Paying for Cover art - What is normal?

VydorScope · 11-24-2011, 08:26 AM

So, my last book I had my sister make a cover for, and she is working hard on the cover for the second book. She has been working for free so far, and happy to, but if I am charging $2.99 for a book with her cover on it, I think she should get something.

So in order not to rip her off... how is cover art usually priced? Flat fee? % of sales? What?

RobertLCollins · 11-24-2011, 08:53 AM

The majority of cover artists who post at Facebook, Kindleboards, etc., charge some sort of flat fee. The fee varies wildly. I've seen some charging in the $20-$50 range, others a few hundred dollars or more. Don't go with % of anything; you'll be paying forever.

I'd start with a free copy. Is she a professional artist? If so, talk to her about a standard rate for a project, and see if you can afford that (all at once or in installments). If she isn't a pro, just ask her what would be fair.

I'd also suggest you be honest with her about your sales. You can't pay anyone else if you're not selling. If the book is selling, say so and offer to pay for her work.

I hope that helps.

Synergi · 11-24-2011, 11:45 AM

I noticed your Kindle book for the first book in your series is free. Does Amazon pay you to give your book away? Just curious how it works.

I asked Ann Cain once for a quote, she charges 250 per book cover but she's a highly sought after artist so I think cover prices are going to vary according to level and time it takes to complete.

Your series sounds fascinating by the way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

So, my last book I had my sister make a cover for, and she is working hard on the cover for the second book. She has been working for free so far, and happy to, but if I am charging $2.99 for a book with her cover on it, I think she should get something.

So in order not to rip her off... how is cover art usually priced? Flat fee? % of sales? What?

VydorScope · 11-24-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synergi

I noticed your Kindle book for the first book in your series is free. Does Amazon pay you to give your book away? Just curious how it works.

No, book one is free so i get nothing for it. Book 2 (the first cover
she made ) is 2.99, and book three will be the same.

Thanks!

Nancy Fulda · 11-24-2011, 12:39 PM

I'd recommend going with a flat fee simply so that you don't have the hassle of calculating royalty rates and % of sales for the next 10-50 years.

bbr · 11-24-2011, 04:36 PM

A flat fee is definitely the most common way to work with artists.
It's also the most common way artists sell their work, depending on the quality and time put into it.

OneandonlyDoc · 11-24-2011, 06:57 PM

I've seen everything from about $30 for a pre-made cover to upwards of $400 for a custom cover (though I admit that I don't think I'm a very big fan of the folks charging the latter to begin with!).

VydorScope · 11-24-2011, 07:03 PM

So if I paid her $50 per cover, that would be reasonable? She doing it for free, but I do not want to rip off my baby sister.

Nancy Fulda · 11-25-2011, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

So if I paid her $50 per cover, that would be reasonable? She doing it for free, but I do not want to rip off my baby sister.

$50 sounds like a very reasonable rate.

I presume she's also been given credit for the cover design on the book's copyright page? (If she decides to do more with her art in the future, those kinds of things might be helpful.)

VydorScope · 11-25-2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

$50 sounds like a very reasonable rate.

I presume she's also been given credit for the cover design on the book's copyright page? (If she decides to do more with her art in the future, those kinds of things might be helpful.)

Yes she has, complete with an email address.

HarryT · 11-25-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

I presume she's also been given credit for the cover design on the book's copyright page? (If she decides to do more with her art in the future, those kinds of things might be helpful.)

It's not normal to credit the cover artist, because normally it's done as a "work for hire" - ie, the publisher or author pays the artist to create a cover which they, and not the artist, then own.

pholy · 11-25-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy Fulda

I presume she's also been given credit for the cover design on the book's copyright page? (If she decides to do more with her art in the future, those kinds of things might be helpful.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's not normal to credit the cover artist, because normally it's done as a "work for hire" - ie, the publisher or author pays the artist to create a cover which they, and not the artist, then own.

It might depend on the genre or the publisher. My _Gate of Ivrel_ from DAW credits Michael Whelan for the cover, and _Storm Front_ from ROC (Penguin) doesn't mention anybody. Or maybe Michael Whelan has a lot of pull?

Penforhire · 11-25-2011, 05:32 PM

I don't know what the going rates are for a cover design but for a similar use of a photo (catalog, press release, or annual report) the average I've seen (and charged) is around $300, always a flat fee based on intended use.

teh603 · 11-26-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

I don't know what the going rates are for a cover design but for a similar use of a photo (catalog, press release, or annual report) the average I've seen (and charged) is around $300, always a flat fee based on intended use.

That's why you try to find a starving artist on someplace like deviantArt or Furaffinity.

David Munch · 11-28-2011, 07:29 AM

You could always wait a bit, and then pay a flat fee to your sister based on the sales of your book. The money will stay in the family, and it's a bit sad to give her 50$ if you only earned 30$ on the book.

11-24-2011, 08:26 AM	#1
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Paying for Cover art - What is normal? So, my last book I had my sister make a cover for, and she is working hard on the cover for the second book. She has been working for free so far, and happy to, but if I am charging $2.99 for a book with her cover on it, I think she should get something. So in order not to rip her off... how is cover art usually priced? Flat fee? % of sales? What?

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11-24-2011, 08:53 AM	#2
RobertLCollins Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 1735704 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kansas Device: iPhone	The majority of cover artists who post at Facebook, Kindleboards, etc., charge some sort of flat fee. The fee varies wildly. I've seen some charging in the $20-$50 range, others a few hundred dollars or more. Don't go with % of anything; you'll be paying forever. I'd start with a free copy. Is she a professional artist? If so, talk to her about a standard rate for a project, and see if you can afford that (all at once or in installments). If she isn't a pro, just ask her what would be fair. I'd also suggest you be honest with her about your sales. You can't pay anyone else if you're not selling. If the book is selling, say so and offer to pay for her work. I hope that helps.

11-24-2011, 12:39 PM	#5
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	I'd recommend going with a flat fee simply so that you don't have the hassle of calculating royalty rates and % of sales for the next 10-50 years.

11-24-2011, 04:36 PM	#6
bbr Member Posts: 22 Karma: 2898 Join Date: May 2011 Device: iPod Touch	A flat fee is definitely the most common way to work with artists. It's also the most common way artists sell their work, depending on the quality and time put into it.

11-24-2011, 06:57 PM	#7
OneandonlyDoc Fearless Writer Posts: 210 Karma: 375317 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: In a mitten! Device: Kobo Wifi	I've seen everything from about $30 for a pre-made cover to upwards of $400 for a custom cover (though I admit that I don't think I'm a very big fan of the folks charging the latter to begin with!).

11-24-2011, 07:03 PM	#8
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	So if I paid her $50 per cover, that would be reasonable? She doing it for free, but I do not want to rip off my baby sister.

11-25-2011, 05:32 PM	#13
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I don't know what the going rates are for a cover design but for a similar use of a photo (catalog, press release, or annual report) the average I've seen (and charged) is around $300, always a flat fee based on intended use.

11-28-2011, 07:29 AM	#15
David Munch Scholar Posts: 1,009 Karma: 3999312 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kobo Libra H2O + iPad Air 4	You could always wait a bit, and then pay a flat fee to your sister based on the sales of your book. The money will stay in the family, and it's a bit sad to give her 50$ if you only earned 30$ on the book.

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