Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
MEET THE HOLLYWOOD PAPARAZZI...
JUST WHO ARE THEY?
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PUBLIC SCORN TOWARDS THEM?
ARE THEY REALLY AS 'BAD' AS THE CELEBRITIES WANT THE WORLD TO BELIEVE?
WHY ARE THEY BEING TREATED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AS ITS 'BASTARD' SIBLING?
IS IT TRUE THEY MAKE SO MUCH MONEY FROM CELEBRITY PICTURES?


The answer to the last question above is a big
NO!
While the paparazzo plays a crucial role in the industry as the
primary supplier of the product by taking the celebrity pictures ---
it is the
celebrity photo agencies selling the pictures, the tabloids and Internet
blogs that buy the pictures who make the bulk of the money in a
non-union industry
tightly controlled and monopolized by a bunch of "dishonest" celebrity photo agency owners.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
is to put a stop to the "exploitation" of the paparazzo by celebrity photo agencies
by giving them a face and a voice---so they can fight for their rights and get paid accordingly.

ABOUT US
      There's no other group of workers in the world today who are more despised than the paparazzi. In fact, it is true today
as it was in the past that a "prostitute" gets more respect from society than the paparazzi. Why? We don't know. To find out,
we decided to embark on a fact-finding mission---a journey if you will---to seek the truth about this often misunderstood group
of photographers.
So, on Sept. 1, 2007, PaparazziNotebook.com started documenting the lives and work of celebrity photo-
graphers based in Hollywood.

      Ridiculed by celebrities and ostracized by the public, PaparazziNotebook.com hopes
to inform, educate and enlighten the
celebrities and the general public about the paparazzi and the industry itself---starting from the photographers who take the celebrity pictures...to the celebrity photo agency owners who sell them...to the publications that buy and publish them...to
the blogs that "steal" and post them on the Internet...to the celebrities themselves who greatly benefit from the paparazzi's
hard work---so the people will have a better understanding
why celebrity photographers chose to get into this kind of work,
how they do it and what lures them to this kind of work.

     By documenting and then presenting these celebrity photographers as they are in real-life and showing the human side of
these extraordinary individuals, we hope we can start the process of slowly eliminating once and
for all the stigma --- the paparazzi's bad reputation --- that has hounded celebrity photographers all these years.
     So, sit back and relax and we'll take you for a ride as we document the Hollywood paparazzi @ work.
     This site is for them---and about them.          


FACT: Ten years ago, there were only a handful of celebrity photographers in Los Angeles. Today, there are more than 400 paparazzo
---representing over a dozen photo agencies---covering Hollywood's top 100 A-List celebrities.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All photos on this website are copyrighted and protected under the International Copyright Laws. Contact
e-mail:
CLICK HERE


ABOUT THE EDITOR
My name is John Shinn III. I'm 50 years old. I was burned out as a newspaper photographer and reporter based in Los Angeles for the past 22 years and called it quits in January 2007. I had planned to go to Iraq to cover the war until I
met a "paparazzo" who
showed me that becoming a celebrity photographer here in Hollywood offered a different kind
of excitement and a much safer environment---
than being a combat photographer in a strange and hostile land thou-
sands of miles from home.

Posted on July 12, 2010 @ 3:57 p.m.
The system of 'organized theft' by SPLASH NEWS from their 'freelance photographers is a matter of standard policy engineered by owners GARY MORGAN and his partner KEVIN SMITH

     PaparazziNotebook.com received a very long e-mail from a photographer who was working for Splash News, but ended suing GARY MORGAN and his partner KEVIN SMITH---and bringing in an external firm to "audit" his three years worth of photo sales with Splash News:

     "John, I could tell you stories of day rates going years without being paid. 
     Splash allowing UK accounts to go so far in arrears they allow the buyer to negotiate settlement terms after 5 months.  Magazine owes them 100k and they settle for 40k cause they need it now. Problem is YOUR MATERIALS are being sacrificed for their giant "wet dream" of being such a HUGE news agency.  Its fantasy.  They invented the 2k a month deals with blogs for ANY photo.  They invented the 500 dollar "no call pull" for full pages in magazines.  They invented "people paparzzi" encouraging citizens to be greedy and sell photos to them for a buck.   They SATURATED the market with photogs from the UK and anywhere, they wanted numbers. Before them in 2001 shooting pap in NYC was easygoing and very profitable.  They forced INF to expand and they fueled X17's business model for the most part.  Irresponsible pieces of shit they (GARY MORGAN and KEVIN SMITH) are.

    Gary and Kevin are the guys who ruined all the "honey holes" like Barbados, Hawaii, St Bartz etc.  Instead of just paying for
a plane ticket and shooting celebs in Hawaii after the first few times they sent reporters to recruit local idiots with no skills to shoot pap.
    They would get a tip and call them and poof!  Some dirtbag from the local paper would sell 100k frames of celebs before anyone could step on a plane for a trip.  Then those photographers would recruit more locals and more and like Gremlins you would have an island full of inexperienced retards giving the industry a very bad name and making bank.  Same with Barbados.   They do it everywhere: Boston, pittsburgh etc.  Why?  Because they had to have EVERYTHING by any means rather than quality they chose quantity.

    Now as the market tanked and mags had less budget Splash refused to contract BUT rather they expanded. WHY? Because two ignorant reporters dont get economics 101. They wanted a monopoly at the start of the recession, they dreamed of it.   
    All of this is possible from contributors (FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERS)  like you."






Posted on June 16, 2010 @ 4:16 a.m.
From HuffingtonPost.com: The Paparazzi Blaming Game..Oh..and GARY MORGAN   CLICK HERE


Posted on April 26, 2010 @ 3:50 a.m.
"A lot of paparazzi today are not trained, they're not serious. I was a serious student of art, and that's what makes great photographers."           - RON GALELLA -

Re-posted on May 10, 2010 @ 11:17 p.m.
What happened to the case involving Splash News two photogs who were sued---along with co-owner Gary Morgan---for luring the late Heath Ledger to
use cocaine at the Chateau Marmont---then videotaping it to sell for profit?

     PaparazziNotebook.com has decided to look into this case because it clearly illustrates what kind of
people run Splash News, the celebrity photo agency in Los Angeles owned by two Britsh nationals. Even
the most despised agency in the industry, X17 owned by Regis Navarre, would not have hatched a scheme of setting up
the late Dark Knight actor into using cocaine then videotaping it in the hope of making money out of it.
    And what happened to the two photographers who were involved in the criminal act? Gary Morgan,
Splash News co-owner even promoted them!   MORE COMING SOON!!!


Celebrity Photo Agency SPLASH NEWS, owned by GARY MORGAN of the U.K., is RIPPING OFF American Photogs Like Me---By Not Paying Us For Photo Sales Overseas

     Another agency paps in Los Angeles should watch out for is---SPLASHNEWS owned by GARY MORGAN of the U.K. Many of Morgan's shooters here in Los Angeles are imported from the U.K. and a number of them are allegedly in the U.S. only as "tourists" and have no "working permits." In reality, these imports are depriving photographers who are American citizens of local jobs.
    After he quit working for BAUER-GRIFFIN as a "full-time freelance" photographer on January 2009, John Shinn III, editor of PaparazziNotebook.com said he went to
SPLASHNEWS because he was made to believe that the agency was one of the more honest agencies in town.
     "I've heard stories from
SPLASHNEWS photographers about how great their pay was---of them being paid for their photos that appear on blogs in the Internet, being paid for re-print royalties from their photo archive," Shinn said Tuesday from Los Angeles. On March 19, 2009 Shinn added that he sent SPLASHNEWS his first set of pictures and video-----featuring the SAG protest in Burbank, California and Pres. Obama's guest appearance at the Jay Leno Show.    
EDITOR'S NOTE: I STARTED GIVING MY PHOTOS & VIDEOS TO SPLASHNEWS ON MARCH 19, 2009 AND ENDED MY BUSI-
NESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM ON DEC. 19, 2009---AFTER RECEIVING MY IRS "1099" FORM FOR 2009 WHICH STATED THAT SPLASHNEWS HAS PAID ME A TOTAL OF $3,700 (THIRTY SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS!) COVERING THE 9 MONTHS I WAS GIVING THEM MY PHOTOS & VIDEOS----WITH ALMOST 40% OF THEM "EXCLUSIVES."
   THE "EXCLUSIVE" VIDEO I GOT OF MEGAN FOX ON MAY 26, 2009 WHEN SHE HAD A PHOTO SHOOT FOR THE "ENTER-
TAINMENT WEEKLY" AT A SUPER SECRET LOCATION WAS BY ITSELF ALONE WAS ALREADY WORTH AT LEAST $4,000
---THIS ACCORDING TO A VETERAN PAP---NOW MANAGING HIS OWN CELEBRITY PHOTO AGENCY---WHO SAW MY SALES REPORTS FROM SPLASHNEWS.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW A LIST OF MY VIDEOS & PHOTOS THAT I SUBMITTED TO SPLASHNEWS----FOR THEM TO SELL ON MY BEHALF AROUND THE WORLD  CLICK HERE.

EDITOR'S NOTE: So far, we have investigated and documented five (5) celebrity photo agencies based here in Los Angeles
and we found out that all of them are skimming money from the sales commissions of their photographers---whether 'staff"
or a "freelancer."
("staff" means the photographer receives a weekly salary from his agency on top of bonuses (rarely) and a sales commission
of anywhere from 1% to 15%, while a "freelancer" would only get a straight 60% commission from sales of his pictures).
    In fact, as we probe deeper into the business practices of these photo agencies, we're starting to see a clear picture that
seem to confirm our suspicion that stealing from the sales of photos of their photographers outside the United States---has become "systematic" with all the five agencies. In fact, it's not gonna surprise us at all if all the celebrity photo agencies
based in L.A. are all doing the same thing---in their own little way---at the expense of the photographer.
   Monthly sales reports that an agency issues to the photographers that shows the buyers of the pictures, from what country
and how much was paid---are often doctored by the agencies. If and when a photographer finds out about a sale of his pictures in another country---which was not listed on the sales report---agency owners are quick to come up with an excuse knowing
very well that photographers cannot keep track of all the sales of his pictures and would have to rely on the "honesty" of the agency owners. This is one of the reasons why "exploitation" of the photographer has become rampant and systematic in
this industry.
    "You'll have to kiss your boss's ass all the time so the agency won't fuck with you," said a pap who knows the industry
very well. Other agency owners play favorites and would give a selected number of photographers better pay and better equipment----than others such as the freelancers.
    Playing favorites I have experienced first-hand while I was at Bauer-Griffin. Co-owners Randy Bauer and Frank Griffin
have their own favorites among the stable of BG photographers. If neither one of them will take you in as their pet---
then you'll be left out. That was exactly what happened to me.   TO BE CONTINUED.....

Posted on April 26, 2010 @ 4:05 a.m.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT: What Mainstream Journalists Should Learn from the Paparazzi  CLICK HERE

Posted on April 21, 2010 @ 7:05 a.m.
LESSONS FROM TWO PAPS' STORIES
Make an extra buck out of your 'exclusive' celeb photos---if you can

   The paparazzi industry was not spared by the global financial crisis. Already, many fellow paps are starting to feel the effects of the situation. Others have found innovative ways to make an extra buck out of their celebrity photos. James (not his real name) is one example. He works for
an agency that is known among celebrity photographers to cheat heavily on photo sales of agency photographers---particularly sales from the Australian market.
     James works as a staff photographer for this agency and receives $5,000 a month in fixed salary. He works 8 to 10 hours a day and is required
--- under his contract with the said agency --- to submittedf no less than two (2) sets a day. One day recently, James managed to get an "exclusive"
set of a well-known actress with her baby. James saw an opportunity to make some extra money so he contacted the owner of a rival agency to
sell his images and was offered $4,000 for the set.  The actress has not been photographed with her daughter in a while, so the set was worth
something.
     For James, the $4,000 was a huge financial help as he recently took out a loan to move his growing family to a bigger apartment and also to purchase a used car for $1,500 so he can continue to work. To the agency owner paid James $4,000 for the set of pictures, it was a bargain
because he could easily sell the images worldwide and make almost 4 to 5 times as much. James was given a check for $4,000. He cashed it
immediately as a precaution.
     MORAL LESSON OF THIS STORY: If you can make an extra buck out of your celeb photos---go for it! The agency owner you work does not
give a shit about you or your photos.

