Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous

by Jennifer Buhl

Get an Insider Glimpse into What Life is Really Like Among Hollywood's Bright Lights and Big Stars
As a young woman struggling to make ends meet in L.A., photographer Jennifer Buhl never dreamed that a chance encounter with the paparazzi would lead her to chasing celebrities around in her bright-red, beat-up pickup truck. It wasn't long before she became one of the most successful "paps" in the business, photographing and interacting with stars up close and seeing her iconic pictures across magazine covers nationwide.
A Hilarious and Utterly Addictive Memoir...
Shooting Stars is the first memoir to offer the inside scoop on the world of paparazzi and their surprisingly cooperative relationship with the stars. Jennifer recounts her wild ride through this testosterone-driven industry with moxie, weaving juicy real-life celebrity encounters with her own poignant story of searching for love and finding her way among the glittering lights of Tinseltown.
An Irresistible Snapshot...
A smart and sassy chronicle of celebrity culture, fame, and the art of perfect timing, Shooting Stars reveals the real lives of Hollywood's rich and famous—from behind the camera.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Celebrity

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found the details of life as a paparazzi to be pretty fascinating. Like many people, my image of them as relentless vultures was cemented by Princess Diana's accident in 1998 (which seemed more the fault her driver going too fast to escape them). While there is a lot of truth to that, most paparazzi don't resort to extreme reckless driving unless the stars try to outrun them (which they generally don't because they want to be photographed). In fact, the best way to avoid having your picture taken by "paps" is to simply put your hand in front of your face, or wear a baseball cap so low it covers the eyes.

The author, one of the very few women in a business dominated mostly by British, European and Latin American men, shows a different side in which there are rules of engagement (like never get in an elevator with your subject). More often, there are days of waiting around before anything exciting happens. This is especially true for those who generally shun the photographers camped on their streets (what the paparazzi call "doorstepping"). Others -- Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears -- make a point of attracting the largest group they can by tipping off the photographers, and driving past restaurants and cafes known to be hangouts; and only then, pull over for a "gang bang" (as this phenomenon is referred to).

For those who want to become a paparazzi, the main requirement is to blend in, have the right camera, and drive the right kind of car. A "pap" car is pretty easy to spot because it is either an SUV or a Prius with tinted windows and temporary dealer plates (to thwart those who pretend to be the police). A vertical back window is also essential to shoot through -- while remaining hidden -- because any angle will distort the picture. Many of the British paparazzi had wartime experience -- either as combatants or journalists. The skills are the same. Point and shoot.

Of course, the whole thing seems juvenile. After all, your job is to camp on a celebrity's street for three days (sometimes it takes two people if the street is open ended). When celeb emerges, chase them until they stop at a store, or get gas. Then stealthily take a photograph of them if they have a reputation for not "giving it up" (the shots must be full-length, smiling and candid looking because magazines generally don't want ugly pictures where housewives can't see what the stars are wearing...though there are exceptions in the case of psycho/plastic surgery disasters). And yes, the job pays extremely well because gossip rags are the only thing most people can read.

Not only that, there's something funny about a world where Paris Hilton is praised as a genius and actresses like Jody Foster and Hillary Duff are denigrated. The downside to the job is the constant fighting among the "paps." When they feel their turf is being invaded things can get a bit nasty (and sometimes, though taking photographs on a public beach is not illegal; the locals, their bodyguards, and the police caused a near riot, chasing them off an exclusive section of Malibu Beach back in 2009). That's why Buhl (who throughout the book talks of her need for a baby) eventually decided she had had enough of the stress.

All I know is if I ever get to Los Angeles, I will certainly be looking for the paparazzi vehicles parked in front of trendy restaurants.

[Bret Thompsett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Over dramatized drivel. I worked with this girl, in fact I even feature in her book. She was hardly the best, was she ruthless? Yes, she got good photos and did well but we all did in those days. As a woman yeah she stood out. I think everyone in LA was stoked to see her go, celebs and photogs alike.

