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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
How would you have handled this situation?
Michael Ip, Student/Intern, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 7:46 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> So today I was given an assignment to shoot a celebrity press event. I have never shot one of these before. Mostly all I've ever shot was portraits, community news, general and breaking news. So I figured this would be pretty interesting to try something new.
When I got to the event the PR lady was nice enough to give me the lowdown on what was happening at the event.
There were lots of other photographers there, so I decided I should pick out my spot and for when the celebrities came out.
A few minutes of waiting and they eventually came out. This guy - he looks probably late 40s early 50s and balding comes right next to me and asks me if I can move over. I have no where to go because there is another photographer flush to my right. Trying to be nice I angle myself and tell him he can try to squeeze in. Then again he goes very rudely, "can you PLEASE move over." And I respond "where am I supposed to go?"
The guy to my right - who seemed to be a veteran of these type events just says loudly, "F*ck him, you've been here the whole time, he can find his own spot."
During the shoot he would constantly elbow me to try to get me to move. I just stood my ground.
I don't know who this guy thought he was. He obviously saw I was a younger guy and thought he was going to easily push me around. I didn't want to make a scene when he acted extremely rude, but he was the one that was trying to cause trouble. One on hand I'm going to stand my ground, but on the other hand I don't want to make a bad name for myself creating a scene.
Did I do the right thing just keeping my mouth shut? Should I have put him in his place?
Another photographer later told me a lot of "celebrity photographers" are really cut throat and don't care about anyone else. Now I don't know if that's the case, but this was the first time I've ever experienced such brash rudeness. |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 8:06 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> Yeah, I think would think you did the right thing.
Just act professional, don't blow up and tell him off. Explain that everyone's working together and that you had been there for a while in that spot. if he continues making a fuss, he'll look bad, not you. Just find another place and continue shooting.
Many of those celeb photogs, paparazzi-types are pretty bad. |
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Max Lashin, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | United States | Posted: 8:07 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> Usually when something like this happens to me, I try and be polite and let them squeeze in but when the other photographer takes off the "nice hat" and becomes an a-hole...well then all bets are off.
I personally would of told him I was here the whole time and that he can find another spot if he wants to be a d-bag. If he kept elbowing me...Well then guess who will get a elbow right back into them, THAT guy!
When push comes to shove, I shove back...harder.
Everyone may need to get "the photo" but if the other photographer acts like that, he can find his own way of getting it...and that way won't involve me getting stepped on. |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 8:24 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> You just experienced what it is like to be a paparazzi. They do not play by the same rules as true photojournalists. They will not cooperate with each other and they are normally very harsh and impolite.
It is like swimming with sharks. Now you know why celebs despise paparazzi so much. Stand your ground and don't let anyone push you around. Either that, or just avoid the crowds and look for a different angle. |
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John Tucker, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Cordova | TN | USA | Posted: 9:47 PM on 07.11.09 |
| ->> I would have stood my ground also and when asked would I PLEASE move over, I would have said, Would you please get here early like I did and then let the chips fall where they may..........never back down or they will run you over everytime..........hope you got your shots.....never hurts to point your lens directly into the idiots face and pop a couple of shots of him to put on your wall of A-holes! |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:00 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> ahhh, Michael, you just encountered your first of probably many ugly incidents. I bet I can guess who this person was. You were right to stand your ground.
FYI-if you are to shoot any more celebrity events in the city during your internship, most of the time you will have a marked spot if you are covering for the paper. Best bet would be to get the PR's contact name and call to ask, or ask your assigning editor. Otherwise, you may be out of luck getting a good spot unless you arrive hours early. If you are ever sent to book signing, that is first come first serve.
Also-to these events-always were the press pass the paper gave you when going to these events.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on how more of these events operate.
Welcome to NYC.
Debbie |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 10:52 PM on 07.11.09 |
| ->> I agree you did the right thing by standing your ground. I always thought TV people were the worst in some of these situations, but as you have already learned, there are still shooters who can be as bad if not worse. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 11:17 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> It's New York.
