Hiring a book illustrator can feel like stepping onto unknown territory—you might wonder if you even need one, and if you do, how do you find someone who fits your vision and budget? You’re right, the process can feel a little overwhelming at first.
But don’t worry—you’re about to get a friendly, easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide that’ll walk you through each stage, from deciding if you actually need illustrations and matching your style, to communicating effectively and wrapping things up nicely (without nasty surprises).
Ready? Let’s jump straight into it.
Key Takeaways
- Determine first if illustrations fit your book and budget—children’s books usually need professional art, novels typically don’t.
- Use freelance platforms, local art schools, and recommendations from writer groups to find illustrators.
- Carefully review portfolios to match your book’s mood and audience, and request extra samples if needed.
- Interview illustrators for compatibility, check references, set clear expectations on budgets, timelines, and illustration rights.
- Always have a signed contract outlining scope and terms.
- Maintain regular communication, give clear feedback, and finalize deliverables for print readiness.
- Build lasting relationships with talented illustrators for easier future collaborations.
Step 1: Decide if You Need an Illustrator for Your Book
First, think carefully about the type of book you’re planning—does your story naturally lend itself to illustrations, or can it stand on its own with text alone?
If you’re writing a children’s picture book or a graphic novel, hiring a professional illustrator isn’t just nice-to-have—it’s necessary to make your story shine.
On the flip side, if you’re working on memoirs, novels for adults, or certain nonfiction books, visuals might not play a significant role. In these cases, it could save you money to focus instead on other things like great editing or a well-designed book cover.
Another factor to consider is budget. On average, book illustrators earn around $59,345 per year, translating to about $28.53 per hour. Costs can vary though, ranging typically from $32,500 up to $96,000 annually, depending on the illustrator’s expertise, skill, and style.
Of course, if you feel your story really would benefit from beautiful artwork to captivate readers, particularly young audiences, the investment may be worthwhile—even essential.
Step 2: Find Professional Book Illustrators Online and Offline
Once you’ve decided to get an illustrator on board, the next step is to hunt down the right one. The easiest place most authors start is freelance platforms like Upwork or Indeed. These websites let you browse profiles, check previous work, and contact illustrators directly.
But don’t just limit yourself to digital channels—exploring local art communities and art schools in your city can uncover hidden gems who might not have a large online presence yet.
Joining professional networks, like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, can be a huge help too. These communities often have directories, networking events, and forums where you can discover talented individuals eager to collaborate.
If you’re a self-published author wanting to know more about how to get your book out there, even without an agent, check out our guide on how to get a book published without an agent.
Remember, the best illustrators—and best results—often come from word-of-mouth recommendations. Ask other writers or small independent publishers for suggestions to find someone reliable and highly skilled.
Step 3: Review Illustrator Portfolios to Match Your Book’s Style
Portfolios are everything when it comes to illustrators. They showcase the artist’s style, quality, range, and ability to express stories visually. Spend a good chunk of time exploring these collections before settling on a partner.
Think about the mood and atmosphere you want for your book—does the illustrator’s work match your vision? For instance, if you’re crafting an adventurous middle-grade fantasy, vivid and imaginative art is going to resonate more than minimalistic or abstract styles.
If you’re venturing into graphic novels—something that’s become very popular lately—take a moment to read our detailed post on how to publish a graphic novel for extra insights.
Don’t hesitate to request additional examples beyond what’s already in the portfolio. Highly experienced illustrators typically have a broad range of samples to show you upon request.
Pro tip: Make sure the illustrator’s style not only appeals to you personally but fits the expectations of your target audience. If you’re stuck, try testing samples with a small group of readers (especially kids, if they’re your audience) to see how they respond.
Step 4: Interview Illustrators and Check References
Interviewing illustrators isn’t something to gloss over—it’s your chance to figure out if your personalities and workflows click.
Start by setting up a casual call or video chat to get a vibe check and discuss your book’s concept in depth.
Ask open-ended questions, like their favorite projects, preferred working pace, and what kind of feedback they usually find helpful.
Don’t shy away from specific questions, either: ask how they handle revisions, missed deadlines, or creative disagreements.
You should also ask for references from previous clients—no one can give a more accurate picture of how the illustrator really works.
Checking references might feel like extra homework, but it can save a ton of headaches down the road, trust me.
Step 5: Set Clear Expectations on Budget, Timelines, and Rights
Miscommunication on budgets or timelines can toss your book project into chaos, so clarity upfront is crucial.
Based on our real-time data, illustrators in the U.S. typically make around $59,345 annually (about $28.53 per hour), though this varies widely depending on skills and experience.
