By Lily Rose
First comes love; then, comes marriage; then, comes a little one sitting in a baby carriage. In 2012, things may not happen exactly in that order — especially for our favorite celebrity couples. No matter the order of things, when the little bundle of joy does come, it is cause for celebration and for baby announcements.  When it comes to celebrity baby news, announcements range from traditional to over-the-top.
Announcing Celebrity Baby News
Some famous couples opt to announce their baby’s arrival with a simple yet heartfelt press release. Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler, who welcomed Camden Jack Cutler on Aug. 8, decided to go that route. So did Kelsey and Kayte Grammer, who welcomed daughter, Faith Evangeline Elisa Grammer, on July 13. Also taking a simplistic approach, Hilary Duff tweeted her son Luca’s first photo.
Related Link: Why It’s OK to Have Kids Later in Life
But why settle for simple and heartfelt when you can do it big and make it financially lucrative? From the date the press first learns there’s a celebrity pregnancy to the date the child arrives, most publications are scrambling, begging, and scheming to get their hands on the first baby pics.  Some celebs, such as former reality TV star turned fashion designer, Jessica Simpson, chose to circumvent the rigmarole by simply selling the pictures. People featured the first snapshots of Simpson’s daughter, Maxwell Drew. Simpson was reportedly paid  $800,000 for their exclusive right to her little girl’s first photos.
Related Link: Jessica Simpson Says Motherhood Is the ‘Best Thing I’ve Ever Experienced’
Simpson isn’t the only one to sell the privilege of offering the public its first glimpse of her child. Former American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez and Latin crooner Marc Anthony also sold the exclusive rights to the first pictures of their twins. As far as the price goes, Lopez and Anthony didn’t do too shabby either: The celebrity couple reportedly made a cool $6 million.
Famous Couple’s Expensive Baby Pics
Of course, no one does it as big as Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The public waited with bated breath to see the child produced by the genetically blessed superstars. Jolie and Pitt reportedly sold the photos of their twins, Knox and Vivienne, for more than $11 million.
Still, some famous couples chose a different but still non-traditional route to share their celebrity baby news.  For example, singer, Beyonce Knowles and her rap star husband Jay-Z erected a tumblr page displaying daughter Blue Ivy’s first photo shoot. The page was offered free to the public.
Some think selling your baby’s first photos seems just plain wrong.  Others figure, why not? It’s better than the paparazzi chasing you down the street for them! Let us know your thoughts.
