Paparazzi Struggle as Business Plummets Due to Celebrities in Lockdown

Paparazzi Struggle as Business Plummets Due to Celebrities in Lockdown

With celebrities in quarantine and major hot spots shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, paparazzi are severely struggling for work, with one agency estimating a 95 percent drop in output. 

The coronavirus lockdown has brought normal life to a halt, and for paparazzi photographers, whose work relies on capturing celebrities in public places, that means serious issues. Paparazzi are struggling to meet demand, having to settle for anything they can get. Randy Bauer, founder of Bauer-Griffin, a celebrity photo agency, says "every photo is with sunglasses and a mask on at this point," noting that his agency's production has dropped from about 7,000 photos a month to just 500. Similarly, red carpet photographers are finding themselves looking for work as well. 

Bauer notes that the agency is experiencing increased demand, as publishers are looking for any pictures at all, even lesser-known celebrities who normally wouldn't generate much interest, but it just isn't possible to satisfy those demands at the moment. Many photographers are camping outside celebrities' houses, trying to get a shot of literally anything, as their ability to get more interesting images has evaporated and publishers are scrambling for whatever they can get. Paparazzi are also being encouraged to apply for unemployment. Given current trends, it is not clear when they can expect work to pick up again. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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