Comments on: How much to charge for illustrations? http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/ - ramblings & advice from illustrator Heather Castles Fri, 18 May 2012 23:47:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Your Questions About Direct Mail Opportunities http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-942205 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:33:44 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-942205 [...] http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/ [...] […] http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/ […]

]]> by: Thais Linhares http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-921773 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:32:31 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-921773 Good morning, My base for pricing is always the "autorship rights" (copyrights), that is, the way the arts will be explored. Much more lucrative way of doing (and legal to). Good morning,

My base for pricing is always the “autorship rights” (copyrights), that is, the way the arts will be explored. Much more lucrative way of doing (and legal to).

]]> by: Aiki http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-920163 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:57:56 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-920163 @Nick if you cant make a living off what you are charging it you shouldn't be calling yourself a "professional". In fact by the sounds of things you would be better off just doing random illustrations of what you fancy and ebaying them as original art or sitting on the street and doing caricatures both of which have been done successfully by people I know. The rule is never take a commission that doesn't pay what you need your underselling yourself and the rest of us. @Nick if you cant make a living off what you are charging it you shouldn’t be calling yourself a “professional”.

In fact by the sounds of things you would be better off just doing random illustrations of what you fancy and ebaying them as original art or sitting on the street and doing caricatures both of which have been done successfully by people I know.

The rule is never take a commission that doesn’t pay what you need your underselling yourself and the rest of us.

]]> by: Nick http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-891474 Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:34:57 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-891474 This was pretty helpful, or hopefully will be in the future, thanks :) I however agree with Daniel Combs and Sharon, while I understand that people working for peanuts makes companies pay peanuts what exactly would you have me/us do? For instance if I was to charge £400 for many of my commissions (which is roughly what they are worth with this system... though I don't personally know anyone who gets paid £45 an hour?) I would get 0 commissions; even if I was to take 75% off that and charge £100 I would get 0 commissions. In fact I have to do 90% of my commissions for nothing just to get the 'experience' companies so much desire, and if I suggested a payment of the just minimum wage (as I have done) they would tell me they have found another artist, they have decide not to go forward with the commission, or I'd never hear from them again and they'd ignore any contact from me. The latter being the most frequent. I don't really understand how many of you are even getting work at the moment? Is the answer to never undersell yourself and to hope that one day a someone will pay you properly? But even if that happens as often as 1/100 times £400 a year isn't really any better. Or is it that my work is just **** and everyone is too polite to tell me? I must be missing something cause I just don't get it. This was pretty helpful, or hopefully will be in the future, thanks :)

I however agree with Daniel Combs and Sharon, while I understand that people working for peanuts makes companies pay peanuts what exactly would you have me/us do?

For instance if I was to charge £400 for many of my commissions (which is roughly what they are worth with this system… though I don’t personally know anyone who gets paid £45 an hour?) I would get 0 commissions; even if I was to take 75% off that and charge £100 I would get 0 commissions.

In fact I have to do 90% of my commissions for nothing just to get the ‘experience’ companies so much desire, and if I suggested a payment of the just minimum wage (as I have done) they would tell me they have found another artist, they have decide not to go forward with the commission, or I’d never hear from them again and they’d ignore any contact from me. The latter being the most frequent.

I don’t really understand how many of you are even getting work at the moment?
Is the answer to never undersell yourself and to hope that one day a someone will pay you properly? But even if that happens as often as 1/100 times £400 a year isn’t really any better.
Or is it that my work is just **** and everyone is too polite to tell me?

I must be missing something cause I just don’t get it.

]]> by: Greg - Lordart http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-882537 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:16:02 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-882537 Hi Ann, Have been looking for the same kind of advice so hope these links will be helpful... http://www.illustratorsonline.com/webaffil/priceguide.html http://www.cegur.com/Pricepages/BookIllustration.html http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/print.php?&section=Illustrations+and+cartoons http://www.artquest.org.uk/money/artist-rates-pay/calculating-a-longer-or-shorter-rate.htm but remember at the end of the day it is up to you and what feels right based on the amount of hours / complexity etc. All the best with the project! Hi Ann, Have been looking for the same kind of advice so hope these links will be
helpful…

http://www.illustratorsonline.com/webaffil/priceguide.html

http://www.cegur.com/Pricepages/BookIllustration.html

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/print.php?&section=Illustrations+and+cartoons

http://www.artquest.org.uk/money/artist-rates-pay/calculating-a-longer-or-shorter-rate.htm

but remember at the end of the day it is up to you and what feels right based on
the amount of hours / complexity etc.

All the best with the project!

]]> by: Ann http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-880394 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:23:02 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-880394 Hello.... I have been commissioned to illustrate a 25-30 page childrens picture book. My hourly rate used to be between $37.50-$100 per hour depending on what job I did... Board work... illustration... design ... or photo shoot/ art direction. Currently just freelance stay home mom breaking back into field! Client asking me for a price... on full job... any ideas what picture books go for... Ann Hello…. I have been commissioned to illustrate a 25-30 page childrens picture book. My hourly rate used to be between $37.50-$100 per hour depending on what job I did… Board work… illustration… design … or photo shoot/ art direction. Currently just freelance stay home mom breaking back into field! Client asking me for a price… on full job… any ideas what picture books go for…
Ann

]]> by: Q&A: What’s a fair price for illustrations of a character for a local business? | Trick Questions And Answers http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-880178 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:38:59 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-880178 [...] http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/ [...] […] http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/ […]

]]> by: Anita http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-871874 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 02:32:46 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-871874 Thanks for this post, as far as fine art goes for selling and not a hobby - an hourly rate is best. Just like a regular hourly job. A fixed quote may cause disadvantage due to screw-ups and revisions. In the end, to make the buyer happy you can always lower your price from the actual quote. People are always looking for deals! Even if it's fine art. It's still a product and you provide the service. Thanks for this post, as far as fine art goes for selling and not a hobby - an hourly rate is best. Just like a regular hourly job. A fixed quote may cause disadvantage due to screw-ups and revisions.
In the end, to make the buyer happy you can always lower your price from the actual quote. People are always looking for deals! Even if it’s fine art. It’s still a product and you provide the service.

]]> by: Pawluh http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-865519 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:58:56 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-865519 This is most helpful. You've done a wonderful job of breaking down pricing and hours, Neil. I'm bookmarking this page so that the next time someone asks me how to price their time, I can send them here. (Such a timesaver!) For someone just starting out, they should remain flexible. A designer/illustrator should know what their price is, but be willing to go below it. Or above it. An experienced designer/illustrator should know what their price is but be willing to go above it. Or below it. :o) This is most helpful. You’ve done a wonderful job of breaking down pricing and hours, Neil. I’m bookmarking this page so that the next time someone asks me how to price their time, I can send them here. (Such a timesaver!)

For someone just starting out, they should remain flexible. A designer/illustrator should know what their price is, but be willing to go below it. Or above it. An experienced designer/illustrator should know what their price is but be willing to go above it. Or below it. :o)

]]> by: Sharon http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-860771 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:23:28 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-860771 @bigtreez - I can kind of see where Daniel is coming from. I too, find that since the recession has started, I am having trouble with clients nickel and diming everything. I quoted a price for a logo, and told the client that I'd have it for her in 2 days. She said, "well such and such site, advertises 3 logos for $99 in 24 hours." I encouraged her to pursue that route b/c I would not be able to match that. I did tell her that my QUALITY and follow-up would be better than the site, but I could not match the price. She came back to me later after recieving no follow up from thm in regards to edits. I believe Craigslist and graphic designers in 3rd world countries like India being allowed to bid on sites like elance against us has hurt the industry greatly, and more and more people are having the experiences that Daniel is having, just b/c they need to make SOME money to pay bills! @bigtreez - I can kind of see where Daniel is coming from. I too, find that since the recession has started, I am having trouble with clients nickel and diming everything. I quoted a price for a logo, and told the client that I’d have it for her in 2 days. She said, “well such and such site, advertises 3 logos for $99 in 24 hours.” I encouraged her to pursue that route b/c I would not be able to match that. I did tell her that my QUALITY and follow-up would be better than the site, but I could not match the price. She came back to me later after recieving no follow up from thm in regards to edits. I believe Craigslist and graphic designers in 3rd world countries like India being allowed to bid on sites like elance against us has hurt the industry greatly, and more and more people are having the experiences that Daniel is having, just b/c they need to make SOME money to pay bills!

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