[Skyler · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly wish I could say that I loved this book, but admittedly, I was sorely disappointed. To show you what I mean, I have compiled a list below of parts of this book that abhorred me. I hope this suffices because I honestly can't find anything positive to say about this memoir.
*Please note that whenever I mention a "you," I am speaking in regards to the author herself.

1. "First, I find a tall fence, a row of thick bushes, or a steep slope of land next to the road. These block the view of my "bathroom" from homes. Next, I employ my truck as a blockade....Then I eye-sweep the view, giving special attention to strolling pedestrians, and do my business. It's much cleaner than a public restroom, and it feels like I'm out camping."

Okay. While it may sound appealing to to squat upon someone's lawn or some celeb's greenery and pretend that you are simply "out camping", most people would not view this as a reputable modus operandi. "En plain aire" is simply not attractive. I found it very odd that the author felt the need to include this tidbit in her memoir. I'm glad I'm not famous, because I would never want some random paparazzo that I don't know, urinating on my property.

2. "I couldn't do that to her. It's like...we're friends."

The celebs are not your friends. They cover their faces because they don't want you all up in their faces taking their mugs. As much as you might think that Katie Heigle is your friend, she is not. She's polite and that is that. Sure, she doesn't smash your face into your own camera for a change. But you are far, far, from friendship status.

3. "Anyway, the truth is, I'm into him. I want Aaron. He wants me. Though not enough for a husband or babies, which is still what I want more."

Great. So not only is this book a horrendous excuse for a memoir, but now it has magically transformed itself into a trashy romance novel to boot. I just about lost it when the author made a reference to her "rotting eggs" and used the phrase "baby daddy" multiple times.

4. "'The paranoid girl will be checking for us in every crack, including her rank arse,' says Simon. 'You may be beautiful, Kate, but your arse still smells like the rest of ours.'"

Although you might feel that throwing out raunchy quotes by your co-workers in order to humanize the paparazzi is a viable tactic, let me assure you that it is not. Where is the tasteful literature? One certainly will not find one iota of decorum within the pages of Shooting Stars: My Life as a Paparazza.

5. "What if I go to jail for five years? All for what? This job that makes me money but is slowly taking my life?"

If you honestly felt that way you would have quit life as a paparazzo far sooner than you did. Why does every recounted event carry so much weighted drama? I'm sorry that taking photos of celebrities is stealing your life away from you. Buck up; you'll get through this.

I shall stop here as this review is getting quite lengthy. But to sum things up, this book was a let-down for sure. I'm actually regretting the fact that I requested it on Netgalley at all!

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was curious about this book, and i'm glad I had a chance to read it.

I didn't have a very high opinion of paparazzi. What I liked about this book was that it was well written and read as very honest.

Jennifer was just doing a job, getting celebrity pics. She wasn't obnoxious or rude to the celebrities. Like she mentioned, most like having their pictures shown, because it keeps them in the spotlight.
There are many fun stories about different celebs, but all told with sensitivity and without sensationalism.

I found the book very interesting and it changed my mind about the paps.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tidbits about the celebs she covered was really interesting and in that aspect it was a perfect summer read that requires no thought. But then her personal life weaves into it, as often does with careers/jobs, and that was less interesting to me, but still important to her own story, as her being pregnant provided the exit from being a pap.

But seriously, celebs and the paparazzi are not friends, they can't be based on their actual relationship, and that part seemed a bit delusional. Especially the whole thing with Adrian Grenier.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed by the author's determination to live for herself and her rejection of what was expected of her. That I found inspiring. The other part of this book that was interesting was how mundane all of these interactions with celebrities became once hanging around to photograph them became the author's job. I ended up thinking that they were all quite boring. Is it self-serving for me to think that my own friends are far more interesting, even if they are neither glamorous nor rich?

