By a landslide. Every photo with Rihanna was either sweet or hilarious. I’m not really a Rihanna fan but if I were I know I’d be psyched to have any of those pictures with her (except maybe as the guy suffering from hoverhands).
You beat me to it! That post was hilarious. Now I want a picture of Rihanna and myself, even if I don’t get groped and vice versa.
What I find bizarre is that so many “stars” can’t even fake being friendly to their fans for a little while.
At Mad Monster Party last month (the most shittily run convention I have EVER been to, BTW, but that’s beside the point) it cost you $75 to have an autograph or photo with Shatner or Elvira. (Elvira was doing photos in costume, which evidently she rarely does anymore.)
It cost $200 to get either with Hulk Hogan. This continues to be a source of hilarity for me. Two hundred American dollars?!
(Although I will confess, I went to the panel with Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper and, I forget, some other wrestling dude out of curiosity and it was quite an interesting panel. I’m glad I went.)
I’d consider paying $200 to see Hogan body slam Shatner into Elivra.
Before I even clicked on that my first thought was, a meet and greet with Rihanna might get you laid, or high or at least get to see her naked. Looks like I was pretty close.
No way I’m paying $400 for a shot of me and a celeb just standing around. 
Hmmm, the poll does say “[insert celeb here]”.
If my $400 or $1000 was all going to a charity that is meaningful to me, and to which I might have donated anyway, there are a few people I would stand in line for.
I might spend a few minutes with Gimp for a photo with her. The red background and arms length requirement make it a little easier.
I think I spent $2,500 for a photo with President Obama, but it went to a good cause. (his reelection)
I have no interest in a photo of myself with a normal celebrity. I certainly wouldn’t pay for one.
I wouldn’t. I did a meet & greet with Kesha last year, but I won it and didn’t have to pay the $175 or whatever the price was. She did hug everyone and seemed very nice during the 15 seconds I met her.
I voted yes because its only money and what the hell. But I think it would have to be some sort of VIP package that included more than a quick picture.
A few years ago, my then-girlfriend bought me a photo op with Scott Bakula. I don’t remember what she paid for it, but (a) it was less than $400 and (b) after it was over, I thanked her and said, “Don’t ever spend that much money on me for a photo again.”
I hope to hell this was something like that, and the “no touching” was a “one guy shits, everyone wears a diaper” policy, after someone tried to grope her. I wouldn’t pay $400 for a photo of myself with anyone, but I might donate $400 to a charity, and if I had a choice between a commemorative mug, or a photo of me with one of the celebs there, I’d pick the mug, but I can see a lot of people picking the photo.
If this woman (who I can’t even place) was just trying to make some bucks, WTF? what person can command $400 photos, but can’t make more money more easily doing whatever made them famous in the first place. Unless she’s a retired porn star.
I wouldn’t. I considered paying the $500 “VIP Experience” price for Alice Cooper, but decided against it when I found out I’d have to pay extra for the concert tickets. Even so, that’s not just a quickie thing–he actually hangs out and chats with you for a while after the concert, and they have a professional photographer take a whole bunch of pics of you with him, plus you get a bunch of swag. I have a friend who did it and he was very happy with the results.
The only celeb out there I’d even consider paying anything like that kind of money for would be David Tennant, and even then it wouldn’t be for photos (I don’t like having my picture taken very much). I’d just like to sit and chat with him for a few minutes.
I miss the old days near the beginning of the Web when all it took to get backstage passes for any Alan Parsons Project concert was to be a member of the fan club. I once got to hang out backstage with him and the rest of the band for like an hour because they’d printed the wrong start time for the concert on the tickets (AP was opening for Yes, and by the time we got there he’d already finished his set). Alan actually went out to the box office and personally got a refund for the tickets for the fan club members (we didn’t ask–we were happy to pay!) and we got to hang out with APP (Alan, Ian Bairnson, Stuart Elliott, and Neil Lockwood) all through Yes’s set. I think there were about 5 fan club members present.
All absolutely free. Those were the days. 
I’ve done this, twice. But both times the value was the whole package - front row seats, limited edition goody bag, and post-show meet and greet.
The first was Bryan Ferry. It was a treat for my sister’s 50th, cause she loves him in a very real and meaningful way. $290 for front row seats, autographed programme in a canvas branded bag, post-show glass of wine while we waited, and a brief audience with the fragrant Bryan. One 5" x 3" printed photograph with Bryan delivered on the spot. He was chatty, and charming, and happy to be tactile. He didn’t bat an eye when my sister threw her arms round his neck and kissed him. Worth every penny.
The second was the current line up of Yes. When the tickets went on sale, if you didn’t spring for some sort of package you were looking at twenty rows back. $270 for front row seats, pretty crappy limited edition T shirt, limited edition numbered poster, promotional photo of the band, one photo with the band (available for download the day after the show), autograph session (two autographed items per band member only). I don’t like the way things are going, restricting the best seats to those with the highest disposable income, but what the hall, it was worth it. Alan White and Geoff Downes were placed in the middle for the photo, and were happiest to put an arm around you. Chris Squire was affable and funny in the autograph session. We were warned not to try and shake Steve Howe’s hand, cause he doesn’t do touching. He looked very uncomfortable through the whole thing.
So, on both occasions, I was glad I’d spent the money. Although I do think artists that choose to do this should fully commit to it - like poor Bryan. Or Jon Davison - the current Yes vocalist - who managed to keep smiling as I told him I just wanted to take him home. I’m awaiting the restraining order.
No way.
I took a picture with George Takei (in 1979 at a sci fi convention for FREE, so I will never pay to take a picture with anyone. If anything I’d sneak a “selfie” or I would try to “photobomb” them to see if it somehow got online…
That’s the sort of thing I would pay for. Not just a quick crappy photo. It would have to be Yes with Jon Anderson though.
I might spend $20 or so if I ever get to go to Abdullah the Buther’s House of Ribs and get a picture with Abby holding me in a headlock and jabbing me with his fork, but that would be a once in a lifetime experience…
I’d never do it, but in all fairness, I promise never to charge anyone to have a photo taken with me.