How to find the right children’s books illustrator?

13

Printers and publishers are always on the lookout for good illustrators. There are quite a few numbers of illustrators out there but finding a good one is the tricky part. So, how do you make sure you have the right illustrator for yourself?  

This is an essential question that needs to be addressed when it comes to finding a children’s book illustrators for hire. Well, if you are searching for one and you want to make sure that you find the perfect illustrator for yourself, then here are some basics that will help you with your search:  

  • First and foremost, the market for freelancers is a huge one and the best part – you can track them and their work online. Most professional illustrators will have their portfolio uploaded and updated online, and hence you can also check out their work there. So, you will need to do your research right and make sure that you search for all the essential sites where you will get good illustrators. Look for blogs where they showcase their interests as well. The more active they are, the more productive and professional they are most likely to be.  
  • The next thing that you need to do is check out the deliverables. It is essential to see how much the illustrator can deliver in what period. However, you must be realistic on your part. Generally, when it comes to illustrating a book of say about 32 pages, it will take about 3-4 months-time for an illustrator to finish that. So, when you ask for deliverables and timelines, make sure that you are realistic about the goals as well.  
  • The other most important thing is the charge for the illustrations. Well, to begin with, good and established illustrators with a strong base of their own won’t come cheap, and you should not expect it to be that way either. If you are looking for quality and expertise, then you will have to make sure that your budget is a good one. Freelancers have varying rates depending on their experience and portfolio. Sometimes, when hiring freelancers, you might find that the charges of freelancers in some cities are lesser than the others.  
  • Make sure that you can have a clear-cut negotiation with your freelancer illustrator. Check whether the person that you are thinking of hiring is professional or not. They should be clear on what they can deliver, in what period and of course their charges for it. Do not encourage open-ended negotiations.  
  • And finally, when hiring freelancers or illustrators, do take a look at their client base and their work experience. Browsing through their work is a must, and if you want, you can also ask them to sit for a sample text. You can provide them with a task that they will have to complete, and then you will be able to decide whether they are right for this project or not.  

So, these are some of the basics that you need to follow if you want to make sure you find the right children’s books illustrator for yourself!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *