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RUMA SINGH / TNN / Aug 3, 2007, 00:00 IST

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Celebrity-watching means big bucks for the media. Who commands the maximum moolah?

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Celebrity-watching means big bucks for the media. Who commands the maximum moolah?

Photographers make big bucks with celebrity pics.David Beckham says he's stunned. The football star who has just moved to Los Angeles claims he's followed by photographers wherever he goes. "It's over the top here in LA," he's been quoted as saying . "In London, if we'd go out for dinner , there would be 4-5 cars following us. The other night we had 47 cars of paparazzi following us.No joke... "
Best Photo Ops
Confirming this is a study done by Forbes, which found that the types of pictures being snapped have changed of late. No more staged moments of stars smiling and posing. Instead, what's hot are unstaged street shots of celebs caught off guard. Ken Sunshine, veteran US publicist of stars like Ben Affleck, denounces the constant flashbulbs as "obtrusive to the point of insanity" but admits that readers enjoy celeb-focused moments. In fact, a Time article in 2005 quoted a top paparazzo, Mel Bouzad, as having made $150,000 for a photo of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez after their break-up . "If I get a picture of Britney and her baby, I'll be able to buy a house in the hills above Sunset Boulevard ," he said. It's often claimed that the need is a two-way street - stars need publicity to boost their image, while photographers help them brand themselves. There's no doubt that readers can instantly recall most 'famous' paparazzi moments: from Princess Diana clicked aboard Dodi Fayed's yacht, to the Duchess of York's toe-sucking antics, to Britney's drunk 'commando' moments and Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton's numerous drunken escapades. Stand-up comedian Vir Das is clear: "The amount of paparazzi attention is directly proportionate to the alcohol in your system," he says, "And no, here the paparazzi don't cross the line because the celebrities can't see the line - it looks wavy and crooked to them." Which celeb's exploits does he most enjoy following? "I'd love to see more of Shilpa Shetty," he says, "She's used to being locked in a house - now she's let out, let's have the photographers chase her." The age of the paparazzi is here to stay, he adds. "There was a time when to get your picture in the paper you had to be a criminal , politician or dead. No more."
Two-way ticket

Adman and media watcher Suhel Seth analyses society's celebobsession . "All celebrities have a character flaw in their DNA that points to fallibility and makes news. People feel, 'In some way she's like I am.' As human beings, we love seeing our icons pulled down, and the media is a catalyst in that," he says. And yes, the relationship between celebrities and the media is a two-way street. "Anyone who complains is a hypocrite. You can't use the media for your own convenience and then cry about it," he says.

TV anchor and actor Mandira Bedi, too, refuses to be hypocritical. "It's a symbiotic relationship - about mutual respect," she says. "Post the World Cup controversies regarding my tattoos and the flag, I chose to lie low for a while. I never want to be in the news for the wrong reasons." Mandira's favourite celebrity: Angelina Jolie. "Besides being perfect eye candy, she's done serious work. Her photos always appear alongside news of substance - her work for the UN and her adoptions ."
TOP SELLING CELEB PHOTOS:
Shiloh Nouvel's new-born pics - $4.1 million Demi Moore-Ashton Kucher wedding - $3 million Eva Longoria-Tony Parker's wedding - $2 million Pax Thien Joli-Pitt's first photos - $2 million Britney-Kevin and newborn Sean Preston - $500,000 Brad Pitt-Angelina's first together pics -$500,000 Angelina's pregnancy photos - $500,000
TOP-VIEWED CELEB MOMENTS:
Brangelina spotted together on the beach Paparazzi shots of Princess Diana's car crash Brangelina and their kids in an auto in Pune Duchess of York's toe-sucking antics Dodi and Diana on his yacht Lindsay Lohan's drunk driving Paris Hilton coming out of jail Kate Moss doing cocaine.

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