As an illustrator or a graphic artist, you will soon find that the opportunity for contract jobs is much better than some other professions. You may be tempted to take on lots of work because you really need the money or your clients know plenty more people who need help. That's absolutely wonderful but take care not to take on too much.
I often take on less than I feel I can handle. There are a few reasons for this:
1. Projects often take longer than you think they will.
You may get a call from a client for a quick illustration and you may think it will only take you a 3 hours, but often we forget about revision time. Its fairly rare to get it 100% perfect the very first time so if you think it will take you 3 hours, add about half again to compensate for possible revisions.
2. Less stress means better work.
Overbooking your schedule can be devastating to your artwork. When you feel rushed you are not going to put 100% into your work. Overbooking will also lead to a disorganized schedule and you may forget a project or be unable to finish an order. Allow yourself some wiggle room for projects so that you can take your time and your work will always be better for it.
3. Account for research time.
When I start a project I often spend a couple of hours just getting to know my subject. What does light look like on a glassy surface at this angle? What real life objects can I find around the house that might help me understand this shape? Take time to think about textures, colors, shapes, etc before you sit down to get to work. No one really sits right down and creates a masterpiece, but taking the time to consider these factors will be helpful to your work.
4. Rush orders happen.
So you have a nice full schedule of work and you're ready to start knocking the projects out. Then out of nowhere you get a call from a client and they need a special illustration in a very short amount of time. If you don't leave wiggle room in your schedule you will not be able to accommodate this order without pushing off your other clients. If you leave wiggle room in your schedule you will be able to take care of rush jobs without putting out your other orders.
If you keep these things in mind when taking on more work you will be much more successful. Just remember that more work is not always more money if you bite off more than you can chew.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tip #1: How much do I charge?
Wow, if I had a nickel for everytime I've heard (or seen) that questions asked, I wouldn't be writing here, I'd be on the beach without a care in the world. But seriously, its one of the most daunting questions when starting off on your own. So what's the magic number? Well, hate to say it but it's not as easy as all that. But it's not that hard either.
One thing to consider when pricing yourself is who is your target client? Are you trying to go after the big contracts or are you looking to help out the local restaurant with some menu design? And sure, we all want as much money as we can get, but be reasonable. If you are new to the industry, don't set yourself so high that your target client can't afford you. You can always raise your rates once you have a great portfolio to back you up. And starting with Joe's Pizza up the street is a good way to earn steady business and a good portfolio. We don't all start out making the big bucks, but earning a good reputation will help guide you toward that goal.
Another question regarding price I've seen quite a bit of is should I do work for free? In my opinion, there's plenty of decent paying jobs out there that will be glad to give you business to help build your portfolio. Even students shouldn't have to work for free. Some artists get caught up in trying to win that contest or get suckered into working for free to earn more business later. Honestly, those who expect you to do some free work often won't be paying for your services later. Once you start charging they'll just find the next sucker to come along. You want to give out free work? Do it for customers you have already established a relationship with. They love it when you've worked hard for them and now want to offer up a small freebie for keeping their business. 9 times out of 10, they'll want to pay you anyway but appreciate the offer.
So, no free work okay, but how much do I charge? It can be tricky striking a balance between your needs and the needs of your clients, but that is what has to be done. I take into consideration a few things.
1. How much do I need to make in a month to pay my bills and be content?
2. For each project I take on, I consider what is it worth to the client?
3. What quality of work do I have to offer to the project?
When I started out, I chose an hourly rate. Sometimes I'd get people scoff at my rate and sometimes people would consider it a bargain! The point is, charge what you feel is fair. If you feel your work is professional enough to charge $85/hr, go right ahead, and keep in mind that people will expect more for the more they pay you. If you are a student just starting out and you want to charge $15/hr, that's okay too. If you stay in the business a bit you'll be able to gauge whether you are charging too little or too much for your work by the reaction of your target client.
A few quick tips when deciding your pricing policy:
A. Don't post your pricing. Quotes are the way to go. Why? Because every project, every client is different. Some people feel more comfortable paying hourly and some prefer a fixed price. Some will even come to you with an offer that is more than you normally charge! If they see your website and find you charge much less then you probably won't get paid as much.
B. If you choose fixed pricing, be sure to add a little padding in. I often tell my customers a fixed price above what I feel the project may actually cost, I can always cut a discount at the end, but it's much harder to add onto the pricing if you underquote.
C. Take deposits for projects that take more than a couple of hours. It's a sad reality that even clients who might seem like friends may fail to pay or take a long time in doing so if you let them. Stay firm on your policies and you'll get stiffed a lot less.
For more information on pricing, I suggest an excellent book on the subject called Graphic Artists Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, featured below.
One thing to consider when pricing yourself is who is your target client? Are you trying to go after the big contracts or are you looking to help out the local restaurant with some menu design? And sure, we all want as much money as we can get, but be reasonable. If you are new to the industry, don't set yourself so high that your target client can't afford you. You can always raise your rates once you have a great portfolio to back you up. And starting with Joe's Pizza up the street is a good way to earn steady business and a good portfolio. We don't all start out making the big bucks, but earning a good reputation will help guide you toward that goal.
Another question regarding price I've seen quite a bit of is should I do work for free? In my opinion, there's plenty of decent paying jobs out there that will be glad to give you business to help build your portfolio. Even students shouldn't have to work for free. Some artists get caught up in trying to win that contest or get suckered into working for free to earn more business later. Honestly, those who expect you to do some free work often won't be paying for your services later. Once you start charging they'll just find the next sucker to come along. You want to give out free work? Do it for customers you have already established a relationship with. They love it when you've worked hard for them and now want to offer up a small freebie for keeping their business. 9 times out of 10, they'll want to pay you anyway but appreciate the offer.
So, no free work okay, but how much do I charge? It can be tricky striking a balance between your needs and the needs of your clients, but that is what has to be done. I take into consideration a few things.
1. How much do I need to make in a month to pay my bills and be content?
2. For each project I take on, I consider what is it worth to the client?
3. What quality of work do I have to offer to the project?
When I started out, I chose an hourly rate. Sometimes I'd get people scoff at my rate and sometimes people would consider it a bargain! The point is, charge what you feel is fair. If you feel your work is professional enough to charge $85/hr, go right ahead, and keep in mind that people will expect more for the more they pay you. If you are a student just starting out and you want to charge $15/hr, that's okay too. If you stay in the business a bit you'll be able to gauge whether you are charging too little or too much for your work by the reaction of your target client.
A few quick tips when deciding your pricing policy:
A. Don't post your pricing. Quotes are the way to go. Why? Because every project, every client is different. Some people feel more comfortable paying hourly and some prefer a fixed price. Some will even come to you with an offer that is more than you normally charge! If they see your website and find you charge much less then you probably won't get paid as much.
B. If you choose fixed pricing, be sure to add a little padding in. I often tell my customers a fixed price above what I feel the project may actually cost, I can always cut a discount at the end, but it's much harder to add onto the pricing if you underquote.
C. Take deposits for projects that take more than a couple of hours. It's a sad reality that even clients who might seem like friends may fail to pay or take a long time in doing so if you let them. Stay firm on your policies and you'll get stiffed a lot less.
For more information on pricing, I suggest an excellent book on the subject called Graphic Artists Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, featured below.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Internet and the Modern Illustrator
It used to be pretty difficult to make a living as an artist. Your options were limited. Either work creatively without pay until you came across the next Van Gogh, as the typical "starving artist". Or maybe you could be a graphic artist, making advertisements or illustrations for companies, but you had to have a degree and make copies of your best work and mail it to companies or know someone in the industry to get you in.
Today, the internet opens up a whole new world to artists wishing to make money from their art.
Some of the best ways to earn money with your art include:
The great thing is, you can do ALL of these things. Start by focusing on just one, and then expand your efforts until you have an online empire and you're working from home doing what you love. In the next segment, I'll break down how to get started on these great ways to start an illustration career.
Today, the internet opens up a whole new world to artists wishing to make money from their art.
Some of the best ways to earn money with your art include:
- Become a Freelance Artist
You can take orders from clients all over the world to create logos and art - Stock Illustration
Stock photography and illustration companies make it easy to just create, upload and earn money - Create-a-product Sites
Earn money by creating shirts, mugs and other products with your unique art - Donate your talent
Working for charities occasionally can help boost your portfolio and gain exposure
The great thing is, you can do ALL of these things. Start by focusing on just one, and then expand your efforts until you have an online empire and you're working from home doing what you love. In the next segment, I'll break down how to get started on these great ways to start an illustration career.
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