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating to learn what’s it like behind the camera and how paparazzi work

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flipped open this book because I thought it would be the perfect fluffy, distraction I needed on an evening when the world had been a bit much. Then, I found myself staying up past my bedtime, turning down page corners and thinking a lot about what it is to be a woman in this day.

The book has four threads. The first is a practical look into a papparazi's everyday life, from driving tricks to camera lenses to the sociological rules of the interactions (example: no photos inside elevators together with celebs, but go crazy as soon as you step out.)

The second is of course celebrity itself, which I didn't have that much interest in. Learning how the celebs can evade paps was interesting though. Most who are photographed have chosen, at least on some level, to be.

The third is the media industry. I hadn't realized how magazines and online services vastly prefer smiles to frowns, will never intentionally out anyone or reveal a B-lists marital indiscretions. Or that what sells are female celebs ages 15-40 because -- and this was stunning -- that's what mostly female audience who consume this media want to look at. Not men except for rare exceptions. Women want to look at young women, in particular if they are great or lousy dressers, pregnant, or gaining/losing weight.

The fourth thread is the author's own story of herself as an independent 35-37 year old woman lived as a single woman and freelancer in a demanding male-dominated profession. That story is fascinating from a feminist and a sociological standpoint just as the stories of other women through the ages have been.

She has to be braver and tougher than the men around her, in large part because they threaten and harass her to the point where the poison and intimidation makes it hard to cope. (Do men ever realize this? That a woman who makes it in the face of their aggression and blocking is so much more ballsy than they are, because it's ipso facto a harder climb up the hill for her?)

She deals with her love life - which is decidedly imperfect and fumbling as so many people's are. Her attitudes toward sex are occasionally infuriating (she thinks she's a 'good girl' because she so rarely has sex; she disses 'metrosexuals' in favor of 'manly men', etc) and revealing of the old thought patterns many, otherwise feminist, women have in their heads in this era.

She also deals with her body's fertility end-date -- which is a nearly inevitable portion of most single women's mindsets at that time of life, even if they don't particularly want kids. And, ultimately, she works while pregnant which is a unique challenge in her profession.

This is the sort of book I can imagine a PhD student delving into someday as part of their research on women's attitudes, lives and the sociology of feminism in the early 21st century. It's won its place on my library shelf next to female diplomats, corporate leaders and doctors.

[Kristin Alford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, addictive read made more so by the recognition of image descriptions, how close the vision of celebrity is (part 1 for hedonism)

[James Aylott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer you could have used my real name. Good book but possibly could have been marketed a little differently! Less C list celebrity and more woman's struggle in a man's world.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I disapprove of the author's choice of profession, the stories were fascinating. Guilty pleasure.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It is so interesting, getting an inside look at what it means to be a paparazzi, as well as their relationships with the celebs they photograph.

[Kimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at Geeky Chiquitas

Actual rating: 3.5

Reviewed by Audrey

Jennifer Buhl is one of the few female paparazzi (or paparazza, as she likes to call it) in LA. She slowly becomes the best in the industry and proves that even though females are uncommon in the paparazzi line of work, they can still reach the top. This memoir is a tale of Jennifer's journey to the top. She shows how she has gone through so many challenges yet succeeds in the end. She gets in trouble with the LAPD and becomes the enemy of a famous celebrity yet still manages to succeed.

I admit that it took me a very long time to read this book. It wasn't particularly long but it still took me about a month to read it. Shooting Stars is the kind of book that you shouldn't read slowly. You shouldn't read it portion by portion. I think that the best way to read this book is to sit down and read it continuously. At first, I wasn't able to appreciate the honesty of this book. I thought of it as a bit boring and kinda pointless too but when school ended and I decided to finish this book once and for all, I realized that it is a nice book.

Shooting Stars was a very honest book. I learned a lot about how the paparazzi work and how they are important to celebrities. Lots of people think that paparazzi are just a bunch of people who find out where celebrities are and take pictures of them. I also thought that the paparazzi liked taking shots of celebrities who have done something terrible or scandalous. After I finished reading this book I realized that it was not like that at all. Shooting Stars was very enlightening and I certainly haven't read a book like this before. I loved the little facts that she had about the paparazzi and the paparazzi dictionary at the end. She made sure that all of her readers would understand what she's talking about in her books.

Jennifer wrote this book simply and straight to the point. She placed the right amount of humor into it and wrote it in a way that would make you appreciate the paparazzi. She didn't try to make herself look good to her readers but she still managed to make me like her. Her story was believable and I loved the information that she gave about the celebrities, though she might wanna make sure that Kate Bosworth doesn't read this.

I loved how Jennifer can be a badass when she needs to be and doesn't let herself be bullied. She was able to prove that she can be as good, and even better, than the male paparazzi. She was able to show that she is a capable woman and that her gender does not hinder her from becoming a great paparazzi. Being female even helps her become better. She's not afraid to fight back and is very strong too. She is still humble even when she has reached the top and knows that she can still make mistakes. She works hard to get what she wants and if she has her eye on something, she doesn't give up. She wasn't shown as a perfect person which shows you just how honest Jennifer tried to be in her memoir.

The reason why I didn't give this book 5 stars is because her friends weren't really talked about much. Of course it's Jennifer's memoir so it has to be about her and being a paparazzi but her friends just seemed a bit neglected throughout the whole book. Some of them even appeared to only be talked about because she needed to talk about them to further the plot. I also didn't approve of the fact that she didn't tell Bo about his son. I felt like he definitely deserved to know. Even though Jennifer had her reasons and knew that Bo might not make a good father, she still should have told him. The child is still half made by Bo and therefore Bo deserves to know that he has a child. If Jennifer is reading this, I strongly suggest that you tell Bo though that is your decision and if you don't wanna tell him then that's fine. Other than those two reasons, Shooting Stars was a great book. Those two reasons can easily be overlooked if you concentrate on the good points of the book.

All in all, this book was a great and fun read. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of Buhl's works. I would like to thank the author for providing me with an ARC of her book. I really appreciated it and am honored to have been given the opportunity to review the book. I think that this book would be perfect for those who want an honest portrayal of the paparazzi world. Those who want to know more about celebrities and their relationship with the paparazzi, this book would be perfect for you.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the kind of book I would normally pick up. I'm not super into celeb culture and have never been the kind of person who was into reading things like People and US Weekly and any other magazine or website that deals in the photographs that the paparazzi are selling to. I wound up reading it because Trey Graham, formally of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, was mailing interested people books from his bookshelf in order to help clear it out. This is the book that I wound up with, so I felt like I should read it.

Although it's not a world I care much about, I must say that Buhl is a decent writer as she had me engaged in reading a book on a subject I'm not really interested in. Buhl spent a little over two years as a paparazza. She recounts her experiences getting involved in it and how the business actually works. She also spends a lot of time justifying the existence of the paparazzi. It all felt a lot like someone making excuses and trying to justify what they're doing even though they know it's not right.

She even completely contradicts herself in the book on the matter. She sort of smugly provides a list of things that celebrities can do to keep themselves away from the paparazzi and to have the paparazzi lose interest in them if they really don't want to be bothered. Then she spends chapters recounting stalking Kate Bosworth and Jennifer Aniston pointing out that they hate paparazzi and do everything they can to avoid them. There is no doubt that some celebrities and pseudo-celebrities want the attention, and I don't disagree with her on that point. It is very obvious to that there are a lot of people who don't want the attention or at least not in the way that they're getting it, and the paparazzi is very intrusive and invasive.

