does anyone know about how much it costs for test shots to start a portfolio for modeling?

go to an art school (college) and there will be photo majors in desperite need of free models for their portfolios.they get free modeling for fashion shoots you get free good test shots, always the case with photo students ..always sometimes you can go through the school art program director / dean to be a model

If your budget is tight how about finding a student photographer who could help.

There is a lot of talent in the colleges and tech schools. Place an ad in the school paper or use the 'net to find a student who specializes in portraits. They will want to use your photos in their portfolio also.

The pro who works with me is a great portrait photographer, and did just this type of thing when he was in school.

Oh, how about this? Bogart a photographer's assistant from a portrait pro who would like to build a portfolio.

it varies from each photographer, it can start for as little as $100 and go up from there. some photographers will do it on a 'time for print' basis which means they will give you pictures in exchange for your time and they will want to use them in their own portfolios, or try new shots they are working on,