All About Comp
Cards
How to design and print
a powerful marketing
tool.
A comp card or zed card is a model's business card. Your comp
card is what an agency will use to market you and it is often the first
image a potential client will see so everything about it should scream
quality. You only get one chance to make a great first impression so
every detail about its design and production are extremely important.
Think of it as a mini-portfolio that can be given out at casting calls
and to anyone who might hire you. Photo Selection
A single headshot or beauty shot with an overlay of your name will fill the front of the card. It needs to be the very best photo you have available. The camera must be focused on your eyes. The lighting must not leave shadows on your face. Every hair must be in place. Your makeup must be flawless. It must immediately grab everyone's attention and make them want to know more about you. If 50 comp cards were spread out on a table, would yours stand out among all the others? If not, choose a different image.
The back of a comp card should have three to five photos along with your stats. The industry standard is four but models who are very experienced and well known sometimes choose to customize the design slightly. These photos should not only show that you are beautiful and in great shape, but also that you are versatile in your look, style and age. Using a variety of expressions, emotions and personas lets the client see that you are believeable as a wide range of characters and marketable across a large demographic. These photos tell the story of who you are and should make the client want to meet you above all others competing for the job. You should also incorporate some white space in the design because your agency will place a sticker on the card with their contact information.
Stats
The back of your comp card should also provide some basic information about you. The list is pretty simple and should include your name, age range, height, bust, waist, hips, dress size, shoe size, hair color and eye color.
Age range? Never put your actual age on your comp card. Instead, show a range that you can confidently portray with the right clothes, makeup, hair and lighting. Telling the client you are 21 years old may work against you if they are casting for a 16 year old high school student or a 26 year old office worker. Another option is to not list any age at all and let the client see your range in the photos you select. Also, notice I did not include weight on the list. Your weight is not as important as dress size and measurements. Your weight may naturally fluctuate by a few pounds. Your dress size is fairly constant and your measurements allow wardrobe designers or stylists to make sure the clothes they choose will fit you properly.
Selecting a Printer
A comp card measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches and is printed on both sides in full color, full bleed on heavy, slick, coated card stock. Choosing a high quality printer is very important because inferior ones don't always have good color reproduction. They often use flimsy card stock that folds or creases easily and the reproduction process may produce comp cards that are not centered or cut properly. The end result is a product that looks unprofessional and the poor quality will be noticed by everyone who sees it. You should be very demanding of your printer to ensure you get a high quality product.
Some agencies will offer to have comp cards printed for you. This is almost always a bad idea. An agency will print their logo and phone number on your comp card. If you are signed to more than one agency or work in multiple markets, this limits how and where you can use your comp card. An agency will most likely copy images from your portfolio prints. This is like making a copy of a copy and always results in poor quality reproduction. An agency will charge you a markup on the cost of design and printing. This means you are paying them unnecessary fees and earning less for yourself
Coustomized Model Posters Samples
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