As I mentioned I never really cared that much about celebrity culture and never bought any of those types of magazines or sought out some of the websites that traffic in this kind of stuff. However, I do very much like spoilers and casting info and news about all the television shows I love. Some sites I like to get that information from deal in both kinds of "news" and I would click on headlines in my RSS feed sometimes. Over a year ago I made a personal decision to not give any clicks to those types of photos if I could help it. I will only look at celebrity photos if they're things they have posted online themselves or when they're being photographed at an official event where they're expecting it. After reading this book I feel even better about that decision.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer Buhl was struggling to make it in LA until she decided to try her hand at being a paparazzi. That’s not to say that being a paparazzi was easy. Paparazzi often tip each other off and it took Jennifer some time to make connections. She faced bullying and discrimination, both for being one of the few women in the business and for being successful. Despite the challenges, she really was successful, getting some fantastic shots with celebrities, as well as many fascinating stories to tell.

As I mentioned in my review of Jennifer, Gwyneth, and Me, I haven’t gotten into celebrity culture much, with the exception of fangirling about authors. I couldn’t say no to Shooting Stars though, because I love books which share an insider perspective on offbeat jobs. On that count, this book definitely delivered. Paparazzi have all kinds of interesting cultural quirks and tricks for doing their job. The author included details I wouldn’t even have thought to ask about. For example, I loved learning about the differences between paparazzi in America and Europe. I thought it was surprising and fascinating which shots of celebrities were most valuable.The author also included some details I’d rather not have known about, like how one manages to go the bathroom while staking out a celebrity’s house.

The last third of the book switched focus to Jennifer’s attempt to have a baby, another part of the story I could have lived without. Although I liked hearing about A.J. Jacobs’ and Rachel Bertsche’s attempts to have babies with their partners, this was different. Perhaps because I don’t want to have children, I didn’t relate to the author’s desperation to have a baby, with or without a partner. I also thought she was a bit hypocritical with her constant statements about her unwillingness to sleep around contradicted by her actions. I hate to judge a book by the author, but when an author shares their intimate, personal experiences, I need to relate to them. In this case, I didn’t relate, so the personal story felt like a distraction from the fascinating bits about the author’s career. The majority of the book was about the author’s career so overall this was an enjoyable book to read. I think someone interested in having children or more interested in celebrities might enjoy it even more.

This review first published at Doing Dewey.

[Larry · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Jennifer is...funny, smart, respectful..hot." That is one review on the cover. Should've given me a clue about the book. How vapid can you be to praise an author on their looks? And Jennifer Buhl is not funny, smart or respectful, if this book is the best that she has to offer. She spends the first half of the book defending her chosen profession, paparazzi. And then in the second half calls famous people that wish for a bit of privacy bitches and worse. According to Jennifer the stars WANT to be chased and photographed wherever they are or at least they should want that since it is "good for their career". Bullshit. You are a stalker or worse. When she is spying on Kate Bosworth at home with high power binoculars (and of course everyone would enjoy that kind of invasion of privacy!) Jennifer states, "We relish knowing how infuriated Kate would be, if she only knew." Does that sound like a job for a "smart" or "respectful" person?
She spends a great deal of time praising Paris Hilton on her skills, beauty and ...what!?! This is Paris Hilton that you are talking about. Forget it. Save your self some time and read a real book. This book is as trashy as the tabloids that she sold her photos to.
I picked it up thinking that it was about rock stars, not Hollywood. My mistake.

[Stephanie (the nerdy princess) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


Jennifer Buhl is one of the few female paparazzi (or paparazza, as she likes to call it) in LA. She slowly becomes the best in the industry and proves that even though females are uncommon in the paparazzi line of work, they can still reach the top. This was an OK book. I liked how you got an inside look on how the paparazzi live and do their job. It’s nice to actually see their side for once and not what everyone else says even bad things about the paparazzi.

The one thing I could not get over is how the celebrities will just drive around to get a big group of the paparazzi to follow them…really dumb if you ask me.


I loved how Jennifer can be a badass when she needs to be and doesn't let herself be bullied. She was able to prove that she can be as good, and even better, than the male paparazzi.


