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Model comp card: make yours, free

Updated October 2, 2026

A comp card — the “sed card” in Germany, “composite” in France — is a model’s business card: one large photo on the front, a few photos and your measurements on the back. It is the first thing an agency, a photographer or a client looks at. Here is what it is for, what it must contain, and a free tool to build yours right now.

What a comp card is for

A full portfolio is looked at sitting down. A comp card slips into a folder, goes out as an attachment and is read in ten seconds: who you are, what you look like from several angles, your measurements, how to reach you.

The format comes from London: the first cards, created in 1965, were A4; they moved to A5 in 1972 so they would fit agency binders (source: “Comp card”, Wikipedia, read on 14 October 2026). The name “sed card” comes from the publisher Sebastian Sed.

You do not need an agency or a studio to have one. Five honest, sharp photos are enough.

What it must contain

  • Front: one large, sharp portrait, natural light, face clear, with your professional name.
  • Back: three to five photos that show your range — a full-length shot, a waist-up shot, a portrait, and something closer to everyday life.
  • Your measurements: height, bust or chest, waist, hips, shoe size, clothing size, hair and eye colour.
  • Your contact: a professional email, your city, your agency if you have one, and your portfolio address.
  • Nothing else: no home address, no date of birth, no busy background.

Agencies each have their habits: if you are applying to one, ask for its template before printing a hundred copies.

Build your comp card

Fill in the boxes and pick your photos: the preview updates straight away. Your photos never leave your device — nothing is sent, nothing is stored, no account is asked for.

Safety tip: give an email address, never your home address.

Main photo

First Last

City, country

Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5

First Last

  • Height —
  • Bust / chest —
  • Waist —
  • Hips —
  • Shoe —
  • Clothing —
  • Hair —
  • Eyes —
  • Languages —

— ·

Size: the card is A5 (148 × 210 mm), the format agencies have used since 1972. When printed, front and back come out on two A4 pages — all that is left is to cut.

Comp card ready? Put it online. On Castalio, a free profile shows your photos, your city and your measurements — and photographers find you through search, with no middleman.

Create my free profile

Mistakes to avoid

  • Too many photos: five chosen images beat twelve that all look alike.
  • Heavily retouched photos: you are booked for who you are, and the gap shows on casting day.
  • Wrong measurements: they are checked on the spot, and the mistake costs the job.
  • A personal phone number on a card that circulates: an email is enough.
  • Never updating it: redo your comp card whenever your look changes (colour, cut, weight).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a professional photographer?

Not to start. Daylight, a plain background and a decent camera already give you a usable comp card. A TFP shoot then lets you replace the images one by one.

How many photos go on a comp card?

One on the front, three to five on the back. What matters is that they do not look alike.

Centimetres or inches?

Use the unit of the country you are applying in. You can write both, for example “172 cm (5′8″)”.

Are my photos uploaded anywhere?

No. They stay in your browser: this page sends nothing and stores nothing.

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