Association of Illustrators Websites Iwantmyname.com .com .co.uk Image based website Suitable for phones and tablets… Think about the commissioners journey - if I have 2 secs to get my info out, how do I do it? Do not use a ‘contact formʼ Personal Projects Personal projects are how you get work in the area you want to work in When choosing personal projects, think about who would like to work for? And what I like to draw? What am I doing to get work?! Make a list of clients I want to work for? Research clients carefully - select clients that my work is appropriate for, based on past/current projects Contacting Professionals Avoid - Dear Sir/Madam Contacting - Post is good Send printed material from grad show (business cards/postcards) to professionals, only a quarter should be included in the show… the rest should be sent out Address them right Quality not Quantity w/ printed material Donʼt have to say Iʼm a student Address them in a casual but professional manner Self Promotion Twitter - Set an art one up Commissioners will look at: Instagram - Twitter - Website Facebook is dead - but can still be tagged by people on fb - donʼt really need to keep it updated Make all my handles the same - NAME Instagram - Try close ups, sketchbook pages, videos, time lapses etc. - follow my ideal clients to keep up to date with the illustrators theyʼre commissioning most clients will have Instagram - Insight into my practice Accounts Freelance = YOU ARE A BUSINESS, YOUʼRE YOUR OWN BOSS
Book keeper Register for income tax for Income Tax with 3 months of starting your first commission Keep up to date accounts Retain all claimable receipts Keep paperwork involved with every job Keep a record of all your licenses so you can follow up Tax return is currently once a year at the end of Jan. Will change to 4 times a year soon. Check out the best accounting apps to help creatives - Xero Quickbooks FreeAgent Copyright = The right to copy Rights belong to the creator automatically May be a problem with copyright if the image is generic It doesnĘźt require registration or a copyright symbol to exist Copyright/Licence based industries: Illustration, Music, Photography, Publishing In graphics you are employed by the company for that project and therefore whatever you create is the clients. Copyright Infringement Copyright can be in part or whole Be careful with reference material Copyright Assignment Copyright can be assigned by you to a client. We very rarely advise that this should occur. Money - A feeder an assignment of Copyright must cover all possible and future uses of the illustration, for you lifetime +70 years. Loss of control - Illustration can be used wherever, on whatever without you permission of additional fees. It can also be re-sold to third parties. Clients - They donĘźt need copyright to use an illustration how they want to. Licensing is mutually beneficial to an illustrator and a client, they only pay for the actual use, not possible use. Moral Rights Moral Rights are automatic but cane waived Right of Paternity - The right to be identified as the creator of a work Right of Integrity - The right for your work to not be subjected to any derogatory treatment (cropping, editing, colour changes, additions. etc.) The right to not have worked falsely attributed to you Rights online Protect your work online so that you can always be identified as the author Low resolution files (72pdi) and name as part of the file Use copyright symbol on every page/blog/social media Read Terms and Conditions of Website/Social media image use/filename -
‘Orphan Works are easily appropriated online. Include copyright symbol in my instagram bio Contracts Contracts can be written (GOOD) or verbal (BAD) No matter the size of the commission or client, accept the commission in writing every time, before you start any work. (Preferably using the Acceptance of Commission form) This doesnʼt need to redrawn up by a lawyer - WHO is going to do WHAT by WHEN and for HOW MUCH and state your basic rights. Remember - if you are receiving money for a job then you are entering into a business agreement - every business agreement should have a written contract. Saying NO the crap jobs to further my career - Plan ahead (Have a client list) Have licenses on invoices! Donʼt work on a day rate or hourly rate, payment for illustration is only based on the licensing. Need ALL info (where is it going to be used, what size and purpose, and for how long) before you give them a ‘ball-parkʼ figure. Find out what the client is capable of paying Pricing - Advertising Above the line advertising and Below the line advertising Look at: Nate Kitch