First advice I got as a pap: 'Don't Trust Anyone in this Business'
      I remember another fellow pap who did the same thing James, above, did. We shot a famous celebrity couple with their daughter on the
set of a TV show where the famous actress was doing a cameo. There were only four of us photographers who got photos that day. My friend,
who works as a full-time freelance photographer for an agency in Beverly Hills called another rival agency and was offered $3,000 for a 20-picture
set. He took the deal. He was paid with an agency check which he deposited in his bank account. Two days later, the check cleared. Three days
later his bank notified him that the agency put a "stop payment" on the check. It took the agency owner another 21 days to re-issue another
check, but this time only for $1,500. When my friend protested he was informed that there were better sets from other agencies out in the
market.
       THE MORAL LESSONS OF THESE TWO STORIES? If you get the opportunity to make an extra buck out of your celebrity pictures----GO FOR
IT! Just make sure you know what you're doing so your agency will not find out about it. Most important of all, if you get paid with an agency
check...head straight to their bank and cash the check. When I first started in this industry in 2007 the first advice I got was: "DON'T TRUST ANYBODY."

Posted on May 9, 2010 @ 9:20 p.m.
WHAT'S COMING: Preview of PaparazziNotebook.com's New Look!

PaparazziNotebook.com File Photo
     It's just a matter of time when our new look (see above photo) will replace the old one (this page). Time's ticking....we're counting
the days...



Posted on April 29, 2010 @ 5:05 a.m.
PAP OF THE WEEK: Stefan Saad of Insight News & Features (INF)


Posted on April 21, 2010 @ 7:05 a.m.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Hollywood Paps giving Brit celebrities coming to Los Angeles the 'Hollywood Treatment'

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com

Re-posted on April 18, 2010 @ 10:05 p.m.
     Are you a paparazzo? Do you believe you've been cheated---or you're being cheated---by your agency
or a celebrity photo agency here in Hollywood that sell your celebrity photos worldwide? We want to hear from you!

    Tell us your story so we can publish it here at PaparazziNotebook.com! E-mail us by clicking HERE.
FILL-IN-THE-CAPTION WINNER: LALO PIMENTEL



Posted on March 31, 2010 @ 10:46 p.m.
Paparazzo Ulises Rios Attacked by Jesse James in Redondo Beach!
     One of our own has been victimized again---this time by Jesse James, husband of Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock.
Check out Uli's video clip exclusively on KTLA Channel 5 (click here). The paparazzi in Los Angeles has expressed alarm
over what they say is a dramatic increase in violence against them. "Now, more than ever, we (the paps) should close ranks
to help defend ourselves and our colleagues---against the increasing violence against us," said John Shinn III, founder &
editor of the website PaparazziNotebook.com.


Posted on March 30, 2010 @ 6:50 a.m.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Is Pixie Lott worth all the trouble? Who is she, anyway?
     We were shocked to see this picture sent to us by our friend, A. ZASI, a freelance celebrity photographer based in Los Angeles. We were shocked because Pixie Lott (whoever she is) may not even be worth---in photos sales---all the trouble these
two colleagues went through after the March 27 incident at the Los Angeles International Airport.
     Stefan, who shoots for INF, is no stranger to trouble.  He had that famous encounter with Brett Garrett in mid-April, last year (click here) when the actor made racial slurs against him (
"wear the turban, wear the turban") which was video-taped by TMZ. Stefan is of Middle East descent. On July 14, 2009, Stefan almost came to blows with Justin Timberlake outside the singer's
hotel in L.A. (click here).  We've known Stefan for sometime now and have worked with him on several stories. He's actually
one of the nicest paps around I've met. Although his unconventional style of street photography has often put him at odds not only with celebrities he covers, but also some colleagues who would often tease him for being inconsiderate towards his
peers.
     Richard, a videographer for X17, is known as "Malibu Richard" among his colleagues because of his background having
been born and raised in Malibu. Even with a promising career as a professional surfer, Richard gave up the board and picked
up a video camera and headed for Hollywood.
     Take a look at this picture....it wasn't even a "scrum" or "gangbang." And yet, our colleagues Stefan and Richard, got into
a needless fight over someone we've never heard of. Did it have to happen? Could they have avoided this incident which, again, puts all of us in a bad light?  Was Pixie Lott really worth all the trouble? We don't think so, either.


Photo by A. ZASI for PaparazziNotebook.com                                    Copyright 2010 A. ZASI

Posted on March 20, 2010 @ 7:40 p.m.
How Bauer-Griffin Treat and/or Intimidate Their Photographers Who Question Them
     The right photo below shows an e-mail I received---from a lawyer who claimed to represent Bauer-Griffin---half an hour after I e-mailed Randy and told him that he and Frank Griffin can go f*** themselves. Agency owners have several ways to get back at photographers they deem being "disrespectful" or a "threat" to their business and this is one way they can intimidate a photographer:
having some high-faluting litigation lawyer write a letter to the photographer such as the one I received, see below, right photo.

    Another way is for agency owners to withhold any payments that are due to the photographer from sales of his photos---like what
Randy Bauer did to me last December when Bauer-Griffin's accounting department notified me that I won't be getting any checks for
my photo sales for the month of December. Photographers are often helpless as they have no way to question agency owners or to
verify how truthful the accounting department people are since they work for the agency owners anyway.
    In another incident, a former Bauer-Griffin photographer who was covering celebrity departures and arrivals at the Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX), was fired by Randy Bauer after he reportedly started questioning Bauer why many of his published photos
in US Magazine, People, Life & Style, OK were not showing up in his sales reports. The photographer, who is now shooting for a
photo agency composed mostly of former Bauer-Griffin photographers, said he was subsequently fired by Bauer in December of 2007,
a few weeks after he started questioning Bauer about his photo sales.
     Three months later, broke and desperate, the photographer went back to Bauer begging his former "boss" to give him another
chance. "I had no choice. I didn't have any money. I had no car," he told me later when I saw him. He said he was rehired as  "staff photographer" and was provided with a company car and camera equipment.
     I had not seen him for some time now. But the last time I saw his photo credit on a blog in the Internet he was already shooting
for another celebrity photo agency.
     In yet another incident, two Bauer-Griffin photographers who left the agency with 10 other photographers---in what is believed
to be the largest number of photographers who quit working for one celebrity agency based in Los Angeles at the same time---said
they submitted an "exclusive" set of over a hundred pictures of actor Tom Cruise and his daughter Suri who they accidentally stumbled upon playing in an L.A. park. The pictures were published everywhere---print and on the web.
      A couple of weeks later when they inquired from Randy Bauer how much sales the Tom and Suri photos generated, Bauer, they
said, refused to answer and simply ignored them. Usually, if it is a big sale, agency owners would notify the photographers---as an
incentive and to motivate the rest of the photographers in the agency---as to how much in sales a set of photos generated. They said
in the past Bauer would even volunteer sharing with them info regarding photo sales without them asking for the info. But this time,
they said, they found it strange and unusual when Bauer simply ignored them.
     In December of 2008, at least 12 Bauer-Griffin photographers resigned en mass when the agency announced that it would no longer maintain its staff of "paid" or "salaried" photographers. Under the new plan, all the photographers became "freelancers." The photo-
graphers were then instructed to return all company vehicles by Dec. 1, 2008. Many of those who left said they are still owed money
by Bauer-Griffin. One of the photographers who got the Tom and Suri photos said he was still owed around $13,000 when he quit and
that he was given the run around ("They essentially told me to go fuck myself.") until he threatened to sue the agency. "That's the only time they started paying me," the photographer, who spoke on the condition we not use his name, told PaparazziNotebook.com.


LETTER TO THE EDITOR
'I Know that there has to be times that Rachel Bilson calls you guys (paps)......'
   I was looking at your website and I came across the "Rachel Bilson and the Two Douchebags" post that you
had. I was really really bothered by that. I know you're probably thinking I'm going to get started on you. But
I'm not. I'm on your side and that goes for a lot of the paparazzi. What bothers me is that you guys are doing
HER a favor by following her and taking her picture. Look, I know that she likes the attention. I know that
there has to be times that she calls you guys, because let's face it, she has no career and she needs you guys
way more than you need her.
    You could be snapping up people that are relevant. I hate how some of these celebrities talk crap about you
guys and you are the ones keeping their faces out there. Most of them would be forgotten about if it wasn't
for the paparazzi either following them or coming when called.
   So when I see that she was escorted in by security, like she's Angelina Jolie, and you guys are treated as if
you're the enemy, it pisses me off. What gets me is that she more than likely called the security from her car
to escort her inside to make herself feel important.
   And you guys are treated as if you're bugging the crap out of her and attacking her to a certain degree. The "big, bad paparazzi"
bothering her while she's trying to shop and they call the LAPD. I rarely see any other celeb, not even HUGE names get escorted
inside a grocery store like that. I think that's ridiculous.
   Sometimes I wish you guys would expose these people. But I realize that it would probably be very bad for business. Also, you
really should have put quotes around the "Saving" part when you said Saving Rachel Bilson form the "vultures"....... They weren't
saving her, they were just feeding her ego. She's cute, she's sweet, but she likes/needs/wants the attention just like they all do.
I just hate that you guys get hassled because of it. I know she makes herself an extremely easy target, but you guys should start
covering people who aren't on the D list and are ungrateful.
   P.S. --- I also think the way Bauer-Griffin treated you guys is pretty shitty. You guys really get the short end of the stick and
these people (agency owners and the celebrities) need you.

Signed......RILEY
via e-m@il

EDITOR'S RESPONSE:
Rachel Bilson has never called to tip the paps; Bilson's pics has the
chance of selling twice..once for the regular pages, the other for the fashion pages........
that's why the paps like to cover her everyday activities whenever she's in town......

    To be honest with you, I don't think Rachel called the grocery security that day. It just so happened that when
she arrived at the grocery parking lot, those two security guys were already there and they saw us with our cameras
...and those two douches took it upon themselves to shield Rachel from us....It happens all the time.....the only
celebrity I know who would tip the paparazzi are Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.
  The reason I know this for a fact is because I work on Rachel and other celebrities living in Los Feliz all the time
since it's my area of coverage. The reason why we cover Rachel all the time is because her pictures sell in the US
and overseas on the tabloid's regular pages...if not, her pics will sell two weeks later in the fashion pages of tabloids around the world. So if I have a picture of her going into a grocery...it might or might sell that week showing her grocery shopping
and again will sell the following week showing what she was wearing. The chances of selling a picture of Rachel is double compared
to, say, Tom Cruise filming a movie----although a Tom Cruise set would command a price that's 10x more than a Rachel Bilson pic.
   I'm not trying to defend Rachel in any way. I just want you to know the truth about the whole situation. Plus Rachel is so easy to
work with. She does not drive crazy like other celebrities such as Britney or Lindsay Lohan. I worked on Britney for two weeks in the
past and today I wouldn't work on her again even if it means more money for her pictures....If Rachel does start calling us to tip us
about where she would be at a certain time I promise you that you'll be the first one to know---from me. And if there's any other
celebrity who would start tipping us, I promise you we will publish it here.
   As for the heading of that article, I was just trying to sarcastic by using the word "save" and "vulture" because the last word is
how the general public perceive us to be. And did you know that being a "pap" now myself, I feel like a "Jew" living in biblical
times and being persecuted for being a Jew!
   Thank you again for your time. I hope you continue to visit our website as we try to update it at least once a day now.




