paparazzi

Fake Paparazzi Photos of a Fake Celebrity… and Real Star-Struck Tourists

This past Valentines day, photographer Kendrick Brinson was tasked with what she calls "the strangest assignment" of her career thus far. She was asked by OZY magazine with shooting as a fake paparazzi photographer, chasing after editor Sanjena Sathian as she walked the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard through crowds of tourists. Sathian later published an account of the experience in a story titled "Almost Famous."

Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield Creatively Turn the Paparazzi Into a Force for Good

In the photography hierarchy, the paparazzi are considered by many to be the lowest of the low. Even when they get attacked by less-than-loved celebrities, the reaction from many of our readers is rarely sympathetic. But thanks to some creativity and quick thinking, actor couple Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield have managed to turn the pap into a force for charity.

You Hate My Job: A BTS Look at The Life and Routine of a Paparazzi Photographer

Update on 12/16/21: This video has been removed by its creator.

In a new series of videos put together by Marketplace, You Hate My Job goes around and documents the occupations that often get a bad rap and are overall disliked by most of humanity. The first in the series follows a profession that is, without a doubt, one of the most hated (and possibly misunderstood) by the entire photo community: Paparazzi.

New Anti-Paparazzi Technique: Attempted Murder

Boy, is Kanye West going to feel like a wuss when he hears about this. Turns out that if you're really serious about putting paparazzi in their place, nothing short of homicide will do anymore.

At least that seems to be the way it works in Costa Rica, where three former bodyguards for supermodel Gisele Bundchen are on trial for attempted murder after they opened fire on a couple of uncooperative photographers.

NPPA Says New California Anti-Paparazzi Bill ‘Threatens First Amendment Rights’

Last Thursday, we told you about the newest anti-paparazzi bill to hit the California State Assembly. Focused on expanding the definition of harassment, SB 606 was drafted for the specific purpose of protecting the children of celebrities -- some hollywood actresses have already spoken out in support of the bill.

As with many a legal mater, however, not everyone is in favor of the bill. While most would agree that protecting children from being harassed by paparazzi is a worthy goal, the NPPA is now officially speaking out against SB 606, warning the public that this bill's vague wording "threatens first amendment rights."

Anti-Photography Patent Shows a Device that Will Spoil a Paparazzo’s Day

There are those who don't mind being photographed, those who do, and those who are photographed so often they can't help but mind. Celebrities in particular must deal with an onslaught of photography every time they leave their home, and inventors Wilbert Leon Smith, Jr. and Keelo Lamance Jackson want to do something to help.

That's why they invented a new anti-photography photo-ruining device that may wind up putting the paparazzi out of work.

Instagram May Soon Turn Paparazzi Into an Endangered Species

In recent years, photographers -- and particularly photojournalists -- have had to compete more and more aggressively with the everyday Joe and his smartphone who happens to be at the right place at the right time. And with technologies like CrowdOptic in the works that will help sift through the plethora of photographs taken every second, news agencies may soon be able to find that Joe in record time.

But according to an article by Jenna Wortham of The New York Times, one branch of photography is already taking a significant hit: the paparazzi are being replaced by Instagrammers. Using a recent photo of Beyoncé and her daughter as an example, Wortham shows how the paparazzi are already losing their battler with those same amateurs.

Actress Evan Rachel Wood Furious After Ultrasound Snap Snapped by Paparazzi

Heads up, celebrities: nothing is too personal for the lenses of money- and star-hungry paparazzi photographers. Actress Evan Rachel Wood found out the hard way today after The Daily Mail published paparazzi photographs of her leaving a hospital with an ultrasound scan image clutched in her hands. The article was titled, "Baby's first picture! Pregnant Evan Rachel Wood can't stop smiling as she emerges with ultrasound scan." Understandably, Wood was furious.

Inside a Paparazzo’s Photography Bag: Cameras, Lenses and Pepper Spray

It's safe to say that paparazzi aren't exactly adored in most photography circles. Given the comments we typically get on most paparazzi stories, you could say they're loathed. But that doesn't mean they don't fascinate us all the same.

So if you've ever wondered what's inside a paparazzo's photography bag (or bags), today's your lucky day. In this video, paparazzo Henry Flores took the time to show Photoinduced what you'll find in his.

