1. What made you decide to create a bondage site?
Before I launched Dominicwolfe.com and Bondagepictures.com in 1998, I was an independent producer for Harmony Concepts going back to 1995.....the internet was just coming around and it was an opportunity to break away from going through a distributor to being on my own and seeing what this thing called "The Internet" was all about.
As far as why did I start producing for Harmony originally, aside from liking bondage myself, being a Harmony customer, I had a hard time finding product that had the type of inescapable bondage and real, effective gags.........that and the desire to make extra $$ of course.
2. How much work goes into running a bondage site? What does it entail?
That depends on how many products you create with your content......I have a photo site, bondagepictures.com, and a video site, dominicwolfe.com, which offers Hard DVD's, Downloadable DVD's, Video Streaming, Downloadable Clips and an Archive photo site.......aside from shooting and editing, I have to create/author DVD's, burn, print, ship DVD's, encode for Streaming and clips, download, convert and photoshop photos for bondagepictures.com…. it’s a lot of work wearing a lot of different hats........I also spend time uploading to the site, writing ad copy, dealing with Merchant account/chargeback issues, hosting issues, accounting issues and State/Federal Tax issues as I am an S-Corp in the State of California.
You also have to make sure your gags and ropes are washed, clean, outfits maintained, purchased, continuous purchases of tape, vetrap, etc., and of course making contact with models, scheduling, staying on top of technology, cameras, video cameras, lighting, software, computers….it’s a lot of work, time and effort when you’re in business for yourself from end to end and produce 5 different products.
3. How much work goes into preparing for a bondage shoot?
It depends on the shoot. If it’s a custom, you have to prepare for their script with outfits, types of gags, mouth packing, tape, type of wrap, type of rope, types of ties, the action involved.....for myself, I use flash heads and umbrellas for taking photos, so I need to make sure the cameras’ batteries are charged, flash heads need to be pulled out, situated, lighting has to be metered accordingly, the chip for the camera needs to be cleared and ready to go, the video camera's batteries need to be charged, any props such as chairs, purses, etc., needed for set needs to be obtained and prepped..........also, depending on where you shoot, living room furniture needs to be moved to make room for the girls to squirm, tripods for video camera is need to be on set, they take room as do the flash heads for the photos, so furniture usually has to be moved, lights have to be plugged in around the room so they don't trip the breaker when you’re pushing hard on all systems......model releases need to be pulled, out, ready to go, checkbook handy, food prepared for the girls to nibble on as the day goes on so they can remain comfortable and their energy level is where it needs to be.......ideally fresh veggies, cheeses, meats, crackers, water, this needs to be obtained and prepped before a shoot as well..........then there is the cleanup after the shoot which is also a lot of work.
4. How do you decide what outfits or positions will be used for one of your shoots?
If it’s a custom, I go by what the customer requests; if it’s left up to me, it depends on where I'm at, at the time with inventory and the model’s abilities..........it’s my job to cast the model at her best so if she can easily do a reverse prayer or elbows together, I will start there.......I try to keep things fresh and change it up........sometimes it depends on the type of gag or when I apply it…. I prefer the girls to be sitting upright on the floor or in a chair to gag them so it’s easier to manage framing the scene in the camera, packing her mouth, dealing with the hair, having her at a good viewpoint for the camera eye and being able to react accordingly. As far as outfits go, again it depends but, if given a choice, I prefer short tight skirts, button up the front blouses, pantyhose or bare feet, or athletic attire, any genuine schoolgirl or cheerleader uniform, thick sweaters, keds, anything girly and feminine.