Posted on March 13, 2010 @ 7:47 a.m.
COMING: The Grand Palaces of the Ali Babas---Built by Many Paps' Sweat & Hard Work
We'll show you the multi-million dollar homes of several celebrity photo agency owners based here in Los Angeles who are notorious for stealing from their celebrity photographers. While they live like the celebrities, many of their photographers---
who risk life and limb (not to mention---arrest) to chase the celebrities around town everyday to get that "money shot"---are
still struggling to pay their bills. Others have to borrow money or take out cash advances to pay their rent or make car pay-
ments. Even worse is that a number of paps have already given up hope that things will get better for us and went back to
their old jobs as their future in this business looks bleaker today than it was last year.
ALSO COMING: We'll explain to you in detail and give you an example how these "greedy' agency owners steal from
our photo sales---here in the U.S. and overseas---on top of the 50% commission that they (agency) get from all photo sales.

Posted on March 11, 2010 @ 7:47 a.m.
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
BAUER-GRIFFIN's Double Standard on Double-Dipping Among Paps...While On the Surface RANDY & FRANK Seem Against It---They Actually Encourage the Practice Among Shooters from Rival Agencies!

DOUBLE-DIPPING:
Means a photographer---who works for a celebrity photo agency---would sell some of his unused or left
over images of a celebrity to another agency for a fee without the knowledge of the agency he actually works for.
DOUBLE-DIPPER: A celebrity photographer who is "DOUBLE-DIPPING."

    On the surface of things, Bauer-Griffin owners RANDY BAUER and FRANK GRIFFIN wanted their photographers to know
how much they despise so-called double-dippers---among celebrity photographers. They both view double-dipping as a
"mortal sin." If they catch you DOUBLE-DIPPING that's it! You're fired on the spot!
    Yet, FRANK is known to frequently approach photographers---usually after a gangbang---from rival agencies and sweet talk them with enticing offers to double-dip for, who else? BAUER-GRIFFIN!
    A few weeks ago, a shooter from a another agency, also based here in Los Angeles, showed me a Chevron gas card
with a "Bauer-Griffin LLC" name on it---just to prove a point. Can you imagine that? Rewarding a double-dipper with a
BAUER-GRIFFIN gas card?
    Another photographer recounted to me how FRANK GRIFFIN approached him one day outside the Ivy Restaurant in
Beverly Hills and asked him to double-dip for BAUER-GRIFFIN!
    One last thing before we move on to another topic: I get really bothered and annoyed when the L.A. Times, CNN or
any local TV station would interview FRANK GRIFFIN as if he represents all of us---and the industry! Then I would think
out loud: "What if these media entities know how BAUER-GRIFFIN photographers have to endure FRANK's constant
"verbal abuse" to them?!"

The Public's Wrong Perception of Us---Making A Fortune
Out Of Our Celebrity Photos---Is Partly Our (paps) Fault!

    Around noon last Tuesday, March 9, I found myself working in downtown L.A. on the set of "Bad Teacher" featuring Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz. I was able to sneak into the parking structure next to the base camp and I was joined minutes later by about five of my colleagues.
    After about 5 minutes a security guard working for the movie production company came over to us on the third level and asked everyone to leave the structure. "Tenants from the apartment building next door have complained about a group of people in the vicinity with cameras. They're afraid someone will take their picture," the guard told the group. "Since we're renting this parking structure for the day---this makes it "private property" and guys will have to leave now."
   Since the guard did not see me with the group earlier in the day---and I was not carrying a bag---I managed to convince
him that I was not a "pap." When my colleagues left, I struck a conversation with the guard. I asked him why he chased
away the paps. He replied that he didn't want the paps to snap a picture of Timberlake or Diaz. "Can you imagine how
much they will sell those pictures?
    "How much?" I asked. "Ten Thousand dollars!" the guard exclaimed.
    "Do they really make that much?" I asked. "Of course!" he replied. And then he pointed out a BMW SUV that was parked nearby---which I know belonged to one of my colleagues. "How could they be driving a car like that if they don't make big bucks?" the guard said, before going back to his post at the entrance of the building on the ground level.
     What the guard told me really got me thinking: No wonder the public think we (paps) make a fortune out of our celebrity photos. Many of our colleagues drive around in expensive cars (I drive a 4-year old Honda Element)....BMWs...AUDIs....RANGE ROVERs....and this gives the public the wrong impression----that the paps earn hundreds and thousands of dollars for their celebrity pictures which we in the paparazzi industry know very well is farthest from the TRUTH!


Posted on March 9, 2010 @ 12:31 p.m.
LET'S STOP CELEBRITY PHOTO AGENCY OWNERS FROM EXPLOITING US!!!
CALL TO ACTION:
CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHERS MUST "UNITE" TO CHANGE the rules the photo agencies made that only favors
them! Let's get ORGANIZED! If all of America is "unionized" why can't we do the same? Once we have an ORGANIZATION, no
one can fuck with us
---the way everyone does now---not the agency owners, most definitely not the rude cops who constantly harass us and not even the celebrities who will not hesitate to use us when it's convenient for them! All we need are 10 photographers to get started! If you want to become a part of history-in-the-making in the pap industry, sign up today by
sending us an e-mail:
CLICK HERE


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT UNIONS:
* Why we need a UNION: CLICK HERE

* Benefits of Being A Union Member: CLICK HERE

MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL---WHETHER YOU'RE A "STAFF" OR "FREELANCE"---AT A COST OF ABOUT $150 A YEAR....
BEING A MEMBER OF A UNION MEANS "JOB SECURITY" FOR US, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FUTURE...
NOTE: Federal Law gives all workers a legal right to organize a Union. It is illegal for your employer to threaten you or discriminate against you because you support a Union. It is illegal for your employer to threaten to close down the business because workers organize a Union. A Union is working people getting together to defend each other, and to work in unity to
make improvements on the job.

Posted on March 9, 2010 @ 7:45 a.m.
Will Splash News sue themselves out of business by suing Perez Hilton?
A commentary by LIZA SABATER, publisher of culturekitchen and Daily Gotham....CLICK HERE

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  She is the founder and lead writer of culturekitchen, one of the Top 100 progressive blogs [www.ndnpac.org] in the United States; and a Top 500 Feedster blog [www.top500.feedster.com].
    When Liza is not publishing blogging, she works as a new media advisor and consultant with artists,
creatives and cultural institutions on how to use social networking technologies to develop their communications strategies.
     She was born in New York City. She grew up in Puerto Rico; where she lived until the age of 20. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies & International Politics and an ABD in Spanish & Portuguese, both from New York University. For close to
10 years she worked as a Latin American Literature college instructor before joining the corporate world where she worked as a marketing communications consultant and technical writer. A lifelong wordsmith, her work as a writer, translator, and freelance journalist has appeared in academic journals, art reviews, newspapers and magazines.

Posted on March 6, 2010 @ 9:29 a.m.
Are you a paparazzo? Do you believe you've been cheated---or you're being cheated---
by a celebrity photo agency here in Hollywood that sell your celebrity photos?

We want to hear from you! Tell us your story so we can publish it here at PaparazziNotebook.com! We'll keep your true
identity strictly confidential! E-mail us by clicking HERE.


Posted on March 5, 2010 @ 12:12 a.m.
PAPS IN THE NEWS: Paps Brutally Attacked By Security of Reality TV Show "The Bachelor"
Is Suing The Security Agency That Employed Them     CLICK HERE


Posted on March 4, 2010 @ 10:45 p.m.
Bauer-Griffin Ripped Me Off Big Time! Check This Out!

By John Shinn III
Editor

   
LOS ANGELES --- As I start to study and analyze my sales reports from BAUER-GRIFFIN from May 2007 to January 2010...It's just now that I'm finding out the extent that
BAUER-GRIFFIN had RIPPED ME OFF. Here's just one example:

WHAT: Filming of "Changeling," a movie directed by CLINT EASTWOOD
WHEN: Nov. 7, 2007
WHERE: Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena, California
WHO: ANGELINA JOLIE & CLINT EASTWOOD
FACTS: On that day there were only 5 of us paps who were there: me and Scott (Bauer-Griffin), Keith (JFX), Quinn (Splashnews) and Karl Larsen (INF). We had a good set that day (see the pics featured on Just Jared below). The shoot wrapped up early (around 9:30 a.m.) so no one else got anything but the 5 of us....

WHAT I FOUND OUT:  According to the Bauer-Griffin sales report I got, my set (Scott was my partner that day) only had two (2) sales: one in China for $1.01 which was listed on my Feb. 2008 sales report and the other sales was to ACCESS HOLLYWOOD for $50.00 which was listed on my Jan. 2008 sales report.

CONCLUSION: Now, do you guys---my fellow paps---really believe that my Angelina Jolie/Clint Eastwood set you see on these Just Jared page only sold for $51.01 worldwide? C'mon! be honest with me...Even a set of BAI LING will sell at least $100!
What about payments by JustJared.com and other blogs for using my photos? So far,
Bauer-Griffin had not paid me any
blog sales at all which covers a span of two years!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE SET-----------------OR VISIT THE JUSTJARED.COM PAGE   CLICK HERE

NOTE:  Photos on JustJared.com (see photo below) that are underlined in yellow are my pictures out of the entire set which includes photos of my partner Scott and Karl Larsen of INF.

NEXT: That's not all----there's more to come!


OTHER PAPARAZZI-RELATED STORIES...
*** HOLLYWOOD --- THE INSIDER: Hollywood Versus The Paparazzi: It's War!....CLICK HERE
*** LONG BEACH --- ALLAN COLELLA: Barber By Day Celebrity Photographer By Night...From The Daily Breeze......CLICK HERE
*** LONDON --- The paparazzi used to earn big bucks from snapping celebrities, but their moment in the limelight is over..CLICK HERE

*** LONDON --- Queen Elizabeth II tells UK newspapers not to publish "intrusive" paparazzi fotos of Royal Family...CLICK HERE

L.A. TIMES REPORT ON THE INCIDENT   CLICK HERE
PAPS IN THE NEWS:
Paps Brutally Attacked By Security of Reality TV Show "The Bachelor"


VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PAPARAZZI IS ALARMINGLY ON THE RISE!
Two photographers---Maximiliano Lopez, 28, of Torrance and Eric Brogmus, 22, of Burbank---covering a wedding for a TV reality show in the Palos Verdes, Calif. last Saturday, Feb. 27, were brutally attacked by the show's on set security and the assault was documented---in pictures and video----by other photographers at the scene. Lopez and Brogmus---seen above
being led away in handcuffs---suffered injuries in various parts of their body and have not decided whether they would file charges against their attackers and the producers of the show.   CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES

FAME PICTURES got photos of the attack (
CLICK HERE) and filed this report (see below) on their website:
Photographer's Legal Rights---Being On Public Property---Were Violated By Set Security
     LOS ANGELES (FEB. 28) --- A beautiful reality show wedding event was marred by the show's own security Saturday afternoon. Security enforcement of hit network reality show "The Bachelor" took desperate and dangerous measures to ensure that the wedding they were taping on public property near the Tillanea Resort in Palos Verdes, Calif., was not documented. Despite photographers being within their rights to be on the public grounds, hired security took matters into their own hands and used needless physical tactics to force the photographers out. One photographer was choked from behind while the other was abruptly pushed to the ground by three large security guards. Considering the circumstances of the day and the photographers legal rights, there was no evidence justifying the escalated altercation or the needless acts of violence toward the photographers on site. (Fame Pictures)

PAP OF THE WEEK: Jason Mitchell

RACHEL BILSON & MOM  VIEW MY SHOT FROM MY SPOT....CLICK HERE   JASON MITCHELL IN ACTION....CLICK HERE


COVERING BRITNEY SPEARS BEFORE HER MELTDOWN
WAITING FOR BRITNEY SPEARS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
MAY 1, 2007: This was my first day working for BAUER-GRIFFIN. I was assigned to work with Chris (4th from right, above photo). We were outside The Summit waiting for Britney to come out of the gated community of multi-million dollar homes with other paps when we realized that Britney may be heading for San Diego. There were persistent rumors that she was going to perform at the House of Blues there. This was supposed to be her first "major come-
back" performance after giving birth to Jayden James and Sean Preston. She had been out of circulation for three years and there were talks going around that her career was over and Britney wanted to show the world that she
still can sing and perform.
   Shortly before 1 p.m. Britney drove out in her Mercedes Benz convertible followed by her three burly bodyguards
in a black Cadillac Escalade. We followed her as she drove to the Elks Lodge on Ventura Blvd. There she got into
her waiting touring bus (a million dollar RV). We followed the bus, still not knowing where it was heading. But
as we drove by downtown L.A. to the 5 Freeway heading south we figured out that Britney was indeed heading to San
Diego. I had almost a full tank of gas and so did Chris and the rest of the paps.
   When we got to Orange County, I counted a total of 15 pap cars following the bus. A fellow pap, Adnan Ghalib,
who was driving a Mercedes Benz convertible---that was probably just as expensive as Britney's---was the lead pap
car and I was the last car in the convoy.
   In San Diego, only two photographers managed to get inside the House of Blues as the tickets were already sold
out. Those of us who stayed outside waited for Britney to come out---after her performance---to her waiting tour
bus. And this means we only had very little time---four seconds at most---to get our shots. And this was when I
took the picture, above.

DOUCHEBAG ENCOUNTERS       VIEW MY PHOTOS OF RACHEL....CLICK HERE
DOUCHEBAG refers to an individual who has an over-inflated sense of self worth, compounded by a low level of intelligence, behaving ridiculously in front of other people---in public---with no sense of how moronic he appears.


Paparazzo-at-Large
By JOHN SHINN III / Editor
THE PAPARAZZI: DOOMED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
They have no choice but to trust the same people---who cheat them---to sell their celebrity pictures around the world

    LOS ANGELES --- In the celebrity/paparazzi business there is ONLY one product...and that is our celebrity photos......Everybody seem to be making money in this business (in selling OUR celebrity pictures)...the celeb
photo agency owners...the tabloids....sub-agents (agencies outside US)....the blogs....and even the celebrity greatly benefit
from our blood, sweat & hardwork....
   My ONLY question is this: We, photographers, produce THE ONLY product (our celeb pictures) this business is in existence for....They all make money from our pictures and no doubt all are already rich (and living the lifestyle of a celebrity)....how come after two years in this business...like dozens of other photographers in this business, I'm still struggling to pay my mon-
thly rent? Again, like many photographers doing paparazzi  work, my car payments is now late----all because these celebrity photo agencies keep delaying paying me for what my pictures' worth or how much it sold for.....For each day they delay
paying us...OUR money keeps earning interest for their accounts in their banks!
   And this is where I get a little irritated....if Bauer-Griffin or Splash News can screw me by not paying me what is due to me...then what about those photographers who have no one to turn to for help if they get screwed by their agency?
   Besides, who made this "unwritten rule" of paying us, photographers....4....5.....6 months after the agencies sell our pic-
tures---or six months to two years---after the magazines publish our pictures? This just does not make sense to me.
   From the beginning when the paparazzi business came into being, we (photographers) were already doomed to get screwed
by everyone, especially by the agency owners who made those "unwritten rules" that we all work by to this day.
  Who can survive six months of working full-time before getting your first pay check? I've never heard of any job that will
pay six months after our professional services have been rendered! They only did that to the slaves in ancient Egypt. Maybe,
I got it all wrong, but who wants to spend for daily gas expenses, food and the likes......out of your own pocket for six months
or more---before they cut you your first check.....WTF?
    And the agencies know there's no way the photographers can verify if their images were sold overseas...all because in this business....it's supposed to be an "HONOR SYSTEM"! The "Honor System" means we'll just have to TRUST the agencies---even though we know a lot of other fellow pap who already got screwed by them. IT'S LIKE ASKING A CHILD MOLESTER TO BABYSIT YOUR KIDS WHILE YOU'RE AT WORK! Or look at it this way: "THERE'S NO HONOR [HONESTY] AMONG THIEVES."
    Reminds me of what Mickey Rilloraza used to tell me...."John they're (Bauer-Griffin) just fucking with you....they got you
on a hook and they'll just reel you in and out." I did not really understood what my buddy Mickey meant by: "Man! They'll
never give it all to you, John. They'll just give you enough so you'll keep chasing that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
and keep giving them your pictures...."

    Another pap, a 10--year veteran who has had bad experiences in the past dealing with many of the celebrity photo agencies
in Hollywood, told me: "John, of course they have to rip you off....one of them needs gas for his boat to go fishing with the
other co-owner on
weekends..."
   No matter how I look at the situation we all are in at this point---we're not going to get what we really deserve (remember there's only one product in this industry and we supply it no on else) if we just sit back and watch our fellow photographers
get cheated left and right by these greedy motherfuckers.
   It's like asking the FOX watch the chicken coop and giving him the keys to the cages while you merrily go your way to the market.....HOW CAN WE EVEN TRUST THESE MOTHERFUCKERS WITH OUR MONEY?
CALL TO ACTION: CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN & MUST UNITE TO CHANGE the rules the photo agencies made that only favors them! Let's get UNIONIZED! If all of America is unionized why can't we do the same? Once we have a union, no one can fuck with us---not the agency owners, not the cops who constantly harass us and not even the celebrities who only use us when it's convenient for them! All we need are 10 photographers to get started!

QUESTION FOR RANDY BAUER & FRANK GRIFFIN:
How can you CHEAT your own photographers and claim you are fighting for them?

    LOS ANGELES --- December is that month of the year when paparazzos find their paychecks usually lower than any other month.
Why? Because agency owners have to CHEAT their freelance and staff photographers out of their sales commissions so they (the
high-living agency owners) have enough money to spend on their wives and girlfriends and to maintain their lavish lifestyles they
have become accustomed to.
      Take myself, for example, this month (December) I was notified by Randy Bauer, co-owner of Bauer-Griffin, the agency that I used to work for, that I won't be getting any checks at all in sales commission. Last month, I got a check of $1,100 from Bauer-Griffin, my 60% commission from my photo sales in the year-and-a-half I worked for the agency. How come I'm not getting any checks
from BG for December? Well, aparrently, I pissed Randy off in an e-mail I sent him a week earlier
when I wrote: "Fuck you...and fuck Frank!" at the end of my e-mail.
      When I got hired by Randy as a "full-time freelance" photographer in mid-2007 I was excited.
I had this feeling that it was an "honor" to be working for such an agency. In January 2009, I quit Bauer-Griffin after I found out (Dec. 1, 2008) that my sales commission from Internet/blog sales
(for almost two years) were being diverted to what Randy explained was the "Perez Hilton Legal Fund."
      I've never heard of the "Perez Hilton Legal Fund." Nor was I informed that my Internet/blog
sales commission was being diverted to an account for something I was never a part of in the first place. When I quit, I asked Randy if I can get my sales commission from Internet/blog sales. Randy said: "No!"

MY EMAIL TO RANDY: In an e-mail to Randy dated Dec. 4, 2008, I wrote: "How come other photographers get paid for their pix being published by JustJared.com? I have not seen a single payment in my sales report----from JustJared.com. Even other agencies pay their photographers for JustJared.com pics being published. I'm just curious..."
RANDY'S RESPONSE:
This was Randy's e-mail response: "All fees received, which isn't much has been applied to our legal fund to sue Perez Hilton which has cost over $400,000 to ensure we can pay all photogs and websites around the world in the future. We have said that at every photographers meeting. We will pay and do pay for all internet sales, with the exception of those involving the perez suit which is now coming to a close. Had we not taken this course, no photographers would ever get paid
for any blog use because it would have been the "wild west".
     Here we can see that Randy was lying through his nose. Read the last paragraph, underlined, above: "Had we not taken this course, no photographers would ever get paid for any blog use
because it would have been the 'wild west.' "
Again, Randy lied to me because blogs have been paying celebrity photo agencies (including Bauer-Griffin) for pictures they use on their site. And
as far as I am concerned I have not authorized him nor anyone else at Bauer-Griffin to divert my Internet/blog sales to the "Perez Hilton Legal Fund."
      Now I know, the sense of "honor' I felt when Randy hired me was nothing but a misconception. Just ask the 11 photographers who quit working for Bauer-Griffin within a span of one week in December of 2008. They, too, felt cheated out of their photo sales commissions. This is not to mention the constant verbal abuse they had to endure from Frank Griffin. Now, how would you
view a photo agency that claims to fight for you and it turns out that the agency is just using
----of all people, Perez Hilton---as an excuse to cheat you?
HOW CAN YOU CHEAT YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CLAIM YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR THEM?
     
NEXT: 'Greedy' agency owners who 'exploit' their 'staff' and full-time 'freelance' photographers live lavish lifestyles just like the celebrities.

MANY HOLLYWOOD 'PAPS' HARDLY EVER GET PAID FOR BLOG USE OF THEIR IMAGES!!!!!!

'Paps' Are Being Robbed Blindly by Celebrity Blogs & Exploited by Their Own Photo Agencies...
By JOHN L. SHINN III
Founder & Editor
   See my May 2009 sales report from Bauer-Griffin (above). As a freelancer, I am supposed to get a 60% commission on sales of
my pictures worldwide. The highlighted areas (GumGum.com) indicates that I'm only receiving a 1.21% commission from the mon-
thly retainer that Bauer-Griffin receives from GumGum.com for the use of pictures put out by the agency, including my pictures.
Many blog/sites do not even bother to pay or secure permission to publish/post copyrighted pictures from the photographer (who
owns his images 100% if the picture was taken with his own equipment). Most blogs simply copy or download my images frommthe
JustJared.com website and post it on their site without paying for the pictures. Photo agencies receive a monthly retainer fee for "unlimited" use of its photo library from sites such as JustJared.com. But many photographers from various agencies have com-
plained that they don't get paid for blog use of their images---even though their agency receive the monthly retainer fee from
blogs such as JustJared or celebrity fan sites.
     An agency insider told PaparazziNotebook.com that Internet blogs are starting to pay better for pictures they post on their
site such as TMZ, Perez Hilton and celebrity fan sites. "In the next year, celebrity photographers will be making more money
from blog sales of their images---than from print publications," the insider said. Among the first in line to buy celebrity pictures
are celebrity fan sites themselves. For example, Miley Cyrus, has about 7 to 10 MIley Cyrus fan sites. These sites feature
nothing but Miley Cyrus pictures and articles. Even the least known celebrities have their own loyal fans, who rely on donations
from other fans, who maintain their sites.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO: On the set of 'Inception'


Warning to 'Rude' Paps: Those 'Tweeting' Celebrities Could Get You In Trouble---Or Fired!
    On the morning of Oct. 13, Dita Von Teese arrived at LAX and was met by a photographer who started taking her pictures. It would have been fine with her since the photographer was by himself. But then the photographer started yelling rude remarks at her. When Teese got home from the airport she tweeted to her fans about what happened. (click here to read her tweet).
    The next day, JustJared.com---a favorite celebrity blog frequented by paps and fans alike---posted a set of pictures of Teese covering her face as she arrived at LAX. Below the set the photo credit read: "Matingas/Bauergriffinonline." Matingas has now been identified as the "rude" photographer.
    The following day, Oct. 13 at 1:10 p.m., a defiant Matingas even went as far as to post a comment at JJ revealing that he got
those pictures. Matingas wrote as poster #17: "and the “tons” of pics of dita von teese in the airport are from the same photog.. ME!"  Thirty-six minutes later at 1:46 p.m., a poster (#25) addressed Matingas and wrote: "Sure, dumbass, you’re the guy who took the pics and I’m Bauergriffinonline." (This sure sounded like Frank Griffin).
   On Oct. 29, 16 days after the incident, Matingas' letter of apology (click here to read) to Teese was posted by JustJared.com. Matingas wrote:
 “Dear Dita Von Teese, The reason I am writing to you is to offer my most sincere apology. How I acted and the things I said
were out of line and will never happen again. What I said was not right and my actions were unnecessary, and I regretted
them the moment after it happened. I’m really sorry and I hope you find it in your heart to accept my apology.
  Sincerely, Matthew Suarez.”

   Now my questions:
(1) "What if Dita von Teese did not tweet her encounter with a rude Matingas for her fans and the world?" I believe Frank Griffin and Randy Bauer---Matingas' employers---would not have known what happened if it was not for that tweet that Teese made when she got home.
   Did Frank and Randy reprimand Matingas...then forced him to write the letter of apology addressed to Teese? I think so. But will
they go as far as firing him because of what happened? I don't think so. Why?
   Matingas is Bauer-Griffin's main photographer at LAX. In fact, at this point, it will be very difficult to replace him if they fire him since
no other photographer in the industry can even come close to how good Matingas is in shooting arriving and departing celebri-
ties at LAX.
    THE MORAL LESSON OF THIS STORY: If you're a pap, try to be cordial and diplomatic with the celebrities you photograph---just
as the 98% of us in the industry do. If you don't have anything good to say to a celebrity---like the 2% among us---just keep your
mouth shut and stay out of trouble.
    But if you know you're good and your agency depends highly on you, just like Matingas, then I guess it's okay to be rude to a cele-
brity once in a while---even though you know the celebrity will eventually "tweet" to their fans with an incident report and your
physical description.    (Thanks to Zasi for the tip!)


RACHEL BILSON & FRIENDS


KATHERINE HEIGL CAUSES 'PAPARAZZI FRENZY' ON ROBERTSON BLVD.


Who Has The Filthiest Celebrity Garage?  Find Out!   CLICK HERE   or    CLICK HERE      

HOLLYWOOD PAP VIDEO: Street Fighting....Stefan (INF) vs. Arturo (Limelight)   CLICK HERE

PaparazziNotebook.com's First Video Shoot: JLO's 'The Backup Plan' (June 15, 2009)     CLICK HERE

JustJared.com Is Encouraging Internet Picture Thievery by CELEBRITY GOSSIP BLOGS?

WHOSDATEDWHO BLOG
JULY 2, 2009: "I have borrowed these pictures from justjared.buzznet.com and it is free..."
When I saw my set of pictures of Zachary Quinto on the WHOSDATEDWHO blog I decided to post a comment (encircled in red, above)
and was curious what response I would get. I was shocked at the response I got from WhiteRose. She wrote: "I have borrowed these pictures from justjared.buzznet.com and it is free to copy and isn't protected against downloading so I have not to pay some-
body."
JustJared is helping blogs like WHOSDATEDWHO steal our pictures by not disabling its site's right-click feature. In effect, by making it easy for others to download my images (and all the paparazzi pictures on its site) without paying residuals, JustJared is
just as guilty as the blog/sites who steal my pictures. The photo agencies don't care about the photographer either as long as they
get their monthly retainer fee from blogs such as justjared.com and celebrity fan sites---without paying the photographers their
share. If you regularly check the blogs, which we do here at PaparazziNotebook.com, you'll see how rampant the theft of my pic-
tures (and that of my colleagues) from JustJared.com by other agencies, especially fan sites  
VIEW WHOSDATEDWHO COMMENTS
MOVIE SET SECURITY WATCH: ALEX

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
JUNE 29, 2009: Nap Time During Down Time...Chow Down During Chow Time...
    I first met him on the set of Naomi Watts' movie, "Mother and Child" when they were shooting in Pasadena several months back. Alex,
as he introduced himself to me, tried his best tricks-of-the-trade (as a movie set security guard) to kick me out of a Burger King parking
lot which was adjacent to the base camp. He got really pissed when I told him I already had the permission of the manager to
park in the
Burger King premises since I bought lunch there.
     I saw him again, on June 9, when I went to the set of "Iron Man 2" in Downey, Calif. I would not have noticed him if he wasn't sleeping
on the job (image 2). I stopped at the entrance of the Downey
Studios and noticed a security guard seated on a folding chair. I got out of
my car and started taking pictures expecting the guard
to approach me soon enough to drive me away. As I was shooting, the guard did
not move. I then realized that he was asleep!
    As
I started to leave, the security guard woke up, stood up and our eyes met. "Alex!" I cried! "I didn't know that was you, man," I said.
"So sorry, man!" I yelled sarcastically at him as I drove off. After he recognized me, I could tell that he was really pissed now. We saw him again, on June 29, this time he was on the downtown L.A. set of "Bone Deep," a crime/action flick starring Matt Dillon, Hayden Christensen and Chris Brown.
     In the span of three hours, we watched Alex nap (again!) (see image 1) and work as he raided
the catering truck three times! Before
we headed home on this day, we made sure we drove by where Alex was posted so he can
see us....."Alex!" I screamed at him. "Hey!"
he yelled at us as we put on the brakes to stop and talk to him. After exchanging
pleasantries, we bade him goodbye. He was a lot friend-
lier this time. But before I could step on the gas pedal, Alex jokingly said:
"I think you guys are now following me wherever movie set I
work on." 
     Despite his shortcomings, (sleeping on the job) Alex is an "asset" to his company---and the production staff love him 'cause he's everywhere at any given time. We also watched Alex assume
the role of a producer, director, chief security, location manager, bodyguard
and all-around ladies man in all the three movie sets
where we saw him.

GISELE BUNDCHEN: TALL AND TAN AND YOUNG AND LOVELY--THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
JUNE 27, 2009: Brazilian Model Gisele Bundchen lunch at Little Dom's in Los Feliz


Video Screen Grabs from HOLLYWOOD.TV
JUNE 25, 2009: Still unidentified 'pap' who got Michael Jackson's ONLY pic inside the ambulance
After only two years working as a Hollywood paparazzo, I have come to know many of the estimated 200+ celebrity photographers who
work in L.A.'s 30-mile zone. But the identity of the 'pap' above (encircled in yellow) who got the only picture of Michael Jackson inside
the ambulance while he was being transported to UCLA Medical Center last Thursday, June 25, where Jackson died an hour later---
remains a complete mystery to us since I do not recognize the photographer. But, nevertheless, we're happy that one of ours got the
shot and how much will he make out his pictures? Estimates range from $50,000 to $150,000 assuming the lucky pap gets his universal
60% commission as a "freelancer." The biggest winner, of course, is his agency, National Photo Group. We only hope our lucky pap does
not get screwed by NPG the way NPG's founders, Ben and Victor, got screwed up by their agency with their March 2007 Britney-shaving-
her-head pictures. We'll just have to wait and see if that happens. "Ben (NPG owner) knows how it feels to be cheated by your agency,
that's why he's been really upfront with our sales reports," an NPG photographer once told me while we were working in the Toluca
Lake area. Congrats to our lucky fellow shooter!    CLICK HERE TO VIEW HIS  PICTURE

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: 2009 NBA CHAMPIONS


DOUCHEBAG @ 'The Backup Plan' Set of Jennifer Lopez Shooting in Pasadena, California

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
 JUNE 15, 2009: Who the hell is this 'Douchebag' on the set of JLo's 'Back Up Plan?'
We don't know who the hell this Douche Bag (above) is on the set of Jennifer Lopez's new movie "Back Up Plan" now filming on location
in Pasadena, Calif. Whoever he is we commend him for doing such a great job trying to make sure we didn't trespass an inch on the
Elks Lodge parking lot where the TBP base camp and set were located. He kept himself busy all day ratting us out to the Pasadena
police officer who was assigned to the set. I shot this photo just to show our readers how delighted and happy Douche Bag was when
JLo was driven to set from her trailer in a tint-out Escalade---not giving us even the slimmest chance of taking JLo's picture. And
the set was just across from the same parking lot of Elks Lodge! We now suspect it must haved been Douche Bag's idea all along!
He did a good job that's why we're featuring him as our "DOUCHE BAG OF THE WEEK" just in case someone from the production
company stumbles upon this site and recognize our "Douche Bag Of The Week."

BOXING CHAMP MANNY PACQUIAO


LOOKING BACK: BRITNEY SPEARS, JANUARY 31, 2008

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com

MEGAN FOX

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Megan Fox Entertainment Weekly Photo Shoot, May 26, 2009         EW PHOTOSHOOT        VIDEO CLIP

PaparazziNotebook.com EXCLUSIVE!

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
MAY 23, 2009: Massive 'Iron Man 2' Movie Set Construction at Sepulveda Dam in L.A.
The night before, May 22, I received a tip that motorists driving on the 101 Ventura Freeway in Encino, Calif. have been mystified by
a huge construction project at the Sepulveda Dam which was visible from the freeway. Reports indicated that dozens of 40-foot contai-
ner vans were stacked five stories high at the site. The reports also added that a sign that says "Rasputin" was visible at the entrance
to the dam. I know "Rasputin" to the code name for "Iron Man 2." Why? Because that's how I found out about the location of the first
day of filming of "Iron Man 2" in Pasadena, Calif. last April 6 (CLICK HERE to see my photos taken that day). The following morning I
drove to the area, but could not find any access to get in. Security was very tight to keep off outsiders. Even under normal times the
area is still "off-limits" to civilians The dam was built in 1941 and is under the care and maintenance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers. But I got some pics, anyway, which can be viewed by clicking HERE or HERE.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW PANORAMIC SHOT


CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Cannes, France 2009: And I thought working on Rachel Bilson with 6 others guys was nuts!

PRESENTING: PAPS ON BROADWAY...TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE....

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
APRIL 2, 2009: Guess What Nate Jones of PCN Was Thinkin' While Doing This Mid-Air Split?
One of the few paps I like to work with on a story is Nate Jones, above, of Pacific Coast News. His enthusiasm is very infectious and
his youthful energy is often the envy of aging photographers like me. On this day, the cast and crew of Amy Poehler's new TV show,
"Parks & Recreation" had just taken a lunch break while filming at the Pasadena City Hall in Pasadena, Calif. As we started to get
ready to leave, Nate jumped in front of me thrusting his cameras with huge lenses up in the air. I asked him to repeat what he just
did and Nate gladly obliged as I took this shot. On his right hand he's holding a Canon Mark IIN with a Canon EF 500 f/4 lens and on
his left he's holding a Canon Mark IIN with a Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 lens. By the way, that's my black "papmobile" in the background.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS I SHOT THAT DAY

FIRST DAY OF FILMING: On The Set of 'Iron Man 2' in Pasadena, Calif.

