Price:
As an illustrator, determining my prices for children's book projects is always a balancing act. On the one hand, I want to make sure I'm being fairly compensated for the time and effort I put into each project. On the other hand, I know that clients have budgets to consider and that I need to be competitive in the market.
That being said, I firmly believe that my work deserves to be paid for. Creating illustrations is not just a hobby or a pastime for me - it's my profession. I spend countless hours perfecting my craft, researching, and experimenting with different styles and techniques to ensure that I'm delivering the best possible product for my clients.
When I set my prices, I factor in not just the time I'll spend on the project, but also the cost of materials and any other expenses. I also take into account the value of my work beyond just the physical piece itself - the impact that illustrations can have on a book or project is immeasurable, and I know that my work can help bring a story to life in a way that words alone cannot.
Of course, I'm always open to negotiation and finding a price that works for both myself and my clients. I want to create a fair and mutually beneficial arrangement that allows us both to succeed. At the end of the day, my goal is to create beautiful, engaging illustrations that capture the spirit of the project and help it stand out in a crowded market.
Here is my process in an ideal situation.
✅ You extract and/or write description of you characters. It would be nice if you can provide some references, but it's not critical.
✅ If your book is short, you can send me full text, or you can send me extracted scenes for illustration. Also you are welcome to add more information about the scene, you vision.
✅ I'm drawing sketch for a scene, sending it to you for review. After adjusting the sketch goes colorizing.
✅ I'm showing you colorized illustration and we can discuss minor changes.
✅ Finishing illustration and sending it to you.
As you see, based on this plan you have to decide how many illustrations do you need and for what scenes. Then, based on scenes description we discussing the price and time.
How is the cost of an illustration formed?
✔️The complexity and level of detail required in the illustration is another key consideration. The more intricate and detailed the illustration, the more time and effort an illustrator will need to put in to create it, which can impact the overall cost.
✔️Urgency is another factor to consider. If a project needs to be completed on a tight deadline or requires the illustrator to work outside of regular hours, the cost of the work will likely increase to reflect the additional time and effort required.
✔️Finally, the transfer of exclusive rights to the illustration can significantly increase the cost of the work.
All of these factors are considered when determining the cost of a children's book illustration. At the end of the day, it's important to remember that creating illustrations is a professional service that requires time, skill, and resources - and, like any service, it should be fairly compensated.
