As old as they are, the magazines and newspapers you flip through in your dentist’s waiting room or hair salon are endlessly fascinating, especially the celebrity photos, news articles, and entertainment topics. If you love following the stars, political giants, and the lives of the rich and famous, getting the latest celebrity news is now as easy as going online, too. You don’t even need to subscribe.
Numerous internet, entertainment and celebrity gossip websites feature amazingly interesting photos of your favorite people. News stories revealing their illicit lives, loves, and behaviors bring each famous person to life, and sometimes pictures really do speak louder than words. Each publication has its specialties and its own editorial personality. And all the fun is reflected in the visuals, the presentation of the story, and the interactive nature of the website with viewers, users, and advertisers.
But it is the photographs of the famous and the infamous in candid and unsuspecting moments that are the secrets to keeping our attention rapt. Online entertainment news outlets have brought evil paparazzi back into the spotlight, shrouded in myth and perhaps unduly maligned.
The legendary paparazzi
What would we do without them?
Some of the most exciting features on celebrity entertainment news sites are the pictures taken by paparazzi photographers. The reputation of these annoying perceived invaders is well known and they have even been called mosquitoes because they can be so annoying. But it must be remembered that when we enjoy the published stories and great paparazzi photos of people we find so fascinating on film, television, and in the news, we are actually enjoying the results of the paparazzi’s hard work. And many of the legends and myths about them can be dispelled.
Who are they really?
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photos of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people. They are really skilled and imaginative photo takers who tend to be independent contractors, with no affiliation with the major media organizations. Given their more innovative nature and technical skills, paparazzi really should be considered freelance photographers. Not only do they supply their work to various publications and media outlets, but they are also linked to celebrity internet sites or online news agencies.
Are they lawbreakers who are hated by the rich and famous?
Freelance photographers as a group are law-abiding citizens and the First Amendment only allows them to take pictures of public figures as long as they (celebrities) are in public places. And if you think that, for all the vitriol, photojournalists are hated by their subjects, that’s not entirely true either. Most celebrities understand that fantastic photos will keep them seen in entertainment magazines and websites. Many really welcome and even invite exposure.
Do paparazzi really hang out in trees?
It’s easier for a photographer to track celebrity schedules and get to their events before them or wait outside their favorite coffee shops or gyms. But, even if the paparazzi doesn’t climb a tree, the job still isn’t easy because of the hours and hours of waiting with sore feet in the freezing cold or hot sun to get the right angle or meet a prominent person. that may never appear.
Do they make a lot of money?
If the subject of the news articles is involved in a major scandal or the photographer gets a great shot of a celebrity doing something truly extraordinary, the images may have a higher value. Every paparazzi dreams of such a scenario. A perched shot is not the target. The ultimate challenge for the photographer is capturing celebrities in normal motion, such as walking down the street or drinking coffee, carrying a child or holding hands with a loved one. There is more compensation for outstanding candid camera shots than for any pose.
Are they all uneducated degenerates?
It may come as a surprise, but most paparazzi are actually college graduates, former photojournalists, business owners, school teachers, and even doctors. They are drawn to this field because of their fascination with human interest stories and the resulting blend of creative photography with expert reporting equals the perfect storm that results in truly artistic journalism.
The next time you pick up that celebrity magazine or entertainment news publication at your local dentist’s office, barbershop or beauty salon, or discover the fantastic views and insights at your favorite online entertainment news stop, have Keep in mind that the evil mythological paparazzi had an important hand in bringing you that enjoyment. There is always more than one side to every story and a tall tale is of no interest in today’s world without an imaginative photograph.