[quote=NellieRose]
...if you sell too low you will be bombarded with business you couldn't possibly keep up with while ensuring your clients quality work...there are only so many hours in a day.....
quote]

Very very interesting point! It makes sense. That's why I don't want to go to low on my prices. You have to figure, though, if you're not getting any business then maybe your prices are too high.

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~~Jennifer~~
Mom to the most wonderful little boy in the world - Noah (3/27/04)
Wife to the love of my life - Patrick (married 11/1/01)

I'm not really adding much to this conversation, but I realized as I read through the posts that this issue seems to always be in the minds of creative professionals. And we always seem to under price what we do!

I am in a debate with a fellow interior designer about rates for a large project - and we've been practicing for over 10 years! She can't get her mind around the idea of the final number for the fee if she would charge the lowest percentage on the going rate of 4-7% of construction -- $200,000. But the amount of work in this project is staggering and there is no way to tell how long it will drag on. Most large projects last years.

This thread has really helped me see that creative professionals really need to learn that our "creativity" is a very valuable product to the majority of our customers. We need to recognize our own value!

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Kathy

Please Visit My Gallery

OK- I have a really silly question and pardon my stupidity. I've just not thought of this as an avenue to make money. Several people have mentioned being graphic designers. Is this something you go to school for and get a degree behind you. I guess I can see that having that background would give you the credintials to charge great money. So many people are so talented with there layouts that aren't graphic designers. So- I guess my main question is "what exactly is a graphic designer and how do you get to be one?"

Hi all. I'm still very new to all this and am probably a long way from going pro.
Still, I have to agree w/a lot of what I read...............

Many creative people do tend to go easy on the fees.

I know that about 20 years ago, I went out as an independent consultant at a hospital. When I was working per hour, I was earning about $17/hour. Now, at the time, this was good money. I was VERY good at what I did too, and had been working at it for nearly 9 years at the time. So, when I went independant, my friend/ co-worker told me she would help me negotiate w/the hospital (I think she KNEW I would undervalue it). She called me up and after a few calls told me to hit them up w/$75 per analysis.
I laughed at her and told her she was nuts.
She reminded me about just how good I really was and how all the docs loved my work.
She said start a bit high so you know there will be "wiggle" room. Well, the hospital actually countered w/$60 per analysis .............each taking, on average, about an hour to complete. I was in shock!!! I couldn't BELIEVE that someone was willing to pay me that much. Now had it just been me, I probably would have just asked for the same amount I was earning per hour. Silly me!

Anyway............hate to be long winded, but I saw a parallel here. I think maybe sometimes we think others will not think it is worth it. But then again, there will always be some who will.

I think we also have to remember that in an artistic field such as this, we are creating custom, one of a kind, pieces of art. This has to really be stressed in this "wally-world" cheap goods society. I think if someone is comparing a custom piece of art to a box of 200 cheepo Xmas cards, let's say, then perhaps the problem is in the overall perception of what is truly being offered by the custom designer. I think it's the proverbial apples and oranges problem.

I think my docs and patients were glad they got ME and not the cheepo box o'cards. LOL!!!

I certainly hope that made sense.
Anyway.........thanks for all the chat on this topic. I will come back to this list if I ever get to the point of being lucky enough to earn money doing this!

Cheers,
Stacy

Hi all..... For an 8x10 I charge $15.00 plus a $5.00 design fee. So $20 bucks..... I also charge extra incase they need their pictures scanned..... that can take extra time. Mat's are not to expensive, and I have a high quality printer so I dont have to go somewhere to have the printing done. But time (to do it) is your time and that is worth something.... right? ;-)

Good Luck
Carol

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Carol

http://www.DigitalCustomMemories.com

QUOTE [So- I guess my main question is "what exactly is a graphic designer and how do you get to be one?"]

I'll preface by saying this is my opinion only There are some that have received degrees in graphics design and kudos to these ladies for all their hard work. Going to school and getting a degree is invaluable experience and I would never devalue that. I've also seen others with no "official" graphics design background and I absolutely love their art, that includes photographers as well as designers.

In the end, whether someone is educated in this field or not, I believe some people are born and blessed with a creative eye and natural ability. I wish I was one of them. I'm one of those that doesn't have a graphics design background. However, I also spend hours (literally) researching and reading books on color theory, design principles, Photoshop books, etc. Does this make me a better designer, I think so. But at the end of the day, my own eyes are my best judge in what I like and what works in what I create.

I think we all have a bit of "artist" in us. It's learning how to tap into your potential and see what you can do with it, whether you make a living at it or not. And art is one of the most subjective fields ever. I've seen a Picasso and just scratched my head and said that's worth HOW MUCH??? Just not my taste. Everyone sees art in a different way. No one way is better than another, because art really is about self-expression and what pleases YOUR eyes. (Hmm, noticed I never seem to have a short answer, LOL.)

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Debbie Pearson, Designer
My Blog
Classique Designs
Studio Girls @ Scrapbookgraphics

i charge $20-30 a page (designer fee) and either I print them or i let them print them. if i print them out, i just charge them the printing/shipping cost (i print all my stuff at winkflash)

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Proud US Air Force Wife...My heart is back from Afganistan!!

Adobe offers "certified expert" exams for Photoshop and Ilustrator, these are a great way to get some traction with graphic design without having to take a full college course. You just buy a couple exam guides ($100), immerse yourself in them for a couple months, then go into a local testing center (they have them all over North America via "Sylvain learning") and get your certificate ($150). It's not easy but it's also not incredibly hard either, and it will really help you become proficient enough with Photoshop so that it becomes transparent in the same way that the mechanics of handling a pencil become transparent to a skilled sketch artist. That's the key to good digital design, being able to convey your creative concepts without the semantics of the tools you use bogging down the process.

Great discussion! :yes