Adult Site Operator, Erotic Photographer Ron Harris Passes Away

Adult Site Operator, Erotic Photographer Ron Harris Passes Away

MALIBU, Calif. — Ron Harris, the softcore adult photographer, filmmaker and pioneering website operator, passed away on Friday. He was 83.

Harris was a veteran New York fashion photographer working for Cosmopolitan and Vogue, among other publishing giants, who gravitated to the world of adult in the 1980s by creating the first sexually charged exercise video series, “Aerobicise,” released by Paramount Home Video. In 1995, he released the video, “Totally Nude Aerobics,” which was re-released in 2000 in DVD format.

Between 1995 and 1999, Harris directed and produced a lineup of Playboy TV programs, including “Ron Harris' Camera Up-Close & Dangerous,” “Ron Harris' Star Shapes” and “Naturals.”

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner at the time called Harris “The King of Erotica.”

By 1996, Harris launched RonHarris.com, an adult site featuring models specifically between the ages of 18 and 22, and went on to operate about a half-dozen erotic online properties, including RonsAngels.com, KaraDuhe.com, Harris-Archives.com and Harris-Art.com.

Harris also operated his own affiliate program, RonHarrisCash.com, and reportedly became payment processor CCBill’s first customer.

Harris was confident with his online content’s array of material, saying at the time that “we have the best of everything — girls, photography, lighting, resolution, videos and performance. You name it. We do it best. My mission in nothing less than to turn pornography into real art.” 

“I've found what the men of this world like, and it's the same thing I like,” he said at the time. “I shoot sweet, beautiful girls, having real orgasms. I catch them when they are most adorable and still exploring their sexuality in an innocent and exciting way.”

During the early 2000s in a review of his websites, RabbitReviews.com called Harris’ adult content a “pornographic treat.”

"The strengths of Ron Harris lie in his understanding of eroticism, the angles he chooses and his relationship to his subject and subjects,” the site said in its review.

Harris also started up a blog — Blog.RonHarris.com — serving up photography tips and techniques, reviews of photography equipment and tips on handling models and creating a functional studio, as well as his personal reflections on his work.

Harris passed away at his home in Malibu, Calif., on Friday.

An outpouring of thoughts and wishes of sympathy to friends and family were made on Facebook over Harris’s death.

CAM4'S Gunner said: "His attention to detail and pursuit of perfection were evident in his work and obvious to anyone who knew him."

Battleship Stance’s Jason Tucker called Harris a “nice man with a great eye.” “Rest peacefully Ron. You will be missed,” he said.

Payze’s Doug Wicks said Harris was a “good man.” “RIP Ron! He had a knack for business that was certain,” he said. I cherished our political discussions over the last 20 years as well as his great ideas.”  

Lightspeed Media’s Steve Lightspeed said: “Damn. Ron Harris was a huge influence on me and my style of photography. RIP.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

French Telecoms Mogul Ignites AV Firestorm With Free VPN, Sarcastic Tweet

French billionaire Xavier Niel, founder of telecommunications giant Iliad S.A., ignited a heated debate this week when he appeared to admit that the no-cost VPN his Free Mobile wireless carrier has integrated into its service was deliberately designed to circumvent age verification restrictions and allow customers to access adult content.

UPDATED: Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

Taliban Restricts Access to Adult Content by Shutting Down Internet

The Taliban has shut down internet access across a large portion of Afghanistan in a move to prevent what it deems "immoral activities."

Go.cam Launches Video Spoofing Protection

Go.cam has announced that its verification solution now features security against video spoofing.

SexLikeReal Releases 'VR Self-Care' Guide

SexLikeReal (SLR) has published a blog post spotlighting “VR Self-Care.”

Brady Mills Agency to Launch 'AgeWallet' Subscription AV Solution

Tech company Brady Mills Agency announced that its subscription-based merchant age verification solution, AgeWallet, will launch in November.

EU Advocate General: France Can Require Foreign Sites to Implement AV

An advocate general of the European Union’s Court of Justice on Thursday advised the court to rule that France may require pornographic websites based in other EU states to implement age verification in accordance with French law.

Hentaied Founder Romero 'Mr. Alien' on Fetish, Fantasy and Finding Order in Chaos

A sharp sting pierces the woman’s skin. Something foreign slips beneath the surface. Eggs, maybe. She doesn’t know it yet, but soon her body will become a vessel, a hive, a source of contamination.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for July, August

AEBN has published the top search terms for the months of July and August from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Guardian Devotes Feature Article to XBIZ Amsterdam

British newspaper The Guardian sent a reporter to cover XBIZ Amsterdam earlier this month, resulting in a lengthy article about the annual European adult industry conference.

Show More