I got the call in Nov. 2012, with the phone literally in my hand; the New York Daily News was hiring me on-assignment for two days coverage of Paula Broadwell’s home in Charlotte, N.C. at the height of the Petraeus/Broadwell scandal.
I had the photo editor at the New York Daily News email me her address and agreement to the arranged fee for coverage starting in four days - and then my work began. I printed out from Google street directions door-to-door to Broadwell’s home in Charlotte - and a map of her neighborhood. I then used Google News to find what was possible on her - especially what vehicles she had; photos run by a London daily provided the license plate numbers - and a view of her rather-unique-looking home. I also obtained what information was possible on other members of her family that way.
My choice of my 70-200mm lens was easy as it would allow me to work from the sidewalk on public property legally - and out of range of her hands or feet if she got angry - yet produce close-up views as it had during the John Edwards trial. I did not yet know how essential that would be!
I arrived to two television stations’ live trucks and a subcontracted shooter for a network - all apparently present day after day.
On the first day, I shot mostly “environment” photos - the ill-maintained house in a rich neighborhood, one of their SUVs with a West Point alumni license-plate frame (a glaring reminder of West Point’s famous honor code saying that cadets shall not cheat nor tolerate anyone who cheats) - most of the day. By that day, the Broadwells had hiding down to a fine art; drawn-down shades on all windows - and neither parent even sticking their head outdoors when a neighbor came to take their young kids to play. But, finally, Paula Broadwell’s husband Dr. Scott Broadwell backed one of their SUVs into the tiny carport attached to the house and began loading it full of things; it now was obvious that the family either was going somewhere for Thanksgiving - or just leaving home, period.
The husband snuck Paula Broadwell into the SUV from behind the passenger door - hiding her from both me and the several television crews there. He then practically dived into the driver’s seat - as I shot his photo (below).
I went home, evaluated my photos for the best - and sent them to my client by FTP as easily as if I were in its offices in New York City. I then went back to Google News - and learned that an Associated Press stringer, no longer at the Broadwell home, had been assaulted by Paula Broadwell when she used a wide-angle lens making her stand close to the car door and resulting in Paula Broadwell swinging the door into her lens with her head being gouged by her dSLR!
I completed the assignment the next day uneventfully - with nobody there but that contracted shooter for the network.

Paula Broadwell’s husband, Dr. Scott Broadwell, as he jumps into SUV.