What does a portfolio cost?
That question depends on each photographer. You will hear many people say a portfolio shouldn’t cost or it doesn’t matter just supply snap shot images. Both need to be considered slightly deeper. For castings, auditions etc a portfolio will be required. Some agencies say that they will provide you with professional images and they won’t cost you, but be careful and ask questions as sometimes what this really means, is that they will send you for a shoot, to put together a portfolio and that you will then pay for this portfolio out of each job they get you, so yes they try really hard to get you work until the portfolio is paid for, but be careful afterwards, work might slow down. As you gain more work you may also gain images to add to your portfolio or you may be asked to do some TFP/TFCD (see glossary) shoots.
