I need your opinion 🙂

[CatOnPaper]

Hi everyone! Hope 2019 treats you great so far

I have a question and I need your feedback.
When it comes to pricing a children's book series of illustrations: should I add an extra fee for adding the text and preparing the spreads for printing?

I am nearly finished with my first paid children's book but in the contract it's mentioned that I'm basically paid for creating the illustrations.

I don't want to be rude and ask for more juice at the end.. But I'm also about to go fishing for tomorrow's dinner (if you know what I mean) or sit and do some graphic design for this book

What do you guys think?

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

I presonally think that you should ask for more compensation. You were hired as an illustrator not a graphic designer. If the client declines, then he/she can go look for another graphic designre or do it themselves. If you don’t want to insult the client, just say that graphic design is not your strong suit that a professional can do it better. Don’t be a push over. You kept your end of the bargain, now they need to honor theirs.

[CatOnPaper]

Hi @nyrrylcadiz

I hear you! Thanks a lot

[Chip Valecek]

@catonpaper I also agree with @nyrrylcadiz on this. If the contract just states Illustrations, then page layout and text is not included with that. I did a couple books and in my experience it takes just as long to layout the pages and the text as it did for the illustrations, well maybe not as long but you know what I mean.

[Miriam]

I don't have any experience, but any time you are asked to do more than the original agreement, you can ask for compensation.
You could say something like, "I'd be happy to work on the layout / graphic design as well. I can do it for $---, does that work for your budget?"

[CatOnPaper]

@nyrrylcadiz thank you so much for replying so fast! Your thoughts helped!

[CatOnPaper]

@chip-valecek thank you so much for replying!
much appreciated!

[CatOnPaper]

Hey There @miriam thanks a million for sharing your thoughts!

[Erin.Cortese]

@catonpaper I agree with the others, you should charge for the page layout. It is a completely different and time consuming job. I’m not sure if you are a graphic designer, but if not, this part of the job adds a lot more responsibility on your part, not just work. Just be careful of what you get yourself into.

[CatOnPaper]

@inkandspatter oh my God that sounds scary!
I'm not a Graphic Designer, no and I thought this is a great opportunity to introduce inDesign into my list of skills as Book illustration is my career path.
Would you mind telling me more about why this could be a trouble thing not to get myself into?
Thank you so much for your time !
Regards

[Erin.Cortese]

@CatOnPaper Sorry, I did not mean to make it sound scary. As an illustrator, once your illustrations are approved and handed over, both your job and responsibilities are complete to my knowledge (I am new to illustration). As a graphic designer though, you are responsible for making sure not only that the page layout is done correctly, but also that everything is at the proper resolution and in the right colour format. When you are working one on one with a client, you are often responsible for prepress prep as well. If something is missed by you or the printer, and there are mistakes in the final books, you could be responsible for that. As a graphic designer you would always have your client approve the final design and sign off on it, but if you make a technical mistake that’s on you. It’s just more involved that’s all.