In my time as a freelance artist I have unfortunately had my fair share of unpleasant experiences with clients. Although I consider myself a fairly well-educated individual, and cautious besides, there will still be people out there who will try to take advantage of your situation. I have had clients request massive changes really far into the design process, I have had clients insult the work because they don't want to pay, and some have put of paying what they promised for far too long. It's true that sometimes these things just come down to simple miscommunication, and that's on me, but just as often you may find yourself dealing with someone who simply doesn't want to work nicely with you, and you end up wishing that you had never started the interaction in the first place. Here are a couple of tips I have learned, to avoid these kinds of unpleasant clients:
1. Communication
The first step in any client interaction is to make sure there is clear and open communication. Go back and forth with your client, ask questions, repeat back what you think they are asking for until you're 100% sure that you're on the same page. Be clear about your pricing, what usage rights they are getting with the image, what you think you're capable of, and how quickly you're capable of it. Be honest. Sometimes it might feel awkward to ask question after question, and you might worry what impression of you it gives, but trust me it's so much better to be totally certain that you're doing the right thing rather than get hours into the process and realize you've been doing it all wrong.
Furthermore, prolonged conversation with the client will help give you an indication of the kind of person they are. Do they seem impatient with the back and forth? Maybe a bit too particular about what they're looking for? Not particular enough? How about how they're treating you? Do they seem respectful or are they talking to you like you're just an AI image generator? Knowing all of this can be important when you're on to the next step.
2. Trust your Gut
If someone is giving you a bad vibe, or isn't treating you with respect, it might be better to simply not take the gig. I know it can be hard to let go of opportunities, especially if they seem really good, but it is so much better in the long run to keep yourself safe. Besides, often if something seems to good to be true, it's because it is. There have been many times I have received an email from someone needing art, or a message on Fiverr, and after communicating with the person, decided NOT to take the job. Whether it was because they spoke to me unkindly or just gave off bad vibes, I decided it was better to not take that risk. This, of course, is backed up by many times when I didn't trust my gut, and ended up having extremely unpleasant or wasteful experiences with people.
I should say that all of this should be followed when it comes to online interactions specifically. I mean, yes, you might have a negative initial reaction to someone in person and decide not to work with them, but if your only interaction is online, you owe it to yourself to be extra careful.
3. Understand Art Law
A great way to make sure that you're protecting yourself against being taken advantage of is to make a habit of using contracts and understanding the legal side to art. Personally, I have done a bit of reading on the subject (I recommend The Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines if you want something really extensive) and have taken bits and pieces from this advice to make it something that works for me. The world of art law is complicated and overwhelming, but it shouldn't be avoided. Knowing some of the basic rights and assumptions about who owns what after the drawing is completed is important, and it can help you communicate better with your clients.
I have started using simple contracts (which I can go over in more detail later) outlining what I will be delivering, in what time, and at what cost, so that both the client and myself are protected. This should make everyone feel safer within the interaction.
Unfortunately, if you do enough work, there's a good chance that you will regret at least one of your clients. Something will feel off, or you will do work and not get paid fairly, or any number of other unpleasant things. Hopefully, however, you will use my advice, and learn to spot the signs early on, avoiding as many as those awful experiences as you can. Remember, be open and honest, trust your gut, and learn how to protect yourself as you go out and make the world a more colorful place.
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