Chapter Nine:
Working as an Illustrator
The illustrator becomes a freelancer after college, so they must make their own “business” and be able to operate. And everyone has their own strength and weaknesses and we better not ignore the latter since it could be our downfall. Once out in the real world, our goals is to be recognized by the public, and peers, and probably most importantly, to earn some financial reward for our work as well.
The Single Cycle of Work:
Looking for the job, talking with a potential client, get an offer for a commission, negotiating some back and forths about supplies and price, making the roughs, meeting the rough deadline and reviewing, making a tight illustration, addressing any concerns, making the final, get payment. Of course, the cycle can change, with steps overlapping, or being skipped all together, but ultimately it revolves around something like this.
Your Business Plan:
The business plan helps the illustrator thorough having their illustration business. It should contain the following elements: "An executive summary, A description of the business opportunity, Your marketing and sales strategy, Your management team and personnel, Your operations, and Your financial forecasts.”
The Executive Summary-this should be tackled last. It’s the routine of the most imports material from every section of the plan. It should be interesting and make an investor understand what the business is about and make them keen to know more. You should also be aware not to fall into the trap that people will automatically know how you business works so explain things.
Your business, its services, and products:
Explains what you actually do: so things about yourself, future plans of the business, what you have to offer, and your niche in the marketplace. So, an overawe of the business, and then a description of the products and series.
Overview: should include the intended start date of the business and your progress in the launch. The type of illustration business and niche you are located within, your vision for the future such as how the digital field seems to be the future, and the legal structure in your business (the “rights” you have to your work).
Copyright: you can see an artwork to a client, but you can keep the copyright to reproduce the work, not them. If ht client gets to keep the copyright, it should be reflect int eh fee paid.
License: This gives the client a frame of time to use your work, and in certain territories. There are a lot of types such as Press, Web, Consumer magazines, Trade press, Outdoor, Direct Mail, Point-of-sale, Collateral, Buyout.
Moral rights: right to be known as the creator.
Key Provisions: As best stated in the book, I’ll just decided to pull the quote: "Copyright and artwork remain the property of the artist unless otherwise stated. This fee is for the above stated uses only. Any additional usage would need to be negotiated and agreed. All work undertaken is subject to our (or “my”) standard terms and conditions, a copy of which is printed on the reverse. Grant of rights is conditioned on payment in full.” This phrase reiterates the extent of your ownership over the copyright and the physical artwork, the ways in which you have agreed for it to be used, and the fact that the client cannot use your work until they have paid you.”
Your Products and Services:
What makes it different, what is the unique selling point, what benefits are offered from you as a particular illustrator, that your product will be dynamic and engaging illustration, why people pay for it, how it will provide visual solution to the clients problems,“PESTLE”-how your illustration product can change to adapt over time to the marketplace, and the rights you hold to your work.
Your Marketing and Sales Strategy:
There are two areas: Your markets/competitors, your Marketing and sales. Markets/Competitors: Market: how your market field operates, and how design can benefit a company and increase it’s business. It’s important you have a style or way of a tailoring to a certain audience to get more potential business.
Then there are Competitors, or the people you compete with, how they work, how much market they have a hold over,. Instead of feeling threatened, learn from competitors for your advantage. What are they doing that’s better then you What kind of clients do they have? How are they being innovative? How do they promote themselves?
Marketing and Sales:
How will you put/promote your product/service in the marketplace, who are your customers, pricing policy (national illustrators’ association website for more advice.)
Promoting: This can be done through a website (make it good, look at other professional’s websites, update content to keep client’s coming back), a physical portfolio (a second filter state that allows potential client’s to see your work at intended sizes and formats), promotional material, and illustration annuals (paying to have your work published, can be effective promotion).
You can see work through phone calls, emails, posts (like a little card reminder, also sending christmas card to clients), face to face meetings, and exhibitions are also good ways to get known and stay remembered.
Getting an illustration agent, or at least seeking advice from one after graduation is a good idea. That’s because they have an established client base, an up to date mailing list, they can secure contracts, and actively promote your work, will demand a higher commission, would handle all the paperwork, experience in national to international markets, etc. There are cons to however, they usually want a cut, will want a contract, they won’t be the answer to y’all your problems, still need to actively seek work yourself.
As an illustrator you need a place to work like home, or even possibly a shared studio away from home. There are pros and cons to each obviously. Also, maybe becoming or starting a shared collective illustrative group is a good idea that can meet up in person or online. You should also have access to adobe programs, internet, computer, printer, scanner, etc.
There are also Financial Forecasts to think about, so plan how much money needs to go into your business and how much you think you’ll profit or should profit. Also, don’t work for free, or be afraid to negotiate, and be tenacious, work progressively, be professional, be cautious of clients chaining your work, and also be positive and versatile.
