Optimize SQL Queries and MySQL database

I have a website that runs custom php scripts. during peak times, there are too many resources being used at once - mainly too many requests to the MySQL database. i need to optimize the php scripts that are causing the this problem and optimize the database so that less resources are used and the site uses less resources - this is mainly due to the host insisting i move to a dedicated server which the site does not warrant as the costs are prohibitive. The other problem is that since the site has many images (picture rating site), there is alot of RAM usage which we need to somehow cut down and optimize the way the images are displayed if you have the ability and experience and have reasonable prices i'd like to have you on the project. Below is an example of the issues we are facing with a few scripts: Hello, Started scripts: /home/girlnext/public_html/[login to view URL] /home/girlnext/public_html/[login to view URL] /home/girlnext/public_html/[login to view URL] Too many sql queries irlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='506' | | 1877918 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='506' | | 1877919 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='506' | | 1877932 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='506' | | 1877933 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='506' | | 1877937 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='504' | | 1877947 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='504' | | 1877960 | girlnext | localhost | girlnext_picturevote | Query | 0 | Sending data | select * from tbl_vote where vote_girl='506'