Oh my gosh I’m so fed up with all these artists saying you should price your shit higher because
don’t you have bills to pay?
have some self worth naman
you don’t deserve that
you’re dragging the industry down
they’ll think all Pinoy artists are cheap
blah blah blah
… especially to young people who are obviously just starting out. I personally have nothing against those who charge less than 1k for their design services, if they’re okay with it. It’s not like they were forced right. I made 4 people their computer projects for 700 + snacks and I was happy that time. I was a student, their project was easy, so I made easy money, and snacks… and bonus points from my crush.
But seriously, let’s stop dictating other people’s prices. That’s not our business, literally. Cos honestly? There’s a negligible chance of them stealing your market, unless you personally referred them. So why are you so damn affected by these bargain prices?
If you’re really gonna insist these bills you so proudly factor in, you better make sure they’re paying for them. Entirely. Not living under their parents’ roof. Paying for their own internet. Computer. Legit software. Ha. I bet most of these really talented and “underpaid” artists are basking in the privilege of their parents’ fortress. So what’s left to factor in? Labor. Which is all up to the artist. So keep your noses out unless they specifically asked for pricing advice.
I’m not gonna say to anyone that heyyy your work is so good, that can’t be just 500. Maybe if you made it, it’s not gonna be worth 500 only, but that’s you, so don’t force your pricing matrix onto other people. If they’re happy with it, the hell you care? Time will come they’ll increase their prices on their own. So let them be mfs. If Paul Rand and I made the same exact logo, with the same rationale and process, you think the world would allow me to charge a million dollars for my work? Hell no.
This industry can’t be standardized, at least from the pricing perspective.
My very first art commission was priced at 30 frkn pesos. That was 2006. I was a freshman. I made laminated playing card sized doodles. Metallic pen on black paper. How much does lamination cost then? 11 frkn pesos. Paper? Pen? I don’t know, they’re stock. Never mind that I never really profited from those. The fact that they appreciated my work made me so damn happy.
Fast forward to 8 years later, I illustrated a children’s book. Pro bono. That’s 30+ pages of digital illustration I spent sleepless nights to finish. Was it worth it? Definitely. Because it launched me. It was after the book launch that I gained confidence to set up shop.
And now I run a graphic design business on the sides, no pressure. I made sure to charge what my time and effort is worth. My baseline being my daily rate at my regular job lol.
I think what I really want to say is that it’s okay to start small. Whatever that means to you.