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
APRIL 7, 2009: Was Keith (JFX) calling Sergio for back up?  Video back up, that is!
It seems like Keith of JFX, left, was trying to call Sergio for video back up from the corner of Cordova Street, while Clint of Splash-
news looks like he's studying the situation on the set across the street and just waiting for the right moment to get that "money
shot." On this day, I found myself in the company of many familiar faces as I arrived in the Pasadena, Calif. set of "Iron Man 2."
This was, in fact, the first day of shooting of the popular Marvel hero movie whose main character is played by Robert Downey Jr.
Covering a movie set is always a challenge for us to outwit set security guards and a few overzealous members of the production
staff who often times take it upon themselves to act as saviors and protectors of the movie stars against us and our evil cameras.
Later in the day, we realized that there were at least 4 production knuckleheads armed with umbrellas who will try their best to cover
our shots as RDJ, Gwyneth Paltrow and the rest of the cast arrive on the set for each take. After lunch, when RDJ was driven back
to the set on his Bentley and dropped off across the street, a bunch of paps with wide angle lenses and flashes rushed towards RDJ
---just close enough to get his picture walking on the sidewalk and entering the Masonic Temple building where the movie set
was (CLICK HERE or HERE to see the photos). The 4 umbrella knuckleheads were caught off-guard by the group's lightning paps-
in-your-face
strike. And before they even realized what had just happened, the paps were back at their spot across the street.
Moral lesson: If the paps are well-behaved, do not provoke them with that umbrella trick. It just won't work. Those who will try
will only invite themselves to experience another of those paps-in-your-face moments.   CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY PHOTOS

will.i.am. of the Popular Hip-Hop Group 'Black Eyed Peas'

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
APRIL 18, 2009: Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am on the Set of their New Music Video
This day was a Saturday and I was supposed to be working on Woody Harrelson who was filming his new movie, "Zombieland" in an
industrial area of downtown Los Angeles. I saw another group of production people in the vicinity and after asking a few questions
I found out that Black Eyed Peas was shooting a music video nearby. After waiting about half-an-hour, I heard a loud noise of a motor-
cycle engine revving up. I looked toward the direction of the engine noise and saw Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am ride past my
car. He then disappeared into a make-up trailer. When he came out, he saw there were a group of photographers out in the streets
waiting for him to walk to the set. At this point, instead of walking towards the music video set, Will.i.am rode his three-wheeled
motorcycle and rumbled towards us and past us. The result is my image above (one of the many I shot) which was published on page
18 of People magazine's May 4 edition. The image was sold Most Wanted Pictures.

THE BOYS AT WORK

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
APRIL 2, 2009: PCN's Nate Jones & The Boys On The Set of 'Parks and Recreation'
Nate Jones of Pacific Coast News (middle) jokes around with Jack Carter of TigerPixx (left) and J.T. Shinn of Splash News (right) while
they were shooting on the set of Amy Poehler's "Parks and Recreation" in Los Angeles on this Thursday. I used a Canon 50D with a Sig-
ma 120-300 f/2.8 for this shot. The new show will premier on NBC Thursday, April 9.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR VIDEO

THIS WEEK'S VIDEO FEATURE: REGIS NAVARRE OWNER OF X17 GETS PAPPED         CLICK HERE
EXCLUSIVES
(EXCLUSIVE!)   ADRIAN GRENIER JOGGING WITH L.A. HOUSEMATE   (bauergriffinonline.com)     CLICK HERE
(EXCLUSIVE!)   NATALIE PORTMAN AND CHARLIE'S SUNDAY STROLL  (bauergriffinonline.com)     CLICK HERE

UP CLOSE: RACHEL BILSON'S ENGAGEMENT RING

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
MARCH 6, 2009: A Closer Look At Rachel Bilson's Engagement Ring
On this Friday morning, I was a little shocked to find out while editing my Rachel Bilson pictures that on some of the frames she was
actually intentionally displaying her engagement ring as she was exiting her Lexus when she visited a friend in Hollywood. When she
went to the Mayfair Market to do some grocery shopping with a friend last Feb. 23 (click here to view the pix), I asked her if she can
show me her ring so I can take a picture of it. She politely said "No." But she didn't try to hide the ring when she started loading the
grocery bags into the back of her Lexus. Instead, she subconsciously used her left hand to brush her hair off her face (see the shot
below) twice! That's how I --- and the world --- got the first look of her engagement ring.

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Rachel Bilson's Engagement Ring: First Look!   CLICK HERE

US MAGAZINE     PEOPLE.COM      BAUERGRIFFINONLINE       PEREZHILTON.COM
POPSUGAR.COM     GOSSIPGIRLS.COM    WHOSDATEDWHO.COM    CELEBUZZ.COM
E! News TV   SOCIALITELIFE.CELEBUZZ.COM         CELEBRITY-GOSSIP.NET 


RACHEL BILSON

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com                                       
FEBRUARY 3, 2009: Rachel Bilson Goes To The 'Alcove' in Los Feliz, Calif. for Lunch
We've waited for Rachel Bilson to come out of her house for the past four days. On this Tuesday, dressed like the fashionista that
she is, Rachel came out to have lunch with a friend at the Alcove, a popular dining spot on the trendy Los Feliz area. Among the
lucky photgraphers who were there, from left: Gualco (Flynet), Jonathan (National Photo Group), Omar (Ramey), Jesse, partly
hidden (BuzzFoto) and, of course, myself (freelance). We all love to cover Rachel. Her pictures always make it to the fashion
pages of tabloid magazines around the world.  Click here to view my pictures of Rachel Bilson

THANKSGIVING WITH CELEBRITIES IN LOS ANGELES

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com                                       
NOVEMBER 26, 2008: Celebrities Serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the Homeless at L.A. Mission
This day I had planned to work on Jennifer Love Hewitt because I remember last year (the day before Thanksgiving) I got a nice set of pictures of her and fiance Scottish actor Ross McCall walking home after eating Thanksgiving lunch at her mom's house nearby. Just as
I was cruising on Jennifer's street in Toluca Lake, Calif. this Wednesday morning, I spotted Ross and Jennifer driving away in their
Lexus Hybrid SUV. I and another photographer from SplashNews started to follow them discreetly from a distance. When we reached
L.A. Mission in the heart of L.A.'s downtown skidrow, it was only then I realized that there were other celebrities there. Since it was
raining, the serving of food to the homeless by the celebrities was moved inside the L.A. Mission building. There were about two
dozen photographers in there.
    I looked around after registering at the media table and saw maybe 4 paps I know. The rest of them I have never met. When the
celebrities came out to have their pictures taken in front of the L.A. Mission logo, the group of photographers started yelling, some
at the top of their voice. "Cindy, Cindy, look this way please.....can you give me us a smile?" one of the photographers hollered at
Cindy Crawford as she posed before the cameras. Not to be outdone, another photographer --- a female in her early 30s who was
dressed like a gypsy --- started yelling something to Cindy asking the top model to look to her left. I have never seen this kind of
behavior among the paps that I work with everyday. Then it dawned on me that these colleagues are red carpet/event photographers.
   I can never imagine myself working as a red carpet/event photographer. With all the yelling and screaming they do to get a celebrity's attention---it's like being with a group of hyperactive and impatient kindergarteners waiting for their turn at the piñata at a children's
birthday party.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY PICS


Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com                                       
SEPTEMBER 9, 2008: Kate Walsh filming 'Private Practice' in Santa Monica, California
On Sept. 9., Thursday, about a dozen of photographers found themselves at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif. where
Kate Walsh was filming an episode of her popular TV show "Private Practice." Since the shoot was at a public place, we did not have a
hard time getting our shots---and a lot of them. In fact, one of the photographers who was there said he shot over 600 images that
afternoon. Photo shows, from left: Jack of Tigerpixx, Kevin of Pacific Coast News and David of On Location News trying to get that
money shot. Gaz of Pacific Coast News (see yellow arrow) can be seen in the background inside a bar where he blended with the
customers to take his shots.   CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF MY PICS OF KATE WALSH

ON THE SET OF 'KATH & KIM'

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com                                       
OCT. 27, 2008: Selma Blair, Mikey Day Continue Filming 'Kath & Kim' in Los Angeles
On this day, a Monday, Selma Blair and Mikey Day were filming "Kath & Kim" in the Larchmont Village in Los Angeles. Mikey who was
not filming a scene at the time came to talk to us and at some point even asked us questions about our job as celebrity photographers.
Mikey later came back to the spot where I was shooting with Angie of INF (left) and Pedro of Pacific Coast News (2nd from left, wea-
ring a blue shirt). That's when I took the picture above. Mikey is seen here (3rd from  left) with a production assistant. Unlike in the
past, this day the production crew and set security were a little bit lax with us which allowed us to shoot without worrying about being
asked to leave the area.   CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY PIX OF SELMA BLAIR TAKEN THAT DAY

On the Set of 'Kath & Kim'
Photo by JACK CARTER / Tigerpixx                                            Caption by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
SEPT. 23, 2008: Selma Blair films 'Kath & Kim' at the Burbank Media Center Mall
On this Tuesday, a group of photographers found themselves working on the set of the new TV show "Kath & Kim" starring the gorgeous
Selma Blair. The film set was inside the Burbank Media Center Mall in Burbank, Calif. Jack Carter of Tigerpixx took this photo as I was
taking Selma's picture when she exited the mall to go to her trailer after shooting a scene. As usual security on the set and inside the
mall was very tight. The photographers had to constantly move around to avoid detection. Early on I was caught by mall security taking pictures of Selma and her co-star Molly Shannon inside the mall and was asked to leave. I pretended to leave and found a good spot
inside Macy's with a group of photographers to continue taking pictures. Overall, Selma was very accomodating: smiled at the cameras
and even waving at us a few times which now leads me to believe that celebrities are good at spotting photographers even in a crow-
ded place like a mall.          CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PIX     CLICK HERE TO VIEW ORIGINAL PIX

RACHEL BILSON

Photo by LOUISE BARNSLEY / Pacific Coast News
JULY 30, 2008: Rachel Bilson and Friend Visit Milk Botique on Third Street
Many of the paps often find themselves in the background of celebrity pictures. In this case, I can be seen in the background as Rachel
Bilson arrives in front of Milk Botique on Third Street in Hollywood on a Wednesday afternoon. Louise Barnsley of Pacific Coast News
took the picture.  CLICK HERE to view my shot of Bilson


Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / BauerGriffinOnline.com
Kate Walsh sans make-up and up close....I didn't even know she has blue eyes!
Among the Hollywood paparazzi, those who work the Los Feliz beat know that working on Kate Walsh is like waiting for rain in the summer. You can consider yourself lucky if you can get her picture once a month! Why? Kate and husband Alex hardly ever venture out of their $5-million home in Los Feliz, Calif. On Saturday, July 5, Kate did come out. The picture above was shot while she was having brunch with
two female friends at Jinky's Cafe in West Hollywood. I did not even realize Kate had blue eyes until I started editing my photos. Kate's so beautiful at 40 and look at her skin!
 CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY PHOTOS OF KATE TAKEN THAT DAY        CLICK HERE FOR PICS AT JUSTJARED



Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Lindsay Lohan on the set of her latest movie 'Labor Pains' in Los Angeles
The Hollywood paparazzi never seem to get tired of covering Lindsay Lohan's everyday activities. This was shot on Monday, July 7, on
the set of Lindsay's latest flick, "Labor Pains." This week last year, I was in Malibu covering Lindsay's birthday bash at the Polaroid
House. She's obviously "sober" this year. Hopefully, she's already cleaned up her act and continue her remarkable journey on the road
to sobriety and recovery.


Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Popular Hollywood Character Sightings: Iron Man and Charlie Chaplin Going To Work
Even to a Los Angeles-based paparazzi like me, popular characters on the streets of Hollywood always attract my attention. I shot the
two photos above --- from my car while waiting for the traffic light to turn green --- while following Nicole Richie and her manager
Mike Baum around town. Charlie Chaplin was riding a bicycle to work at Hollywood and Highland, while Iron Man was waiting to cross
the street to Kodak Theater. You can find these two popular characters in front of the Chinese Mann Theaters in Hollywood.


