When an author is looking to hire a children’s book Illustrator, it is very important that a contract is signed between the Illustrator and the children’s book author. The standard contract is also called illustrator for hire agreement. This standard agreement includes important points like the delivery date of illustrations, preferred payment style, the style of illustration, copyright ownership, royalty and other important points as considered important by the author and the children’s book Illustrator. It can also be mentioned in the same contract that more services can be added later, if needed. The terms and conditions for providing revisions for the illustrations as well as illustration’s credit for the book can be mentioned. Once all the points are acceptable by both parties then the contract can be signed. It is very important for the author to be very thorough about the points that he/she wants in the contract.

It can be very challenging in the beginning to get everything covered under the “Illustrator for hire” contract specially for the first-time authors. The major challenge that the first time out of faces is lack of information about the whole process. Publishing a children’s book requires not just the children’s book illustrations but also requires other services like the design, editing, cover, publishing in various formats along with printing and book promotion. But the most important part for every children’s book is the children’s book illustrations and the most challenging part is drafting a good illustrator for hire contract as illustrations take the maximum time for the completion of any children’s book. Getting into the details like character designing for the book illustrations as well as a Hassle free communication for the revisions in illustrations, as considered important by the author should be covered in the Illustrator for hire contract.

In my opinion, if the contract includes all important points then the author may consider that half of the problems have been taken care of. As an author, it is very important to be fully satisfied with the quality and delivery of illustrations. It is the responsibility of the children’s book Illustrator to do best work in order to make sure that justice is done with the story. Many times, authors struggle to get basic revisions from the illustrators. It can become a very difficult situation to handle. Other difficult situations may arise when there is a dispute or termination of the contract. Best efforts must be made to avoid such a situation but it is best to consider this point while drafting the contract. It is in everybody’s best interest to have a detail agreement which covers all important points to safeguard both the parties involved (author as well as the children’s book illustrator). The Illustrator for hire contract is the solution to all such problems that may arise during the services for the children’s book. Whether you work with an agency or an independent children’s book Illustrator, it is best to sign the illustrator for hire contract with the illustrator. If you follow all the points mentioned above then there are high chances that you will avoid any pitfalls which may unnecessarily cause problems during your publishing journey.