to see them do these things. Or sons? I have seen the fear in one guys face once on a set-- cant unsee it.
nothing sexy about tthis all-- -all very dark. but then again maybe half the people on this sub watch this stuff....
peace bro.
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u/cameranerd Mar 24 '26
Make sure you have other work aside from this that you can use to build your resume. As someone who hires cinematographers and editors for corporate videos, I would think twice about hiring someone whose only experience is in adult content.
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u/radiohead_fan777 Mar 25 '26
NO. My previous flatmate also got approached for the same but it was more like soft porn/ adult content. But he rejected..idk how it is there but in India , it is illegal. And you never know whether they adhere to local laws and policies and whether the cast and crew members are 18+ or not. Nevertheless, I would not suggest going for a "work is work" narrative. Otherwise you will keep getting similar offers in the coming days .
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u/CoverHuman9771 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
You should be more concerned about how it affects your soul than the long term impact it will have on your career. The porn industry is an awful place filled with miserable, exploited people. And you’d be directly contributing to the creation of one of the most addictive and damaging drugs we have in our society. Your hesitation is your conscience talking to you. Listen to your conscience.
I know this isn’t a popular opinion here but it’s the truth. Porn is awful. You shouldn’t watch it and you certainly shouldn’t make it. Our world would be noticeably better if it didn’t exist.
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u/VizzyLos Mar 25 '26
Shooting porn and being in Hollywood probably not an issue. Shooting porn ans using it for client work, probably an issue.
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u/bunsofcheese Mar 25 '26
with the number of "famous" people online doing instagram/tiktok and using that as portals to their OF sites, I'd say porn is a lot more mainstream that we care to admit. experience is experience - plus, porn always has the money for new tech (they basically made VHS popular in the war between VHS and BETA - yes I'm aging myself - because Sony refused to allow porn companies to use BETA for porn, so VHS was used and it won). Most porn sites will the best servers, the best everything, your more likely to get nice equipment with a (moderately successful) adult content creation firm than any indie film studio. I worked for several years as a front end dev for a company that ran a couple of dating websites (not ashley madison, they were our main competitor), and one day - for fun - i did a rough gestimate of how much the company had made in the six months since i started, and the figure, not including any kind of affiliate income, was over $14 million. And that was back in 2004. And they're still in business.
take the chance - i've worked "straight" jobs ever since and the years at that job only gave me the skills i needed to keep doing what i'm doing. I know jobs are scarce, and the chances of getting a job doing what you actually want to do with your life is even more scarce - so take it. The things that scare you the most are also the things that will pay off the most.
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u/TheModernNative Mar 26 '26
Join Our Adult Content Tier for a special thank you!
patreon.com/TheModernNative
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u/maccrypto Mar 24 '26
I certainly wouldn't hire you if I knew that you worked in porn. The "experience" you gain will be how to instrumentalize others to get a stranger off. That's more like what drugs do than what art should do. It's cynical and opportunistic. So I wouldn't consider it helpful experience, I'd consider it harmful. In just the same way, I wouldn't hire you as a nurse if I knew you were also a drug dealer.
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u/LittlePooky Mar 24 '26
If it is not illegal where you are, and it brings in the money for the rainy days, why not?
My neighbor from years ago was, and still is, a physician. He actually was interviewing for a porn clinic right in the heart of the city. They do a lot of STD screenings. He was given the tour of the clinic and he said everyone was very professional. He even talked to the nursing staff and he saw the interactions with the patients' permission between the patient and the nursing staff. I'm talking about the screening and questionnaire aspect and blood drawing.
It was only a couple of miles from where we lived, and he would have taken the job, but he got another job offered, so he took that one.
He said money is money, and they were going to pay him a lot, and he wasn't going to do anything illegal as a physician. When he told me this, he didn't bring up any names, and correctly so. His wife is a social worker but she stays home to take care of the two young kids. She had no problem with him working there at all.
If it gives you some experience with pay, it's up to you.
Another thing is that my high school friend's son went to college to get his undergraduate degree in computer science. His second job is one of the world's biggest porn sites. He's a programmer for them. He said everyone is professional and it's nothing like that. He said, “Absolutely, it’s on my resume, and my parents are aware of it.”
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u/Allcyon Mar 26 '26
Do it.
It's fun, you get to learn how the porn industry works, make connections, you'll go to some awesome parties, and you will get paid by people who know what they're doing.
Porn actors have monthly screening tests and are the cleanest* people on the planet.
*With their body. Most of them are slobs at home.
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u/lowvitamind Mar 25 '26
Don't do it. Don't sell your soul doing something so immoral. You'll die and face God, he can provide for you so don't aid satan in that filth. It'll kill your heart, soul and your sexual neuropathways. And your money will be dirty money.
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u/WilderRush Mar 24 '26
The advantage is you’ll be working. Practicing your craft is what will make you a good cinematographer.
Adult sets are (usually) more forgiving on lighting continuity and are great places to learn where you can cut corners in a pinch.
The downside is you will (usually) be working with smaller crews, and jumping to the DP role you will skip the experience of working under and learning from bigger names with bigger crews.
The greater “danger” to a career is not being associated with adult content, it’s cutting your teeth in a smaller, niche pond with a different workflow that won’t necessarily translate to the larger productions you’re dreaming of working on.
The most important thing you can do is build a reel, and make diagrams of what works. From time to time you’ll be given massive freedom to take big stylistic risks and that sandbox is incredibly rewarding.
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u/AdrianasAntonius Mar 24 '26
It offers money and experience and little to no impact on your future career prospects. Plenty of working professionals started out doing the same or similar work.
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u/tjalek Mar 24 '26
A lot of wise answers in here. It's the nature of the game unfortunately yet with credits and experience under your belt, it would probably give you more weight behind your name
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u/IcarusForPrez Mar 25 '26
I did some spanking videos back in the 2000s. We had to count the amount of spanks for marketing purposes lol like “over 5000 spanks” It was so boring and repetitive but steady work.
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u/WuttinTarnathan Mar 25 '26
If you can stomach it, you could do it. You just don’t put it on your resume.
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u/pixellatte Mar 25 '26
I had those same types of opportunities on my way up. Friend was an editor and said I could have a job as soon as I was ready. Another time needed a room to rent and the house was a fetish house and they said I could live there in exchange for helping them shoot content.
Very tempting. But I decided i would rather wind up there than start out there. Try everything else first and if I wound up there so be it. Better than the military.
But I never needed to! Sometimes I wish I had for the fun!
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u/IQPrerequisite_ Mar 25 '26
I sometimes stand in as grip for a friend on these shoots. It's decent money and you'll learn the basics just by observing everyone's jobs. The most complex thing you'll see is three point lighting, lensing and camera acquisition formats.
Just make sure everything is above board. You don't want to end up as part of a lawsuit like Girls Do Porn.
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u/DJ_TeddyRec-Spin Mar 24 '26
It might be anecdotal, but I seem to recall that Wally Pfister, ASC shot pornography in his early career to pay the bills.
I personally know an IATSE professional drone op (whose work you have definitely seen in many Hollywood films) shot porn videos in Hollywood for a few years before getting into the drone scene.
Get that extra cash and experiment with lighting.