• Find a community, online or IRL. Being surrounded by a community of people who are creating content that inspires you, etc. You will slowly find out what resources and avenues they utilize as creators.
• Consider and think about why you would want to make porn, and follow your goal and ideals. It may change over time, the more experience you have in the industry, and thats totally okay.
• Collaborations might be exciting at first (NRE; New Relationship Energy, why not NCE; New Collaborative Energy), but things will slow down later, and the work and collaboration may become difficult and hard at points. Be sure to be aware of this before going in. Have a conversation with your collaborators at the start of this process, maybe outline a commitment to talk through difficult times during the collaborative process, and what may happen if things fall apart. How would the project’s tasks and proceeds be divided?, etc…
• Always seek references about directors, crew and/or performers you are working with for the first time. This would make you aware of their working practices, and if their practices and ideals align with yours. This would also save you a lot of time and effort to be aware and better prepared when working with a new collaborator.
• Be aware of break-ups and how you navigate those. ie; Friendship break-ups, romantic relationship break-ups, collaborative break-ups. Break-ups might and will cause tension and friction between parties involved. Remember the community is small and interconnected. Be aware that you might and will still share space with your ex-collaborator.

Ex Libris: Feminist projects must always include considerations around labor practices. Do not make a plan that does not include paying your models fairly or quickly unless everyone has an agreed upon financial share. Where will you distribute or display your work? How long will it take to publish and get a revenue stream started? What legal protections do you need to put in place to avoid piracy and tube site theft? These important questions can help you avoid heartache.

Skyler Braeden Fox: As marginalized porn makers, we need to support each other, teach each other, learn from each other and take care of each other. After all, we are all we’ve got.

Tobi Hill-Meyer: Don’t wait for someone to create the opportunity for you, but do it yourself. If you don’t have fancy equipment, get a webcam or use a phone. Start with something short, 30-90 seconds, even if it’s just to send to a sweetie. These days, it’s hard to get folks to watch (let alone pay for) 20 min episodes unless you’ve already got a following. Instead, aim for 3-5 or 5-10 min length. Share some online, get a clip store. Pay a lot of attention to lighting. Pay a lot of attention to creating a social media following. But most importantly stop thinking about doing it and start doing it. You want to do it better? Practice!

Q: Do your research first!!! Reach out to more established producers and ask questions. If there is someone whose work you admire, contact them and see if they would be open to mentoring someone. Along with that, mentoring is an exchange, make sure you actually bring something to the table. Make sure you are well versed on the legalities and responsibilities you have as the producer. A mistake in that arena can be costly. Also, get used to hearing the word No.

Mahx Capacity: Work with collaborators you can trust.  Everyone in the room should be a person that you’re completely comfortable with and feel supported by. The three of us (Mahx Capacity, Ginny Woolf and Parts Authority) support each other artistically and are also are committed to working in a supportive body-positive, sex-positive, encouraging environment. Even so, making porn can be vulnerable — take the time to get to know the folks you’re working with before jumping into shooting. Build relationships with folks that you trust to support you through the amazing shoots AND if any issues should arise.

Devon Wipp: I built up the courage to begin applying to porn companies following years of filming myself and my partners with no professional gear or lighting. My best advice would be to shoot during the day and use a desk lamp for extra light. Far too often great videos are ruined by bad lighting. Secondly, clean your shooting space! Nothing ruins watching DIY content for me quicker than when I can see dirty dishes and laundry scattered around the room. If you can’t physically clean your space, hanging a plain sheet in the background works fine. Next, keep your pets out of the room if possible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched a clip where an animal appears and becomes the inadvertent star. Lastly, and this is something that even professional performers forget: be mindful of lines on your skin caused by tight underwear, binders, or bra straps. Give your skin time to smooth out by walking around in the nude or in loose clothing for 15-30 mins before shooting. I know it seems counterintuitive to wear lounge clothes for a sex scene, but it creates a fresher palette to have non-cinched skin on screen rather than leave viewers to wonder if the lines across your body are a camera malfunction or the result of an ill-fitting undergarment.

Ex Libris: If you intend on making your money back or turning a profit, figure out your income stream first. Do not make a plan that does not include paying your models fairly or quickly unless everyone has an agreed upon financial share in the project. Where will you distribute or display your work? How long will it take to publish and get a revenue stream started? What legal protections do you need to put in place to avoid piracy and tube site theft? These are important questions that help you avoid heartache.

Courtney Trouble: Don’t get discouraged by this, but don’t expect much. Promote it as much as you can, but it may take a while before your work gets appreciated the way you fantasize it to. Be patient. And show everyone. It may surprise you how little people talk about porn or respond to your work face to face, but if you make something wonderful you could change someone’s life.

Venus Lux: The entertainment world can be a lot for some, but as long as you stay humble, honest to yourself, set a good example for yourself and your peers, and maintain that beautiful optimistic aura, it will take you far! And never stop loving and appreciating your amazing transgender self!

If you’ve had experience creating or asking for custom videos, what etiquette or advice can you share?