Illustrators’ pay ranges from roughly $32,500 on the low end, up to around $96,000 per year if you’re working with someone highly experienced (ZipRecruiter salary data).
Be super specific with your budget limits and understand how illustrators charge—per project or hourly—so everyone knows what to expect.
Set clear deadlines—not just the final delivery date, but also regular check-ins for drafts and revisions, ensuring everyone’s aligned throughout.
Also, talk about usage rights explicitly: who owns which rights, rights over future reprints, digital formats, translations, merchandising, and so on.
Clarity in these areas prevents surprises later and keeps your working relationship positive and professional.
Step 6: Create and Sign a Contract with Your Illustrator
No matter how casual your working relationship feels, always put it in writing—seriously, it’s a lifesaver.
A typical illustrator-author contract should cover project scope (number of illustrations, revisions, size), timeline, payment terms, and rights.
If you’re unsure how to craft one, numerous online templates cater specifically to illustrators and authors, or you can hire a legal professional briefly to finalize the details for peace of mind.
Clearly spell out consequences if either party fails to meet responsibilities, such as payment delays or missed deadlines on artwork submission.
Both parties should sign the agreement, preferably digitally, so everything stays neat, organized, and legally secure.
Step 7: Establish Effective Communication and Workflow
Talking openly and frequently with your illustrator can make or break the project.
From the get-go, figure out preferred methods of communication—some people hate emails, others avoid phone calls like the plague, so find middle ground (tools like Slack or Trello can be your new best friends).
Create a realistic workflow by agreeing upon clear milestones—for example, character sketches first, followed by page layouts, color mock-ups, and final pieces.
Schedule regular check-ins to keep everyone accountable and the project running smoothly, but avoid micromanaging, which can hurt creativity and morale.
And if your illustrator enjoys creative writing, too, suggest some fun side activities, like these funny writing prompts for kids, to keep the collaboration enjoyable.
Step 8: Provide Constructive Feedback and Review Illustrations Regularly
Want a beautiful book? Your illustrator will need clear, actionable feedback at various stages of the project.
When you see sketches or initial drafts, frame your comments constructively; phrase things positively rather than criticizing harshly—being encouraging goes a long way.
If something doesn’t look right, don’t just say so—be specific about what’s off and provide examples of what you’re looking for instead.
Stick to a regular schedule for reviews rather than giving spontaneous, unpredictable feedback sessions, which can annoy or overwhelm.
If you’re not artistic yourself and struggle to describe changes, using visual references from other books or online images is an excellent shortcut to clarity.
Step 9: Finalize the Illustrations and Handle Closing Details
Once final illustrations are ready, double-check everything is up to print specifications (such as DPI, color profiles, and bleed margins required by printers).
If you’re planning a self-published paperback or hardcover, it’s worth deciding upon the best fonts for book covers now, while finalizing overall design details.
Go over all contracts again—ensure payments are completed, rights are clearly defined, and everyone knows their obligations are met.
Keep digital copies of deliverables in multiple formats and places to ensure nothing gets lost last-minute.
Finally, don’t forget gratitude—a heartfelt thank-you, both privately and publicly, not only keeps relationships strong but could also boost illustrator referrals your way down the line.
Step 10: Plan Ahead for Future Collaborations with Your Illustrator
If your first collaboration went great, there’s no reason to start from scratch next time—good illustrators, like good mechanics, are worth holding onto!
After completing your project, reflect together briefly—what worked, what didn’t, and how your collaboration can improve going forward.
Maintain contact even between projects—simple interactions through social media or short messages keep your relationship warm, making future collaborations easier.
If you think you’ll need them again, don’t wait until the last minute to join their schedule—book ahead to ensure availability.
Building a strong working relationship saves you stress, time, and energy next time you need fantastic visuals, ready to captivate your readers again.
FAQs
Consider your genre, target audience, and storytelling approach. Children’s picture books and graphic novels typically require illustration, whereas novels aimed at adults or nonfiction works might not, unless visuals clarify complex ideas or enhance your narrative.
You can locate illustrators online on freelance platforms, illustrator portfolios sites, or through professional associations. Offline, consider local artist groups, workshops, industry events, referrals from authors in your network, or art schools with illustrators available for hire.
The illustrator contract should specify project scope, deadlines, milestones, budget details including payment terms, ownership of artwork rights, revision expectations, cancellation policies, confidentiality conditions, and terms for potential future collaborations or royalties.
Establish regular review checkpoints aligned with project milestones, such as after character sketches or first drafts of illustrations, to keep the project on track. Avoid micromanaging while ensuring you issue prompt, clear feedback for revisions as needed.