All in all, this book was a great and fun read, but it wasn’t a “OMG I can’t stop reading book. I was bored after a couple of chapters. It was the same thing over and over again”

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer was a waitress working in L.A. when she saw some paparazzi in action taking pictures of Paris Hilton. She figured she could do that too and hooked up with an agency. She spent the next three years following celebs around taking interesting pictures of them to have appear in magazines. She made 60% of the fee on her pictures and ended up making about $10,000 a month as a "pap".

At 37, her biological clock was ticking and she ended up getting pregnant ... she eventually moved to Colorado and opened a photography business.

I like reading memoirs and this was an interesting one because it gives insight on what it's like to be a celeb getting stalked by paparazzi but also the lengths paps will go to get the money shot. Jennifer names names as to who works with the paps and who are despised by the paps. Some celebs work the paps because they want the exposure while others don't need it now and avoid it.

I liked the writing style of this book. As a head's up, there is swearing so is for mature readers.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2014/04...

[Bob Schnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced reading copy

Jennifer Buhl is not your typical celebrity chaser, as she will tell you time and again in this memoir of her brief stint as a "paparazza". She is a lonely female in a male dominated profession which she seems to think gives her some special power to relate to her "doorsteps", a.k.a. the celebrities she is trying to photograph. Meanwhile her biological clock is ticking, ad nauseum.

The inside scoop on the operations of the LA paparazzi is fascinating. Although the celebrity stories are dated, they still resonate. Her stories of personal triumphs and failures in her assignments are entertaining and well told. Unfortunately, when she is talking about her feelings and her need to have a baby, she comes across as whiny and needy, certainly not as sympathetic as she wants us to think she is.

I'll check out the official edition to see some of the photos she mentions. And to make sure the editor changes "latter" to "ladder", a recurring mistake that drove me a bit crazy.

[Newport Librarians · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read a lot of People, OK!, US Weekly, etc., this is the book for you! Jennifer Buhl shares her memoir on photographing celebrities for a living in LA during her mid-30's. She is part of the paparazzi, not a "professional" photographer, which is apparently a very tough role for a female in LA (or anywhere).

Reading about the celebs and their encounters with the paps is very interesting ... most set up half the pics you see in the magazines themselves! Jennifer tries to tie in some of her private life throughout the book, though this is mostly just annoying and unnecessary. She spouts a lot of drivel about needing a man, needing a baby, wanting a baby more than a man, blah blah blah. As a person throughout the memoir she comes across as a bit shallow and arrogant, but her day to day trials with celebrities was interesting enough to keep me reading till the end.

Not a bad beach read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a giveaway from the publisher.

For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir, which reads somewhat like a novel. It gave me an alternate perspective on the role of the paparazzi, which I know I definitely considered a right nuisance before reading this. They’re still annoying and invasive, but there is a positive side in some respects. I didn’t expect to like the book too much (I didn't realize it was a memoir... and "memoir" to be screams "boring"), actually, so I was quite pleasantly surprised.

With the exception of a section in the middle, which lagged a bit, I was hooked from start to finish. (Some parts did turn me off. I’m not sure I needed to have two pages dedicated to how paparazzi go to the washroom, especially since it was been hinted at a couple of times in the narrative already.)

I’d give this 4.5 stars. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, and definitely not my usual read, but I enjoyed it.

[CoCoBug · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read a lot of People, OK!, US Weekly, etc., this is the book for you! Jennifer Buhl shares her memoir on photographing celebrities for a living in LA during her mid-30's. She is part of the paparazzi, not a "professional" photographer, which is apparently a very tough role for a female in LA (or anywhere).

Reading about the celebs and their encounters with the paps is very interesting ... most set up half the pics you see in the magazines themselves! Jennifer tries to tie in some of her private life throughout the book, though this is mostly just annoying and unnecessary. She spouts a lot of drivel about needing a man, needing a baby, wanting a baby more than a man, blah blah blah. As a person throughout the memoir she comes across as a bit shallow and arrogant, but her day to day trials with celebrities was interesting enough to keep me reading till the end.