‘Steven Tyler Act’ Working to Ban Celeb Photography in Hawaii

Paparazzi working in the state of Hawaii might have to pack their bags and move back to the mainland. That's because a new bill requested by Aerosmith lead and part-time Maui resident Steven Tyler may soon ban celebrity photography in the 50th state all-together.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Turns the Lens on Paparazzi Photographers

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become one of the hottest stars in Hollywood in recent years, appearing in a number of major blockbuster movies (e.g. Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper, Lincoln). Back in 2006, as he was still a smaller name in the industry, Gordon-Levitt had a run-in with a couple of paparazzi photographers.

Having a video camera with him, Gordon-Levitt decided to turn the camera lens on the two men to capture a glimpse into the world of celebrity photography. The encounter can be seen in the video above, titled "Pictures of A**holes," which Gordon-Levitt uploaded to YouTube (Warning: there's some strong language).

People Becoming Paparazzi Photogs in the Presence of Celebrities

For those of you who can't stand what paparazzi photographers do with their cameras, know this: it's not just the professional celebrity photographers who do such things. When a celebrity is spotted in public, ordinary people all around pull out their cameras and do exactly the same thing.

The video above shows what happened recently when Tom Cruise and his daughter Suri tried to watch a show at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.

Paparazzo Struck and Killed While Trying to Photograph Justin Bieber’s Ferrari

Back in July, after witnessing what essentially amounted to a high-speed car chase down the 101 between paparazzi and Justin Bieber, city councilman Dennis Zine predicted that these practices were "a tragedy waiting to happen." In an attempt to prevent similar incidents in the future, one of the photogs involved was even taken to court, charged under a new anti-paparazzi law.

Paparazzi Feeding Frenzy When Jennifer Lopez Appears at a Fashion Show

Last October, Jennifer Lopez made headlines around the world after showing up at a Chanel fashion show in Paris with her 4-year-old daughter (wearing $2,400 in jewelry) and 25-year-old boyfriend in tow. Photographs of the trio sitting in the front row quickly made their way to the front pages of major newspapers and websites.

Although the photos appear to show Lopez and co. peacefully sitting around, the environment created by the photographers there was anything but peaceful. Sébastien Bauer was sitting a few rows back at the time, and captured the above video showing what it's like to have frenzied paparazzi breathing down your neck as they look to score a widely-published shot.

Photog Arrested for Chasing Bieber Now Fighting California Anti-Paparazzi Law

Freelance paparazzi photographer Paul Raef was arrested back on July 6th after chasing Justin Bieber on 101 Freeway, becoming the first person charged under a new anti-paparazzi law signed by former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Raef is currently facing four misdemeanors, with two of them being "following another vehicle too closely and reckless driving, with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain." The punishment is up to one year in jail and $3,500 in fines.

The Los Angeles Times reports that his lawyers are now trying to have the anti-paparazzi law declared as unconstitutional, saying that it specifically and unfairly targets a certain group of news gatherers.

Is the World Ready for Wearable Cameras (Or Cyborgs)?

Professor and self-proclaimed cyborg Steve Mann created an eye and memory-aid device he calls the EyeTap Digital Glass. The EyeTap, worn by Mann above on the left, is a wearable device that is similar to Google Eye, pictured right, but he's been making them at home since the 1980s. The goal of his project is to use images to aid memory, or even to augment the memories of people with Alzheimer's Disease or who simply want to preserve their memories more permanently. However, a recent misunderstanding over Mann's technology allegedly caused a confrontation between Mann and several employees at a Paris McDonald's restaurant.

Film About 14-Year-Old Paparazzi Photog Austin Visschedyk

"Teenage Paparazzo” is a documentary film that will debut on HBO on September 27. It's about the life of Austin Visschedyk, a 14-year-old paparazzi photographer who chases celebrities for 17 hours a day, earning $500 to $1000 for each photograph sold. Hopefully Visschedyk isn't like the paparazzi in the Kate Mos LAX video we posted a while ago (though he probably is).

Kate Moss LAX Video Helps Pass New Law Against California Paparazzi

We've covered quite a few stories of photographers being harassed while doing legitimate photography, but what about cases in which photographers are doing the harassing? For many of you, paparazzi likely come to mind. The above video was published by Hollywood.tv back in 2008, and shows supermodel Kate Moss trying to leave Los Angeles International Airport with her young daughter while being hounded by a swarm of paparazzi.

Paparazzi Bot Prowls for Smiling Faces

The Paparazzi Bots are a series of robots invented by Ken Rinaldo, a faculty member in the Department of Art at Ohio State University. Each bot is autonomous, and moves about on a wheeled platform, using infrared sensors to move towards humans. It's goal is to take single photographs of people, and it makes decisions on whether or not to capture the photograph based on facial expressions of the subject. If you happen to be smiling, the bot is more likely to photograph you.