You will need gear, a good location and the inside scoop before you begin your carreer as paparazzi. Being paparazzi can be a very difficult job because your paycheck depends on the pictures you get, and if anyone is willing to buy them. You will need to do your research to find out where celebrities hang out and you have to be sneaky. You also need to know your camera, because you may only get one shot at a good picture.
1. GET THE GEAR
Before you start you will need a good camera. Your best bet is to go with a digital camera. Digital cameras are easy to use and it takes away the need to develop pictures. This option also offers the ability to more easily distribute and sell your pictures by sending them over the Internet. Look for a 35 millimeter digital SLR camera for your basic pictures with a large amount of memory, or a place in the camera to add more memory with a portable memory card or stick. Make sure that the camera lens is interchangeable, so that you can get different angles.
You may need to use a wide angle lens or a larger zoom lens for some shoots. Its also a good idea to purchase a hidden camera. Hidden cameras come in all shapes and sizes and will sit in surprising areas on your person, if they are made to look like a clothing accessory. Purchase a camera that fits your wardrobe such as a button camera or a pen camera. Having a camera on your cell phone will also come in handy for those surprise shots that happen when youre least expecting it.
2. LOCATION IS EVERYTHING
You will need to live and work in a location where celebrities can be sighted easily on a daily basis. Celebrities live all over the world but the best spot to catch multiple celebrities is in Hollywood, California. New York can also be a good spot to catch celebrities when on talk shows and movie shoots. It is also a good idea to find out if any movies are filming on location nearby. This will offer up several photo opportunities if you can get on the set without being noticed.
3. RESEARCH POPULAR HOT SPOTS
Find out the popular celebrity locations. Go to posh restaurants and upscale clothing stores or hit the night clubs in Hollywood. Celebrities will visit their favorite stores and restaurants frequently just like an average citizen does. Go into stores and restaurants without the camera as a paying customer. The best way to get a good shot is by spotting a celebrity and not being noticed. Wait by the exit. Most stores only have one exit, which is a great place to get a good shot. When you see the subject start to leave, grab your camera and get ready to shoot. Movie premiers are also good opportunities to get a good picture. You will have to muscle your way to the front at a movie premier but if you snap a good shot you could make a lot of money.
4. GET SOURCES AND USE THEM
Some paparazzi hire private detectives to find out where a particular celebrity goes on a regular basis. Hiring a private detective can lessen the leg work and help you get better shots. Most tabloids want photos that peer into the private lives of celebrities. A trained private detective can find out more about the subject youre trying to photograph and put a story behind your picture.
You will need an inside source to help you stay ahead of the game. An informer can be anyone who interacts frequently with celebrities and is willing to give out that information for a price. These informants can be stage hands, retail shop clerks at high-end retail stores, hotel doormen, bar tenders and many others. Its important to have a large number of informers. You will have to pay informers to keep them happy and working for you, but that is part of doing business. The better the shot, the more money it will cost for the information, but the better the rewards for you in the long run.
5. RISK VS RETURN
There are a variety of tactics to obtain pictures once you find out a possible location for a shoot. Unfortunately, sometimes you run the risk of getting sued, but if the picture is exclusive it may be worth the risk. Some paparazzi go to extremes by climbing on roofs or renting a helicopter. It is important to know how much a picture is worth before spending the money. Make sure there is a solid story behind the picture before taking the risk, because it could cost you more than money if you are injured trying to get that perfect shot from a tree limb.
6. GETTING THE CASH
The amount of cash that you make for a picture will depend on the type of picture you are taking and the picture quality. The popularity of the celebrity will also help determine the price a magazine will pay for a picture. Most tabloids adjust their pay on a similar scale. The tabloids will look for five basic elements before pitching a price. They will look at who the celebrity is, if the photo is genuine, what the star is doing in the picture, the picture quality, and the availability of the picture to other tabloids. Some places online that you might want to check are:
When you get a good picture of a celebrity, offer the image to multiple tabloid magazines. This way, you can earn more money for the work youve done. Many tabloids will get in a bidding war for a good picture if you promise to give it to them exclusively. You may also want to sell the picture to multiple magazines, just be careful not to burn your bridges buy promising exclusive and not delivering.
Tabloids are obviously the best place to sell your photos. Here are links to the biggest tabloids, and how to submit photos.
People Weekly: To submit a photo you must first contact the editor at [email protected] or call (212) 522-6699 to see if they are interested in seeing your photo.
National Enquirer: To submit a tip or photo information to the National Enquirer, call (800) 645-4708.
Star Magazine: email Star Magazine with information first at [email protected] or call (800) 609-8312.
7. POINTS TO REVIEW AND REMEMBER
Your rights to photograph people without consent only apply to public figures.
Take your photographs on public property to avoid lawsuits.
Watch out for body guards and angry celebrities.
Weigh your risk versus the money you will make for the pictures.
Get a second job, there can be some slow moths.
Keep lots of informants and keep them happy.
Scope out the hot spots.
If you keep these points in mind and follow these steps, you too can create a lucrative career for yourself. Becoming paparazzi isnt an easy endeavor, but with the right equipment and some good leads, you should be able to begin a side job, if not a whole career in the field.
