Digital Photo Tip #20 By Bruce Kirkby Sep 1, 2006

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Shooting the Stars

 

This month, a flock of A-list celebrities will make brief, heavily guarded appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival. And with camera-phones and tiny digital cameras in nearly every purse and pocket nowadays, the chances of getting photographic evidence of a movie star encounter are higher than ever.

 

But how do you get a really good celebrity photo? Surprisingly, the best approach is exactly the same as you’d take while searching for intimate travel portraits in distant, exotic countries: try and capture a moment of humanity, an interaction between you and your subject, barriers aside.

 

In the case of a star, you’ll have just a split second to snap your pic. But don’t fret: getting an interaction isn’t impossible. Practice taking shots of your friends with the camera lowered to your chin and with the camera held high overhead—people tend to smile at a face, not a lens. Make sure your camera is set to fully automatic, with red-eye reduction turned off.

 

At the red carpet, sharpen your elbows and get ready for lots of pushing and yelling. Stake your ground early if you want a good spot, being both firm and polite as others press in. As your star of choice passes by, wait for a momentary lull, then say something funny, sweet, interesting—anything that might stand out from the mayhem. If you’re lucky, they’ll turn, make eye contact and smile. Don’t wait, just snap.

 

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