Ever seen a renowned celebrity with the paparazzi hanging onto their every word? Some wish they were the celebrity. Others decide to become the paparazzi. Malia Wollan wrote an article for the latter group:

• Joining the paparazzi is expensive. You’ll need $8,000 worth of equipment in cameras, lenses, extra batteries, and the like.
• This cost doesn’t include the weight training you may want to consider since all of the gear weighs around 50 pounds and is carried in a backpack.
• Nor does it include the self-defense classes you might need, given that it’s a dog eat dog world out there and other members of the paparazzi have been known to resort to violence in order to secure a prime photograph.
• Expect to spend some money building up a network of valets, restaurant servers, hotel staff, and airport employees, who will act as tipsters about the movements of your mark.
• You’ll also need an agent who will hawk your wares to top magazines.
• But becoming a successful member of the paparazzi requires more than just gear and a network. You need to have a creative bent. For a picture to be worth anything it must have narrative tension, and needs to tell a story.

Read more about what it takes over here.

Source: The New York Times