Not a bad beach read.

[Bookreaderljh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into this book as I am just not interested in paparazzi's and celebrity sightings and tabloids. So at first the description of the frenzy of getting the shot just annoyed me. I don't know that it is a good thing that I now know more about how paparazzi operate and make money and the symbiotic relationship they have with their "celebrities". The book was actually more interesting when she was being honest about her personal life and her quest to have a baby. The memoir is written fine though I could have used a little less exposition to "pap" slang but it was probably interesting to anyone who is into that type of thing. Reading got easier as I went along and as the author got better at her job and was able to see both sides of making the story. How anyone would want to make their living lying in wait for a sighting of a celebrity and then invade their space for a picture to be splashed in the tabloids, is beyond me.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm somewhat embarrassed that I read this, but it was entertaining and a random selection from the library. Also, I guess knowing how paparazzi work is actually kind of interesting and something I would never really know about otherwise. There were some really weird memoir bits, but I guess if you get into the paparazzi business, you're bound to have some of your own strange neuroses. Quick read. Recommend if you're interested in tabloid photos, paparazzi, or just want to hear some stories about recognizable stars (lots of Grey's Anatomy references, and some weird encounters with Adrian Grenier from Entourage).

[Jean Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a well written insight to the world of paparazzi. There's a great mix of celebrity stories along with a woman's quest for a family. I personally never had such strong baby urges but perhaps if I was single at 36 I might have. This is perfect for anyone who reads US Weekly, People or any of the likes. Or any girls that like light chick reads. I would highly recommend, especially if you ever liked Entourage. I'm super stoked they are making the movie and once you read this you'll understand why.

[Madeline Dahlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy celebrity news and read a lot of trashy magazines like I do, then this might be a book for you. It's well written (for the most part) and Buhl has a lot of good insider info. I think the general public has been led to believe that the paparazzi are just as sleezy as they're usually depicted to be but I don't think that's the case anymore. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a light, celebrity filled read. Nothing too heavy, nothing to serious, just some easy entertaining reading..

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've all seen the photos in the tabloids. Now in Shooting Stars by Jennifer Buhl, we find out how the paparazzi go about getting those photos. Ms. Buhl spent two years chasing down celebrities and in this book, shares her experiences as a female paparazza. As we learn, it isn't an easy way to make a living, but it has its perks. Overall, I thought it was an interesting read and one that I enjoyed very much. As Ms. Buhl worked as a paparazza several years ago, the celebrities most discussed are those who were popular at the time: Katherine Heigl, Adrien Grenier, Paris Hilton, and so forth.

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had fun with this book. Jennifer decides she needs to change her life up and decides to become a paparazza. this is great fun, this book. You get a lot of firsthand accounts of which celebs are a pleasant surprise (Paris Hilton) and which are an unpleasant surprise (Hilary Duff). You get a lot of play-by-play at how they train, how they shoot, how they decide when to abandon a chase, etc. Light, fun reading. If you're a tabloid fan (I am), you will love this.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer spends 3 years as a paparazza in Hollywood, shooting those pics of celebrities that show up online or in People magazine and gives you an inside look at what it is like to be part of the dreaded paparazzi along with her more personal story. Though you can tell she is an amateur writer, her story is full of juicy stories about the stars and the ups and downs of having to be that person who is chasing the stars for an often unwanted photo op. A quick, fun read.

[Denise Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can definitely say I learned a ton about the paparazzi - the good, the bad, the ugly and the very ugly. It was very interesting to go behind the scenes on the different shoots, the way some celebrities use the shots to their advantage and the lengths that are gone to get the shot. I do feel less sorry for some of the celebrities although I do feel bad for some of them as well. What a crazy profession!