HDR-First Workflow with Simultaneous Deliverables: Initial Grade & Client Review

Hey everyone,

I'm wrestling with something on a current commercial project, shot on an AMIRA with some V-RAPTOR XL B-cam stuff. We've got client requests for both HDR and SDR deliverables, and even though the guide hammers home 'HDR-first' as best practice, the practicalities are throwing me for a loop.

Normally, my initial grade is focused on getting that SDR looking pristine. Now, I'm trying to start in HDR, knowing I need a solid SDR trim. It feels like I'm constantly second-guessing choices that, while great for HDR, might cause real headaches when trimming to SDR later.

Also, client reviews are getting tricky. Do you present both back-to-back? Focus only on the HDR, then surprise them with the trimmed SDR? My last few review sessions have felt a bit disjointed, trying to manage expectations for both versions simultaneously.

How has the demand for simultaneous HDR and SDR deliverables changed your initial grading process and, more specifically, how you conduct client review sessions?