"Comp" or Composition Cards...
What is a “Comp Card”….. or sometimes called a ZED Card, well, a Composition Card, is usually a postcard sized, or up to 5.5 inch x 8.5 inch card with one head and shoulders photo and 3 or 4 smaller images showing body style in differing poses. On the front, it will have your name and body details:-
Height - 5”5’’, Bust – 32B, Waist – 25”, Hips – 32”, Size – 1, Shoes – 7, Hair – Blond, Eyes – Blue
and on the reverse, it will have your contact details, web site if you have one and information about any body piercing or tattoos.
A Comp Card is a model's business card. In most cases, your comp card is your one and only opportunity to make a good first impression. Many agencies will not even meet with you until you have your comp card done - because that is the tool that they use to market you.
With that in mind it is important that the images on your comp card are your absolute best and nothing less. Additionally, the printing and reproduction quality is extremely important. Poor reproduction makes your images look bad and as a result - makes you look bad.
I strongly recommend being sure that your comp cards are "offset printed". This simply means that they are being printed on a traditional printing press and a good quality card stock, as opposed to the less expensive method of printing the comp cards with a laser printer on lightweight paper.
There are a number of companies that advertise on the internet that can layout and print your Comp Card, or, speak to your local photographer as he/she will probably know someone locally that can do this for you.
