How to Be a Paparazzo
These days, anyone can make big bucks selling celebrity pictures. You just need to know some tricks of the trade.
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You Will Need
- Photography skills
- A good camera or camera phone
- Doggedness
Steps
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Step 1
Buy a camera
If you're serious about earning a living photographing celebrities, invest in a good camera. Otherwise, a good camera phone will do.
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Step 2
Study photography
Take at least one photography class. The beauty of being a paparazzo is that even grainy photos are sellable, but you don't want to screw up a great shot with a rookie mistake.
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Step 3
Follow the stars
Go where the stars are -- movie premieres, hot nightclubs, tony restaurants, popular coffee shops, upscale hotels, elite gyms, and designer boutiques. To find out where stars hang out, just buy a couple of celebrity magazines.
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The Hollywood Reporter is a good source for information on where celebrities are shooting their latest films.
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Step 4
Cultivate sources
Cultivate relationships with people who can alert you to a celebrity's whereabouts -- doormen, bartenders, waiters, personal trainers, and so on. Expect to pay them a 25% cut of any sale you make.
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Step 5
Make friends with tabloid editors
Develop good relationships with tabloid editors so you can land assignments. Celebrity magazines often pay paparazzi day rates to follow a particular celebrity or cover a star's wedding.
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If you see a female celebrity exiting a car, get ready! The tabloids pay big bucks for "knicker shots" (up the skirt) and "nipple shots" (down the blouse).
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Step 6
Tail one celebrity
Increase your chances of landing a six-figure exclusive by focusing all your time and attention on one worldwide celebrity.
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Step 7
Get a star's attention
When you spot a celebrity, get their attention by yelling something likely to make them curious enough to turn around.
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The term "paparazzo" comes from the name of the photographer in Federico Fellini's 1960 film La Dolce Vita.
