Famous People at Sundance | Celebrity Photographer
Last night’s Academy Awards prompted me to meander through my Sundance image collection and compile a post of various celebrities that were in town for the film festival. Looking back, I figure I did well in capturing a solid cast of Sundancers!
Photographing Famous People
The part of my job that involves being a celebrity photographer is pretty cool. Fun parties, film premieres, and VIP events (fundraisers, launches, networking opportunities) translate into fabulous people, chic atmosphere, and incredible food. Sometimes I’m there to cover the occasion for a publication, and other times I’ve been hired by the hosts or the event planner. Regardless, being a shooter gives me certain liberties, and my favorite is that I’m allowed to walk up to (just about) anyone and ask them for a photo. Instant chance to chat with someone cool!
But it’s also pretty hard. On, say, one’s ego. It’s not as though I’m at these events because I am an invited guest. I’m not ‘the talent’ or someone important. No one is there to see or meet *me*, and the point is for me to be as inconspicuous as possible. I’m documenting, and that can mean that I’m competing with other people that are also documenting. I’ve gotten into tussles with photographers for shooting over my shoulder and drawing the subject’s attention (aka their eyes are not looking down my lens) or elbowing me out of the way or simply acting like entitled, self-important idiots. Believe me: it can be brutal.
And sometimes my camera is an unwelcome presence. It’s more embarrassing than you can imagine to be turned down for a photo or to be yelled at for having taken a photo. I get it — I actually don’t like having my own photo taken. But I’m not a paparazzo. I’m a paid professional. I’m not there to violate someone’s privacy but to do my job.
My favorite story to this point is at Sundance last year, when I watched Tony Danza excuse himself from a dinner table for some air. I was the in-house photographer for the event (ChefDance), so I had every right & expectation to ask him for a photo, which I did. He turned to me and said with enthusiasm (despite clearly being tired), ‘of course! That’s what we’re all here for!” and gave me his best grin, even asking my name and chatting me up a bit before I gave him his space. That level of understanding — of him doing his job, me doing mine, the event being a showcase of personalities and brands — was so relieving. When Emile Hirsch shot me down for a photo at this year’s Eddie Bauer Lounge, I kinda wanted to repeat the Tony Danza story to him. Don’t you know that you’re at this party, standing next to that signage, holding that swag, and drinking free cocktails emblazoned with labels, for the sake of publicity? If you want to relax, or if you want to give me a dirty look for requesting a photo, go hang out at one of the non-sponsored private events.
Anyway, I don’t mean that harshly. I am truly friendly and non-annoying around the Personalities; I promise. And, don’t get me wrong, the celebrity work can be a lot of fun. But sometimes I need to take a break and remind myself to breathe. Breathe because a particularly image-conscious person has demanded I delete the photo I took of him because he didn’t like the way he looked. Breathe because I’m 5 inches from Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Anne Hathaway and excited-intimidated-overwhelmed as hell. Breathe because I’m at an impossibly cool event I’d never otherwise be able to attend and I’d regret not drinking it all in. Breathe because, regardless of my insecurities, anxieties, and exhaustion, I’m there to do a job. And breathe… because I am, despite all the challenges, living my dream.
