Category: paparazzi

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Are the paparazzi Inquisitive or Intrusive?

Paparazzi are a part of the entertainment business.

The nature of their work is to acquire images of celebrities that will sell newspapers or go viral on the internet. You can count on them to go beyond the limits of ethical behavior and intrude AS MUCH AS THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH. The excesses of this are the sad result of Princess Diana’s death, where the Paparazzi both contributed to the car chase that took her life, and then took pictures of her as she died. Not to mention the intentional goading of celebrities to anger or provoke a situation that will get more pictures and notoriety for the photographer and/or the celebrity (although it can be negative, ask Alec Baldwin).

The stories behind the pictures
The stories behind the pictures, from Amazon Books

Sharp celebrities (and their managers/handlers) know how to effectively use and manage the paparazzi, granting them photo opportunities and giving them enough shots to satisfy their need for ongoing celebrity and sell pictures. George Clooney is really good at this, as are many other celebs. (NOTE: Despite maintaining that his private life is “off limits”, Clooney recently threatened legal action for unauthorized family pictures, even referencing The Late Princess Diana in a recent appearance).

The best way to look at this, in my opinion, is that the paparazzi are doing a job, and some do it well (and are respected photographers), and some are stooges who use any means necessary to get celebrity pictures even if it violates the celeb’s right to privacy or the limits of ethical behavior.

The bigger problem is that there is a large audience for pictures of celebrities that are salacious, unattractive (sans makeup), in awkward or everyday situations, and generally in poor taste. The tabloids fuel the audience with headlines, unauthorized photo spreads, and teaser articles that are provocative and a result of pictorial “misinterpretation”. Note everything about the paparazzi is evil, see this article” Driving Mr. Kanye and 7 Other Times Celebrities and the Paparazzi Almost Got Along”.

Paparazzi true stories of a party crasher, Available from Amazon Books

My thoughts are these; the Paparazzi are part of an indelicate ballet, with the public, the celebrities, the tabloids, fame, and fortune. Many aspiring celebrity “wannabees” NEED the paparazzi to follow and pursue them when they are climbing the ladder to success, and exposure means better roles and opportunities. Once they have some measure of fame, they turn on the paparazzi as “evil scum” who destroy their privacy. The people who manage that well, and have good public relations people and agents will figure it out. The celebrities who become known for their anger and hostility towards paparazzi become curiosities for the public’s digestion, and may have short lived but volatile press during their 15 minutes of fame.

 

Here is a suggestion; be kind to your fans and paparazzi, or your photos will be wrapping fish at the docks.

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What’s it like to work as a paparazzi?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities reading magazines at the supermarket checkout
Being a Paparazzi is hours of boredom, moments of action (when a celebrity may be sighted, and photographed), and negotiation for fees for pictures. It is surveillance work, and requires some detective work, knowing people who can give you information on a specific star’s whereabouts, (and sometimes paying for the info). You also can be detested, Scorned, punched/threatened/assaulted, and jailed, if you are too aggressive. You also may be carrying expensive lenses and cameras, which can be subject to damage. If you are good, the reward is cash for your photos. You also have to know publicists, who may compel you to photograph their clients so they can get exposure in the tabloids.
How Paparazzi Work – How Stuff works
Oops! I'm the Paparazzi.
Paparazzi exist to feed the hunger of the press and the famous for more exposure – While I am sure many are professional and have some respect for the subjects, many are invasive and push the limits to get their pictures.  This can mean anything from an argument with a celebrity (or their bodyguards) to a fight that ends with someone arrested, or even loss of life (in the case of Princess Diana).
Reddit discussion– “If stalking is a crime,why are paparazzi tolerated?”
And now, Paparazzi need to be savvy with operating Drones!
Up and coming stars seek out the attention of Paparazzi to get more exposure and celebrity status.  If they are fortunate and become famous, they frequently “turn” on the paparazzi and deny them access, abandoning the resource they needed to get their fame.
So if I have not freaked you out, please hire me to train you as a world-class drone piloting, risk-taking Paparazzi at my famous photographer school. (Just joking, although a kickstarter for this may be fun).  Take a look at my Photography blog: The Good Shots.
Thanks for reading my blog! – Feel free to upvote, like, repost and share!
Edited and expanded from my answer on Quora.
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Do Celebrities always act mean to Paparazzi?