Some of Dominic's models -- Hannah Perez
5. Describe one of your typical photo and video shoots from start to finish.
Preparing the script the day before, knowing what rooms you will be shooting in, what outfits, what type of gags, what type of binding, charging batteries of both video and still camera, clearing the chips off of both cameras, breaking out the lights and setting them up, moving furniture, plugging in all the lights, metering the lights, obtaining, preparing, setting out the food, model releases, checkbook, ropes, tape, gags being used........start off video taping the model addressing legal 2257 issues, shooting some set up photos, going over the script, scenes of the day with the model..........shoot cute set up photos then shoot the video, then take more photos of the girl tied up, untie her, as the model touches up make up and changes clothes or nibbles, I untangle ropes, move lights if need be, toss the gags, pull the new gag, set up the ropes for the next scene, go over it with the model before we start, usually doing 3 scenes a day, after the model leaves washing the ropes, outfits, moving all furniture back into place, wash dishes from the food, download the video and photos, catalogue them accordingly, file away model releases.
6. What has been the most memorable moment for you out of all the shoots you’ve done?
That's a tough one......probably when Alicia Silver hopped all the way up a flight of stairs one at a time on an open staircase fully bound and gagged with her elbows tightly tied........I had no idea she was going to do that, but she managed.......it’s hard to hop up stairs free let alone fully bound and elbows tied.
7. What is your policy about models bringing escorts or chaperones to your bondage photo shoots? What is the rationale for that policy?
I have seen this debated heavily in Forums on Fetlife and, while I never chime in as I don't have time to do the Forum debating on ideology and philosophy, the answer is simple...
If a model chooses to bring an escort with her for any reason, she should be allowed......it’s very simple......the short answer is, if you don't like it for whatever reason, simply don't hire her......if you’re low on content and need content, that's the producer’s fault and a separate issue......you need to get your business model down and get to a point inventory-wise where you don't have to rely on any one girl or model to show up and shoot for any reason.......if you’re afraid of getting ripped off by the escort while shooting, and this happens, then either get a babysitter to watch the babysitter or simply don't shoot the girl. It doesn't matter how long you have been doing this, how many references you have, if the girl still isn't comfortable for any reason, she should be allowed to bring an escort. My experience is many girls will ask if they can bring an escort and when I tell them they can, they usually don't......later they tell me they were "testing" to see how I would react....if I was defensive it would raise a red flag.....some girls are new to this industry and don't know anyone from anything and it’s all words until proven otherwise. The burden of responsibility is still on the person doing the hiring, the producer, and after offering website info, photos, model references, etc., the girl still insists on bringing an escort, she should be made to feel comfortable and welcome….that it is perfectly fine, although I do inform the girls that the escorts will have access to the room we are shooting in but are not allowed in the room so they don't serve as a distraction or the model holds back from performing because she is self conscious .....furthermore the escort must behave professionally just as I am expected to….this is not a "show" nor is it done to amuse or for fun….it’s exactly what it is designed to be........an escort on site so the model can feel comfortable doing what she is being hired to do. From experience, husbands are great, and most escorts have been fine. I've only had a few negative experiences and it’s usually the boyfriends, but not always.
8. What is the dream shoot you have not yet done during your career as a rigger and site producer?
I can't say I have one to be honest. I have done all I wanted to do in this area. However, it would still be a fun challenge to do more two girl Escape Attempt style product using just duct tape to make it fast and easier.........aside from that, being able to bind or gag any girl/woman who has an elevated status whether it be an attorney, military, big corporate official, would be fun seeing this well paid, high up woman completely bound and gagged.
Serene Isley
9. What are your favorites: gags, type of restraint, model wardrobe, bondage position for the model?
Socks or panties for mouth packing that are taped in with duct tape around the head or a wrap like elastikon, vetrap or coban........no slip cotton rope or duct tape......sometimes mummification....skirts, blouses, pantyhose, athletic attire, thick sweaters, cheerleading or schoolgirl uniforms with socks and keds or barefoot...or full nude.......The classic Hogtie is my Fave.
10. How did you acquire your technique for rigging and photography?
I read articles on Videography and Photography, spoke with others who shot, looked at how they did things, making note of what I liked and what I didn't like, constantly studied my style when editing, always looked for a better way to present the model to the camera eye for better viewing.........shooting the girl the way I would want to see it if I was watching it.
11. Can you describe your very first bondage shoot and then describe how you’ve seen your style/technique evolve since that first shoot?
