Every now and then I get to play paparazzi. Not on Wilshire Blvd or outside some club at 2 a.m. Not hanging from a helicopter over an extravagant Hollywood wedding. It’s usually on the steps of one courthouse or another, waiting to grab a photo of some celebrity or politician who got themselves in trouble.
A long time ago I worked a lot in Union City NJ, and if I was sent to a courthouse, it was usually to photograph a mobster, a gangster, a tough-guy, see?
And they’d come-out fast and walk right at me with a look that said, “I’m gonna remember your face kid…and I hope that someday we meet again…know what I mean?”
But to some people it’s a compliment to have the press waiting to take their picture when they have a court appearance, and by some people, I mean mostly former supermodels.
Stephanie Seymour was recently appearing in Stamford, and she stepped-out of a black Mercedes looking fantastic and walking toward the courthouse like she was on her way to a charity luncheon. Big dark sunglasses, black dress and coat, stylish hair, runway gait…all getting a murmur of approval from the waiting press….not a wasted morning, thank you very much.
Stephanie Seymour arrives at courthouse in Stamford, CT and looks smashing.
If I have to be hanging-around in front of a courthouse early in the morning, this is who I want to be waiting for. Not the victim of a horrible crime, not someone in shackles being brought in the back entrance, but someone I’ve seen in the Victoria’s Secret catalog a thousand times who had an extra glass of chardonnay and didn’t hurt anyone.
Oh, and the lawyers are fun to photograph too. They’re happy to be there no matter who they’re defending. They’re sharp dressers and know how to look at a camera. And they’ll talk long enough so you can get good stills AND good video.
Because really, no one wants to be photographed when they’re embarrassed and just want to be left alone, and I don’t know any photographers who enjoy doing that.
Unless you’re a true paparazzi, and you’ve stumbled upon Kanye West exiting Spago with toilet paper stuck to his shoe.
(C) 2016 Stan Godlewski