Robert Caplin

Robert Caplin
Born
Athens, OH
Occupation(s)American photographer and cinematographer
Years active2002–present
Websiterobertcaplin.com

Robert Caplin is an American photographer and photojournalist. He is best known for his work photographing pop singer Justin Bieber.

Life and career

Caplin grew up in Athens, Ohio, where he also graduated from Ohio University's School of Visual Communication in 2005.[1][2]

In 2002, when he was 19, Caplin began an internship with The Columbus Dispatch and photographed a riot after an Ohio State University football game.[2] He later got an internship at the Los Angeles Times, then one at The New York Times,[3][better source needed] where he became a regular contributor.[4][5] Other outlets where Caplin contributed photographs include The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and Newsweek.[5][6][better source needed]

In December 2009, The New York Times assigned Caplin to photograph a Justin Bieber concert in Madison Square Garden.[4] Seeing Bieber's superstar potential, he worked with his girlfriend, designer Laia Prats, on a prototype documentary book about the singer, using photos from the concert. In June 2010, at Bieber's appearance on Today, Caplin showed Bieber and his team the prototype book and convinced them to work with him on it.[1] HarperCollins published the book, Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story, in October 2010.[2] The book spent 15 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.[7] Caplin's video documentation of Bieber on tour was released as part of Paramount Pictures' movie Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.[8]

On June 26, 2013, Caplin filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against gossip blogger Perez Hilton for allegedly publishing 14 of Caplin's photos of Glee actor Darren Criss on his own website without Caplin's permission. The case was settled out of court.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Justin Bieber personal photographer returns to OU alma mater for book-signing event". The Athens News. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Bieber bandwagon includes Ohio photographer". The Columbus Dispatch. 11 August 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. ^ Barry, Steven (6 November 2008). "Photographer profile: Robert Caplin". Ask the Photographer. Archived from the original on 19 Mar 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b Spinski, Tristan (5 January 2011). "My World: Capturing images of Bieber Fever". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b Quinn, Katie (1 March 2010). "Profile of a Food Photographer: Robert Caplin". Serious Eats. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  6. ^ MacDonald, Kerri; Rivkin, Amanda (18 August 2010). "Turning Point: Robert Caplin". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Children's Chapter Books". The New York Times. 27 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  8. ^ Chu, Jon M. (director) (2011-02-11). Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (Motion picture). United States: Paramount Pictures.
  9. ^ Bloomgarden-Smoke, Kara (2 July 2013). "New York Times Photog Sues Perez Hilton for $2M in Copyright Infringement Case". Observer. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. ^ Caplin v. Hilton (CDCA 2016-06-26), Text.
  11. ^ "Robert Caplin v. Mario Aramando Lavandeira". PacerMonitor. Retrieved 20 August 2023.