There’s no denying it; we live in a selfie-obsessed generation, and there’s no doubt the jackpot is an inst-worthy shot with a celebrity.
But, I’ll bet if you were to see a celebrity out and about, whether in line at the grocery store or trying on shoes at Saks, your approach would almost certainly be wrong. There are exceptions to every rule, but these are our four musts when answering this crucial question: How to get a selfie with a celebrity?
1. Know how to judge the situation.
Celebrities are just like us, but cooler with more money. How would you respond if some random person shoved a camera in your face in the middle of you and your BFF’s gossip session while eating an overpriced salad? For me, the last thing I’d do is take a photo!
If a celebrity is clearly busy, leave them alone. Living in Los Angeles, I’ve spotted many stars who I would have loved to run up to, but the situation clearly didn’t call for it. So, before asking a celebrity for a selfie, have some awareness of the situation, because chances are, you’ll be disappointed when you’re told to f*** off.
2. Call them by their REAL name.
I’ve had this experience personally, back in my amateur days – getting overly excited about a super famous person who plays a well-known character, and calling them by their character’s name. This is a deal breaker from the get go.
You may have noticed in interviews, most celebrities refer to their characters as he/she. They take their craft very seriously and treat those characters as people separate from themselves, so when you refer to them as their character when they aren’t actually in character, it’s annoying. It’s a rookie mistake that will screw up, if not completely kill your chances of getting a selfie with a celebrity.
3. They don’t know you.
As an excited fan, you may know a crazy amount about the lives of your favorite celebrities – dating life, the car they drive and maybe even who washes that car. With this wealth of information, you probably feel like you know them. Maybe you do on a certain level, but the celebrities you approach don’t know you AT ALL.
Wendy Willaims is a perfect example – she has said that when she meets fans she immediately feels vulnerable because they know way more about her than she knows about them. Her fan encounters begin with her feeling uncomfortable, and when a fan gets into her personal space without permission or is disrespectful, forget it. She’s out…especially if they get too close to her wig! So, keep this in mind. Celebrities enjoy their personal space just like you do.
**The photo below breaks this rule only because she asked us to squeeze in 🙂
4. Don’t just swoop in for the “money shot.”
I believe the most important thing to keep in mind when asking yourself “How to get a selfie with a celebrity?” is to treat them like any other person, not objects for your enjoyment.
Celebrities are approached multiple times every day of their lives for pictures and autographs. Instead of being just another request from a total stranger, make yourself memorable and make them feel special. Your “OMG I love you, can I get a selfie?” may seem special, but you really just sound like the other 40 people who’ve asked that day. It gets annoying. Preferably, tell them why you admire them so much and have a conversation before dropping the question. It doesn’t have to be a 10-minute ordeal, but make an effort instead of a hasty, over-zealous request. This way, instead of a five-second encounter captured in a shitty, unfocused selfie, you’ll show that you actually care what they have to say and you make them feel respected. Even if you don’t get that coveted selfie, isn’t the prospect of a one-of-a-kind conversation more exciting? I’d say so!