paparazzi = photographer

Or the ability to always get a crotch shot--those boys do a lot of squatting.

The paparazzi have skills assocaited with what they do, but they are probably pretty limited as to their photography skills. For them it is all about catching the right moment. I expect from what I have seen that they tend to shoot everything in an all automated mode with flash, and their composition is limited to getting the subject in the frame.

Photojouralism is broader, ranging from some modestly talented people at local papers just recording what happened through the best of the best who can tell stories and make you think through just their photos.

I have no real problem with the paparazzi. It's like blaming rats for eating garbage.

This video makes me want to cry http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=nyVBrhnckiU#t​=36s the guy is holding 5k+ of equipment and has no idea what it is.

sb1975 wrote in post #9346296
This video makes me want to cry http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=nyVBrhnckiU#t​=36s the guy is holding 5k+ of equipment and has no idea what it is.

"It's pretty sleek... it's rapid fire." "It's like a machine gun"

Todd Lambert wrote in post #9344829
Only way that it is going to change is if people stop buying the tabloid magazines and stop watching the E channel and Entertainment Tonight, etc...

I always thought that show was so funny. They sound so dramatic about the silly of things.

Like the guy from "destroyed in seconds" on discovery channel and spike tv.

Only instead of talking about stuff being destroyed it's "Justin Timberlake lost 2 lbs today..About his fight with anoerxia in 2 minutes after a word from our Sponsors"

Paparazzi have a place in print media just as much as readers do..

I have had this discussion with many people over the years.. To many, paparazzi are scum but the readers of trashy magazines have developed a market for trashy photographs..

No readers, no paparazzi..

it's amazing how fast those flashes flash on celebrities faces... i was watching streets of hollywood last night and i cant help but ask..

is potn paparazzi free? or do we have members here who are/were/have been paparazzi?

monk3y wrote in post #9527762
it's amazing how fast those flashes flash on celebrities faces... i was watching streets of hollywood last night and i cant help but ask..

is potn paparazzi free? or do we have members here who are/were/have been paparazzi?

I'm wearing a t-shirt at this very moment that says Papa Paparazzi.

Here's an interesting link with some info about the work of the paparazzi. It's a mix of gear talk, business talk and all that: http://www.youtube.com …7BLPsuufI&featu​re=channel

There is no doubt some paparazzi that don't know how to properly use their gear, you can find anything on the internet that will support whatever position you happen to be taking. Just as I am sure that there are many people that bill themselves as wedding photographers that don't know how to use their gear. How many posts have we seen on here with the theme of "help I'm shooting my first "whatever" tomorrow and I need help.

As in any industry there are going to be some sleazy ones but there is also some out there that are making 6 figures and are quite accomplished photographers. The nature of their work doesn't lend itself to getting nicely posed shots with time to set up lights. I think the more appropriate question is, given the shooting conditions that they faced are the results as good as they could be. For the more experienced ones I would hazard to say yes and this would speak to their expertise level.

I may not agree with what they do, just as much as I may not agree with someone who shoots porn but I will always give them credit for providing something that in the end the customer wants.

bacchanal wrote in post #9527788
I'm wearing a t-shirt at this very moment that says Papa Paparazzi.

ok, lady gaga.

nphsbuckeye wrote in post #9344857
PJs aren't going around paying people for info. Most of the time they are assigned to cover a story. However, there are feature photos, but PJs certainly aren't stalking people. It is very tough to become a full time PJ these days with many people holding an MFA or MA in PJ. Most paparazzi seem to just hold a camera and attitude.

First off, I hate paps more than anything. Having worked in Hollywood for the past 5 years as an entertainment photojournalist (big difference between us and paps) I have developed a serious dislike for most paps, not all are bad though. With that out of the way i'd like to address nphsbuckeye's post.

"PJs aren't going around paying people for info."
I beg to differ. Things may be different in your neck of the woods but out here in California all of the big papers and news gathering services pay for information. Whether it's breaking news or story opportunities there are companies who's mission statement is to bring stories to the attention of the media. For example, in Los Angeles/Orange County/San Diego there is City News Service. CNS is a news gathering company that feeds breaking news and story opportunities to the LA Times, LA Daily News, OC Weekly, Getty, Reuters, AP, etc... There's also another service in Los Angeles that feeds entertainment news to the entertainment outlets, wires, papers and paps. I'm purposely leaving their name out of this for business reasons. Not only do they service Los Angeles, they also service New York, Miami, Las Vegas and London.

At the end of the day working photojournalists might not be paying for information out of their own pockets but their higher ups probably are.

In an earlier post, someone posted a link to Damon Webster's youtube video of Henry Flores. In regards to Henry, he's one of the very few paps in Los Angeles that I respect. Not only is he an accomplished photographer, he's one of the more "ethical", and I use that term loosely here, paps in LA. Most of his work is pre arranged with the celeb and the celebs publicist, meaning the celeb is on the deal and gets a cut of picture sales, he also uses discretion and uses longer lenses to get the job done.

If they stopped being a "street shooter" and did studio or something, they're still better than most of the photogs here who hate on them.

Meh, unless you ready to deal with a lot of misinformation, believe me, there are loads going around...then nothing is really needed to get into the paparazzi, except the fact you have to get clean sharp pictures, which I am sure you do, otherwise, all your photos will be rejected