If you want to be an illustrator a vital facet to embrace is the business side of the craft. Volumes have been written on commerce and exceptional customer service. Much of this reference material will apply to the freelance niche. My only comment is building, growing and keeping existing clients will be more profitable than cold calling for potential new ones. Skill and ability are chosen from an enormously competitive talent pool, so good business practice will provide an edge to developing and maintaining established relationships. The secret, in its most basic form, is simple. The people who hire you are required to keep their own clients happy. Remember to support that goal.

Once hired, keep in mind that changes are a fact of life. Folks change their minds, the project parameter will change and even new people with new opinions will be incorporated into the emotional mix. This is the creative industry after all, so every participant is obligated to enthusiastically push at all sides of that proverbial box. It’s called collaboration, where each team member brings an exclusive viewpoint. Promotion of goods and services is the goal of the collective but aesthetics, along with economic and market influences, always produce challenges. Illustrators are just one ingredient in this blend so learn to accept the various forces in play.

With these two points in mind I became deeply concerned on one particular job. Several flavor line extension variations were needed for a drink mix product and everything was humming along nicely. That is, until one illustration was rejected a second time for the same reason. I was given concise feedback: “The client doesn’t like the foam.” My involvement in a fundamental aspect of the project was becoming a problem. I was determined this illustration would not be rejected a third time. To assure success, I chose to go a little overboard. Yeah, okay, maybe after being sized and printed all that meticulous detail painstakingly incorporated into the illustration may not be seen. But isn’t it nice to know if the artwork is enlarged those attributes are there? Most importantly, my client is glad they hired the right person who included all those terrific qualities.

To those just starting out, the moral of the story is this: do what is asked of you and don’t complain. Believe me, it will pay off on countless levels. I promise. The direction will sometimes take you down scary, unexplored, creative territory. Trust the adventure will have benefits. Don’t worry; in most cases you will be triumphant because frankly, that is your only option. Much will be gained from the experience; most significantly, your skill is fortified and ready to be applied to the next project. Making the effort, too, will mean your client will be thrilled. It’s one of those “win-win” things and just good business.

Kurt Pfaff is an illustrator working in Pittsburgh, PA regularly collaborating with numerous agencies and corporations while exploring scary, new worlds. His work can be found on package labels, books, brochures, posters and other printed material or websites. His work also hangs on the walls of galleries and homes. Visit his website at http://kurtpfaff.com

Tags: Advice, Business, Freelance, Illustration

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