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Story Behind the Photo #3
Story Behind the Photo is an ongoing series that highlights a unique story behind a photo or photos created by a Shutterstock submitter. This month‘s featured story comes from Rena Schild. Rena recently participated in Shutterstock‘s Red Carpet program, which specializes in obtaining media clearance for photographers to access celebrity-themed events — in this case, the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. The Red Carpet program is a great way for you to source Shutterstock celebrity images for editorial usage. You can view Rena‘s gallery here.
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White House Correspondents DinnerThe White House Correspondents Dinner was held on April 26, 2008, at the Washington Hilton Hotel. This event is the closest thing D.C. has to an L.A.-type red carpet event, with an often odd mix of politicians and celebrities coming together for an evening of speeches, schmoozing and partying. When Shutterstock started its Red Carpet program, I immediately thought of this event: for me, this is D.C.'s biggest star-studded night, why not start at the top? I had no previous experience photographing celebrities on the red carpet, and the celebrity photographs in People magazine belie what it takes to get the shot. With red carpet events, jockeying for position is the biggest challenge -- staking out where you think the best vantage point will be, defending your spot against other photographers who try to sneak in at the last minute or who get in the way of your shot. I was lucky to get a little space in front, and even luckier to meet someone who helped fend off others who wanted to squeeze me out of my much-envied spot.
However, the night was not without conflict as it turns out. I was literally in the middle of two photographers who got into a shouting match as Colin Powell was passing us, and they were almost ejected.
Easier said than done, of course, when you can‘t control where the celebrities walk or stop, what they do, for whom they pose, etc. But I got a lot of shots, and had a blast doing it. I‘m very appreciative of the Shutterstock on the Red Carpet program for having given me that opportunity. |