Royal family
A celebrity photographer is lifting the lid on what the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ relationship with the paparazzi is like today.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had a complicated relationship with the paparazzi for years. The duke’s harsh view of the press goes back to his childhood and intensified when his mother, Princess Diana, was chased by photographers to her death.
Now, that the prince is married with children of his own, Harry has insisted he doesn’t want history repeating itself. But while the Sussexes may have wanted privacy, they also know they need the press to stay relevant and promote their projects just like other celebrities.
Now a longtime celebrity photographer is sharing more on the duke and duchess’s relationship with the paparazzi and insists that they say one thing but want another.
Prince Harry and Meghan ‘act like they don’t want photos but they do’
Professional photographer and host of Paparazzi Podcast Mark Karloff has snapped pics of countless celebrities throughout his career, getting shots of everyone from Mike Tyson to Jim Carrey to Julia Roberts to Olivia Wilde. He also worked as Heidi and Spencer Pratt’s personal photographer for a few years.
Speaking to the security-focused platform Techopedia about how the Sussexes have been acting toward the paps lately Karloff said: “Harry and Meghan act like they did when they didn’t want photos, but I feel like they do want photos now. But with their level of security, it’s not easy and they make it difficult. Everything they are doing is pretty set up, so if anything they will have their people tip someone off to get a candid photo of them.
“But otherwise I think they have their own photographers with them and just show up places to get publicity opportunities. That’s what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen lately, and what other photographers have relayed. If you spot them and they’re out and you try to get close, they are going to make it difficult but at the same time if there is nothing they can do about it, they’re going to give it up.”
Drones are being used by photographers a lot now
Karloff also talked about the way technology has changed how paps can get pictures nowadays.
He noted that drones are a game changer and explained: “Drones are being used by photographers more now. I’m from an era where you had to rent a helicopter to get shots of real estate, and now it’s drones because helicopters are pricey. You’d have to fly a drone really close to get a detailed photo of someone personally. So I don’t think people are using drones to get candid shots or anything like that.
“Obviously, there is a Harry and Meghan scenario; if they’re at a pool somewhere, someone might attempt to do that. Some of these drones have high-megapixel cameras, where they could get a crop or something like that. But there is always implied privacy, especially in the U.S., so drones are not ideal. There are plenty of illegal drones out there, shooting real estate, celebrities, stuff like that. I haven’t heard of it lately.”
