Celebrities who whine they can't cope with the paparazi waiting for them may have a point- the problem is most people can't understand what the problem is because they have never witnessed the paparazzi at work first hand.
Why is it a problem- quite simply when thirty photographers are stood around you snapping photos at the same time, it IS intimidating.
Let me tell you a story. This week I had my own experience of being papped and it left me shaken up and uncomfortable it was all in pursuit of getting a photo.
I work with a certain A list female celebrity (her mum is a music talent show judge)and had finished a shift at the BBC. As we waited around in reception we realised there were a lot of paps outside hanging around for a shot- more than usual.
It was dark and late at night and most of us just wanted to get off home. As the said celebrity walked out the building they all started snapping like mad and formed a circle as she stepped out into the road.
Stood on the fringes of the circle I was about to get into my cab, but I could see she was panicking and saying she wanted to go back indoors.
Instead of sneering like I would of done normally I felt massively annoyed that they had effectively snared her like a blinded rabbit and asked her if she wanted me to show her to the car.
Show her ?! I hear you say- trust me, 30 cameras going off is blinding- YOU CANNOT see a thing. As I led her to the car I felt equally exposed, ridiculed and self loathing quite frankly it was horrible.I saw our picture in the london free papers the next day- it was about 4cms by cms- all that for one shot of her leaving work- pathetic!
Now I see why celebrities take media organisations to court for invasion of privacy, why celebrities hit out at their cameras and why they wear sunglasses- its not a nice feeling.
We dont have a privacy law at the moment- legally privacy falls under confidentiality, but I would say its high time the paparazzi and glossy cheap celeb mags were reined in a bit.
