Washington paparazzi

Colin Drummond is one of the D.C. area’s homegrown crop of photographers who deal in celebrity pictures.

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Colin Drummond at his home in Alexandria, where celebrity photos he has taken line the wall.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond took this 2007 photo of Oprah Winfrey when she was in Washington to give Howard University's commencement speech. In a close-up of her foot, it appears she has six toes. The photo spread like wildfire; in the end, Drummond says, he raked in more than $50,000 from that one image, and he's still collecting residuals from it.

Colin Drummond

A closer look at the Oprah photo that turned lucrative for Drummond.

Colin Drummond

Drummond's 2009 photo of Tom Cruise and daughter Suri out for lunch at Georgetown's Cafe Milano, a favorite of both local politicians and visiting celebrities.

Colin Drummond

Drummond's 2007 photo of singer Gwen Stefani in Georgetown.

Colin Drummond

Drummond and fellow paparazzo Gene Young wait at Dulles Airport after receiving a tip that singer-actress Jennifer Hudson would be arriving from Paris.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond, left, photographs Jennifer Hudson at Dulles Airport. His photos were purchased by the Daily Mail in London.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond continues taking photos of Jennifer Hudson outside Dulles. He says Washington has "gone from being an old, establishment town that's all about politicians to a hot town to be photographed in."

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond, third from left, joins other paparazzi and fans trying to get a shot of Taylor Momsen in Vienna.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Singer-actress Taylor Momsen, center, stops outside Jammin' Java in Vienna.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond has a network of hotel doormen, limo drivers and others who offer tips about celebrities' whereabouts in the city.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond gets his equipment together before heading out on the job.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Paparazzi get video footage and photographs of singer Chris Brown when he arrives at the Reagan National Airport in Arlington.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond records video footage of Chris Brown at Reagan National Airport.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Chris Brown at Reagan National Airport in Arlington.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond downloads video footage in his home office. He began focusing on celebrity photographs in 2007.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond regularly checks Web sites for news of celebrities who may be coming to the D.C. area.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond with one of his two children in their Alexandria home.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond says goodbye to his dog Princess in Alexandria.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond photographs Carrie Underwood as she arrives at the Kennedy Center.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Paparazzi get Reba McEntire on film as she signs autographs at the Kennedy Center.

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

Drummond says dealing with paparazzi is part of being a celebrity. "It's part of the business they signed up for," he says. "They know it's part of the business, that their lives are public. They get paid by the public. The more professional ones know how to embrace it."

Marvin Joseph / The Washington Post

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