CELEBRITY BODYGUARDS

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
T.J.: Nicole Richie & Joel Madden's Bodyguard
The paparazzi, especially here in Hollywood, very seldom have a good working relationship with celebrity bodyguards. It's like mixing
oil with water. There are a few bodyguards who work quite well with the paps. They include the security detail of the Beckhams, who
seem to have learned the art of dealing with the photographers, at least diplomatically. Another bodyuard who really stand out based
on my experience as a paparazzo here in Hollywood is Nicole Richie and Joel Madden's bodyguard T.J. While we know very little about him, T.J. appears to have almost perfected the art on how to deal with the paparazzi when it comes to the safety and well-being of his clients.
Just ask any of the photographers who work on Nicole and Joel (and, of course, baby Harlow) everyday.



Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
MAY 21, 2008: Joel & Nicole Take Daughter Harlow For A Stroll in their Neighborhood
It was 76 degrees in Los Angeles and lots of sunshine was forecasted for the day. It was really a beautiful day to be outdoors that new
mom Nicole Richie and boyfriend Joel Madden took their daughter Harlow (born January 11, 2008) for a stroll around their neighborhood
while grabbing some drinks on their way home. I still vividly remember the day when in May last year my colleague at Bauer-Griffin
Chris B. and I followed Nicole to a fertility clinic in Beverly Hills --- while Joel and his band Good Charlotte was on tour in Asia --- in
which it was finally officially confirmed that Nicole was indeed pregnant with Joel's baby. This photo would have been much better if
Joel and Nicole smiled for the cameras. Smiles + L.A. sunshine = Harlow!

KATHERINE HEIGL

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
MAY 17, 2008: Hollywood Paparazzi Waiting for Katherine Heigl On A Hot Saturday Afternoon
On this Saturday, Katherine Heigl left her new house in Los Feliz and drove to her old house nearby. There were nine of us who followed
her. From left: Miguel (Most Wanted), Jaime (Limelight), Keith (JFX Images) Martin (Limelight), Nathan (Pacific Coast News), two
unidentified X17 photographers and Omar (Ramey). As you can see, here in Hollywood --- with the California weather hovering in the
mid-90s --- paps don't really have a dress code.


Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
MAY 3, 2008: Sports Photographers? Bird Watchers? It's the Hollywood Paparazzi At Work!
On Saturday, about 10 photographers from 5 photo agencies gathered outside Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. No, they were not going
to shoot a baseball game. If you look closer, they're not even dressed like typical sports photographers. It's the Hollywood paparazzi at
work! That day, Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl and Gerard Bulter were filming their romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth" in the
stands of the baseball park. The set was so far away the photographers brought out their biggest and longest lens. From left: Keith
of JFX Images, Angie of INF and Gaz of Pacific Coast News.


RACHEL BILSON

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
APRIL 11, 2008: Rachel Bilson, One of our Favorite Celebrities to Cover Around Town
On Friday, April 11, I arrived at Rachel Bilson's neighborhood in Los Feliz  just after 8:30 a.m. and found Keith of JFX Images already
parked down the street. I pulled up next to him and after exchanging pleasantries I said: "Well, the early birds get the worm!"
After I found a spot to park, I retrieved my laptop from the back seat of my Honda Element.  Before I could turn it on, I saw Rachel's
Lexus SUV Hybrid backing out the driveway. The follow was on. Rachel first visited her parents in North Hollywood. An hour later she
drove out and stopped by a gas station nearby to gas up. I shot this picture just as Keith (see red arrow) was also shooting from the
other side using his Nikkor 300 f/2.8 lens mounted on his Nikon D200. From the gas station Rachel drove to Sherman Oaks to have a manicure. Keith and I were the only photographers who took Rachel's picture that morning. Like I said, "the early birds get the worm!"
For this shot I used a Canon 40D and Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 (non-IS) lens.


CLICK HERE to see my set on Rachel Bilson
CLICK HERE  US Weekly
CLICK HERE  E! Online
CLICK HERE  JustJared

VICTORIA BECKHAM & EVA LANGORIA

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III /PaparazziNotebook.com
MARCH 21, 2008: Posh & Eva Langoria's Shopping Spree Brought 'Mayhem' to Beverly Hills
Originally, there were only four of us photographers who followed Victoria (Posh) Beckham when she left her house in Beverly Hills to
have lunch with Eva Langoria and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Friday, March 21. After lunch, while Tom
and Katie went home, Posh and Eva decided to go shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Their first stop was the Versace store.
The four of us (photographers) did not have a hard time taking their picture as they walked from the Beckham's black Escalade on Day-
ton Way to Versace (see main photo). By the time they got out of the Versace store and walked the short distance to Dolce & Gabbana
on Rodeo Drive we found ourselves fighting for space to shoot their picture (while they were walking) with about a hundred other photographers, onlookers, fans and tourists. The situation was total chaos as you can see from the inset photos of the back and front
of the Dolce & Gabbana store.

ADRIAN GRENIER

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III /PaparazziNotebook.com
OCTOBER 22, 2007: Adrian Grenier Is Hollywood's Most Eligible Bachelor
   I always look forward to working on Adrian Grenier. Some days I find his Prius parked on the street blocking the front of his driveway
gate. He must have been drinking the night before and decided he can park anywhere he wants when he got home from a night of club-
hopping. But Adrian's got brains and talent and I hope to see him do even better this year.


Photo by NATE JONES / Pacific Coast News
JANUARY 23, 2008: Covering Rachel Bilson On A Rainy & Windy Day
   On Wednesday, January 23, I found myself working on Rachel Bilson with Nathan & Louise of Pacific Coast News and Art of Limelight Pictures. We followed Rachel to a friend's pad on Hollywood & Vine that afternoon. After Rachel went into her friend's pad it started to
rain. Nate took this picture as we were waiting for Rachel to come out of the building.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW RACHEL'S PHOTOS SHOT BY LOUISE, NATE AND ME


Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
JANUARY 20, 2008: Katherine Heigl & Mom Nancy @ Home Restaurant in Los Feliz, Calif.
   Katherine Heigl and her mom Nancy lunch at Home Restaurant in Los Feliz on Sunday. Her new movie, "27 Dresses" was No. 2 at the
Box Office raking in $22.4 million in ticket sales over the weekend. As the mom and daughter wait for their car by the valet area, three
paps, from left: Pedro of Pacific Coast News, Danielle of Bauer-Griffin and Jaime of Limelight Pictures, try to catch the moment of the
day. CLICK HERE to view photos of Katherine I shot earlier in the day.

VANESSA HUDGENS & ASHLEY TISDALE

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
DECEMBER 24, 2007: Vanessa Hudgens & Ashley Tisdale's Christmas Eve Shopping
   On December 24, I and two other photographers (Stefan of INF and Nathan of Pacific Coast News) followed Vanessa Hudgens and
Ashley Tisdale as they drove to a Los Angeles mall to do some shopping. Vanessa and Ashley dropped off Ashley's Range Rover at the
valet parking, while the three of us looked parking spaces (the lot was full this day). By the time we parked, both ladies were already
inside the mall. We went in and discreetly tried to take their picture, but security was tight. The pair then told the mall security about
our presence and me and Nathan were asked to leave and were escorted out of the mall. We changed our jackets in the parking lot
and went back in. We joined Stefan once inside and after failing to find them, Nathan and Stefan decided to head to the food court
to grab something to eat. I was not hungry and told them that I was going to wait for Vanessa and Ashley outside by the valet parking
booth. About five minutes after I got out I saw Vanessa and Ashley exit the mall. As they were walking towards the valet parking area
I started taking their picture. The reason why I'm using the photos above to tell this story is because I think I know what they may
have been talking about when I was shooting the pictures. After I shot the far right picture, Vanessa and Ashley called me and approa-
ched me. Vanessa was the first one to speak out. She said: "Can we borrow $5 from you? We don't have any change to pay valet par-
king!" After I handed them a $5 bill they both said: "Thank you! Merry Christmas!" "You're welcome," I said. Two days later I followed
Vanessa and Ashley to the gym. Along the way, I pulled next to Ashley's Range Rover and motioned them to lower the car's window.
They both did not recognize until I said: "Girls, where's my $5?" They both giggled like little girls which in turn reminded me that my
daughter is just about their age. (By JOHN L.SHINN III/PaparazziNotebook.com)

CLICK HERE to view more of my pictures of Vanessa and Ashley



Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
  DECEMBER 14, 2007: Vanessa Hudgens & Mom Gina Guangco On Her 19th Birthday
  After staying out of sight since her return from Washington, D.C. Monday night, Vanessa Hudgens and her mom Gina Gunagco spent
Friday (Dec. 14) together to celebrate her 19th birthday. The 8 photographers who worked on Vanessa that day pitched in $5 each to
buy her a bouquet of flowers, seen here being carried by her mom. Happy Birthday Vanessa!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REST OF MY PICTURES

KATHERINE HEIGL & JOSH KELLEY

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
  DECEMBER 7, 2007: Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl & Fiance Josh Kelley To Wed Dec. 23
  A year ago Katherine Heigl was just one of the cast of popular TV series Grey's Anatomy. Today she finds herself being followed around
town by a small group of Hollywood paparazzis. Photo shows Katherine and Josh walking to their car after meeting with friends at  Figa-
ro Cafe & Bakery in Los Feliz last Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. The lovely couple will tie the knot on Dec. 23. The wedding will be held in Park
City, Utah. CLICK HERE to view the rest of my pictures.


NICOLE RICHIE

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
  MAY 29, 2007: Nicole Richie Having Manicure and Pedicure in Beverly Hills
  When Nicole Richie went to a Beverly Hills, Calif. beauty salon for a manicure and pedicure in May 29, 2007, there were 15 pap SUVs following her. By the time she started having her nails done, there were over 30 paps outside the salon. This was just one of the many
photos I took of her that day.   CLICK HERE to view more pictures.


KRISTEN BELL

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
  NOVEMBER 26, 2007: Kristen Bell: The New Popular Girl On The Block
  Kristen Bell (inset photo) has found a new fan in her Studio City, Calif. neighborhood while she and her two friends took a stroll last
Monday, Nov. 26. Photo shows Kristen (wearing a white hoodie) shaking the hand of a lady who introduced herself to them while driving
in the neighborhood. CLICK HERE to view my other photo of Kristen in US Weekly magazine.


EXCLUSIVE PHOTO: KATE WALSH ('PRIVATE PRACTICE')

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
  OCTOBER 27, 2007: Kate Walsh taking a smoke break on the set of 'Private Practice'
  Kate Walsh, the star of "Private Practice" having a smoke break in between takes at the studio. Note the truck to the left of the picture
and the sign on the hood. We know Kate smokes Parliaments and just because it's low on tar and nicotine does not mean it's okay for her
to smoke "within 50 feet" of the truck. We're just kidding, Kate!


HOLLYWOOD PAPARAZZIS: Do not underestimate this bunch of California 'Bums'

Paparazzis in Los Angeles look like 'Bums' compared to their counterparts in Europe
   I don't know if I'm the only one noticing this. The paps in Los Angeles look like "Bums" compared to the paps in Europe. I guess this
is also one of the reasons why the public have no respect for us. Can you imagine driving down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills one lazy
afternoon and you see a barefoot or---in the case of the pap in the above left picture---shoeless individual darting across the street,
only he's not a homeless bum, but a Hollywood paparazzo!

On The Los Angeles Set of Clint Eastwood's New Movie 'Changeling'

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
NOVEMBER 7, 2007: Angelina Jolie stars in Clint Eastwood's 'Changeling' now shooting in L.A.
   I have not had the chance to photograph Angelina Jolie on the set of "Changeling," a movie set in the 1920s and directed by Clint
Eastwood. However, on Wednesday, Nov. 7, I was assigned to cover the movie set at the Pasadena, Calif. City Hall. I got there short-
ly after 7 a.m. Unlike previous shoots in San Dimas and San Bernardino, Calif., security at the set at the City Hall was fairly lax and
the shooting upclose. Since the City Hall remained opened, employees anxious to get a glimpes of Eastwood and Jolie were allowed to
watch the scenes being shot. Some of them even brought out their digital point-and-shoot cameras. I simply mingled with them and
started taking pictures and this is just one of the many shots I had that day.