You've gotta stand your ground and sharpen your elbows. Tell Mr. Balding to go f**k himself. Literally. Use those exact words.
Seriously. It's New York. If you want polite move to D.C. |
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Michael Ip, Student/Intern, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:22 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> Thanks for all the advice. After reading your responses I'm glad to call myself a photojournalist and not whatever that guy was.
Whenever I'm doing assignments and there are shooters from other papers they're almost always really considerate. Except for an intern at another place, they've all been extremely polite and more than friendly if I had a question or two.
Another thing I noticed. A lot of these shooters were using elaborate flash brackets. I don't understand why, if this is the type of stuff they shoot and they know they'll be in cramped space, would they use large brackets. I just used a pocket wizard to get my flash off camera. To me that's makes a ton more sense.
Anyways I'll know for the next "celebrity event" I have to shoot. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:46 PM on 07.11.09 |
->> if they were using elaborate flash brackets, they were not the regular celebrity shooters. 90% of them use a straight bracket off to the side while the other 10% use a Newton or Stroboframe-the press-t style. If you go to a typical celebrity event with a big bracket-you won't last. Same goes for if you are not using a bracket, or holding the flash out off camera. As you saw-there is no room so anything that could possibly block someone will get you hated fast. When I was assigned my first celebrity event 9 years ago, I had the big stroboframe and it didn't go over well.
DLR |
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Michael Ip, Student/Intern, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 12:07 AM on 07.12.09 |
->> Yeah a few of them had standard brackets. But a couple of the guys had these larger ones I've never seen before.
Now I'm starting to wonder if that's the reason the "rude" guy was elbowing me - because I had my flash off camera. Well he certainly could have said something rather than continuously elbow me. Oh well, he reaped what he sowed. |
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Brian Dowling, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 1:20 AM on 07.12.09 |
| ->> What Jim said. You are shooting for the NY Daily. Its not the NYT, but damn close enough. You're a big fish with that credential. Unless the guy is shooting house, just tell him to bug off. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 1:52 AM on 07.12.09 |
->> Michael, when you tell some Ahole to go [profanity] themselves, look them straight in the eye when you say it. You can add "you want this spot, get here early next time". Then go back to what you were shooting - ignore him. With guys like this, nice is not part of the equation.
What Jim said "If you want polite move to D.C." ... that's good.
Michael |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 1:26 PM on 07.12.09 |
->> I would exercise a little more self-control initially than telling someone to f-- off. The guy could end up parking his fist down your throat or waiting for you afterwards. Be careful and exercise good judgement while you're out at these events. The PR person may only happen to hear or see your actions at the wrong moment.
I've told people, TV people specifically, to get out of my way when they just walked up and stood in front of me and I used a forceful tone when I did so. I've never used a profanity-laced expression, though. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 1:26 PM on 07.12.09 |
->> It does little good to stoop to their level - in fact, it might get YOU kicked out. You know the old rule about kids (and often football players) - the one who retaliates gets caught. You did exactly the right thing - tried to be nice at first, then quietly stood your ground.
You'll find these types anywhere - not just NY, and not just at celebrity events. I've run into "respected" PJs who are just about as rude. |
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Nick Morris, Photographer
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San Marcos | CA | United States | Posted: 4:13 PM on 07.12.09 |
| ->> Good Job Michael. For the longest time when I was a newby I let the older guys push me around and I'd give up a spot I scored hours before they were there. They'd come in in a huge rush and act as though I was sent ahead to "Hold" them a spot and muscle me out, especially the TV guys. I finally stood up to one particular guy that always made me nervous and since then I'll be considerate and polite as long as it doesn't encroach on my shot. Stand your ground or every time they see you they'll know they can pinch your spot. |
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Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 9:35 PM on 07.12.09 |
| ->> Holy Cow! #55 is incredible! Grief! I dont think that could have been more perfectly staged if he had wanted. Man. Im so impressed. |
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Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 9:36 PM on 07.12.09 |
| ->> *Woops. I'm sorry. I meant to post that in another post* |
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