How can I become a paparazzi?
December 23, 2004 1:35 PM Subscribe
What if I wanted to become a paparazzi photographer? How does one do that? [mi]
For the record, I'm not actually planning on a career change. I'm just deeply curious on how people get into this field of work.
For the record, I'm not actually planning on a career change. I'm just deeply curious on how people get into this field of work.
I know someone who does it part-time: she's always been obsessed with celebs tho, and finally got her shots seen by people. It's rough, and you need contacts at the weeklies and dailies. It can be very very lucrative, but the competition is incredibly fierce. Recent bidding wars for shots bet. US, People, Star, Life & Style, etc have made more people try it.
posted by amberglow at 1:47 PM on December 23, 2004
posted by amberglow at 1:47 PM on December 23, 2004
Start reading all the celebrity magazines you can, study them, and understand why some images are more important/valuable than others.
1) Purchase a pro digital camera, flash, and a long telephoto lens. 2) Get a car. 3) Find out and go to places where celebrities hang out/vacation/hide 4) Photograph them, preferably in exclusive situations. 5) E-mail low-res preview images to celebrity magazines, offering your photos. 6) Repeat. Study Ron Gallela's work, he is the master.
posted by ig at 2:11 PM on December 23, 2004
1) Purchase a pro digital camera, flash, and a long telephoto lens. 2) Get a car. 3) Find out and go to places where celebrities hang out/vacation/hide 4) Photograph them, preferably in exclusive situations. 5) E-mail low-res preview images to celebrity magazines, offering your photos. 6) Repeat. Study Ron Gallela's work, he is the master.
posted by ig at 2:11 PM on December 23, 2004
Go down to the cross roads with your camera, wait till dark...
I'd say ig has it down to the brass tacks pretty much. Work talks. All of the contact info for photo editors, etc.. is out there.
"When I take a photograph of my subjects-whether they know it or not-to me that is a covenant. There's a trust given and a trust received, and I will not allow that trust to be violated, or the pictures to be used in an improper manner."
-Jim Marshall
posted by Jack Karaoke at 2:40 PM on December 23, 2004
I'd say ig has it down to the brass tacks pretty much. Work talks. All of the contact info for photo editors, etc.. is out there.
"When I take a photograph of my subjects-whether they know it or not-to me that is a covenant. There's a trust given and a trust received, and I will not allow that trust to be violated, or the pictures to be used in an improper manner."
-Jim Marshall
posted by Jack Karaoke at 2:40 PM on December 23, 2004
Last month's popular photography (or was it petersens? doh!) had a huge article on what it takes to be a stal^H^H^H^Hpaparazzi photog.
It sounded brutal-I think he averaged 100 hrs in his car for each sold photograph. When I get home, I'll try and retrieve the article.
The article also mentions that he carries loads of cash for tipsters, several cameras, big fast L-glass, and even pepper spray.
posted by neilkod at 3:53 PM on December 23, 2004
It sounded brutal-I think he averaged 100 hrs in his car for each sold photograph. When I get home, I'll try and retrieve the article.
The article also mentions that he carries loads of cash for tipsters, several cameras, big fast L-glass, and even pepper spray.
posted by neilkod at 3:53 PM on December 23, 2004
1. Buy the fastest shooting camera you can afford. The Canon 1D Mk2 is the correct answer.
2. Depending on whether you'll be stalking (spying on private retreats) or assaulting (events, etc.) strap on either a 600mm tele or a 85mm f/1.4.
3. Buy a good flash.
4. Go to L.A. or the Riviera, find the hotspots, and wait.
The gear will cost you a few grand. A good pic can net hundreds of thousands, providing it's the right celebrity or the right "moment" (nude pics for example).
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:09 PM on December 23, 2004
2. Depending on whether you'll be stalking (spying on private retreats) or assaulting (events, etc.) strap on either a 600mm tele or a 85mm f/1.4.
3. Buy a good flash.
4. Go to L.A. or the Riviera, find the hotspots, and wait.
The gear will cost you a few grand. A good pic can net hundreds of thousands, providing it's the right celebrity or the right "moment" (nude pics for example).
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:09 PM on December 23, 2004
Watch "Blast 'Em" , a 1992 documentary on the life of New York City's tabloid paparazzi.
posted by azul at 4:50 PM on December 23, 2004
posted by azul at 4:50 PM on December 23, 2004
There was a weekly documentary/reality series in the UK about Heathrow Airport last year. One of the "characters" was a paparazzi photographer who basically went to the airport 12 hours a day and took pictures of all the famous people flying in and out. As far as I recall he was independent, so you pretty much turn up and start taking pictures, although you have to get ready to face some sh*t from the authorities and the celebs. You really need balls of steel for that job.
posted by wackybrit at 7:14 AM on December 24, 2004
posted by wackybrit at 7:14 AM on December 24, 2004
get this :
http://swapatorium.blogspot.com/2004/12/bad-inventions-snooper-camera.html
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 11:15 AM on December 24, 2004
http://swapatorium.blogspot.com/2004/12/bad-inventions-snooper-camera.html
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 11:15 AM on December 24, 2004
It's more about networking and contacts than photography (which is applicable to many businesses, really).
Before you can take that 6-figure shot of lindsay lohan, you gotta kick some money to the people who know where she's gonna stay (hotel staff), people who know when and where she's going shopping (store clerks), and people who know when and where she's getting her hair did. If you *do* get hooked up with some great information, you'll need to float some reward money to the insightful contact to make sure the tips keep flowing.
posted by Hankins at 6:30 PM on December 25, 2004
Before you can take that 6-figure shot of lindsay lohan, you gotta kick some money to the people who know where she's gonna stay (hotel staff), people who know when and where she's going shopping (store clerks), and people who know when and where she's getting her hair did. If you *do* get hooked up with some great information, you'll need to float some reward money to the insightful contact to make sure the tips keep flowing.
posted by Hankins at 6:30 PM on December 25, 2004
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I don't think it'd a job for the faint of heart.
posted by ascullion at 1:45 PM on December 23, 2004