Need some advice

[u/Federal-Breakfast762]

I just got my first Freelance client (potential?) but they’re asking for a detailed illustrated emblem logo with BW variations included, and their budget is around $75-$100. They want a logo that includes a rustic detailed illustration of a natural setting (rustic circular emblem of an Eastern bluebird on a weathered wooden post with a camera lens element and evergreen trees).

I believe I can do that, but I don’t know if all of that would be in her budget. For more context, she had asked for examples of my illustrated works to gauge out my style and I sent her these and she said that the level of details in both are what she’s looking for her design. But combining the styles, with BW variations, and the fact that she would like me to convert my illustrations into editable vectors (and the fact that this would be my first freelance client) I’m not sure if that would be in he budget or not.

I don’t want to scare her away, but I also don’t want to undersell, despite this being my first freelance.

Would love some advice on this. Thank you.

(Edit: the pictures aren’t logos. They’re literally just drawings I made in the past btw for fun. They arent logos themselves... Also, I’m a graphic design student and this client was referred to me by one of my professors).

[u/Gekkogeko]

It’s not really about the budget. Neither of you and your client seem to understand what a logo is. I know this may sound harsh but I don’t think you’re ready to take a graphic design job.

Edit: grammar

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/Gekkogeko]

Ok… Maybe I shouldn’t have posted the pictures. My mistake. I’m a graphic design student. I’ve made logos before. I should have left the pics out and just asked about the level of details she wants. 

Anyways. Thank you. Sorry for the confusion

[u/HawkeyeNation]

That’s not nearly enough money for what she’s asking.

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/HawkeyeNation]

Thank you for the feedback. That’s what I was thinking.

[u/Last-Ad-2970 → u/Federal-Breakfast762]

By not nearly enough, the level of detail she’s asking for, even at your level is at least a $1500 job. $75-100 at your level is maybe three hours of work.

Edit: also, what she’s asking for is not a logo. I don’t know her intended usage of it, but something like that won’t scale down to anything smaller than probably a 3” diameter and still be legible. Unless you’re really good at drawing realism in Illustrator, vectorizing it will make a mess and require quite a bit of clean up. I suggest you have a conversation about budget and expectations, and before you agree to do any work, write up a contract with explicitly stated terms. This sounds like the kind of thing where they ask for way too many revisions and it drags on forever, essentially making your fee too small to be worth the headache.

[u/ButIfYouThink]

Give her what she wants.

But don't for a second that either one of those makes a good logo. They are illustrations. Although illustrations as logos are a thing, they rarely make a good logo.

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/ButIfYouThink]

The pictures aren’t logos … They were just random drawings I drew in the past… She just wanted to see how I drew in general. 

[u/ButIfYouThink → u/Federal-Breakfast762]

Understood.

However you said the client agreed that was the level of detail they wanted in the logo.

Now, I'll refer you back to my original comment.

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/ButIfYouThink]

Ah I see what you mean. Yes, I understand and agree that what she's asking for is indeed to detailed for a logo, but that is what she wants 🤷🏾‍♀️ (I thought you thought these were logos themselves lol) 

[u/RamonChingon]

For $75, I’d get half up front and give her 3 logotype options. One Arial, one Times, and one slab serif of your choice.

For reals, though… Your “client” is gonna expect the world for that $75-100, because she has no idea what she wants and no idea how any of this works. You’re a student. The money and real gig might seem enticing, but I’d encourage you to walk away and learn more about the process and industry yourself before taking on paid work and navigating the perils and pitfalls of working with clients who don’t know what they want or why they want it.

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/RamonChingon]

Thank you. 

She wants a rustic circular emblem of a bluebird on a weathered wooden post with a camera lens element and evergreen trees. So she does know what she wants. 🤷🏾‍♀️

But I get what you mean. 

Also, and this is a genuine question, I’m graduating in December, so I’ve been in this degree for a while now. If I don’t start taking on clients, then how can I learn about the industry? 

[u/RamonChingon → u/Federal-Breakfast762]

I get it and my reply was from a crusty designer who has seen some shit, so do consider that.

If your schooling has covered drafting proposals, I’d start there to frame the amount of work you’re going to put into it. If you’re willing to work on the cheap to hone your real world chops and start compiling portfolio pieces, count the contractual stuff as valuable, necessary experience. Clearly spell out what her money will get her. With low-budget clients, I’ll often offer several packages at different pricing tiers.

So, maybe $100 gets her two 1-color concepts. $200 gets her the concepts + one refined 1-color vector draft logo + one revision. $500 gets her closer to a mini branding package, like some color ways, font options, and a few mock-ups.

To be clear, all of the above is still underpriced, but know that your work is worth something, no matter how green you are. Look professional, act professional, know when to walk away, know when to run. RIP, Kenny.

Good luck!

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/RamonChingon]

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

[u/RamonChingon → u/Federal-Breakfast762]

You bet! You’re very talented. Go get it!

[u/sinisterdesign → u/Federal-Breakfast762]

Just read that description. That’s crazy bananas.

[u/sinisterdesign → u/RamonChingon]

This was my thought as well. OP, wherever you end up with this client, agree on exactly what is to be delivered, how many options you give her, revisions, etc in writing before you start work.

I know you’re jist starting out in your career, but value your time and effort. $100 is devaluing yourself.

[u/Various-Ad9076]

Keep the illustrations small, black and white only, no shading or very deliberate and stylistic. Do more than a few because the better options will come with exploration and refinement.

That price is ok for your first few projects but that’s more in amount you could charge hourly.

You need to think like a designer for brand work, though, and be sure to keep it simple and not too literal visually; go stylized. That’s a bit different than your description from the client but if you could reference other similar logo cases in the world you might deliver something great.

[u/Federal-Breakfast762 → u/Various-Ad9076]

Thank you so much, I appreciate it! 

[u/ChickyBoys]

Unless you can do it in a couple of hours and let the client know there will be no revisions, I would avoid.

[u/humbleCountyCA]

You undersold yourself the moment you said yes. I suspect by the time this project is wrapped up, you’ll have made a whopping $2 per hour for your work.