Robert Caplin Explained

Robert Caplin
Birth Place:	Athens, OH
Occupation:	American photographer and cinematographer
Years Active:	2002–present

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. He later got an internship at the Los Angeles Times, then one at The New York Times,^[3] 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.^[6]

In December 2009, The New York Times assigned Caplin to photograph a Justin Bieber concert in Madison Square Garden. 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. HarperCollins published the book, , in October 2010. 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 .^[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]}

Notes and References

1. News: Justin Bieber personal photographer returns to OU alma mater for book-signing event . 21 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230812195130/https://www.athensnews.com/news/campus/justin-bieber-personal-photographer-returns-to-ou-alma-mater-for-book-signing-event/article_9ba1697b-53a6-573b-bccc-542434a02ed7.html . 12 August 2023 . 13 August 2023 . The Athens News.
2. News: Bieber bandwagon includes Ohio photographer . 13 August 2023 . . 11 August 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230812195145/https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/2010/08/08/bieber-bandwagon-includes-ohio-photographer/23468003007/ . 12 August 2023.
3. Web site: Barry . Steven . Photographer profile: Robert Caplin . Ask the Photographer . 13 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319130754/http://askthephotographer.com/2008/11/06/photographer-profile-robert-caplin/ . 19 Mar 2012 . 6 November 2008.
4. News: Spinski . Tristan . My World: Capturing images of Bieber Fever . 13 August 2023 . . 5 January 2011.
5. Web site: Quinn . Katie . Profile of a Food Photographer: Robert Caplin . . 13 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411043845/http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/food-photographer-new-york-times-robert-caplin-profile.html . 11 April 2021 . 1 March 2010.
6. News: MacDonald . Kerri . Rivkin . Amanda . Turning Point: Robert Caplin . 13 August 2023 . . 18 August 2010.
7. News: Children's Chapter Books . 20 August 2023 . . 27 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230812161002/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2011/03/27/chapter-books/ . 12 August 2023.
8. Chu, Jon M. (director) . . 2011-02-11 . Motion picture . United States . Paramount Pictures.
9. News: Bloomgarden-Smoke . Kara . New York Times Photog Sues Perez Hilton for $2M in Copyright Infringement Case . 20 August 2023 . . 2 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531035337/https://observer.com/2013/07/new-york-times-photog-sues-perez-hilton-for-2m-in-copyright-infringement-case/ . 31 May 2023.
10. Caplin v. Hilton. CDCA. https://web.archive.org/web/20131008152646/https://www.courthousenews.com/2013/06/27/SueThe%20Gossip.pdf. 2016-06-26.
11. Web site: Robert Caplin v. Mario Aramando Lavandeira . PacerMonitor . 20 August 2023.