Wedding advice: Finding the "Cheap" Photographer

I came across this article and found the content, for the most part, to be spot on and really something brides should think about when looking for a photographer

"I Found a Cheap Wedding Photographer!"

"As in all professions and services, the wedding photography market is rife with a variety of professionals, some of whom are worthy of the “professional photographer” title while others are photographers in name only.  The truth is that a search on the basis of cost will result in a vast range of options from cheapest to most expensive. In a previous article on the selection of a wedding photographer, I used the example of the discount stores.

“If you see big differences in prices, it doesn’t necessarily mean one of the two is trying to con you. Take, for example, bargain basement products. No one really believes that buying a name brand means being tricked because the same item may be marked down 80% at discount stores. It just means that the name brand has more to offer in terms of quality and durability. For photographers, that means more experience, quality equipment, respect for the couple, time devoted to selecting and editing photos, reliability, photo and presentation quality personal attitude, creativity, business premises and many other parameters that unfortunately most couples ignore or are not aware of until it’s too late.”

 

 In the same way that you would never shop from a bargain basement for your wedding day, you should be suspicious of photographers who offer you bargain prices. As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” How can a photographer respect his work and his product and, by extension, you as a client, if your special wedding moments are limited by amateur, repetitive photos taken at random?  How can you get good work from a production based on a rough-and-ready philosophy? Your wedding photographs should be guided by rules related to both technical equipment and artistic approach. Such rules objectively make the difference and guarantee the result, as the professional photographer who has invested in his work supports his investment through to the final product, giving the couple the best possible outcome. Such a photographer can’t be bargain basement; he can’t come cheap."

Modeling Advice: Important shots to have in your portfolio for new models

Your model portfolio is the most important tool you have as far as getting hired for jobs and becoming a working/paid model. Your portfolio should be a collection of your best photographs. Your portfolio ultimately gives clients a chance to see how you can and do look in different situations, your experience and demonstrates your ability to move in front of a camera.

A standard model portfolio or "model book" should have at least 10 to 16 photos, in good condition.
However there are a few basic shots that all portfolios should have.
1. Beauty shot
2. Casual shot
3. Fashion look
4. Commercial shot

These shots will not only show your range as a model but will also showcase your knowledge as a model in
how to present yourself professionally.
 
Always put your best pictures in the front of your model portfolio and be sure to place them on the right side of the portfolio as you have it opened. Leave the left side free for the first few images of your book, generally the BEST,  so there are no distractions.
Be sure to have a few strong images at the very end as well, which will make sure that the impression you made from start to finish was a positive one.