It was with those Yellow 1000 watt Home Depot lights using an old Sony 8 MM camera......at the time, I was going to Yosemite every year video taping the waterfalls and sights and consumer cameras were new and all the rage......I still had no idea of what I was doing or what to do. It’s evolved considerably since those first days, namely shooting it the way I would like to watch it myself......show the parts you know people want to see in close up such as the gagging, break it up, pan, vary 90 degree angles, frame it tight so the model fills the frame as much as possible, etc.
12. Are there any riggers/producers who have influenced you over the years? And if so, how?
Jason Cord from the Sally Roberts series for his amount of rope and style........Alan Gardner from the Marti Fraser Series, her husband who was a Doctor who did all the binding, gagging and filming.......he was the one who used Coban and did a lot of mouth stuffing at the time, late 1980's.....Hanby Downs to some degree as well as some of the H.O.M. House of Milan and Cal Star Videos. It was the amount of rope, tight and secure and the effective mouth filling gags that caught my attention and what I was seeking out and willing and happy to pay for.
Randi Moore/Marie Valentine
13. How do you find the models who appear on your site?
It was tough in 1995. I had some business cards made up. At the time my business name was Keyhole Koncepts and I would pass the card out to attractive women in public, never mentioning exactly what it was about, waiting for them to call so I could explain in private. I found Cheyenne Tyler from GB-01 this way. She was shopping at Price Club in San Diego, now Costco......soon after I started, Jay Edwards introduced me to his agent, Hal Guthu of C.H.N. International Agency located on Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.........it was there I found Stacy Burke, Suzanne Phillips (Cleo Nicole), Eve Ellis, Theresa Langley and many others. In 1997, I joined this forum called Model Folios when I was new to the internet. It soon turned into Onemodelplace.com. I was number 2033 and this was the best tool I had for finding many of the models I shot from 2000 until 2010.
14. What are your thoughts on the piracy of bondage content on the Internet where your work is posted elsewhere without your permission?
I think it’s as much of a hobby and "fun" challenge to some of these guys as much if not more than the need to save $$$. A lot of these forums encourage this and some have accounts with usernames where these guys applaud each other for bringing content to the others and the forum. I don't think these guys feel they are doing anything wrong, although it’s obviously very wrong. It’s much of a jack ass mentality of disrespect, selfishness, someone entitlement mentality.......while these same people would probably never give away their time, goods and services for how they make a living, for some reason, when it comes to it being an adult product, they choose to throw all common sense, logic and morals out the window and see no problem participating in their "hobby" and some are very proud and actually happy and feel good about what they do. Because our product is digital and not tangible, I think these guys feel it’s the go ahead and justification for sharing and re-distributing it........they started off uploading content to free forums and soon the real pirates started the rapid shares and torrent sites to charge and make $$$ off of uploaded content, using double talk and loop holes to work around the accountability........it’s a mess that has plagued the mainstream movie industry, the music industry, the software industry and ourselves. I don't like it any more than anyone else but it’s an unfortunate cost of doing business and one must make and take the time to troll for their content and work towards getting it taken down.......it’s a never ending task. but show me a business that doesn't have theft or shrink, and I'll show you a business that doesn't exist.
15. How do you respond to this statement: BDSM equals abuse of women?
Ignorance......they don't know or understand what they are talking about and they don't want to know or understand what they are talking about. They choose to ignore words like "roleplaying, consensual" as well as the fact that many men also like being put into the same roles as the women.....it’s not a "just women, only women" business or scenario in this regard. They don't want to hear that women do it on their own free will for fun, sexual gratification, amusement, or money........they don't feel comfortable with it and choose to shut down and condemn across the board in a broad manner rather than choose to listen and understand and accept the facts as they really are.
16. What is the hardest, toughest or most difficult aspect of being a producer of bondage content?
That will vary from person to person.......for myself, it’s having more work than 1 person can do but the type of work, schedule, and other variables don't make it feasible to hire someone to assist.....keeping up with the never ending e-mail and customer service issues, which I will admit I don't do as well as I should, while running the show as I have described previously is very tiring and taxing.......namely because when I walk from a shoot, I am going to end up with 5 different products spread over 3 different sites.
Keeping your product fresh and not getting into a rut of shooting the same stuff the same way is a challenge. I get bored with my own stuff and have always welcomed a certain amount of change to keep it fresh and interesting not only from the shooting perspective but also from the viewing eye of the customer. You wear many hats and are juggling a lot of different and small issues, doing the day to day while trying to keep up with changing times, changing technology, changing laws, piracy, software, trends, etc.. It’s a lot of hard work to do this so called "Best job in the world." Post production work entails the majority of the overall workload that no one sees and many are not aware of.
Candle Boxxx
17. How do you manage to stay professional when you're working with all these glamorous, really attractive women?
It’s easy. It’s my job, my career. I approached the girl from a business perspective and in order to keep the comfort level and energy/vibe where it needs to be in order to be able to create intense, spontaneous product that has the spark you want to capture and deliver, you must keep the vibe and energy positive, light hearted and fun, so the girl can get into the role, get into the situation and really let herself go and go at it with no mental distractions, and it’s that energy you want to capture on video, to show off to the viewers later in order to meet their expectations and keep them happy, get what you want and need from the situation, happy paying customers.........you cannot do this with a model who feels uncomfortable, insecure, uneasy over unprofessional, jack ass behavior. I respect the women I work with and owe them the care and professionalism I promised in exchange for them trusting me and giving the product what it needs.......it’s a very easy moral and responsible reaction for myself. At the end of the day, I enjoy seeing, getting their respect and sometimes friendship over simply doing what I should have done regardless. It’s a very good thing.
18. What advice would you give to a person who wants to begin a bondage web site as a producer/photographer/rigger?
Timing is everything in this world, always has been, always will be, Today's world of aggregate 3rd party billing/hosting companies combined with the fact that there are no longer any costs, legal or fundamental barriers from keeping anyone who wants to jump into this business from jumping in no longer makes or keeps it viable for a new, and "true" businessperson to attempt making a go of it in this industry. Too many guys have a very personal attachment to this stuff and while working full time jobs or living in retirement with full pensions "need the drug" of direct contact with the girl, binding, gagging, and recording on a Hi Def camera that can be bought cheap with no need to have a merchant account, hosting company, gateway, webmaster, DBA, LLC, or S-Corporation, any real skills, capitol investment, or knowledge to jump into the fray......hobbyists, guys with camera, whatever you want to call them, namely men who have what borders or is a sexual addiction to this fetish and the need to pose as businessmen in order to get that one on one physical contact with the girl have pretty much decimated the "business aspect" of this industry.
Go to cllege, learn a trade, craft, real estate, Uber, lol, pretty much anything else at this point........don't let your little head do the thinking and calling the shots like so many of these "so called 3rd party producers" do, some who don't need to work or shoot at all but pretend they do.
19. Have any models been unable to take your stringent gags and bondage once the shoot begins? And, if so, how do you handle that situation?
Yes......I am always on alert and watching the model for any sign that she isn't ok with what we are doing.......my motto is, if you’re watching her eyes and body language like you should, you will know if there is a problem before she has to use a safe word or gesture.
Most of the time I sense they are having a problem with it mentally........when I feel the girl is having a problem with it mentally or physically, I will ask her point blank if she is ok.......I will then remind her that this work isn't for everyone.........I will ask her if she feels ok today, she could have started her period, have a cold, you never know. Normally I will sit her down between scenes or after the first scene and say these things and let her know it’s ok if this type of work isn't for her, or for her today, it’s a very physical and mental task at hand and it’s my job to insure her safety not only on a physical level, but I take it a step further and insure the girls are ok on a mental level as well........there is a difference and it does make a difference. I say all this as nicely as possible and try to give them every face saving way out I can so they don't feel obligated, guilty or bad about not moving forward......I pay them for time and work done and if they incurred travel expenses, I usually pay for that as well........it’s important to not have a girl do this type of work if she isn't cut out for or doesn't want to do it for any reason and to leave off on the best note possible.........I have found they usually are very relieved, happy and respect you for caring for them and watching out for their physical and emotional well being, as I should.
20. How did you and Jay Edwards happen to form your business partnership in BondagePictures.com
I was shooting at Jay's place starting late 1995 and we spoke about this new thing coming around called the internet as it approached in 1997..........it was Cory Thompson of Shortfuse Productions who was responsible for pointing out and suggesting we start a photo pay site as Cory was very tech savvy at the time and had been scanning photos of my work and Jay's from our Magazines we put out through Harmony on I.R.C. and various other Pre-internet forums at the time. Cory knew of the demand and potential and our desire to get away from the monopoly of a distributor like Harmony. It was the perfect option and solution to be free, have growth potential and start and run our own businesses independently. It turned out to be very good advice for which I am very grateful and it was the response and results Jay and I received with bondagepictures.com that motivated Cory to start Shortfuse and his own paysite that later incorporated Jim Weathers.
21. What else do you want your fans to know about you and your work?
Since day one, I have strived to create a quality product that would live up to people's expectations, realizing I could never be all things to all people........I also wanted to prove that morals, values and professional standards could be implemented and sustained in an adult content oriented arena, treating the girls professionally and most importantly, keeping my own desires, emotions and such completely out of the equation and run my show professionally, yet, as I tell the girls, in a relaxed laid back environment at the same time. The girls will never be hit on for personal reasons. I do not and never have asked personal or pointed questions, It’s none of my business what she thinks or if she likes bondage or what I do. I keep it all on the up and up and while I feel the industry has declined into a horrible state in this regard with all the hobbyists and fake businessmen who have all jumped into the fray all in the name of being legit, their actions and words are anything but. It’s obvious that I haven't achieved the objective of making this an industry business model or standard.
Another point I feel very strongly about........I don't have fans, I have supporters......I never have and never will refer to my supporters as "Fans"......I feel that is condescending and not respectful enough, but that's just me. I do feel that those who are fond of, or like my work and don't buy or have never bought, or never will buy, can be and are fans.....but those who buy and support are the back bone and lifeblood of this business and I am forever grateful to each and everyone of them. My respect and gratitude goes out to all of them and if I had my way about it, I would personally meet, shake hands, and thank each and every one of them, for without our supporters we would all have nothing.
Thank you, Rob, for giving me this opportunity to share with yourself and everyone, as I never write in or address the forums or any forum........as always, I appreciate all of the hard work the girls have given to myself and this industry as well as the paying supporters. We are all together in a peaceful, free moment able to share and enjoy this passion which is very personal, near and dear to many of us, and I hope I can continue to live up to both models’ and supporters’ expectations.
Regards,
Dominic
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I'm always learning and 'grew up' with these guys videos in the early days !!
His attitude towards piracy is pretty rational, a far cry from some of the crazed, "People are driven to suicide by piracy," rants I've seen.
You send take downs and DMCA notices for him? Are you a lawyer?
I remember Marti Fraser's work too from Cal Star videos. I much prefer Dominic's and recalled (and this is probably sacrilegious) being bored by Marti Fraser's work when I saw it.
I had a small following when I was making and selling vids with my ex. Again, there was nothing else like them so I had pretty good repeat business. And, as small-time as I was, I see those videos online from time to time!
I only saw Marti's work very recently. I didn't enjoy it as much as Dominic's, but I suspect that back in the day I would have found it appealing.
Thanks a lot for providing.
I used to be on onemodelplace, I haven't checked in there for a long time though, wow until now I had forgotten all about it!
Dominic went all out in this interview. What surprised me most was how rational he was about the content piracy. I know it irritates him to no end when his content is stolen because he usually emails me to send cease and desist as well as DMCA take-down notices to the sites hosting the stolen content. His "it's now a cost of doing business" attitude is, unfortunately, correct I think.
I'm really glad you liked the interview and I thought you would because of how much detail he gave in his answers.
Now, about that cheerleading uniform . . . .