Commercail Comp Card Answers

Posted by Harlan Johnson on June 18, 2002 at 23:50:17:

In Reply to: Commercail Comp Card Question posted by Glenda on June 18, 2002 at 21:37:53:

Location: Los Angeles

: 1. I know that an actors card should have a B&W headshot and reusme on back - however can I combine a model/actor card and do the b&w headshot on front and color photos on back or should I keep them separate?

Keep them separate. Each professional community has a standard format it wants to see. Give it to them.

: 2. Most commercial model cards I see have a headshot on front and 3 photos on back - those photos usually show a Business look, a two-person interaction, and then another headshot. Instead of the 3rd headshot can I do a product endorsement shot (that I wasn't hired for) or would that be copyright infringement?

"Product endorsement shots" are rarely seen in commercial advertising, hence rarely seen in comp cards. No, it wouldn't be copyright infringement, although someone might take issue with trademark use, which is different. I don't think that issue is worth worrying about on a comp card, though.

More generally, the standard formula you recite for a comp is hardly standard. In most major markets there are four shots on the back of the card (although some agencies insist on getting "creative" and wasting a lot of card real estate). The variety of shots is much wider than what you describe, and should be suited to both you and your market, not some formula.

"Your market" is Virginia Beach and Norfolk. You are probably too far from Richmond to be a model there, so you need to find out what (if any) real agencies in those two cities near you want on their cards.

Follow Ups:

• Thanks Glenda 08:22:13 06/19/02 (2)
  • Distance Harlan Johnson 08:47:00 06/19/02 (1)
    • It IS Significant Shane 09:51:47 06/19/02 (0)

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Comments:
: : 1.  I know that an actors card should have a B&W headshot and reusme on back - however can I combine a model/actor card and do the b&w headshot on front and color photos on back or should I keep them separate?

: Keep them separate.  Each professional community has a standard format it wants to see.  Give it to them.

: : 2.  Most commercial model cards I see have a headshot on front and 3 photos on back - those photos usually show a Business look, a two-person interaction, and then another headshot.  Instead of the 3rd headshot can I do a product endorsement shot (that I wasn't hired for) or would that be copyright infringement?

: "Product endorsement shots" are rarely seen in commercial advertising, hence rarely seen in comp cards.  No, it wouldn't be copyright infringement, although someone might take issue with trademark use, which is different.  I don't think that issue is worth worrying about on a comp card, though.

: More generally, the standard formula you recite for a comp is hardly standard.  In most major markets there are four shots on the back of the card (although some agencies insist on getting "creative" and wasting a lot of card real estate).  The variety of shots is much wider than what you describe, and should be suited to both you and your market, not some formula.

: "Your market" is Virginia Beach and Norfolk.  You are probably too far from Richmond to be a model there, so you need to find out what (if any) real agencies in those two cities near you want on their cards.



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