The best $50 you can spend

A note to any photo editors that may read this: It's hard to find a good photo assistant for $200. I know that you are on a budget, and that it's company policy, but there is a huge difference between a $200 assistant and a $250 one. The latter brings a skills and experience to the shoot that almost always result in a more focused photographer, and ultimately a better shot -- it's probably the best $50 you can spend.