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.

Log in or register to post comments
24 Comments

Isn't that a shame...

Even vultures have to eat I guess

Can't say I feel bad about that.

Huh, so there *are* some upsides to all this.

Why are they less important

Most paparazzi are invited to go to events, the majority don’t stalk. Most are self employed and can’t ask their clients for money in advance

Let’s not sell other photographers down the road.

And yes I am friends with numerous celebrity photographers getting zero help right now. People with young children and families

Everyone matters

This is aimed at above comments. Turns out being kind and supporting others went out the window

I guess there is a difference between a celebrity photographer that takes pictures at events vs. the business model of a Paparazzi that lies and wait to intrude peoples privacy. The latter is not a business model that I would feel sorry for if it takes a hit.

I can't speak for others; however, I simply cannot fathom what is interesting about celebrities nor why anyone would find them interesting.

Not that it's happening, but if poachers were to starve to death I would not care. I would say the same for bankers.

Paparazzi are nothing more than predators who use cameras. But then there's a market for photos of adults raping children too...

Perhaps you need to take pause and realise "legal" is not a synonym for "moral".

Apparently this is excruciatingly complex.

And no, I have NEVER bought such a thing. I have no idea why Chris Hemsworth walking on a beach with some random person is news.

PS. *imply" not "infer".

If you're talking about stalkers that wait outside stores to chase people while trying to anger them, as they snap away so they can sell some gossip mag a pic of someone looking mad, sure.

Conflation of news photographers with paparazzi. Cute.

You assume I do not judge society...

A lot of people deserve to be judged; including you.

Awesome.

"Struggling to find work?"
Photography involving anyone not in your home is essentially against the law in my county. In other words gathering ANYONE together for a non essential reason that do not live in your home is punishable up to 6 months in prison. I'm not discounting others jobs, it could have been any genre of photography. But while some struggle to find work, others are forbidden.

A Quantum of Solace ..

Something good comes out of everything.

Okay, but these paparazzi sometimes break into people's private lives. It's good they don't have an opportunity to ruin someone's privacy, after all. Let them stay at home and maybe learn how to use Photoshop or Photoworks to make their shots better. The celebrities may be feeling relaxed right now. I know there are paps who are hired on purpose but those nasty guys hiding in the bushes... Well, I don't feel sorry for them.

Google Steve Sands to see what one of these guys is like. He's currently suing Jennifer Lopez for an Instagram post. View the countless pics of him being arrested or tackled by bodyguards for stalking and being the scum of the earth.