Headshot clients compare small differences: a blink, a slightly softer jawline, a catchlight that moved. Those differences disappear in a folder and in a dense grid. A contact sheet built for portraits keeps similar frames together and large enough to judge.
Group by setup, then by expression
Keep each lighting or wardrobe change as its own run. Inside that run, leave the capture order so the client can see the expression evolve. Do not shuffle the “best” frames to page one; that hides the context they need when two smiles are almost the same.
Use fewer columns than a documentary sheet
Four or five wide columns often make faces too small to read. Start with two or three columns so eyes, skin, and clothing details stay visible. Extra pages are better than a sheet the client cannot use. Check the first and last page after you change the grid because pagination will move.
Give them a way to choose between near-duplicates
Ask for one hero per setup and, if useful, one spare. Tell them to reply with filenames. If a couple or a comms team is choosing together, send a proofing link so the final list arrives once. Put clear instructions in the same message as the sheet; the selection brief template can be shortened for a headshot session.
Watermark without covering the face
Corporate and actor headshots are easy to lift from a proof. A light corner mark or a translucent studio name is usually enough. Keep it off the eyes and mouth. Test a light-background and a dark-background frame before you send the PDF.
Build the portrait sheet
Export review-sized files, keep the setup order, and open the contact sheet editor. Keep filenames visible so the approved hero can be found in the catalog without guesswork. For a wider view of why the grid helps comparison, see benefits of online contact sheets .