Hiring a children’s book illustrator
How to hire a children’s book illustrator
I often get messages from people looking to hire an artist for their new children's book. While I'm happy to help, answering the same questions repeatedly can be time-consuming for everyone. To save time and make the process smoother, I've put together some advice and common questions about hiring a children's book illustrator.
Do Your Research Early. Everyone's journey is unique, with varying levels of knowledge and experience. Doing thorough research early in your writing process will save you and others a lot of time and effort later. The more you know about the process, the better prepared you'll be to navigate it successfully.
Writing your own children’s book frequently asked questions
Not everyone is looking to be the next Julia Donaldson, not everyone is looking for a publisher, and not everyone is perhaps even wanting their book to be a public thing. Expectations, plans, hopes, dreams, and budgets are all different.
This list of frequently asked questions will hopefully help provide a simple guide on what should be expected on this magical children’s book journey of yours. This is not an exhaustive list but should give you a broad idea of the journey.
Do you need an illustrator for your children’s book?
How do I find an illustrator for my children’s book?
How long does it take to illustrate a children’s book?
What should I provide to the illustrator?
What if the book illustrations need changes or artwork revision?
How much does a children’s book illustrator cost?
How much should you budget for your children’s book illustrations?
How do you find a publisher for your children’s book?
What about self-publishing your children’s book?
Will your children’s book be a success?
Do you need an illustrator for your children’s book?
In short, no ( but it all depends on what you want for your book). If you have a great manuscript then you can simply submit it to a publisher. You do not need any illustrations to submit your children’s book manuscript to a publisher (unless you are an author/illustrator yourself). If the publisher decides it’s right for them, they will normally pay you an advance (some money upfront) followed by royalties (a cut of the profits for each book sold) in exchange for the right to print and sell your book. They will source an illustrator, pay all the production costs, and help market the finished book.
If you are looking to go down the self-publishing route, then you will have to find an illustrator to work with (hello).
How do I find an illustrator for my children’s book?
Finding the right illustrator for your children's book starts with exploring various platforms where artists showcase their work. Websites like Behance, Facebook, and Instagram are great places to start. Look for illustrators whose style matches your vision for the book. It’s also helpful to join writers' groups and forums where you can get recommendations and see examples of illustrators' previous work.
Click to visit my illustration examples and design examples
How long does it take to illustrate a children’s book?
The timeline for illustrating a children's book can vary depending on the artist’s schedule and the project's complexity. It’s crucial to discuss the timeline with your illustrator upfront to set realistic expectations. Some illustrators may have waiting lists, and the actual work could take months, so plan accordingly.
A children’s book should usually take from 3 to 6 months to complete, but this depends on the illustrator and the unique nature of what’s needed for each individual book. Every illustrator will work at a different pace, and take a different amount of time to produce their unique style of work. Rushing the process can compromise the quality of the illustrations, so allow ample time for the artist to produce their best work.
What should I provide to the illustrator?
To help the illustrator bring your vision to life, provide them with a detailed manuscript, character descriptions, and any specific ideas you have for the illustrations. Visual references can be extremely helpful, whether they are sketches, photos, or images from other books. Clear and open communication is key to ensuring that the illustrator understands your vision and can create illustrations that align with your story.
What if the book illustrations need changes or artwork revision?
Once the artwork has been finished and approved by the author/client then that is final and the obligation to create the work for a set fee is concluded. However, if changes are requested after the final approval then it’s usually not a problem, but you should expect a further fee (maybe on a per-hour basis) to apply. It’s usually ok to make changes, but this will entail extra work that wasn’t considered in the initial project.
How much it will cost is dependent on the type of changes you need and the type of artwork that’s been created. For example, I create many examples of my work using vector software which is fairly easy to amend even after the final artwork is created. But, if an artist has created an original watercolor piece, then it may be that the artwork will have to be created from scratch. That’s a much more costly endeavour. The illustrator’s other work commitments also need to be considered, especially if you’re up against your deadline for printing. Try to think ahead and consider all the consequences.
How much does a children’s book illustrator cost?
The cost of hiring an illustrator can vary widely based on several factors, including the artist's experience, the complexity of the illustrations, and the number of images required. It's important to have a clear budget in mind when you start this process. Be prepared to discuss your budget with potential illustrators and be open to negotiation. Keep in mind that higher-quality work may come at a higher price, but it’s an investment in your book’s success.
As a general guide and depending upon the length of time it will take to illustrate your book (how many illustrations, how complicated, how detailed, etc), the amount of research that may be needed, and any other requirements or requests, the cost could be anything from several thousand pounds upwards. Top illustrators with sought-after work will cost many, many thousands of pounds.
Most illustrators can only accurately quote on a job after they have seen a finished manuscript or at least a detailed outline of the work. A decent illustrator will be honest and open and should be consultative and a good fit for you so that you can both work well together. Illustrating a children’s book is not a quick thing to do, and the relationship between the author and illustrator needs to be positive from the start.
