Ok so I read a lot of photographers and models talking about tear sheets is this some American term for 'Contact sheet' ? ( A whole roll of film 35mm negative size positive prints on one photographic piece of paper)

Nope. It's a sheet from a published image. Like torn out of a magazine or a velox of a boook cover or ad. Physical proof the image was published.
Mike

Thanks Mike for placing some light on that term for me. So people actually tear the sheet (photograph) from a magazine as proof or is the model/photographer given a sheet by the publisher as proof it was published ?

Usually it is literally torn out. I have some in my portfolio that were sort of small as published: I have the tear facing an enlargement on facing pages in the book.

It does seem to be acceptable to scan it in and clean it up, as I've seen several agency models with comp cards featuring tears that were obviously tweaked.

M

Hi,

  Here are some examples of tears I have:

http://musecube.com/RobertPerez/123092
http://musecube.com/Robertperez/107921
http://musecube.com/RobertPerez/71843


  I am wondering what is the term that is used to refer to Tearsheets in your country?