Illustrations is a medium of art that not everyone can master. Whether you are a designer or a book writer, getting professionals for the illustrations can help you to do it right in the first time.
If you are writing a picture book or have competed the text, you must be excited about the next step that is illustrate the book and get it published. You must be intended to work with a publisher who has all the control over how your book will look, about the characters and might also have selected an illustrator that best compliments your style of writing to complete your picture book without having your say in it. You must remember that publishing is a business which means the end result is likely to be thrilling, so just hang on and wait!
However of you are a self-publishing author, you will need to find the best illustrators to explore the possible deficits and benefits of the chosen path. It is important that you look around for professionals in the field rather than hiring services which offers you ordinary digital illustrations. You can ask them to get free eBooks for which they have previously worked to understand their work better before hiring them.
Designing illustrations for children’s books might seem as an everyday simple job, but an illustrator burns the midnight oil to get the design up to the mark. They sketch up ideas and develop characters, play with expressions, create an outstanding setting, place the characters and redraw everything to get things right. A professional illustrator breathes life into your book.
Here are some pointers that you must remember while working with a professional illustrator
Thing #1: don’t ever ask an illustrator to work on specs
Beginner illustrator might provide you a work of art at comparatively lower cost in exchange of experience and building there portfolio, but that doesn’t mean you should compensate them for their hard work and ideas. As said above, they work for hours to make things right and deserve appreciation in form of compensations. Make sure to pay them when that deserve.
Thing #2: illustrators expect you to pay deposits to be on the safe side
An illustrator might ask for some deposit or progress payments and complete payments before they deliver you the complete designs. One major reason for doing this is because sometimes they are tricked into working and not getting paid for the hard work they put into creating illustrations. Therefore, to stay on the safe side, they ask for at least half of their deposit to start working on the illustrations.
Thing #3: choose illustrators who can meet deadlines
Make a contract and set a time to deliver the work. However, you must provide them enough freehand to make sure you get the best work. However, to make sure you receive the best services it is important to ask them for their previous works and referrals from other writers. There are many platforms where you can hire a freelance illustrator or illustration services to get the job done.
Thing #4: you shouldn’t bargain on price
You can compare the prices of the illustrators and choose which fits in your budget. The more experienced illustrator you choose to work with the more high process will they demand. Look at their portfolio to judge their work according to their prices. Bear in mind that experience doesn’t define the talent or skills of a person. A beginner may also have the same skills as an experienced illustrator. The only difference in their work is the exposure they have in the field. Choose the one that fits your budget.
Thing #5: you don’t own the right to the artwork even though you’re paying for it
An illustrator can use the designs to build their portfolios, to promote themselves and use it on their websites to get suitable work. Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the boundaries and make sure that it’s all included in your contract.
Thing #6: give your illustrator the final text
You may find the need to edit your text once again. However, an experienced illustrator can guide you through the editing process while pointing things that can be explained by pictures and doesn’t require words to explain it.
Thing #7: consider the illustrators ideas
The illustrator are creative people and understand what’s going on in the industry. So don’t think of them as your employee, but as a partner who can help you to appeal kids in a form which is imaginative yet educational. Build a positive work relationship and sign contracts to keep it that way.
Thing #8: take advantage of requesting changes at the possible time
A professional designer will always take your account under consideration and will be pleased to make changes in design.
Thing #9: make sure you get what you paid for
Don’t ruin your reputation in the market for something that was at lower worth. God illustrations costs more as it’s all about the effort put in producing a work of art.
Author Bio: Susan Penson holds a passion for literature and turned it into a profession. She is currently working at Eden Bancroft as a writer and is appreciated for her work. She is a graduate from the University of California and holds a degree in English Literature. Besides this she also loves to travel.
