How To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck As A Client
Usually my blog posts are for other artists, but this one is for anyone who is thinking about hiring a freelance artist and has no idea where to start! If it’s your first time hiring a freelancer, here are some tips to help you have an awesome experience and get the most bang for your buck!
RESEARCH YOUR ARTIST
Before you hire a freelance artist, do some research to find the best one to fit your needs! Check out the work on their portfolio and see if it fits what you want for your project. Look at the clients they’ve worked with in the past, are those clients legit? Did the artist do good work for them?
You can find freelance artists on places like Pinterest, Instagram or even through a google search or word of mouth! Just make sure you pick an artist that really fits the look you’re going for.
NOTE FROM AN ARTIST:
As a freelancer, I sometimes get approached to do work that has nothing to do with my expertise. For instance, I get a lot of people asking me to design their website even though I don’t do web design and I always end up turning those projects down. If you’re looking for a web designer, try to find an artist who specializes in web design. If you’re looking for a custom hand-lettered logo, hire a lettering artist! By hiring someone who is a pro in their field you’ll get a better end product every time and you can feel confident that you’re getting quality work.
FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT
Before you email an artist and ask them for their rates, establish in your mind what it is you’re looking for. For instance, if you want a mural painted, figure out what you’d like it to say and what size you want it. If you want a Christmas card design, decide what size you want and if you want the artist to handle the printing as well as the design.
Getting a basic idea of what you want BEFORE you approach an artist will save you a lot of time and money along the way. Here is a list of questions to ask yourself before you reach out to an artist about pricing:
What type of project is this? (a mural, a logo, a t-shirt design, a website?)
How soon do I need it finished?
What are the dimensions? (an instagram graphic square, a 20 foot mural, etc.)
What do I want it to say/ What images would I like depicted?
Is this for personal or business use?
Am I going to use this design for one thing? Or would I like to use it in multiple places? (For instance, do you want the design for a t-shirt? Or for a t-shirt and a mug and a hat?)
Most freelance artists don’t charge per hour, they charge per project, so the more info you can give them upfront about the project the faster they will be able to give you a price estimate.
NOTE FROM AN ARTIST:
If the freelancer you talk to charges per hour, you might want to look for a different freelancer. Artists who charge per hour tend to take longer on projects (because they get paid more,) and as a client, you often won’t know how much a project will cost you until it’s over… and sometimes the bill can come as a shock. A good freelancer will quote you a price upfront so that you both know exactly how much you can expect to pay.
MORE IS MORE
When you’re sending your freelance artist inspiration for a project, don’t be afraid to send a lot of info! Sometimes clients apologize when they send me an entire Pinterest board of ideas, but as an artist, I love it! The more examples you can send of things that you love, the easier it is for your freelancer to get you what you want.
Artists aren’t mind readers. If you say you want a “fun classy logo” an artist could interpret that hundreds of ways. If you say “I want a logo that looks professional and easy to read with a bold style of san serif lettering and a hand drawn icon next to it in a similar style to this *insert inspiration image here*...” your artist is going to have a much better idea of what it is you want.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO GIVE TOUGH FEEDBACK
As a client, you are PAYING your freelancer to do a job. That being the case, don’t hold back with tough feedback if your artist isn’t giving you what you want. Freelancers are used to getting feedback and critiques on our work, it’s part of our job, so don’t worry about hurting our feelings. We want to create something for you that you will love, so don’t be afraid to ask your artist to change things that you don’t like.
It’s also important to learn to give specific feedback. Sometimes a client will send me feedback along the lines of “I like it, but I want it a little different.” As an artist, that is not helpful at all. I don’t know what parts they like or what parts they don’t like and might end up changing it in a way that doesn’t fit their needs. Better feedback would be “I really like the style of the letters, but I feel like they’re a bit too thin. Please make the letters thicker and also send me an option in pink to look at.” The more specific you can be with your artist, the more you’ll get your money's worth on a project. Also, trust your gut! If you feel like something looks a bit off, but you’re not sure why, talk to your artist and try to figure it out together.
GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR AND PAY ON TIME
When your artist sends you the final product, don’t be afraid to make sure you got everything you paid for. If the artist says they’ll send you a style guide along with the finished logo, make sure you get that style guide. If your artist messed up painting a part of the mural, have them come back and fix it.
Once the project is finished, please PAY YOUR ARTIST. Freelance art or design work is just like any other product or service and should be paid for promptly. Be a cool client and don’t wait around to pay your freelancer, they’ll love you forever if you pay them on time when the project is completed.
HAVE FUN!
Get excited about the process! Working with an artist to get custom work might seem intimidating, but the process is all part of the fun! Now get out there, find your perfect freelancer and get some work created that you love!