Lila charges (more like finagles) Mrs. Gulick $25 extra "without the frame of course", for the colorized portrait photo. This was in 1956 when a typical salary was $50 per week. (In 2022, the extra fee would be about $250.)
In the first scene, the cameraman goes to the trouble of replacing the flash bulbs for the three photos taken, but the large format of the camera would require either flipping the film holder over between the first and second or complete replacement on each. He never touches the film holder.
When Russ advised Lila to get a poodle, it's a nod to the designer pooches owned by many stars. Shamroy the standard poodle would feature in the 1957 film "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" which starred Jayne Mansfield.
At approx. 42:45 at the scene on the beach, Lila (Cleo Moore) says to Russell (Richard Crenna), "Last one in is a teenager." Perhaps a sly in-joke aimed at Crenna who is well remembered for playing nerdy teenager Walter Denton on the radio and TV comedy, "Our Miss Brooks." He began with the portrayal on radio in 1948 at the age of 22. He would continue with that role when the move to TV until 1957 when he was 31 (and starring in this movie as well.)
The paparazzi has existed since the first camera hit the streets. Before then, sketch artists made the scandal sheets (which had likely been around since the first words had been transcribed) come alive with sensational artwork.