In today’s Ask the Illustrator, we talk about the awkward situation of being hired for a project by a friend/family member, and how you might handle it without any mess and drama.
Hi Anoosha! I sometimes get requests from friends or family to collaborate and I want to do it. But mixing business and pleasure gets super messy sometimes. What’s been your experience?
Working for your friends and family can get messy!
To be clear, I haven't done any paid collaborations/commissions for family; only because I don't do self-publishing work and my fees (aka industry standards) tend to be higher than their budget. But I have done some free stuff in the past for my immediate family members (parents, siblings, cousins) as a favor or a gift.
However, I try to set up boundaries/rules from the beginning. Like with any client, I make sure to ask exactly what they're looking for and try to keep it short and simple so the workload makes sense for the pro-bono and doesn't interfere with my actual paid work.
In one case, my sister wanted a logo for her small business (why do they always ask for logos? I'm an illustrator, not a graphic designer!). After reminding her that this isn't my area of expertise and to manage her expectations, we got to work. This was an instance where she was looking for me to design exactly what was in her head, without my interpretation and artistic eye. The end result wasn't something I would ever share in my portfolio, but it's what she wanted and I completed my sisterly duties.
In collaborations with family and friends, you do have to interact in a certain manner so that the project goes as smoothly as possible. Without the level of professionalism and straightforward conversation, it can lead to issues when it comes to decision-making, rights, creative differences and preferences, power imbalances, and of course... money.
So let's go through each of these points and see how we can better revolve them!
Money + Rights
This is probably the big one but can be resolved easily with a contract. This won't be needed if you're gifting this project, but if any money is involved I highly recommend drafting a contract. It doesn't need to be anything long and complicated; in fact, it should read simply so that everyone can understand what is being agreed on. You’ll need the basic details of the project that specifically mention the timeline, the payment structure, the project details and deliverables, the usage rights, and additional payments (kill fee, revision fees etc).
Timeline/Schedule: When you're starting the project, when certain things are due, and possibly when you need to deliver final art by (in case there is a deadline on their end, or you need to wrap things up so you can get on with other projects)
Project details: Describe exactly what this collaboration is. If it's a book; how many pages, is it in full color, are you providing book design/typography work as well, will there be a character design stage etc. If your partner has a role in this project as well, include that.
Rights: Who owns the artwork? For how long? Ideally this isn't a work-for-hire contract and you will still own the artwork. Where will the art be used? Is it only for personal use or will it be printed? How many copies? Are reprints allowed? Can this be used in social media? Can it be used in merchandise?
Additional payments: What happens when the project gets cancelled halfway? Do you get a kill fee? Are there revision fees?
Payment structure: Do you get paid at the beginning of the project, or the end? Or do you get paid in instalments? Do you get royalties? WHO IS PAYING YOU? Your partner? Or do you only get paid if the project makes money? What happens if the project doesn't make any money?
It can feel awkward asking your partner to sign a contract; maybe they'll feel like you don't trust them, or you're making this whole project too serious. But it's in both of your interests to have all these terms clearly decided on before you start working on a project so that there are no misunderstandings later. This contract should be something you both discuss together to figure out exactly what you're both looking for from this project, and doesn’t get drawn out longer than needed.
If they really don't want to sign a contract, then at the very least discuss the above points and have it written down somewhere in case you need to refer back to it in the future.
For more information on contracts, you can refer to my video guide on the topic!
Decision-Making
Say your uncle wants to make a picture book with you; with them writing the manuscript and you illustrating.
Is this project going to be a true, equal collaboration, or are you being hired by your partner/friend? Who holds more 'power' in this collaboration? Who makes the final decisions in this project?
Usually, when I work with clients, the power mostly belongs to them because
1. They're paying me
2. Usually the relationship is that they have hired me to create a product they (the publisher, art director and author) have in mind.
While I might have some input to sway that vision, at the end of the day they have the final say. (I have a lot more power regarding my author/illustrator books since those projects are 100% my own vision.)
Although an art director will be able to make positive decisions, have insight on the market, and provide constructive criticism, you won't have that when working with family/friends unless they have an art or design background.
The reason I bring this up is that sometimes you won't agree with your partner's creative vision. While in some collaboration relationships, the partner is eager for your creative eye, input and knowledge, some other people might not.
I've worked on projects where I've hated the end result; it was exactly what the client wanted but I was deeply unhappy with it and didn't want to be associated with the art at all. Before you start the project it would be helpful to determine what the power dynamics are for this relationship (and if you're ok with creating something you don't agree with)
What's the Plan?
So this is a 'problem' I mainly see with self-publishing projects, but could also be the case for other industries as well.
Usually, the artist is the one with expertise, and the family member/friend is coming to you for your skill. The partner might not have knowledge of the industry and will either look to you to take charge… or will try to figure it out as the project moves along.
Obviously... both of these are issues haha.
In this example, let's say your uncle has an idea for a picture book and wants you to illustrate it so they can publish it.
If they're coming to you as the full expert, maybe they don't have any idea of how the industry works but trust that you do and can take on the task of illustrating it, designing it, and also getting it published for them. This leads to a lot of work on your shoulders, so just make sure you're ready to handle it, and that you're being compensated accordingly.
If the partner says they'll handle it but don't really have a set plan right now and will figure it out as they go, that's a big red flag!
Make sure you get those details sorted out before you start, otherwise, the project could easily hit a roadblock after you've completed all your work, and it all becomes a waste.
If it was a book, what is the plan? Are you planning to submit it to publishers, or self-publish it? Where will you self-publish (and who handles that)? Will you set up a Kickstarter, or maybe use Amazon? Where will you get them printed? How will you pay for printing? And most importantly, how are you, the artist, getting paid?
Are you being paid upfront, in installments, or royalties?
As a side note, sales are not guaranteed in self-publishing, so royalties are not guaranteed. I’d always recommend making sure you are paid upfront and not on the promise of potential sales/royalties
I mentioned before that the contract should mention your payment terms, but it's important to figure out how you'll be compensated for your work since as the artist, you're likely putting in most of the work into the project. All these steps should be figured out before you start, especially if you are not being paid out of pocket.
All in all, while it can get messy working with someone you know, as long as you establish the ground rules, it makes it a lot easier. :)
Try to keep the discussions professional, and avoid letting emotions steer the conversation. I've seen family partnerships go wrong because of guilt-tripping or people taking advantage of each other because of their relationship, so if you feel like this person is someone you don't think can work professionally, then it might be best to let this project go.
Sincerely,
Anoosha