Creating A Composite Card
Video Transcript:
When putting a composite card together you want to first think about the kind of modeling jobs you are trying to get and the kind of modeling jobs you are most right for. For example, if you do not want to do either swimsuit
modeling or lingerie modeling- do not use those kinds of photos to promote yourself on your card. If you are trying to be a commercial print model, do not use high fashion editorial photos on your card and visa versa.
It is always nice to put a beauty or headshot on the front of your card. You will want to see clearly the color of your eyes. On the back you should put a variety of photos. If you have great teeth- make sure at least one of your photos shows them off. For commercial print models it is nice to have some interaction shots so they see you are comfortable working with other models and that you look natural in those situations. For the fashion model, you should use your edgy photos but do not forget a beauty shot and a catalogue look.
You should update your card every few months if you are working a lot. Use any new photos to show clients you are working. If you are just getting started you can wait longer to save money. When approaching agencies you can simply send digital shots of yourself. If you already have a composite- send that instead; especially if you are already a working model.
Remember that your composite card is the same as a business card for a model. If you do not have them printed and ready to give out when you meet a client you could miss put on an opportunity!
Video Transcription
Cristina: Now, once you get your portfolio book together, you are going to want to think about getting a composite card. Actually, getting your composite card is more important even than getting a portfolio book together, because you can use a composite card in trying to get a modeling agency, and you can also use your composite card to get work. Because I know a lot of clients don’t even look at the portfolio. So, if you want to make this your first step before a portfolio to save some money, then I totally understand that.
Now, in putting a composite card together, there are several different formats that you can go by. They usually involve one beauty shot in the front. This is an old composite card that I have and I have. I chose a beauty shot for the front and then something a little more relaxed- more catalogue for the back. Then, I also do lingerie, so I have included a shot like that. But, it is up to you. You do not have to do a body shot. You do not have to do lingerie or swimsuit if you do not want to. If you do not, then do not put that type of shot on your card.
This is an example of my cousin’s card. She has chosen again a beauty shot on the front, and then on the back, she has a lingerie shot and then a business look and then something a little bit more catalogue, and here she has an interaction shot which is really important. If you do feel comfortable working with another model, then it is very nice to have an interaction shot. This type of shot tells a client that you can be spontaneous, that you feel comfortable working with somebody else and that is really important for some commercial print jobs.
So, this card was a very good composite card for me. I have done a lot of work with this card. I chose a little bit more nontraditional front, and the only reason I chose this was because I did this shooting and I really was not crazy with any of the beauty shots that I got, so we tried this nontraditional shot instead on the front. It actually worked out really well because I worked a lot off of this composite card. The reason we did not choose this photo for the front is because my hair was back, and here, my hair is down. When you choose your photo for the front you want clients to see the color of your eyes and the color of your hair. So if you dye it, you are going to have to print a new composite card. I also have this shot with a dress looking down and that is more of my catalogue look to try to get those types of clients.
So, you can see here that I have a lot of composite cards in front of me, and there is a reason behind that, because every time you change your look, every time you get new pictures, every time you feel like you just want to start working a little bit more with your agency, I recommend doing a new composite card. I have known models that keep the same card for years and clients think they are not working that much because their composite card never changes. By getting a new card and doing new pictures with a test photographer or you have worked and you get a new tear sheet, and you have that published work to put on a card. By putting a new composite card with those pictures on it, it shows clients at your agency that you are working, and you get more jobs. So, doing a composite card is very important. This is a model’s business card. This is your business card. So, think of it as a business, and when you go somewhere and you need to hand them a business card, so they contact you and remember you. This is great information for anyone who wants to model. So, get your composite card and get it all together. This is Cristina DeHart from exploremodeling.com.
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