Welcome to AP Spotlight. Every month, we’ll pick an AP Creator of the Month and interview them, and they send us a little video intro with some quick tips for other AP Creators.
For May, our AP Creator of the Month is DorianRhey. Let’s meet them…
How’d you get started making adult content?
I first started filming with a close friend of mine that was on APclips, Salem Moreau! My first ever video, and foray into any adult work at all was a strapon video with Salem. They had a client that wanted to see them fuck someone with a strapon, and I was like, “Y’know what? Sounds fun. I’m game.” And here I am, over four years later! (That first video is still available on my page btw!)
How long have you been making content?
Since September 2016! Apclips was the first ever site I was on.
What inspires your content?
I love to be in nature, so sometimes I’ll film clips in the outdoors, and that’s always very fun, to make an entire day trip out of filming! I got way more in depth with my video process during the covid-19 pandemic, and filming became this sort of escape… Something fun to do with my partner(s), which could also generate income.
What’s your favorite content you’ve ever made?
Ooo that’s a really difficult one, and tbh, it’s always changing. As I make new content, I learn things from past videos, so my work is always getting better, technical skill wise. I do have a soft spot in my heart for my old vids though! There’s one called “Let’s Get Physical” that I really like just because it’s like looking at myself through a time capsule! It’s still one of my most popular clips to this day.
How do you promote your brand, and what’s the most successful method(s) for you?
Twitter, for sure. I’ve always used Twitter as a free tool to reach my clients, and it’s worked for me! It’s something you need to kind of organically be doing constantly, which sounds like a lot… But I’m on social media as it is, and it’s something I genuinely enjoy using to network with colleagues/find community with other sexworkers. Twitter has been instrumental in my success with online content sales.
What’s your trick to balancing your daily life?
I do sexwork and art full time now. When I first started, I was balancing a corporate job that I wanted out of. Making clips allowed me some flexibility, and the ability to eventually shift to working fully from home, and for myself! As a result of working from home though, my life is kind of taking place right alongside work… All of the time. haha
If I’m traveling on vacation, I’m bringing my camera with me, because chances are there will be some cool spots to film in, and varied content is always better for getting new clientele! I do try to make sure that when I am feeling burnout coming on, I address that, take time off, or shift to another activity that fulfills another area of my life, such as drawing.
If you could give a new creator advice, what would it be?
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Early on, I used to get very mired down in the editing process, largely because I was still learning, but felt that I needed to make super fancy edits to all my clips in order to warrant charging people to view them!
Simplicity can get you a long way… And in the end, more videos to choose from will benefit you far greater. I’m not saying throw quality out the window, but don’t get so bogged down making sure everything is perfect that you forget to actually post clips on a regular basis!
If you make customs – what’s the weirdest request and did you do it?
This is people’s favorite question to ask, haha…. “What’s the weirdest thing someone asked you to do?” tbh, weird is in the eye of the beholder! Being naked on camera in general has its own weirdness to it. All my clips are “weird”. I’m a trans, nonbinary sexworker!
How do you film? Any special lighting equipment/camera? Feel free to share some of your tips
I’ve gone through all kinds of filming setups since 2016. When I first started, I was using lots of colorful lights and softboxes. This was when I had an entire house with a basement to myself. After I moved to Chicago, I pared down everything to the bare minimum, as I was living in a studio.
My window overlooked rooftops, super private. So I would open all the windows and film in the natural light! I’ve also used a seasonal depression sun lamp for filming and grow lights haha. These days I use a ring light that someone gifted me off my amazon wishlist (thanks, by the way, if you’re reading this!!).
As far as camera, I’ve never had anything super fancy! I’ve used a cellphone in the past. Currently I use a Canon Powershot. Might be upgrading my camera this year, who knows!
What do you like about using AP as a platform?
AP gives me the largest percentage of my sales! This is why I initially signed up for apclips, and why I’m not currently selling on other sites.
Has your brand evolved since you started? If so, how?
I’ve always kept the same name, and have no intentions of changing that. But my style has evolved since 2016, sure! I’ve also been medically transitioning (taking testosterone) in the last year and a half, so my physical body has undergone some changes that can be seen in my videos! It’s really interesting actually, transitioning while filming yourself naked upclose… You get to know your own body in such a unique way, and to see actual documentation of yourself going through this metamorphosis… It’s beautiful! I love being naked on the internet!
What are you watching on Netflix right now?
I just got an HBOmax membership, so I have been mainly binging TrueBlood. Somebody tell Netflix to bring back The OA!!!
What type of videos do you always get excited to make?
I’m not really into roleplay, I like making videos that capture the real sex I’m having in my personal life. That’s the kind of content I like watching when I watch porn. I love getting a closeup angle of all the action when I’m filming. That’s what’s hottest to me, getting a super intimate view of two people really enjoying the fuck out of each other.
Describe the best fan interaction you’ve ever experienced
I can’t say that there’s just one! Truly the best fan interaction I’ve had in general is over this past year. I am so thankful for everyone that supported me during the pandemic by buying clips. I saw a huge spike in sales, as I became more dedicated to posting videos on a regular basis, and this has really sustained me to enter 2021 ready to make some amazing content!
How did you come up with your stage name?
I took a seminar in college on the works of Oscar Wilde, and it was formative to my writing process. The character of Dorian Grey is this figure of homoeroticism, beauty, and everlasting youth. Just the kind of thing I wanted to channel for my work persona!
Hit us with your social media links so people can follow you on all the things!
I’m only on Twitter! Please do follow me there! 🙂 @_dorianrhey
