Celebrities cash in on pregnancy, babies

Celebrities have started making a fortune by selling photographs of their children, cashing in on the craze for celebrity babies.

In a classic case in point, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony are reportedly negotiating with People magazine for photographs of their new twin babies.

It is believed that, besides financial gains, the trend of exclusively selling photographs of celebrity babies is aimed protecting the privacy of celebrities by keeping the paparazzi at bay.

According to Advertising Age, it has been confirmed that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have sold the US and Latin American rights to People magazine and additional international rights to OK! magazine. The couple, says Advertising Age, may be paid up to $6 million for allowing photographs to be taken of their newborn children.

Sarah Ivens, editor-in-chief of OK! magazine, explained the reason for people's craving to see celebrity couples and their new babies as,“It is because of the fact that wholesome pregnancies and families are a fresh change from all the other celebrity news going on currently. A part of the reason that the demand is so huge – and everyone is so excited about it – is because it's such a nice antidote to all the other celebrity news that's going on at the moment. There's nothing not to love about watching these woman blossom and their bodies change and then having babies. It's all just such fun, lovely, positive stuff, isn't it?”

It all started in 2006 when Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt allowed People magazine to photograph their daughter Shiloh in exchange for a donation to charity. While People reportedly paid $4 million for the US rights, the London-based Hello! magazine got hold of the British rights.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt donated their fee from People magazine to charities helping African children.

Now, celebrity-baby covers have turned big business for glossy magazines. Avid readers of these magazines have lapped up photographs of pregnant Halle Berry and of tots like Suri Cruise (daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes) and Violet Affleck (daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.)

Christina Aguilera, supermodel, allowed People magazine recently to feature on its cover photograph of her newborn son, Max, for a reported sum of $1.5 million.

Jamie Lynn, 16-year-old sister of pop star Britney Spears, appeared on the cover of OK! magazine when she announced her pregnancy. Though OK! does not disclose the terms of its deals with celebrities, the website TMZ.com reported that Jamie Lynn would be paid $1 million after her baby is born.

US singer Sheryl Crow agreed to a photo shoot with her infant son in 2007 after OK! offered to make a donation to the World Food Program, a United Nations organization that works to combat child hunger.

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