Many people (probably almost everyone) dream about becoming rich and famous and living the life of a superstar at some point in their life. Some people have this dream as a child, and then it fades away when they get older, and some people dream about fortune and fame their whole lives. The question I have is; do they really know what they’re in for?

First of all, you need to have a natural talent and be so driven that you work on your talent relentlessly until it is extraordinary (unless your dad is rich and his last name is Hilton). Then, you have to get seen or heard by the right person or company, and star in the right movies or record the right songs. Then, if you are lucky enough to beat the 56,000,000 to 1 odds, all you need to do is make an adult film, go to rehab and hook up with another celebrity, and you’ve got yourself a career.

I’m sure you’ve heard the famous saying “more money, more problems.” Notorious B.I.G. even recorded a song on his “Life After Death” album with the same title.

I’ve heard a lot of people say that if they had more money they wouldn’t mind having more problems and that these Celebrities are simply whining because they’re spoiled prima donnas. But, they aren’t the ones who can’t leave the house without the whole world knowing about their bad hair day.

We know about celebrities’ problems with drugs and alcohol, wardrobe malfunctions and hanging children over balconies. But one of the biggest problems celebs face is the group of people that are there to capture that rare nipple slip or the reckless dangling of an 11 month old baby.

These kind men and women with cameras are known as the “Paparazzi.” The word “Paparazzi” is derived from a character named Paparazzo in the Fellini film "La Dolce Vita", who was an annoying photographer. Paparazzi can be defined as a freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities in public or in private places to capture candid photographs of that person.

Obviously, if people want to take pictures of you to make money, you must be somebody special (or on America’s Most Wanted). But this could really be bothersome. Sure it’s flattering that you’re on the cover of People Magazine. But when you’re on the cover of “National Enquirer” with a caption next to your name that says “Stars with eating Disorders” and a picture of you in a bikini with your ribs showing, you might notice a slight rise in your blood pressure.

Controversy sells, and stars definitely create it to further their careers. Sometimes event planners even hire actors who pretend they are paparazzi to make guests feel special.

Pictures can embarrass celebrities and even ruin their relationships.

In April 2007 Prince William and Kate Middleton split up after dating for nearly five years. One of Kate’s friends blames too much attention from the press as the source of the breakup.

Some stars have even attacked relentless photographers after begging them to turn off the camera.

Brian Austin Green once shot paintballs at a paparazzi’s SUV and Britney Spears struck a photographer’s vehicle with an umbrella after they bombarded her with photographs at a gas station.

Sean Penn is known for fighting with them and Rock n Roll bad boy Tommy Lee was even sentenced to anger management and two years probation for attacking photographer Henry Trappler outside of the Viper Room in Los Angeles.

Chris Martin from Coldplay scuffled with a photographer after he was photographed coming out of a hospital with his wife Gwyneth Paltrow. At the time it was speculated that Gwyneth was pregnant, so the photographer yelled “Congratulations Chris” to which Chris responded “have some fu**ing respect” before wrestling the man to the ground.

“If you are what you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear the cameras here!” Sorry, that Lupe Fiasco song just popped in my head while I was writing. Face it- Paparazzi is just something that comes with the territory of being a celeb. If you want a private life, then don’t become famous! Even though there are certain privacy laws in effect, celebrities are legally considered “Public Figures”, which allows them to be photographed without their permission in many cases. And, even if the paparazzi has to perform illegal activities to get the shot, it’s well worth it because they are making several thousand dollars for some pictures.

Of course it’s annoying and photographers often cross the line and provoke stars to get a better shot, but that’s their job. And besides, most stars carried the same “By any means necessary” attitude in order to be where they are, so can they really blame them?

So if you want to be famous and you don’t mind being photographed constantly, then show business is for you. Just make sure they allow cameras at your plastic surgeons office.

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