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 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:32:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Uriel Dana http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-323841 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:17:01 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-323841 Accept that 50% of a children's book royalties go to the illustrator. All of the figures in this wage calculation will have to be deducted later. It's better to ask for an advance on royalties and retain ownership of the illustrations when the project is done for sale. Accept that 50% of a children’s book royalties go to the illustrator. All of the figures in this wage calculation will have to be deducted later. It’s better to ask for an advance on royalties and retain ownership of the illustrations when the project is done for sale.

]]> by: Vanessa http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-172394 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:01:02 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-172394 Hey I also found this site tonight and boy, it's helpful. I just got an offer to use my art in a children's book, and after reading this, I hope to be professional and get paid what I'm worth. I'm still searching for maybe guidelines for how large an illustration painting should be and how much a finished "page" would cost and maybe that would give me a better idea of how much to charge..maybe. But, I'll keep reading! Hey I also found this site tonight and boy, it’s helpful. I just got an offer to use my art in a children’s book, and after reading this, I hope to be professional and get paid what I’m worth. I’m still searching for maybe guidelines for how large an illustration painting should be and how much a finished “page” would cost and maybe that would give me a better idea of how much to charge..maybe. But, I’ll keep reading!

]]> by: David http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-171660 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:23:04 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-171660 I'm looking to begin a career as an illustrator. This was very good info. I didn't really know where to start with pricing. Thanks very much, and God bless! I’m looking to begin a career as an illustrator. This was very good info. I didn’t really know where to start with pricing. Thanks very much, and God bless!

]]> by: Nia http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-152798 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:11:25 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-152798 Hi Heather, I just stumbled upon you web page by sheer luck of Google and am so impressed. Yesterday I was asked to illustrate a children's book for the first time and I had no idea where to start or what to charge for my work. So thank you for the wealth of information you have provided and shedding light on the business end of things. I will be checking in frequently for more tips as I go along. Cheers Nia Vancouver, BC Hi Heather, I just stumbled upon you web page by sheer luck of Google and am so impressed. Yesterday I was asked to illustrate a children’s book for the first time and I had no idea where to start or what to charge for my work. So thank you for the wealth of information you have provided and shedding light on the business end of things. I will be checking in frequently for more tips as I go along.

Cheers

Nia
Vancouver, BC

]]> by: Mo' http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-43899 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:36:23 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-43899 Hi Heather, Now I understand. Your blog and your artwork are truly wonderful! Thank you for sharing all these tips and resource with us! Mo' Hi Heather,
Now I understand.

Your blog and your artwork are truly wonderful!

Thank you for sharing all these tips and resource with us!

Mo’

]]> by: heather http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-43889 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:12 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-43889 Hey MO' I agree with some of what you said... glad you brought it up, I didn't really touch on 'why' I use an hourly rate as a starting place! I never 'quote' to my clients an hourly rate. I just use it to establish my prices behind the scenes. Say for illustrating a kids book, I know roughly how much time it will take to complete a book... so I make sure my quote for the whole project will pay me adequately for the time I'd like to spend on the project. I also take into account that I'm a quick illustrator and that a quick turnaround is also valuable to clients... so I've adjusted my hourly rate by adding extra for that. Illustrations that have taken me 20 seconds I've charged as much as something that's taken me a day! Also, often clients have a budget to work within, or royalties to consider... so it doesn't always simply come down to hourly rates. You have to consider WHERE your work is being shown... if you're selling work to a friend down the street, you mightn't get as much for it as you would selling your art to a posh law firm in the city. Same with any illustrated publication... you have to consider the end audience and whether the budget is fair for what you product you are providing. However, I do feel that for students and startup artists especially that calculating how much they need to earn annually to live comfortably, and then working backwards to see how that translates into their quotes is a GOOD idea and something they need to do to run a good illustration business. Illustrators need to know in their head how much they need to earn at a MINIMUM per hour / day, so that they can then have the freedom to charge more or less for a project... depending on whether they take on a project for love or money! Cheers Heather Castles Hey MO’
I agree with some of what you said… glad you brought it up, I didn’t really touch on ‘why’ I use an hourly rate as a starting place!

I never ‘quote’ to my clients an hourly rate. I just use it to establish my prices behind the scenes. Say for illustrating a kids book, I know roughly how much time it will take to complete a book… so I make sure my quote for the whole project will pay me adequately for the time I’d like to spend on the project. I also take into account that I’m a quick illustrator and that a quick turnaround is also valuable to clients… so I’ve adjusted my hourly rate by adding extra for that. Illustrations that have taken me 20 seconds I’ve charged as much as something that’s taken me a day!

Also, often clients have a budget to work within, or royalties to consider… so it doesn’t always simply come down to hourly rates. You have to consider WHERE your work is being shown… if you’re selling work to a friend down the street, you mightn’t get as much for it as you would selling your art to a posh law firm in the city. Same with any illustrated publication… you have to consider the end audience and whether the budget is fair for what you product you are providing.

However, I do feel that for students and startup artists especially that calculating how much they need to earn annually to live comfortably, and then working backwards to see how that translates into their quotes is a GOOD idea and something they need to do to run a good illustration business. Illustrators need to know in their head how much they need to earn at a MINIMUM per hour / day, so that they can then have the freedom to charge more or less for a project… depending on whether they take on a project for love or money!

Cheers
Heather Castles

]]> by: Mo' http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-43856 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:03:40 +0000 http://blog.illustrationcastle.com/2007/04/23/how-much-to-charge-for-illustrations/#comment-43856 I would like to add something here... Be very careful with the hourly rate thing... The calculator and hourly rate thing is BAD for illustration and fine art. The HOURLY RATE it is good for some types of work, like proofreading, translation, etc...and if you have jobs coming all the time... Think... Illustration, fine art works should be priced per project...not per time it takes you to do it. I would like to add something here…

Be very careful with the hourly rate thing…

The calculator and hourly rate thing is BAD for illustration and fine art.

The HOURLY RATE it is good for some types of work, like proofreading, translation, etc…and if you have jobs coming all the time…

Think…
Illustration, fine art works should be priced per project…not per time it takes you to do it.

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