The Paparazzi

Is there any way to address this profession without bringing Lady Gaga into it? I mean, I suppose I could have left her out.. but come on. At the very least, the aim of this post is to get that song stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Still, an interesting job, right? These here are the people who feed the celebrity hysteria in our nation, who start scandals and change (read: ruin) lives with their ridiculously irritating and privacy intruding ways, who make us want to die but whom we could not live without. 
In all fairness, Paparazzi are photojournalists, which is a much more respectable title for their job. It just so happens that they're photojournalists whose entire career consists of stalking celebrities until they're compromised in some way, and then to snap a picture. So, another title for their job could be creepers. Or private investigators... for TMZ. But we all buy their product, don't we? 
In reality, this job requires tons of patience and skill. These people need to build their connections, they  need to get the right ins with celebrities or their staff, and with magazines/websites. They need to have the eye and the skill to capture the shot, often in a jostling crowd or from an odd vantage point. And, they need to get to the scene fast. 


A closer look at the job: 
Annual Salary: According to the Life of the Paparazzi blog, paparazzi earn about $250 per shot of an A-list celebrity. These are the typical shots of them walking around with groceries, often seen in the Star Tracks pages in magazines, with captions saying something like, "Stars do things we do too! They take out the garbage!" and involve pictures of Jennifer Aniston, in shades and a hat that scream "I'm famous" emptying out her recycling bin. The more established Paparazzi can make up to $500,000 a year - but that usually involves years of building up connections and the expenses that come with getting there.


Perks: You get to see some cool people. You get to be at some cool events. You get to build cool (and slightly sketchy) connections with doormen, hairdressers, and manicurists all over town.You're a free agent and you sell your pictures to the highest bidder. 


Disadvantages: The job is highly competitive. When Jen's emptying that recycling bin, there are usually fifteen other photographers there taking the same picture you are taking.  You have to spend a lot of time hunting down the celebrities. You killed Lady Di. The pictures that make you the most money may get you sued... and then you'll need to hire people like me. 


An Observation: Has anyone else noticed that Lady Gaga's songs make ZERO sense? 
Shadow is burnt/Yellow dance and return/ My lashes are dry / Purple teardrops I cry/ It don't have a price/ Loving you is cherry pie / Cause you know that baby I / I'm your biggest fan I'll follow you until you love me/ Papa-paparazzi....


...WHAT?