Here's what it's like to photograph the biggest stars on Oscars night

About 40 million people will tune in to watch the 88th Academy Awards this weekend - many of whom will sit on their couch wishing they could walk the red carpet or party with the world's biggest stars after the show.

Larry Busacca gets to do just that.

As the chief entertainment photographer for Getty Images, Busacca has covered the Academy Awards (also known as the "Oscars"), the Vanity Fair after party, and the Elton John Oscar Party for almost a decade.

"I've had a camera in my hands for as long as I can remember and have been an entertainment photographer for over 25 years now," he told Business Insider.

Busacca started his career as a freelancer for the New York Times and as a tour photographer for a number of musicians, including Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift. Nine years ago, he started working for Getty. That's when he got involved with the Oscars.

We asked Busacca - who will manage those shooting the red carpet and show this year but will personally shoot the Vanity Fair after party - to tell us what it's like be an Oscars photographer.

Here's what he said: