When Homer attempts to blow out the candles on his birthday cake, he discovers he doesn’t have the lung capacity. He eventually passes out, setting his birthday hat on fire in the process. This triggers the alarm on the smoke detector, and a fire truck arrives at the scene. Marge tells Homer the incident is a wake-up call. She decides to purchase a fireproof safe to lock up their valuables. Everyone in the family gets to choose one precious item to place in the safe. For Marge it’s the family photo album. Unfortunately a fire ignites inside the safe, and all of Marge’s cherished remembrances are destroyed. To the family’s horror Marge decides to restage the photographs. As luck would have it Marge accidentally captures Duffman, who’s engaged to be married, on a date with Booberella. Marge thinks the family could recoup the cost of the fire damage by selling the scandalous image to the tabloids. A tabloid editor pays Homer $200 for the shot.

Homer decides there’s money to be made as a paparazzo. Armed with a camera, he stakes out a movie premiere, but he’s shocked at the hostility he encounters from celebrities. Later he enlists Bart’s help at an upscale grocery store where movie stars shop. As Bart annoys the Rich Texan and his debutante daughter, Paris, Homer starts snapping away. Later, at an upscale hotel, Homer taunts boxer Drederick Tatum, who unleashes his fury. The ploy works, and the tabloid editor pays Homer $200 for the shots. Marge tells Homer that although she enjoys the extra money, she thinks it might be a better idea to stop exploiting the private lives of others. Later Homer literally drops in on Rainier Wolfcastle and Maria Quimby as they marry in a cavern behind a waterfall. Dangling from a helicopter, Homer gets the shots he needs. Wolfcastle announces that Homer has gone to far.

Wolfcastle invites Springfield celebrities to his mansion. He announces his decision to hire the world’s greatest celebrity photographer: Enrico Irritazio. Enrico is instructed to photograph Homer day and night in an effort to obtain embarrassing images. After Enrico gets the shots he needs, they’re published in “Homer!” magazine. Marge is mortified when she sees the magazine. She tells Homer to get out of the photography business. Homer makes his way to Moe’s bar, where the patrons urge Homer not to quit. They tell him the celebrity photos made them feel better about their miserable lives. With renewed vigor, Homer makes his way to a nearby nightclub. Armed with camera and telephoto lens, Homer starts clicking away, catching the celebrities in compromising poses. Homer tells the actors he won’t sell the pictures, with one proviso: the celebrities must treat their fans with respect. The celebrities agree to the terms.