 TO VIEW MORE PICTURES CLICK HERE

KATHERINE HEIGL

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
OCTOBER 13, 2007: The Hollywood 'Paps' Love Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl
   Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl is the new darling of the Hollywood paparazzi. Main photo shows Katherine stopping by a newsstand
in Los Feliz before heading home. "Sorry, I'm sick," she apologized to the paps who followed her around. Inset photo shows Katherine
at the set of Grey's Anatomy.  
The cast of popular TV series 'Grey's Anatomy'   CLICK HERE

JOEL MADDEN of Good Charlotte

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
JULY 25, 2007: Bauer-Griffin's SCOTT going for the 'Money Shot' of JOEL MADDEN
   Scott, my colleague at Bauer-Griffin, and I had been working on the Nicole Richie story for the past two days.This was the time when
Nicole was hiding from us and the public. The last picture of her and Joel was taken 20 days earlier on July 5. This day, while Nicole
stayed home at Joel's Glendale, Calif. pad, the Good Charlotte front man went to the grocery to grab some food. While Joel was inside
the Ralph's grocery store, Scott and I waited for him to come out. As Joel was walking to his SUV I followed behind him, while Scott took
his position in front of Joel (see red arrows).  CLICK HERE TO SEE SCOTT'S PICTURE. THAT'S ME BEHIND JOEL


SHERYL CROW and son WYATT

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
EXCLUSIVE PHOTO
MAY 28, 2007: Sheryl Crow and adopted son Wyatt
   The U.S. weekly tabloid, The Globe, published in its June 18, 2007 edition (on Page 3) a photo I took of Sheryl Crow taking her adop-
ted son, Wyatt for a hike---for the first time---at the Runyon Canyon Park, at the back of her house in the Hollywood Hills last
May 28. While the Bauer-Griffin website clearly stated that Sheryl took Wyatt for a "hike," the Globe caption distorted the facts by
publishing the photo (above left) implying that Sheryl was an unfit mother because she was jogging while carrying Wyatt under the
banner "SMOTHERLY LOVE."
   As photoraphers, we only take the pictures. We have no control as to how magazine editors will caption the photo. I felt bad when
I saw this picture with the caption (see inset at left) at the market stands that week. I wanted to reach out to Sheryl to let her know
I had nothing to do with the Globe captioning. Sheryl certainly would remember who I was because I was the only photographer (and
I told her I was from the Philippines where she is immensely popular) who took her picture that day making this an "exclusive" photo.


JULIA ROBERTS & HER TWINS, FINN & HAZEL

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS
MARCH 30 - APRIL 3, 2007: Julia Roberts & Her Twins FINN & HAZEL
    ABOVE LEFT: I took this picture early morning of  March 30 (Friday) when Julia arrived at the day care center to drop off her twins,
Finn and Hazel. The first four frames I took were shot from eye level. I knew she would have surely seen me
if I did---so instinctively
I crawled on the sidewalk to the edge of the alley some 50 feet from her and took 21 frames from ground level.
Finn had already
walked inside the center with the help of a staff and Julia, carrying Hazel in her arms, paused a few minutes to admire the puppy.
   TOP RIGHT:
This shot was taken Monday, April 2 after she dropped off the twins. This time I was halfway on the other side of the
alley. I chose this position because I wanted to take her picture showing the outline of her baby bump. I knew it was going to be a
tough one because Julia was always wearing an all-black attire.
   ABOVE RIGHT:
This was taken April 3 when Julia picked up the twins. While the bodyguard positioned his car in front of Julia's Prius
I sprinted to the alley and dove to the ground just as Julia was leaving through the backdoor with the kids.
   Doing the Julia Roberts story was my first "big break"---a month after I became a paparazzi. Altogether, in three days, I shot four
(4) sets of "exclusive" photos of one of Hollywood's most reclusive celebrity.   CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PIC OF THE TWINS

BRAD PITT & ANGELINA JOLIE

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
APRIL 16, 2007: The Brangelina Dropping Off The Kids At The Warner Bros. Day Care Center
    I was working for MjjPhotos when I shot the top left photo as Brad and Angelina were walking to their SUV after dropping off their
kids at the Warner Bros. day care center in Burbank, Calif. on the morning of April 16. There was only one other photographer who
was there with me, Claudia of RAMEY. This was a few weeks after the couple got back from Vietnam with their newly-adopted
son,
Pax (above right photo).  Lower right photo shows a studio security guard (foreground) who tried to stop me and Claudia
from taking
pictures of the couple and their children as they arrived at the day care center parking lot.


KATE WALSH

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
SEPT. 1: Kate Walsh of TV's 'Private Practice' weds Alex Young in  Ojai, California
About 15 paparazzi from different Hollywood-based photo agencies braved the 2-hour drive and a 100+ degrees heat Saturday, Sep-
tember 1 to cover the wedding of Alex Young and TV's "Private Practice" lead star Kate Walsh (inset photo) at the Presbyterian Church
in Ojai, Calif. The couple (inset photo: greeting their arriving guests at the resort's Casa Elar estate) and their guests
arrived at the
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Thursday, Aug. 30. The four-day wedding activities was capped with a brunch, Sunday, Sept. 2. Security was
tight and the deployment of two security canines (above, left) outside the church was a little bit of an "overkill."

Top right photo: Mickey (JFX Images), Chris (Bauer-Griffin) and Carl (Finalpixx) positioned themselves across the street to get a GV
(g
eneral view) shot of the church. Lower right photo: the Hollywood paparazzi caravan outside the church.

ANDREW DEETZ, KYLE HENDERSON & Britney's bodyguard J.C.CAMERA

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com       INSET PHOTO #3: FlynetOnline.com
Britney Spears' longtime bodyguard J.C. Camera beats up paparazzo Andrew Deetz in Vegas
   J.C. Camera was a longtime Britney Spears bodyguard. He was there when Britney shaved her head early this year.
Camera was there, too, when Britney went to rehab in March. Flynet's Andy Deetz and his partner Kyle Henderson have been covering
Britney Spears for sometime. How it all ended up the way it did seem so sad.

     PerezHilton.com reports: "Britney Spears bodyguard, Cesar Julio Camera, has been officially charged with battery.
The altercation happened last month as the mother of two and her “protector” were leaving a Spa at the Wynn Hotel in
Las Vegas and a paparazzo got a little too close for comfort. Andrew Deetz, the photographer, filed a complaint against
Camera after the incident and police came to the scene to question both parties. Camera was charged with one count of
misdemeanor battery. If convicted, he faces up to six months in jail, and or a $1,000 fine."

     Last time I saw Andy and Kyle, their only comment was that they will let the courts decide---if indeed the case goes to trial.
We may be competition out in the field, but we're all behind you, man! If it can happen to you, it can happen to anyone of us!

THE BECKHAMS

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
The Beckhams Invade Hollywood in July 2007
The Beckhams took Los Angeles by storm after their arrival during the second week of July this year. The family's first outing was a visit
to a Toys R Us store in Culver City, Calif. last July 14. Above left photo: David Beckham, and sons Brooklyn
and Romeo get ready to enter
the store. Top right photo: Hollywood "paps" (slang for "paparazzi") waiting for the Beckhams
at the exit door. Above right photo: Vic-
toria Beckham leads son Brooklyn to their car as they leave the toy store.



Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Hollywood paparazzi invade the Beckham neighborhood in Beverly Hills
       A few days after the Beckhams arrived in Los Angeles, Hollywood paparazzi invaded the neighborhood of the Beckhams in Beverly
Hills, Calif. (see main photo). All the vehiles in the picture belong the the paparazzi. Above left photo: The 'paps' got bored waiting for
the Beckhams and one them took out a soccer ball and started playing on the street.  Above right photo: One of the Beckham security
detail came out and started taking pictures of each and every paparazzi SUV parked on the street outside their home.

PARIS HILTON

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Paris Hilton: Darling of the Hollywood Paparazzi
No celebrity in Hollywood is loved by the paparazzi more than Paris Hilton.
The day I took this picture, I counted 32 of them---some with video cameras,
others with digital still cameras. Even the paparazzi are a rare breed. Why?
There's no school anywhere in the world that offer courses on how to become
a paparazzi. That's what makes these guys "extraordinarily-talented individuals."
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PARIS CLOSE UP


BRITNEY SPEARS' UMBRELLA RAMPAGE

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Paparazzo SUV attacked by Britney Spears with Umbrella goes on E-Bay
The paparazzo who owns the SUV that Britney Spears attacked with an umbrella in March this year
has placed his vehicle for auction on E-Bay. Last we heard from Dano, the bid was already at
$35,000. Dano is pictured above holding a copy of the National Enquirer showing Britney hitting his SUV
with an umbrella. And, yes, the very umbrella that Britney used in the rampage comes with the SUV bid, Dano said.

MAINSTREAM PRESS MEETS THE HOLLYWOOD PAPARAZZI

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
NBC's Chuck Henry Having Fun With Hollywood Paparazzi
       As pro-immigrant protesters started to gather near the L.A. City Hall on May 1,
 just after 1 p.m., I was in a convoy of about 15 SUVs (sport utility vehicle) driven
by Hollywood paparazzi following Britney Spear's tour bus to San Diego where she
was to perform (at the House of Blues) for the first time in three years.

       Outside the House of Blues in San Diego I met NBC's Chuck Henry  who was there to do
a story on Britney's first comeback performance.
As we waited for Britney to finish her
14-minute set, Chuck came up with this crazy idea wherein the Hollywood paparazzi posse
would pretend to take his picture and Chuck and his female companion would pretend they
did not want to have their picture taken.
We all had fun that night.  Now, if only the
mainstream press can be as friendly to us as Chuck Henry was, maybe, the paparazzi won't
be getting all the negative publicity---all these years.


DURING THE 'CRAZY DAYS' WITH BRITNEY SPEARS

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

JOEL MADDEN

Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Hey! They are ordinary folks just like you and me!
On Saturday, August 4, after following him around town while he went shopping,
Joel Madden, Nicole Richie's musician boyfriend, readily obliged to have his
picture taken
with me when he stopped to gas up his Mercedes SUV.


Photo by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Joel Madden, musician boyfriend of Nicole Richie
One day a few weeks ago, I photographed Joel Madden, the musician boyfriend
of Hollywood socialite Nicole Richie, when he went to shop at Barney's New York
in Beverly Hills. I took this photo as he was waiting for valet service. I did
not notice that I was in the picture---reflected on the display window of the up-
scale store (see red circle)---until I started editing my photos.

JOEL MADDEN Files click here

MUHAMMAD ALI

Photos by JOHN L. SHINN III / PaparazziNotebook.com
Muhammad Ali's daughter Laila Ali marries Curtis Conway
How many of us will have the chance (in our lifetime) to see boxing legend
Muhammad Ali in person? On July 22, Sunday, I got an assignment to shoot
the wedding of Ali's daughter, Laila, also a boxing champ in her own right. I
took the main photo as wedding guests started arriving at the Ritz Carlton
Hotel in Marina del Rey, Calif. that afternoon. I did not realize that the man
using a walker was Muhammad Ali himself until I started editing my photos
later that day. I and another photographer from my agency had to check into
the hotel---we got a room facing the swimming pool where the ceremonies
were held---to shoot the wedding discreetly.


COPYRIGHT 2007-2010 | John "JT" Shinn IV & John Shinn III  |  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 
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