by Amanda Hanes

Created on: November 27, 2009

This question should read: Is it right for people to buy pictures of children because of who their parents are?

It's funny how different that question is when you turn it around.

As a society, I don't think we have the knowledge or experience to make a judgement here. Parents will always do what the feel is best for their children. Sometimes we don't agree with them, but I would imagine if every mother was under a microscope, there would always be that one person who thought what you were doing was wrong. It is no different with celebrities except that the magnifying glass is significantly bigger.

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had their first biological daughter, Shiloh, her first baby pictures were sold for $4,000,000. Two years later, when their twins, Vivienne and Knox came into the world. People Magazine bought the rights to the first pictures for $14,000,000! What changed in those two years that made pictures of the twins that much more lucrative? We did. We have become so concerned with the lives of everyone else that we haven't stopped to think about what this is doing to us (regular people) and them (celebrities). People Magazine can afford to spend millions on the rights to print the first pictures of babies because we buy their magazine! It's a vicious circle and it isn't going to end until we stop caring about them.

I think the Jolie-Pitt family made a good decision by introducing the children the way they did and I will tell you why. Firstly, they chose a reputable magazine whom they knew would do a great job. Secondly, they made sure the pictures were done at their leisure. There was no studio time, no sitting in a waiting room; it was all in the comfort of their own home. They chose a well known photographer who came into their home and took pictures of the family. The pictures of the twins are very laid back. Everyone looks comfortable and happy. They twins were three weeks old when they were photographed for people magazine. Not only did this cause the paparazzi to ease off, but it also calmed the hungry people who wanted all the latest gossip. After that, the Jolie-Pitts enjoyed their time relaxing with the family.

We can pretend to be upset that the stars are selling pictures of their kids for rediculous amounts of money, but most of us are just mad we can't do that same. The reality is that pictures of these kids were eventually going to be printed whether with permission or without. So, why not give $14, 000,000 to charity and have a beautiful keepsake album?

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