Amateur
Definition
The Amateur porn category features non-professional performers, often homemade — real people, not models. This genre exploded with the rise of handheld cameras in the 1990s and smartphones in the 2010s, redefining what audiences call “real.” Unlike Homemade, which focuses on where and by whom it was filmed, Amateur is all about being raw, human, and often filled with imperfect shots and awkward angles — and that’s exactly what makes it so appealing.
A close relative of Reality Porn, Amateur stands apart in one key way: Reality scenes are usually produced by professional studios (or at least those claiming to be) and feature trained performers or models. Amateur, on the other hand, captures unfiltered, unscripted intimacy — that “caught in the moment” splash 💦.
Many fans love amateur content because it feels more honest. You can see real reactions, real chemistry, and moments that aren’t designed for the camera.
In work Doing it for free: digital labour and the fantasy of amateur online pornography, Bonnie Ruberg examines the phenomenon of online sex work and considers unpaid amateur pornography as one of the factors contributing to the growth of the adult web industry as a whole. The article also discusses the cultural narratives that shape the porn industry.
Bonnie Ruberg (2016). “Doing it for free: Digital labour and the fantasy of amateur online pornography.” Porn Studies, 3(2), 144–155"
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23268743.2016.1184477
Short description
Pure authenticity: real bodies, real pleasure, real amateur creators.
Trends
A significant role in the development of the genre was, of course, played by instant cameras, such as the Polaroid in the 1940s, which allowed amateurs to step into the role of cameramen. More importantly, it eliminated one crucial step — there was no need to send the film for developing and printing. The process of film development used to take several days. It’s also important to understand that this could sometimes cause legal trouble for those people as well. Later, in the 2010s, the rise of smartphones and digital cameras brought a new wave of growth to the genre.
A university-level analysis of the Aesthetics of reality: an analysis of amateur pornography on Pornhub shows consistent growth in viewership and engagement. According to the study, users often describe amateur videos as “more authentic”, “less staged” and “closer to real sex”. The research also notes that amateur uploads generate high interaction rates, suggesting that viewers actively seek content that feels spontaneous and relatable rather than scripted or overly produced. The author argues that the rise of amateur porn and homemade videos follows the overall growth of user-generated content online — the so-called UGC trend.
The “amateur porn” category has already made it into the trends on our blog in section Categories of porn as well
Banana Take
Basically, this is one of the warmest, most down-to-earth categories out there. It can hook you as a viewer and even inspire you to grab the camera yourself. There’s something special about seeing yourself from the outside, especially when it’s a homemade video. 😂 I film a lot of this kind of stuff just for fun — and honestly, I recommend you try it too if you want to surprise your partner. 🍌
Some Banana Collection research suggests that there are certain porn fans out there who watch only amateur porn. We won’t point fingers… Banana Bros