Shooting amateur scenes these days is much easier than it was ten years ago. I sold my old JVC HDD camcorder—which didn’t even have 4K and had cost me about 300 euros at the time (if my memory serves me right)—for a setup that was three times cheaper, not counting the price of my cell phone.
I remember when I was looking for a camera to shoot porn: I was worried about figuring out which camera “everyone was using” so I wouldn’t make a mistake. Since I’m not a pro and didn’t know much about the subject, I asked the crowd (and especially Google). That’s how I stumbled upon a Pornhub article that recommended that camera for high-motion activities ;).
After selling that old camera, I never bought another one, and I do what many content creators do: I record directly with my smartphone.
The Camera: iPhone 13 Pro Max
I film with an iPhone 13 Pro Max that I bought in 2022. It records up to 4K at 60 fps, which is perfect (I’ll talk about how to choose between 60 fps and 24 fps in an upcoming article). The important thing is to have enough storage to hold all the footage from each scene. Mine has 1 TB, but I think 256 GB or 512 GB (though I haven’t tested it) is more than enough for amateur video and beyond.
You don’t need studio-grade production equipment like Dorcel, Vixen, or Fakings to create something high-quality that you’ll love. What really matters are the details we’ll discuss in this article.
You might want to buy a Sony or a Canon down the road to take things to the next level, but you have to know how to use them. In most cases, for now, I can do almost everything with a cell phone: it’s discreet, lightweight, easy to carry, and perfect for the Gonzo/POV style, where we sometimes have to keep the camera very close to the action.
Neck Mount: TELESIN SE 2.0
To film in POV mode (first-person point of view: they don’t see me, but they see what I see), I use a neck mount. In this format, it’s essential that the camera be lightweight. Other creators use a rig or handheld cage (whether with a smartphone or DSLR cameras like the Sony Alpha or Canon EOS), but I prefer to keep my hands free so I can use them ;).
It’s a very common setup in the POV scene, though you don’t see it much backstage. With this neck mount, I can also attach the LED light using an adapter: a lightweight yet powerful light, essential for an adult scene.
TELESIN SE 2.0 neck mount on Amazon
The Light: Ulanzi VL49 RGB
As I mentioned earlier, I read many times when I was looking to buy a professional video camera like the Sony Alpha 7S III: you can have a high-end camera, but what really matters is the lighting. These days, a good smartphone camera paired with proper lighting is more than enough to achieve a professional-looking result without having to spend thousands of euros. The good news is that this Ulanzi light is very affordable (about €30) and extremely versatile: it can be easily mounted on your phone, on the neck mount, or on a tripod.
To use my iPhone and the light together on the neck mount, I use a phone clamp with a cold shoe. That clamp could also be used in other setups, such as on a tripod, but I reserve it solely for the neck mount, since the tripod includes its own mounting system.
Ulanzi VL49 RGB LED Light on Amazon
Ulanzi ST-06S Phone Clamp on Amazon
The Tripod: Ulanzi MA09
I don’t just like filming in POV; I also like having the freedom to explore different angles. For example, a very common element in adult content is scenes where you can see all the participants—in this case, me and the people I’m with.
For that, I mount my phone on a tripod. You have to be careful about quality: I’m not a top-tier professional, but I also don’t want it to break at the first sign of trouble ;). There are tons of options on the market. I used to work with the Fotopro brand, but I recently bought the Ulanzi MA09. It’s mid-range quality, pretty affordable (about 30 €), and lets me mount everything: camera, light, and microphone.
It's very stable, although you have to keep an eye on the total weight you put on it. This tripod is designed specifically for smartphone vlogging. If you work with—or want to work with—a mirrorless or DSLR camera, this isn't the right tripod for you.
Bonus: Sound Recording with the Shure MV88+ Microphone (and Why the iPhone’s Built-in Microphone Isn’t Enough)
Although the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s built-in microphones are quite good for everyday use and do a more than decent job if you’re just starting out, they sometimes fall short in productions like this: they pick up too much room echo and capture all the rustling noises from the neck mount.
Let’s be clear: you don’t have to buy an external microphone right away—the quality of today’s smartphones already lets you pull off a project without any problems. But if you want to make the leap to professional, clean, and immersive audio, a dedicated microphone like the Shure MV88+ makes all the difference.
I can mount it on either the tripod or the neck mount. This entire kit is designed precisely for its many possible combinations and the full compatibility of its parts:
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On the neck mount (POV / Gonzo): Thanks to the ULANZI ST-06S clamp and its two cold shoes, I can mount the LED light on top and the microphone on the side, keeping the entire setup integrated against my chest. If you’d rather lighten the load while moving around, you can also attach the microphone to your clothing or to the TELESIN collar itself using a longer cable.
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On a tripod (Casting / Static Shots): I simply mount it on the hot shoe of the Ulanzi MA09 tripod, facing the participants, to achieve clean, studio-quality sound without having to fuss with lavalier microphones.
How Much Does It Really Cost to Make Amateur Porn?
I already had the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Shure MV88+ microphone; I imagine you already have a camera on your phone too, and that’s what you can start with. Now let’s tally up the cost of the other accessories :) It’s a really efficient and very affordable setup.
If we add it all up:
- TELESIN SE 2.0 neck mount: €39.99
- Ulanzi VL49 RGB light: €29.99
- Ulanzi MA09 tripod: €29.99
- ULANZI ST-06S Cold Shoe Phone Clamp: €16.99
TOTAL: €116.96
That's my basic setup. No frills and without spending 5,000 € :).
In an upcoming article, I'll go into detail about how to set up the LED light and how to adjust the microphone during recording.
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