How indigenous video transformed the pornographic industry

Amateur porn is one the most searched porn categories online, with thousands of searches every day. Homegrown Video was the only one who made amateur porn possible.

Before the 1980s, when there was easy access to audio-visual equipment and the internet, pornography was reserved for studios that paid actors to make sex on film. It was necessary to adhere to old ideas about porn.

Then, there was a man, a camera and a mom and pop shop in California. The rest, as they say, is history - and that's exactly what we'll be looking at. We'll be looking at:

• Homegrown Video's background

• How Homegrown Video is made

• What has changed with porn using Homegrown Video?

• Homegrown Video: Where is it now?

This will allow you to really understand your history with porn.

From where did Homegrown Video originate?

Video cameras were around before smartphones and megapixels. The first home camcorder, which cost $30,000, was for generations reserved for cinematographers and photographers.

The Golden Age of Porn was also around at the same time. In the 1970s explicit video content was much more popularised, with movies showing it and celebrities such as Andy Warhol and Bill Osco participating.

As western countries began to relax their porn laws, the public started to enjoy porn. These social changes led to Deepthroat, the porno who made Linda Lovelace a worldwide star. There was an unsatiated appetite for porn.

Home camcorders were cheaper and easier to transport in the 1980s. Similar to rule 34 on the internet, porn can be made if you have a way of recording an image.

Although we won't know who started filming their own sex sessions, we do know who the first person to make a living from selling homemade sex tapes.

Homegrown Video: The Story

Greg Swaim, a grocery store owner, took his camcorder with him to a sex event he was attending. These videos were rented out to his wife and he started renting them at their San Diego shop.

an amateur was born.

It became much more than just the orgies the couple went to. Swaim asked for submissions from faithful viewers. An end card was included on all rentals that stated:

Earn up to $20 per Minute by sending in your home videos

It's time to reevaluate your pricing.

Homegrown Video was an underground phenomenon as the content began to flood in. Swaim would share the footage with amateur couples.

He wasn't doing a good job managing the place by 1993. Farrell Timlake, the porn stage name Tim Lake, had been regularly sending videos over the past year. When Swaim finally got to them he couldn’t offer any money because Homegrown Video was insolvent.

Timlake borrowed money from his mother to finance his venture. He purchased the entire operation and moved it into cable TV, DVDs and the fledgling internet.

It is still active and accepting submissions from all over the globe. The company pays anything from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand.

How did Homegrown Video transform porn?

Porn before Homegrown was professionally produced. Although it wasn't always of the best quality, there was an entire operation that included a director, producer, cameraperson and talent who set out to create a porno.

Homegrown Video revolutionised the industry. Homegrown Video proved that there was another way of making porn. There was no need to make flimsy plots or bow wow music. The action was very much enjoyed by viewers.

These videos did not require that the people featured had perfect figures or convincing abilities to convince viewers that they were cumming. People wanted sex.

What does this have to do with the current phenomenon of porn being sold on websites like SinParty by men and women?

Timlake and Swaim discovered the market and made it a lucrative business long before the internet. Porn was not for everyone.

Online sellers of sex tapes are the 21 st century equivalent to Sawim's thousands of sex tapes. Retro MyParty subscribers are those who rented the tapes over the counter from San Diego to Venice Beach in Florida. They want to verify authenticity.

Is Homegrown Video still available?

Homegrown Video is still a thing. For only $14.95 per Month, the company website gives you access to the entire Homegrown Video back catalogue with over 30 years of content.

They are still open to receiving submissions. You can send home sex tapes to get paid. The amount of money you receive will depend on how high quality the material is and what monetization options are available.

You can also buy vintage DVDs from Homegrown Video to see the porn that amateur porn writers have sent in. You'll be part of the longest-running porn series and will buy one.

Homegrown Video: The history of porn

People started making their own porn as soon as they had access to camcorders. A San Diego store owner was the first to harness the power and create the category of amateur porn.

SinParty and PornHub wouldn't be possible without Homegrown - nobody would know about the need for content from people who sex in their bedroom.

You want to be part of the action and take full control over the porn you create? Register to become a creator at SinParty.