Proof prints of portraits by Bern Schwartz. A proof print is a sample print created in order to evaluate the quality of an image, allowing the printer to judge if the colour, exposure and contrast levels, and composition are satisfactory.

There are approximately 50,000 proof prints in this series and the vast majority are uniformally sized at 127mm (height) x 127mm (width). The prints include many different poses of sitters created from Schwartz's original negatives, in addition to the final versions designated as the official portraits. The negative frame number and the roll of film number of each print are often identified in pen on the verso.

Several prints are annotated with additional notes, probably made by Ronny. These are either written directly onto the portraits themselves, written on sticky-notes attached to the verso, or written onto glassine envelopes that originally housed the prints. Some prints have tape applied directly to them, in order to test different crops of the images.