Tobi Hill-Meyer: I’ve just had a little experience creating customs and it didn’t turn out well. To avoid my pitfalls, I’d suggest setting a budget up front and being clear about it. If you’re asking for a video, be clear about what you want, but also leave it open ended enough for creativity. It’s usually better to give a few examples of things that you’d like to see and let them come up with something that fits that, rather than giving a detailed script that they find boring or difficult or requires a ton of back and forth negotiation. And above all, don’t begin the conversation unless you’re reasonably sure you’re going to spend the money and if there’s a reason you’d back out, give that up front. There’s nothing like getting a few days into back and forth emails and then calling the project off because you weren’t serious about it, or because you’re asking for something that’s not reasonable or possible.

Ex Libris: As a director and videographer, I would say always offer as much detail as you can when you are asking for a video. Trying to guess what someone wants is so difficult.

Viktor Belmont: Like any good small business, I’d say the best thing you can be is transparent and honest. Know your fees, know your limits, and be cordial yet firm in the way you’re offering your services. Create a menu of the types of content you offer, prices, and information on how someone will be delivered their goods. This leaves the customer with solid guidelines around what they’re paying for.

Courtney Trouble: Don’t be afraid to say no to a custom (or any direction) if if requires you to put up with an extreme amount of dysphoria, language you don’t agree with, or unethical behavior to complete, it isn’t worth it. If it feels like it might cross your comfort level, ask yourself if it is worth it before you do it. Make sure you know where it is going as well, make the customer sign a note that they will not distribute it.  I’ve also kept copies of my customs and resell them, with minor edits.

Tobi Hill-Meyer: In addition to commercial porn (indie or otherwise), there’s a few online groups and social media pages dedicated to amateurs sharing cute and sometimes naked pics with each other. When I was coming out, those groups were amazing for my self-esteem and to combat dysphoria. We don’t often get to see other trans people’s bodies and it’s easy to compare yourself to an impossible standard or imagine the only way to look good is to look cis. We all have the little things about out bodies that make us feel terrible, but sometimes it’s easier to see someone else with the same hips, brow, jawline, or shoulders and realize that they are beautiful – and if they can be beautiful, maybe you are too.

Venus Lux: To be trans is to be courageous. That courageous spirit I use to inspire and evolve, and to be the person I want to be.

Viktor Belmont: In any part of porn consumption or production, make sure to respect and most importantly pay your performers. We all do this to try and make a living, and we love what we do. By paying for your porn, you make it possible for adult performers to continue to make the videos and photos you love to cum to. Remember, have fun with it! Porn can be fun, silly, serious and exploratory. I have so much respect for everyone who has supported the industry and all the incredible performers who make it happen. 🙂

Which performers or producers do you recommend for trans-positive porn?

Tobi Hill-Meyer: James Darling, Courtney Trouble, Chelsea Poe, and CrashPadSeries. And again, find the performers you like who’ve worked with them, then look up where else their work is.

Venus Lux: Besides my own work, websites I recommend are: FTMFucker, CrashPadSeries, and Kink.com.

Rooster Xray: Icy Winters, Pandora/Blake, AORTA Films, Evie Snax, Allie Oops, Spit Exposed, and Cine Sinclaire.

Courtney Trouble: I love BoringNerdyKate, Rooster, Leo Leander for performer/producers. Stefani Special is also incredible. Jane Way [now performing as William October], Chelsea Poe obvi what a genius, and the people I listed in the Autostraddle Wet Hot XXX Summer essay, though not all identify as trans.

Mahx Capacity: Sluts4Sluts Collective! Chelsea Poe! Skyler Braden Fox! Four Chambers!

Ex Libris: I recommend looking at Mandy Mitchell for some truly weird and hot trans girl lesbian porn and BDSM. CrashPadSeries and Shine Louise Houston’s work, as always. Venus Lux has a personal site where she has had a lot of different kinds of sex with other trans women and trans men.

Q: I facilitate a Queer Porn workshop to a variety of audiences within the queer spectrum, including older lesbians. So many people, Trans or otherwise non-conforming, still have no idea that there is actual quality, authentic, hot Trans/non-conforming sexual media readily available. I feel like PinkLabel.TV has the most expansive collection of non-normative sexual media around. The website is easy to navigate and I am madly in love with the category labels! Those two features make this website accessible to the seasoned one-handed surfers and novice alike. It’s a great place to start your search for something that might speak to you without having to be traumatized wading through all the rubbish on the internet. I also appreciate that the folks who create the media shared on the site, maintain ownership of their content, and get to continue generating income.

Viktor Belmont: There are a couple studios that go above and beyond when it comes to producing content that represents a spectrum of trans bodies. CrashPadSeries has a staggering amount of videos, photo sets, and scenes that feature trans folks of different sexual orientations. I really love CrashPad because of the care put into their content as they update their website frequently. There’s always something new and fun to watch. There’s also Bonus Hole Boys, which specializes in gay porn featuring trans and cis men. I also really recommend checking out subscription sites such as ManyVids, OnlyFans, Clips4Sale, or JustForFans.

PinkLabel.TV recommends:

Film guides and collections:

• Where can I find porn made by Trans women?
• Trans Feminine Adult Film: Trans Women-Directed Porn
• Trans Built: Porn by Trans Male Directors
• Groundbreakers Trans and Non-Binary Porn
• Valerie Paige and Bringing Visibility to Post-Op Trans Women in Porn

Performer Newsletter for Casting Opportunities:

• Join the newsletter

A few studios by trans and non-binary directors:

Thank you to contributors: