Laying beside him is pretty gross, but as long as you aren’t laying him, at least I don’t think it’s illegal. I’d still keep that picture to myself, if I were you.
Or are you just lying besides him?
I honestly cannot see myself spending $400 for a photo with anyone. I’d love to have a picture of myself with someone like George Clooney, that’d be awesome, but I’m sure as shit not paying significant bux for it. I might fork out a $10-$20 fee at a convention knowing that’s how the photographers get paid.
As has been pointed out, most celebrities are decent people who are patient and indulgent of fans who want photos taken with them, if you aren’t interfering in their lives. Stories of their kindness and generosity abound; I’ll have my photos taken with those people, thanks.
I might.
My partner and I are huge fans of Hugh Laurie. I wouldn’t do it for myself, but I might for my partner, maybe for his birthday. I know he’d turn it down as a waste of money, but I assume it’d be non-refundable, so he’d reluctantly go along with it.
(I’d rather have a pic of them kissing.)
I attended an Alice Cooper concert with a friend who knew AC’s secretary from way back, so we got backstage passes for the greet and photo-op thing after the concert.
Alice was gracious and nice (for the three minutes we had with him) and I did indeed get several photos taken with him but to be honest I felt like a real dork doing so. I can’t imagine paying for that.
I should have mentioned that my partner and I share a birthday, so I’d expect to receive something equally meaningless and a waste of money.
I guess I’ll buy the real-life Rihanna pic, and I’ll get Avril at Tussaud’s.
Those might already be from Tussaud’s. Seriously, would it have killed her to have a facial expression?
I’ve had my picture taken with exactly one celebrity. Back in 1984, adult film star Hyapatia Lee did a live stage appearance at the O’Farrell Theatre. At the end of her routine, she did a quick Q & A and then announced that she’d be in the adjacent hall for pictures with fans “dressed much as I am now” - that being buck naked - for $5. You’re damned right I got in line for that. I still have that Polaroid to this very day, Hyapatia Lee naked as a jaybird, sitting in my lap.
$400 for a picture with a disinterested third tier pop star? Somehow seems lacking.
Penn and Teller are both really nice guys. I was in a group of around a dozen at one of their shows and they invited us to hang out in their “Monkey Room” afterwards. They acted like… totally normal human beings (that happen to be fantastically talented).
I wouldn’t have paid $400 for the privilege… but they wouldn’t have charged it, either.
I’ve thought of something like it for some artists I’m a big fan of, even pulling out my wallet and just handing them whatever cash I have on hand if I passed them on the street.
The reason is simple. Some artists (particularly authors IMO) have given me so much enjoyment over so many years, and in some ways even seeming to give a bit of meaning to my very life. Whatever I paid (once) for their book or song or album doesn’t even come lose to the value I’ve gotten out of their works, reading or listening to them again and again over years or decades.
If I did something like the OP examples, it wouldn’t be for me – it would be for them, as a way of thanking them above and beyond the price of a ticket. But I really can’t think of any contemporary musicians who fall into that category. Maybe some old-timers like Paul McCartney, though, or Mick Jagger.
After looking at that, I’m thinking I might pay $400 for a Rihanna meet-and-greet! 
I’d pay $400 to meet and greet a considerable number of people, if it involved at least a handshake and a “Hi, how are you/pleased to meet you” sort of exchange. Wouldn’t do so if it had to be Lavigne-esque.
I got my picture taken for free with 3 members of “Gilligan’s Island”. I’m happy…
One could just wait until that stars 15 minutes of fame are over when they start begging.