In the start of their careers, many actors want the paparazzi to capture them, to add to their fame and marketability. Their agents and even friends “leak” their locations to tabloids and paparazzi just to increase their exposure. (Ask anyone who dated a Kardashian).

When (or “if”) they become famous, and seek any amount of privacy, it is hard to stop the location leaks, drone pictures, sidewalk ambushes, etc. from the paparazzi. Smart celebrities almost always give the paparazzi an opportunity to take some shots before their meeting or event, giving them what they want, in exchange for leaving them be (for a little while). Others can be downright mean to the photographers, especially if they are overly intrusive.

There are many incidents where paparazzi have been overly zealous about taking pictures, and have been assaulted by actors. (take a look at When Celebrities Attack: Top 10 Paparazzi Confrontations, on zimbio). Many times the paparazzi “egg on” the celebrities, to get more salable pictures – even if they risk arrest or jail time. In many cases, the celebrity can be arrested for assault, or the paparazzi can get a restraining order.There is a fine line between the tabloids need for fresh pics of famous people and the safety of actors and their families; many actors and actresses work hard to keep their locations and family (children, siblings, parents) away from the spotlight. They don’t want their children to grow up hiding from photographers or being exploited in the tabloids. It is also a safety issue, and bodyguards frequently intervene when paparazzi take unwanted pictures.Today we are bombarded with cell phone cameras, long zoom cameras, drone cameras, easily hidden body and handbag cams – not to mention businesses that have surveillance cameras for their establishments. Even the average person is photographed often and discreetly. When you add the paparazzi into that mix, they can behave like a pack of rabid dogs or polite professionals as part of the publicity game.

Today almost anyone can be a paparazzi, just make sure you have a cell phone with a good camera.  And I hope no celebrity will take offense at your taking their picture!

Thanks for reading this article!

Building Your Paparazzi Business, from Amazon Books

 

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What offends you most about Hollywood celebrities?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities reading magazines at the supermarket checkout
The one thing that both offends and intrigues me about celebrities is their hypocrisy and denial, sometimes shallow – sometimes calculated – that makes them so entertaining!
Figure that celebrities need a following, and do everything to get the paparazzi to “catch” them having pizza or making out in a park, and when they get a modicum of fame, denounce the paparazzi as a pack of wolves and predators stalking them 24/7. (can you have it both ways?).
Remember its not just Hollywood….. This is an entertaining film related to this topic:
No matter what, celebrity watching and what they do for the fame and their fan base is astounding!
Thanks for reading my blog!  Please feel free to like, upvote, and share!
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Where do websites get the paparazzi photos from?

Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities reading magazines at the supermarket checkout


Paparazzi sell their photos to the highest bidder, unless they are contract photographers (like staff photographers- who generally work for one organization). People with desirable photos on their cell phones can sell them too, AND BE PAPARAZZI – on sites like:
Paparazzi work hard at getting celebrity photos, and have to have relationships with middlemen, publications (and their attendant websites), and informers, who “leak” details about where celebrities will be.  This article highlights how many of them work in Hollywood: “How do the paparazzi sell their pics” – Slate.com.
Website Editors and producers are always on the lookout for fresh pictures, so the paparazzi are filling a need, the consumer thirst for anything about their favorite stars!  Candid photos of popular stars and celebrities get these websites more eyeballs, and higher rankings among the fan base and in searches.  This results in more exposure and money from their advertisers.
When a paparazzi has a good photo to sell, He/She contacts the tabloids directly and arranges a price. Or:

Building Your Paparazzi Business -Amazon Books

Thanks for reading this, and keep a sharp eye out for celebrities!
 

(Should you encounter a celebrity, please be polite and ask for a photo opportunity first.  Most are happy to oblige, and appreciate some respect, as you are profiting from their fame).

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