Booking an Illustrator Made Easy!

Hiring an illustrator can be a daunting process. How can you be sure that you’re not being scammed and that the person you hire will deliver a quality product? Here are some pro-tips for hiring a professional illustrator.

1. Know what you want.

Before you ever look for an illustrator, you need to know what it is you are wanting them to do. What kind of art style are you looking for? How many illustrations are you wanting? Will you need a front cover and back cover?

You need to have a firm grasp on these details before searching for an illustrator. You will use this information to create an “illustration brief”. An illustration brief outlines the requirements and expectations of the illustration work. This should include detailed descriptions of each illustration to be completed.

We recommend opening up a document using a simple naming convention of “Book Title Illustration Brief”. Write a detailed description of each character at the beginning of the document. You’ll want the illustrator to start with character art to make the process easier. Then, you’ll want to organize your illustrations by spreads (for children’s picture books) or chapters. Make sure to indicate if the illustration is a half page, full page, or advances page (2 or more panels)

Your brief can include images to help the illustrator’s creativity. Store the files of your brief (if there are more than 1) in a Google drive folder. In this folder you can include important documents the illustrator will need such as a copy of your manuscript or the blurb of the back cover. You can set the files so that they can’t be copied or downloaded. This folder can be a protected place to easily share and receive documents with your illustrator.

2. Search reputable places.

Once you know what your are desiring, you can start the search for an illustrator. Make sure that you’re searching for an illustrator in a reputable location. Here are a few we recommend.

One disadvantage of searching for illustrators on these platform will be the price. There will be additional charges for transactions onsite of these platforms. As well as the illustrator’s own price. That’s something to keep in mind.

1. Fivver

2. Upwork

3. LinkedIn

It is possible to find illustrators on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. One of out most favored illustrators here at Sunflowers and Romance Publishing on Facebook of all places. It’s much easier to find and negotiate cheaper prices on social media. If that’s something you’re interested in, make sure that you adhere to the guidance outlined here for best results.

3. Have a budget for the work work,

When booking an illustrator, they are going to want to know your budget. There are pros and cons to revealing what your budget is. Even if you don’t reveal it, you should know what it is.

Something we hear all of the time in the hybrid indie publishing world is, “I don’t have a ton of money to invest in this.” This is understandable, but if you don’t value yourself or your book enough to make an investment, then you may want to reflect on your “why” in publishing a book.

It costs money to make money. This has been true for a millennia or longer. Therefore is something you need to wrestle with as an author. Likely, you fear NOT making money more than you fear investing the money. If you knew for a fact your book would make you $1 million tomorrow, you’d publish your book TODAY!

Here are some average costs of various kinds of illustrations. Use your brief to estimate what the overall cost of your book will be.

• Half Page $25

• Full page $40

• Advanced page $65

Most illustrators will adjust the cost per page depending on how complex the illustrations. You may also see that they charge more depending on how many characters are in your book. These prices will vary based on the illustrator’s experience and self valuation. If the illustrator works for a design company, prices will also be increased.

4. Have an application process.

Many independent authors who need illustrators often ask, “How do I know if I’m being scammed?” The angers is quite simple. How does any job hiring an employee keep from being scammed?

Having an application process will quickly weed out those who are looking for a quick buck. Scammers don’t like jumping through hoops, so set up hoops that are reasonable. This is something you won’t have to do as much when using platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Linkedin. Here’s how this could look for you.

Start by making a quick post announcing that you’re looking for an illustrator. State the art style you’re looking for (e.g. digital, watercolor, 3D, comic strip, etc.) and the kind of project you are working on (e.g. picture book, chapter book, or comic book). Lastly, state how you will be accepting applications. Do they need to post in the comments? Send you a direct message? Apply at a link? Or shoot you an email?

Most illustrators will connect with you by sending a follow up message with their portfolio. We recommend removing any applicants who refuse to contact you via the proper channel given in your original post. Make sure that you communicate how they should share their portfolio while also emphasizing the art style and project type.

Next, you want to prepare some simple application questions. You should make sure to ask about the following.

• References

• Project timeline

• Project cost

• Use of AI in work

Think through what you would need to know about the person who is illustrating your book!

Lastly, have illustrators who do well throughout the application book an interview time. You’ll find that many illustrators use AI generated replies and will likely ask for an interview early on. Don’t feel pressured to do so until you’re ready.

You can use free platforms such as Zoom and Google meet to host the interviews. If you’re using a free subscription, you’ll need to book the interviews manually. So, choose 3 days and 3 times to offer each applicant.

As we mentioned before, interviews are a common tool that employers use to screen employees. Require that they have their camera on and treat the interview as a professional. This will help you to gauge the truth and integrity behind the person you’ve been communicating with.

As you move through this application process, make sure that you are firm but kind in your responses. You are the business owner. The only thing you oww the illustrator is a kind and direct response stating that they have not received the job. Remember, you are a business owner! Act like it.

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When you find the illustrator you want to work with, do not pay them a single cent without a contract. You can find a basic contract for free on Google docs. Check out their templates to find a General Independent Contractor Agreement.

This is the kind of contract needed for freelance work being done by an illustrator. Feel free to add subsections to the contract to include your expectations and practices as a business owner. Include detailed information on how payments will be made and when. Lay out milestones in the work.

Most importantly, include a subsection in your contract giving you complete rights to the illustrations. This is important if you are NOT working with a royalty model. Having complete rights to the artwork will save you potential legal ramifications in the long run.

Hiring an illustrator can be such an important part of bringing your book to life. Don’t be discouraged! It’s a simple process when you have a strategy in place. Let us know in the comments how using the strategy helped you!

Stay tuned for our next session of Authors Booking Contracts where we teach you step by step how to book contacts that will make your author business boom.