You put in the work to plan the scene. You get all dressed up and are looking hot. You are so excited, and then your excitement quickly turns to disappointment when you watch back the footage and discover your videographer focused on a tight shot and didn’t get your face. The angles were awkward—why am I seeing so much elbow, shoulder, and feet? Or the scene only occupies a small portion of the frame, and the rest is walls, ceiling, or furniture. It happens to us all!
I’ve been filming for roughly eight years, and I can tell you that no matter how experienced the videographer is, satisfaction depends on your ability to clearly articulate what works and what doesn’t—and on the videographer’s ability to take direction and feedback without taking it personally.
Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned to make sure that every shoot is a success.
Know what you want.
Do you favor certain angles of your face? Are there parts of your body you’re self-conscious about? Do you have a start-and-stop scene style? Do you use trigger words during the scene, expecting a certain result? For example, when I say “look at,” I expect the camera to look at what I am seeing from my perspective. But how would someone know that if I didn’t tell them? Develop a quick list to share key points with your cameraperson.
Review footage on set to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Film a quick test to show your possible movement during a scene, and go over it with your cameraperson to give direct pointers. Or, if it’s someone you’ve worked with and trust, go over the footage together immediately after the scene to point out what you liked and what you don’t. Everyone on set has the same goal—work together to achieve it.
Kindness over criticism.
Often, the people behind the camera are volunteering their time or their service. There have been plenty of times on set where I’ve witnessed someone be exasperated or shitty to someone because they’re not getting the results they want—and usually, it’s because they’re doing a poor job of communicating what they wanted in the first place. There’s nothing worse as a submissive than offering service and then being made to feel like a failure because they’re not meeting expectations.
Unfortunately, you cannot control how information is received, but you can control how it is delivered. I have never met a service submissive who didn’t want to do a good job. It’s up to us to set them up for success.
Technical skill and technique.
It is quite possible the person behind the camera isn’t familiar with your equipment or has no formal experience. Some people have the natural ability to visualize what the customer will want and capture it on film. Unfortunately, you can’t teach this, but you can develop it over time. I find it very helpful to give visual examples of what I like and don’t like. A simple “Do this, don’t do that” before or after a shoot can be extremely helpful to someone learning the ropes.
This is especially important if the person shooting the footage isn’t the person editing the footage. If they don’t see the end result, then how will they ever improve? It is through the editing process where I have learned what I want and areas I wanted to improve on camera—the same is true for the person behind the camera. Send the footage (edited, raw, it doesn’t make a difference) to your videographer so they can also get the benefit of growth through experience.
How to Ensure a Successful Shoot from Behind the Camera
If you are reading this and wondering how you can help facilitate a successful shoot from behind the camera, here are a few pointers for you.
Be prepared.
If you are shooting with someone new, a little research can go a long way. Familiarize yourself with their content and style. You can learn a lot about what a Mistress likes simply by doing your homework.
ProTip: You can learn a lot from clip previews and thumbnails. Previews are the commercials for our clips and will always include our favorite camera frames and angles. Watch enough previews, and you will notice a pattern—it will give you some insight into what we like the best.
Leave your personal kinks and fetishes at the door.
Remember that you are not filming for YOU. To a certain extent, we want you to film what is hot to you. There’s no better eye for filming porn than someone who watches porn. But, for example, if you are a boot fetishist and you’re filming a strap-on scene, your Mistress will not be pleased to discover you prioritized framing her boots over her cock. Be mindful of the objective.
Ask questions.
Do not leave it up to the Mistress to do all the heavy lifting. Take initiative. Be proactive. She is likely juggling many roles on set and will appreciate your due diligence to ensure her needs and expectations are met.
- Ask if she would like you to film a quick camera test to make sure you’re capturing the right angles and framing the scene to her liking.
- Is there anything you should be looking out for during the scene?
- Does she prefer you to keep your distance, or does she want you to move in and out of the scene to capture closer frames and see the action?
We all have our own preferences. If those preferences have not been shared, it will behoove you to ask.
Conclusion
And there you have it! Working with a new videographer doesn’t have to feel like rolling the dice and hoping for the best. Clear communication, a little patience, and setting expectations upfront can turn a potential disaster into positive experience. Remember, even the best videographers aren’t mind readers (unfortunately), so don’t be afraid to speak up about what you want—and be kind while you’re at it. A well-shot scene isn’t just about the action in front of the camera; it’s about the collaboration happening behind it. So, gear up, get your angles right, and let’s make some porn magic happen.
Lady Vi’s Instructions for Videographers
Whether you’re looking for inspiration or just curious about how I operate, I wanted to share some of my personal filming preferences with you.
The Basics:
- When you start rolling, say “Action” and count to five before moving the camera.
- If I say “Hold,” I want you to turn off the camera and await instruction.
- If I say “Look,” then I want you to reposition the camera to capture what I am seeing or doing.
Camera Angles:
- I favor the side profile of my face.
- I watch my bottom during the scene. When possible, avoid filming the top of my head—or the universally hated among all performers—the neck fold/double chin created when I look down.
- If I am wearing colored contacts, be sure to angle the camera where you can see my eyes.
Framing the Shot:
- The 80/15/5 Rule:
- 80% of the clip, you should see my face or the faces of the other Mistresses in the scene.
- You should be able to clearly see the activity at all times, but 15% of the clip should be devoted to tighter frames to really see the action (penetration, nails dragging across skin, sounding rods entering the urethra, cock and balls during CBT, etc.).
- And don’t forget about the bottom! 5% of the clip should show the bottom’s face and reactions to what is happening to them.
- Avoid Negative Space:
The scene happening is the focus and, therefore, should be centered and occupy most of the frame. No one wants to see the walls or ceilings while the action is cut off in the bottom corner of the video. - Identify the Focus:
Be mindful of what is filling the frame. This is a very common mistake made by both new and experienced videographers. If you are capturing penetration from my perspective, the penetration should be centered in the frame. Be mindful not to fill the frame with my shoulder, back, or the top of my head. Slow down and reframe the scene until you achieve the desired angle. - Do Not Stay Stationary:
Movement captures a more dynamic scene. Movement should be slow and intentional, flowing with the action. The trick is knowing when to move and when to remain static. To achieve a good balance: when you find the perfect shot, count to 30 and stay there before moving on to the next perfect shot, and then repeat.