Starting out with runway modeling? One of the beginning things you definitely must do is order a zed card. So what are zed cards, and what ought you know about them? Let me share a handful things that any up and coming model should know about zed cards.
5. What Are Zed Cards?
Zed cards, also often called zed cards, are in a way a headshot for runway models. It includes a group of pictures from the model's work, and it includes the model's important stats. Zed cards should also identify contact numbers for the model or for the group of which the model is a part.
When you get down to it a zed card is a starting point between the model and a hoped for employer. When you go on a audition, they will expect you to give them a zed card - like a performer would drop off a headshot or a average interviewee would leave a resume.
4. What Kind of Photos Go On a zed Card?
A zed card is kind of a smaller, focused portfolio. You have to catch the eye of your hoped for director, and also show a little range. A zed card often starts with a headshot or similar tight shot on the first side, and a set of a few photographs on the other side. The other side of the card should display some variety - different kinds of make-up, modeling, hair, etc. Here is also a good location to include head to two pics, in lieu of the close up on the face of the card.
3. What Stuff Should Go on a Zed Card?
The information on the zed card has two goals - to share size and measurements and to list contact numbers. You should list the expected sizes like chest/bust, waist, hips, height, and weight. You could want to list eye color and hair color, yet this is less pivotal if it changes from time to time. You could also decide to include shoe size.
For the contact information, that's something for you to decide. You normally include the best way for the person to reach you. If you maintain a website or online portfolio, you would want to include that. If you have a dedicated phone number, you would want to include that too. I would probably include an e-mail address too.
2. How Large Is a Zed Card?
Designers will show you plenty of different sizes, but the normal size of a zed card is 5. 5" x 8. 5". Zed cards were at first designed on A4 sized paper (~8. 5" x 11"), but this later became A5 size (~5. 5" x 8. 5") in the seventies. The designer might offer you a slightly smaller\different size (~5" x 8") to cut back on paper and make the cards more cost effective. It's better to stay with the normal standard, however.
1. What Quality Paper Should You Use?
Zed cards should be made on good quality, thick card stock. In the way of paper weight, the weight should be from 12pt and 14pt. Anything thinner than 12pt will seem crappy; you don't want to appear cheap. Some designers are now offering cards printed on photo-quality paper, just as they print "greeting cards" printed on photo paper. Though they could suggest that it could lead to nicer color quality, a nice quality printer can print colors well on card stock. You ought to stick with the customary stock so that your card is thicker and more tough, rather than going for the thinner photo paper.
01/15/2012
A Few Things You Must Know When It Comes To Zed Cards
01/14/2012
The History of Sed Cards - The 80s and 90's
Years ago, comp cards were expensive to make, and design methodology were simple. Most runway models were short of the capital to create zed cards, so they got started with an uncomplicated 8x10, B&W glossy photograph with a quarter inch white edge. Stats were added to the back in plain text.
I remember those days, printing 50 to 100 copies of the same boring photo. Time and time again. These 8x10 photos were also somewhat costly, and this got in the way of the model giving them out. Models often sent them to businesses who were likely to offer them work, or to casting directors who were likely to hire them. Models probably missed out on many jobs because they couldn't afford to give out headshots to just anyone.
Over time, a model would be more successful and bring in more money. This would make it possible for the model to order a one-color sed card produced by an large printer. Only the top models in New York City could manage to get full color. Offset printing requires a lot of investment up front, but the investment became reasonable if a print run of hundreds or thousands of sed cards was done at once. With this, a model had thousands of cards on hand - and the model could more readily afford to distribute a card to anyone who might be remotely interested in hiring the model. The sed cards were even cheap enough to put in the mail to dispatch to casting agents around the country, extending a model's market.
The zed cards of the past were a particular way as a result of the techniques and requirements involved with printing. This called for a large picture on the front and a set of photographs, all a quarter of the available space, on the reverse of the card. A location was also kept open on the back of the sed card to hold stats for the model and a method of contact.
Printing standards got in the way of the photos on the reverse of the sed card from sharing space in the slightest way, and you weren't able to include any cool backdrops or designs. All zed cards were as a result done on a simple background, with quarter inch white strokes. These strokes also allowed the printing press to grab the zed card as it passed through the printing process. Designers couldn't bleed to the edge, the way present day cards and set ups do. Despite the fact that printing tools has come so far, the sed cards we design in the present are still founded pretty completely on this old design, which resulted from the realities of printing.
01/13/2012
Signs of a Talent Agency Rip Off
If you're trying to start in the business of fashion modeling, you must look out for unscrupulous characters. Some business are looking to steal from you, selling you on a awesome career in return for an up front fee. When all is said and done you'll be left with an empty wallet.
Here are some tip offs that you need to try to dodge.
1. Forum posts. If you notice an ad posted somewhere - in a circular, on Craigslist, etc - then hesitate before answering. Big talent agencies have lots of ready talent, and they don't really have to scrounge the bottom of the barrel. You might want to respond to open casting calls, but elsewise forum posts like these are a bad omen.
2. Asking for payment at the beginning. If the talent agency charges you cash in the beginning before you can be represented by them, then turn right around and get the hell out of dodge. This is an obvious hint that they can't be making profit on modeling gigs, so they instead make revenue elsewhere. If they aren't turning a profit, then you won't be either.
3. Making you use their staff photog. A big talent agency will ask you to get a set of images together as well as some comp cards, but they shouldn't force you to drop a ton o' cash on their own photog. You should compare and select a photog or composite card printer that you approve. If the agency really demand a certain photographer, then they'll foot the bill.
4. The agency wants you to pay for their talent classes or whatnot. It's yet another way for them to scam you. It might look more noral than a "new account fee" or some such thing. But when you really look at it it's exactly the same.
5. They promise you work. If only it were that easy. No one can promise that you will get a real gig as a fashion model, and anybody that guarantees that is just trying to butter you up. odds are, they are just trying nudge you into offering them some cash.
Once you've read about a handful of these scams, they become very easy to see for what they are. The simple concept is that the agency wants to "sign" as many clients as possible, charge them money in the beginning, and in the end make them happy with a few open auditions. If new models keep walking in the office, they do not lose sleep because you're sitting at home not working. They earned their cash. Don't let that money be yours.
