Charlize's face may disappear as paps not snappy

Charlize Theron poses on the red carpet for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards last month. Picture: AFP Photo Source: AFP

• Photographers say Charlize not following red carpet etiquette
• "She doesn't like to stop for us or even smile"
• "They don't understand we are not street paparazzi"

SYLVESTER Stallone reportedly described them as "legalized stalkers" and many hounded celebrities have flipped off paparazzi in the street.

But the red carpet photographers can also turn the tables, and are considering a ban on snapping Charlize Theron, saying they are sick of the star's behaviour and could down their cameras en masse.

"She doesn't like to stop for us or even smile," veteran Hollywood photographer James Smeal told FOX News. "I even said congratulations when she was nominated for a Golden Globe, and she totally ignores you. That's the worst."

Other snappers concur that Theron, who won an Oscar in 2003 for the movie Monster, is on a short leash.

"Charlize is the newest talk around the line because she is typically rushed if she even stops at all ... But it really doesn't take that much to keep us happy," one insisted.

"I don't know if it's just that major celebs are so pressed for time, if it's their publicists that instigate the line rushing, if they really don't like doing it, or if they don't understand we are not street paparazzi."

The shutterbug wants celebs to know there is a big difference.

"We are photo journalists that cover entertainment. I know that if I ever became famous enough to warrant attention from press photographers, that it is just part of the job," the photographer said.

A rep for Theron did not respond to a request for comment.

! So how i s a celeb ban orchestrated? Photographers share their frustrations with each other on a daily basis, and when frustrations reach a boiling point, one or two of the photographers lead the way by drafting up an email which is circulated among the others. They all then decide on the best event to start, and then the photographs stop.

However, snappers do on occasion issue warning signs.

"Before the extreme of a boycott, we boo them," one photographer explained.

This shutterbug wants to make clear how much work and care they put into their jobs.

"We are cleared and given permission to do the [red] carpet. We get there hours and hours before and we're told in advance who is supposed to turn up," the shooter said. "The paparazzi industry has made us look bad and it's not right. We are shooting for legitimate agencies. We don't want to be disrespected; surely a smile for a few moments isn't that hard."

Theron is not the first to draw celeb snappers' ire.

After the death of Princess Diana in 1997, George Clooney - who already had beef with paparazzi over their relentless pursuits - scolded photographers and tabloids for their actions, and the red carpet snappers took it as a personal attack. In response, they all agreed to not photograph Clooney at two premieres.

Finally George came up to the photographers and apologised that things were taken the wrong way.

"He set the record straight, and to this day he has been great," Smeal added.

Stallone, Sharon Stone and Jennifer Lopez have also been frozen out at times, Smeal said.

One New York-based photographer said Theron and many others simply don't respond well to the boisterous yelling and screaming ("Over here! Look at me! This way!").

"Ask her [Theron] nicely and calmly, and I have never had a problem. She just doesn't like rudeness."