Donna Karan's Black Gold Perfume Launch

The Fragrance Foundation is pleased to announce a “scentsational” schedule of events for its annual Fragrance Week to be held October 16th - 20th in New York City. One of the first private events was a Donna Karan "Gold" Fragrance Collection Launch. To get publicity for these events, often the proprietor will invite/pay famous celebrity friends to come to the launch party, which brings out the paparazzi's, which in turn promotes their product and gets the launch in the media and magazines. Since I do not have a press pass, I have to rely on the ease of the set-up to shoot the arriving celebs. This set-up I title "HughE is screwed and needs to work hard to get a good shot as there are too many people between me and the "Red carpet" (tonights carpet was black)." The three girls in front of me are Donna Karan's publicists. When the celebrity arrives (the car drop off is to their left), they greet the celebrity and guide them to the "Red Carpet". The guy on the right in the black jacket/jeans is the TMZ.com guy. TMZ is a relatively new media source that uses video for its medium in catching celebs at events. In fact next week they are having a 1 year anniversary party in LA to celebrate, and they have a lot to celebrate as they have galvanization the video paparazzi business. Unlike most media agencies who are in the celebrity business, TMZ.com was well funded start-up project by AOL/Time Warner. The TMZ paparazzi's seem less aggressive and more friendly to the celebrities then your everyday paparazzi as they are salaried as opposed to a per photograph payment plan. The camera paparazzi's are to the left of the "Red Carpet". Tonight there were about 30 photographers, which meant someone of importance and value was going to show up. They get "Tip Sheets" to say who will show up so they knew who it was, I have to rely on their kindness to tell me. Tonight's event was held at Donna Karan's flagship store at 68th and Madison Ave. Although it is not my idea set-up, as the sidewalk is narrow, and it was hard to maneuver to get a good shot, it is much less crowded with gawker/fans because the area is a local business district far from the tourists . Olivia Wilde from the OC smelling Black Gold.Is Beth Ostrosky looking more and more like Christie Brinkley these days or what?Uma Thurman the guest of honor arrives and the paparazzi's go into a frenzy. Is it me or does Uma have a wedding ring on? Uma always manages to look sexy. She'd look good in a potato sack dress. Laura Linney, who I saw a few days before at her new movie premiere "Driving Lessons", Donna Karan and Angie Harmon. Also seen on the "Red Carpet" but not easily photographed, a very sexy Bernadette Peters and a very shy Michelle Williams.