Some illustrators may also be able to do the layout for children’s books, and the cover design so they will be able to provide the final artwork ready to be sent straight to the printers. This may come as an additional cost, or be part of the service but is something you’ll have to do if self-publishing. If the illustrator is unable to do this, you may also need to hire a designer who can turn the artwork and manuscript into a print-ready product, which will add to the cost.
Click here to visit my page focussed on children’s book costs.
How much should you budget for your children’s book illustrations?
The internet does throw up many examples of costs for the illustration of children’s books and usually the figures are so broad (and usually outdated) that they often prove of little use. The Graphic Artists Guild has previously estimated that a colour 32 page children’s book will cost you between $3,500 and $25,000 USD plus royalties. In the UK it is estimated that it’ll cost between £5,000 and £18,000 GBP plus royalties per book.
The cost of hiring a children's book illustrator can vary widely, influenced by several key factors. Factors influencing cost will be:
Experience and Reputation
Complexity and Style
Number of Illustrations
Usage Rights and Licensing
Additional Costs (eg revisions, covers, text etc)
You usually get what you pay for (but as we all know spending a fortune doesn’t necessarily guarantee you greater results). You may be lucky and get a great illustrator that charges peanuts, but experience does usually shine through when it comes to the finished product.
Payments will normally be made at different stages throughout the project as work is completed and approved. There will usually always be an upfront percentage to pay before any work is started. This upfront fee will normally not be refundable as it’ll also be the kill fee if the client decides to scrap the project or work with an alternative illustrator after work has begun.
Again, click here to visit my page focussed on children’s book costs which also includes my unique cost calculator.
Should I have a contract?
Always use a contract. A contract protects both you and the illustrator by clearly outlining the scope of work, deadlines, payment terms, and copyright ownership. It should detail what is expected from both parties and ensure that there are no misunderstandings down the line. Having everything in writing provides a reference point if any issues arise during the project.
How do you find a publisher for your children’s book?
Do your research! Different publishers may specialise in children’s books for a specific market, be it a certain age range, demographic, style of writing, or certain topics. Find out who might be the best publisher for your book by getting your hands on a copy of the Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market or the Children’s Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook. Both books will list publishers and their contact information, what their terms are, and what sort of thing they are looking for. There will also be some information about how to introduce yourself and your manuscript to different publishers.
They will also include information on the international markets, industry magazines, any relevant contests, agency details, and articles from artists, illustrators, authors, publishers, and editors. Understanding expectations and gaining as much knowledge as possible before you send your manuscript will save you time, effort, and money! It’s also worth mentioning that it’s best to not annoy any publishers who are already super busy by only sending them the right ‘type’ of work in the correct format. They don’t have time to be sifting through every detail of every book idea they receive and your amazing manuscript may be discarded and denied before it’s even been seen properly.
What about self-publishing your children’s book?
Self-publishing your children’s book is not to be taken lightly. It is a lot more work than the traditional publishing route, and you will probably have to learn a whole load of new skills as you go. When you’ve poured your heart and soul into writing your book it’s easy to lose the ability to step back and fairly judge the work you’ve created. You will certainly need the opinion of others to gauge how good it is, and not just from friends and family. You will need to be very sure of your work and willing to heavily invest your time and money to have any chance of making your book a success.
Once you’re sure the book is good enough you will need to look into choosing your illustrator. Look for someone whose style you like and don’t try to push a different style onto an illustrator that has a very different portfolio than what you’re after. You will need to pay for the illustrations to be created and agree on the future licensing rights to use the artwork. There are also costs to consider for the book printing, proofreading, distribution, marketing, and advertising, and you’ll be in charge of doing all your sales. You might be able to market your books at a craft fair or market of some kind, and a local bookstore may be happy to host a signing. Some schools may offer the chance to read your book to the kids, and hopefully provide an opportunity to sell some copies too.
Self-publishing can often be sold as the easy way to get your book published, but don’t believe the hype. Self-publishing is a lot of effort however you break it down, and the more work and money you invest in your book, the more chance it has of being a success (regardless of how good it is).
Visit my pages focussed on what is self-publishing and how to self-publish.
Will your children’s book be a success?
You need to ask yourself what ‘success’ means to you. Do your research and manage your expectations. Invest your time early on and you’ll save yourself and everyone else a lot of effort in the long run. Marketing seems to be the major driver of whether a book sells well, and there are many ways of marketing a book so you’ll need to find out what uniquely works for you. Don’t give up, just be realistic and know what you’re getting into!
Embrace the Journey
Publishing a children's book is a unique and rewarding journey, and there's no one 'right' way to go about it. Your goals will shape your path, whether you’re aiming to find a publisher or simply share your story with family and friends. Be patient with the process, stay informed by continuing your research, and enjoy the experience of bringing your book to life. Every author’s journey is different, and that’s what makes it so special. Remember, the effort you put in now will pay off when you hold your beautifully illustrated book in your hands.
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; It is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca