Small projects via Instagram

[Asyas_illos]

Hey guys I recently had someone approach me through Instagram about illustrating their small project and frankly I’m terrified, lol. Firstly how will I know if it’s a scam or not. I tried to visit her account(locked) appears French mom of two boys seems legit, but I’m not a big tech person so I may be a bit naive. Here is her message. The bottom is my response I haven’t yet sent (I was trying to buy myself some time to get my poop in a group). Have any of you done work for people like this? How did it work out? Should I worry about rights and all that? How should I price a project like this? Do I need some sort of contract? Help!

[Asyas_illos]

She also had this image of her card background

[lpetiti]

@Asyas_illos If this turns out to be legit (and I agree it seems a bit odd) then DEFINITELY have a contract and request half of the payment before you start any work. This protects both of you if it turns out to be genuine

[von_Nimmermehr]

I alway tell my clients to write an e-mail.

If she really want you to work for her, she has to be able to write an e-mail where she tells you what she wants. It shouldnt be so hard for people to be at least as professional as that.

Ask her for all the details in ONE e-mail. Then you can take a look, think properly about it and answer her.

[Asyas_illos]

@von_Nimmermehr thanks for the feedback I will definitely do that.

[Asyas_illos]

@lpetiti thank you

[lpetiti]

@Asyas_illos let us know what happens!

[Asyas_illos]

@lpetiti will do

[AngelinaKizz]

I think for me, I would turn the job down. It seems she expects you to draw exactly her drawings, and you won't get to put your spin on it. She already has her 2 characters that she's said she wants you to do exactly, and her background. Will this job propel you further? And if it won't, will it fulfill your artistic cup? Probably not.

[Asyas_illos]

@AngelinaKizz yes it’s not my cup of tea, although it would be nice for experience it’s not what I want to do so… that’s what I’ve been thinking too

[Melissa_Bailey]

@Asyas_illos YES, as others have said: research this potential client (all that you're able to do), ask that they contact you via email, and if you decide to take on the project, get a contract in place immediately. This is the professional way to go about it.

This client does give you some specifics but also leaves out a lot of pertinent information. What are these cards going to be used for? Is this a business or one person? What is the market where the cards will be distributed? What is the client's budget?

A professional client will often give you this information upfront. It saves both their time and yours.

This being said, if you're expecting a client to act professionally, you should present yourself professionally. It's best to have an artist website or portfolio website to send them to, complete with a contact page. You currently don't have that info on your IG profile, so IG is the only way that a potential client can contact you. (If you switch to a business Instagram account, you can put a link to your website right in your bio. For example, check mine out ... or any of the SVS guys' bios. It's all right there and easy for clients to find.) Some artists put "open for commissions" in their bio as well to let potential clients know that they're available for work.

To answer your question and make this reply even LONGER ... yes, I have had many people approach me through Instagram and have accepted a few projects from clients who initially contacted me through IG. With all, I found it a struggle to switch clients over to communicating through email, which is not only more professional, it's easier to keep track of and refer back to. All of the clients wanted to keep communicating through DMs, which can get tedious and (gonna repeat myself) is hard to keep track of -- AND I found that not all file types are accepted through DMs. I've since promised myself that if I take on any future clients through IG or FB, I'm going to do what @von_Nimmermehr suggests and demand that they contact me and communicate through email.

Hope this helps. If you want to start taking on freelance jobs, set yourself up with a website and business IG account. If you look and act professional, potential clients will treat you professionally.

[Asyas_illos]

@Melissa_Bailey thanks for thorough reply! I agree I do need a website but I’ve waiting til I have enough substance/content to make it actually functional and worth the the visit. I will however look into the business IG. i have declined their offer it’s just not interesting to me, so as much as it could have helped experience-wise, I just don’t want to waste my time doing things that my heart isn’t fully invested. Thanks everybody for your input! It was all very helpful!

[Melissa_Bailey]

@Asyas_illos you're very welcome! If this isn't the type of work you're looking for, it was wise to turn it down. Yes, it might have given you experience, but it might not have been the experience you were looking for.

Girl, you only need 6 to 9 pieces to get your portfolio started, and you're there! Get working on that website! Your newer woodcut style is so interesting and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets you a lot of interest!

[AngelinaKizz]

@Asyas_illos you could start with a free blog account and just write about what you're working on weekly. It would be similar to having Instagram, but you could have a contact me button where they have to fill in their information and it directs the messages to your email.

[Asyas_illos]

@Melissa_Bailey thanks I guess it’d be better than nothing right? I will look into getting one started!

[Asyas_illos]

@AngelinaKizz thanks I’ll think about that too!

[PenAndrew]

@Melissa_Bailey @Asyas_illos I agree with Melissa about your style, to me this style is strong enough to get work-seriously. Clean imagery, fun, well coloured, engaging and inventive- it stands alongside published work and looks like professional work. Go for it.

[Asyas_illos]

@PenAndrew thank you very much!