Red Management / Making a comp card
Your presentation.
On one card.
A comp card, also called a sedcard, brings a small selection of photographs and relevant model information together. It is a concise introduction you can share digitally or in print.
Read the article ↗Explore the possibilities ↓A summary, not your whole portfolio
Your portfolio gives different series room to breathe. A comp card is the short version: a few photographs and the details someone needs for a first impression. Begin with a current portrait that shows you clearly. Styling can express your personality, but design and retouching should not overwhelm your appearance.
Choose a small, purposeful selection
Add photographs that contribute something different, such as your posture, a wider view or another expression. Use photographs of the same person on a real card. Avoid nearly identical poses and do not fill every available space simply because you can. Follow any layout or image requirements supplied by the recipient.
Explore choosing casting photographs ↗Include only relevant information
Your name or work name and a contact route normally belong on the card. Other information depends on the agency or project. Add current measurements only when they are relevant or requested. Do not invent experience, representation or measurements. Keep private contact details off a public card and check what a particular application actually requires.
Let the photographs do the work
Give the images enough space and keep the wording short. A readable typeface, restrained colours and consistent alignment make the card easier to scan. For a first draft, try one portrait, two supporting photographs, your work name and one contact route. This is a starting point for your own design, not a universal application requirement.
Check the file before you share it
Open the digital version on a phone and a larger screen. Are the photographs sharp and the details readable? Check that the contact route works and that you have permission to use every image. If you plan to print cards, ask the printer about dimensions, bleed and file format before exporting. There is no need to order a stack of printed cards if a digital file will do.
Keep one current version
Update the card when your appearance, contact route or relevant information changes. Check old links so that you do not accidentally send an outdated file. Keep the editable original somewhere you can find it. If you need new photographs, first identify what is missing from the selection rather than replacing the whole card automatically.
Explore photography ↗Adapted from our Dutch practical guide. The photographs illustrate style and presentation. Read the original in Dutch ↗