Speaking like an archeologist, the “tear sheet” was a talisman photographers used to show around to prove how good they were, and along with client lists and brand name-dropping, it gave cover to editors in hiring that this person was capable of delivering a job for publication. Together with the personal work (sic) that was also required, as if being a professional was not enough, these were your bona-fides in the industry.

Normally a photographer would want to impress with the best tears, the full page bleeds, the best typography, and leave out the quarter page spot pictures for better impact.

I present my Dad’s Tear Sheet Album, a scrapbook of some of the assignments I sent home during my print heyday 1996-2006. He changed the layouts. I like it much better.