Sample response & feedback

Photographers Following Famous People Everywhere

Question

Nowadays famous people are photographed by professional photographers everywhere they go. Some people say this is a good thing because the public are interested in their lives. Other people think that photographers are wrong to follow famous people. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Annotated response

10 correction notes

Showing 10 correction notes.

Celebrities today are routinely followed by photographers who capture their every action, satisfying the public’s growing curiosity. While some argue that this exposure benefits both celebrities and their fans by , others believe that it invades personal privacy, causing emotional stress and crossing ethical boundaries. In my view, although public interest in celebrities is understandable, the constant intrusion into their private lives is unjustifiable, and clear boundaries are essential to protect their well-being.

, many believe that photographing celebrities is justified because it caters to the public's growing demand for insight into the lives of the rich and famous. In an age dominated by social media and entertainment, people are eager to know more about their favourite actors, athletes, and public figures. Photographs taken in public spaces offer an authentic glimpse into these individuals' real lives, strengthening their bond with fans. Moreover, public figures often rely on media attention to maintain relevance and promote their careers. For instance, actors or musicians often benefit from media coverage of their lifestyle, as it about their upcoming projects. Thus, public interest and fame are interdependent, making photography an essential part of modern celebrity culture.

On the other hand, constant surveillance by photographers can be intrusive, violating a person’s right to privacy. Celebrities are human beings entitled to personal space, and —especially in intimate moments—can lead to stress and emotional harm. Not every public appearance is a performance; even famous people deserve quiet moments with their families or friends without the fear of being watched. several celebrities have publicly expressed frustration at being followed, especially when their children are involved. Additionally, such invasive practices raise ethical questions about sensationalism and boundaries, as photographers often prioritize . When personal moments are exploited to attract clicks and sell tabloids, a toxic aspect of fame.

In conclusion, while photographing famous people satisfies public interest and helps maintain celebrity relevance, it can also become an intrusive practice that harms personal well-being. I believe there must be a balance between media coverage and respect for privacy. Setting ethical boundaries for photographers is essential to protect personal space without undermining the public's right to stay informed.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.5

The response addresses both views and maintains a clear preference for protecting celebrities’ privacy. Its organised paragraphs explain career benefits and personal harm in generally accurate, varied language. Some collocations can be made more natural. The argument would become more persuasive by clarifying the connection between lifestyle publicity and professional interest, and by defining the ethical limits and public entitlement invoked in the conclusion.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

TR Task Response

8.0

Both views are developed and the privacy-first position is clear. The lifestyle-to-career example and the final appeal to a public right to information would benefit from more precise justification.

CC Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

Progression is logical with clear paragraphing and cohesive devices, though linking is at times mechanical and formulaic.

LR Lexical Resource

8.0

Vocabulary is broad and generally precise, particularly in discussing privacy and media ethics, though expressions such as “relentless photographing” are less natural.

GRA Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.5

A wide range of complex structures is controlled well, including concessive clauses, relative clauses and semicolon-linked independent clauses; the text contains no clear recurring grammatical error.