Creating & Printing a Contact Sheet

Topics Covered in This Lightroom Tutorial:

Creating a Contact Sheet, Altering a Contact Sheet's Appearance, Printing a Contact Sheet

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

In this exercise, you'll master the creation of professional contact sheets using Lightroom's Print module—a fundamental skill for any photographer working with clients. Contact sheets remain essential in professional photography workflows, serving as visual catalogs that allow clients to quickly review, select, and reference images for licensing, purchasing, or further editing. Whether you're delivering proofs to wedding clients or presenting options to commercial buyers, a well-crafted contact sheet demonstrates professionalism and streamlines the selection process.

Creating a Contact Sheet

The foundation of any effective contact sheet lies in proper preparation and organization. Let's build one from your existing collection using Lightroom's robust Print module capabilities.

1. Navigate to the Library module to access your photo collections and prepare your image set.

2. Expand the Collections panel if it isn't already visible—this is where your organized photo sets live.

3. From the Collections panel, click on USA > Wyoming to select your target collection.

4. Unreject all photos that have been flagged as rejected by clicking on the black flag on each rejected photo's thumbnail. For contact sheet purposes, you'll often want to show clients a broader selection than your personally curated favorites.

5. Click the Print tab at the top to enter the Print module, where Lightroom's sophisticated layout engine awaits.

   This specialized workspace offers professionally designed templates optimized for common print sizes and formats, saving you significant time in layout creation while ensuring consistent, polished results.

6. In the Template Browser panel on the left, expand Lightroom Templates and select 5x8 Contact Sheet as your starting foundation.

7. At the bottom of the screen, locate the Use dropdown menu and select All Filmstrip Photos. This ensures your contact sheet includes every image in the current collection, providing clients with comprehensive coverage.

Changing a Contact Sheet's Layout

Now that your basic contact sheet is established, let's refine its appearance and functionality to meet professional standards and client expectations.

1. In the Page panel on the right (scroll down if necessary), ensure Photo Info is checked and set to Filename.

   Including filenames is crucial for professional workflows—clients frequently reference specific images by filename when placing orders, requesting edits, or providing feedback. This simple addition eliminates confusion and streamlines communication.

2. Within the Layout panel on the right, locate the Page Grid section and configure the following dimensions:

   Rows:	7
   Columns:	4

   This 7×4 grid strikes an optimal balance—images are large enough for clients to evaluate composition and quality while maintaining efficient use of paper real estate. The result is 28 images per sheet, an ideal quantity for most client review sessions.

3. When you're ready to produce your contact sheet, navigate to the bottom right and choose your printing approach:

   • Click Print for immediate output using your current printer settings.
   • Select Printer if you need to adjust paper type, print quality, or color management settings—critical considerations for accurate color representation in client presentations.

4. Once printed, examine your finished contact sheet with a critical eye. Notice how the systematic layout, clear filenames, and generous image sizing create a professional presentation tool that instills client confidence while facilitating efficient decision-making.