Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering custom animation can be a bewildering experience. Here, I try to answer some frequently asked questions.

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How does the payment process work?

There are a variety of different payment methods you can use. Which one you use is up to you.

• The most reliable method for large projects is to split the total agreed cost into weekly or monthly installments. You only need to send the installment when you are happy with the progress that has been made that week.
  
• It can be a one-off payment or we can do a 50/50 method where half of the sum is paid up front and half is paid at the end when you are satisfied.
  
• Using a timesheet, I can log my hours and send you invoices for my hourly rate.

As for the Payment method itself, that is up to you. The main options I provide are:

• Paypal transactions
  
• Direct bank transfer
  
• Cheques in the mail
  

You can learn more about the payment process, among other things by watching my Seminar which i have made available to my VIP list

Why Should I hire a freelancer instead of a large company?

Larger studios are more capable of taking on big projects like feature films and TV shows as they have more man power. HOWEVER there are great benefits to hiring a freelance animator:

• Freelance animators are much more cost efficient. There are far fewer costs to maintain one freelancer than an entire office block of animators.
  
• The other main reason is communication. If you hire a large company to make your animation, your communication of ideas can get passed through many hands before landing on an artist's desk. With a freelancer, there are no middlemen in the way. It is just you and the artist who is going to bring your vision to life.
  

I have a unique request which is not on your list

By all means, send an order request or send me an email. The list of services is just an overview of the most popular services I am able to give. If you need to see the list again you can see my variety of services here.

How can I reduce my production cost?

The estimated budget cost varies greatly from project to project. Here are a few ways to get a cheaper quote.

•  Projects with a long spanning deadline will reduce your cost significantly.
•  Projects scheduled far in advance will also reduce the cost.
• Paying more of the budget up-front may reduce the cost.

What if I am not happy with the end result?

This is extremely rare. I'll explain why:
You are able to see the quality of what I can make. My website makes it very clear of what I am and am not capable of, so there's hardly any risk of misunderstanding. I will also let you know if I feel out of my depth during our discussions before officially agreeing on anything.
Especially during the making of an animation, there are frequent progress updates throughout the creative timeline where you are able to give revisions and preferences. therefore there should be no reason for the end result to not be exactly what you want.
The same goes for art commissions, although generally they are faster and there are fewer opportunities for progress updates, so there may be revisions to the finished piece. I even give clients the opportunity to watch me create the designs and illustrations live over Skype screen share, where you can oversee the process in real time.

I am planning a Kickstarter campaign. Can I pay later when it is properly funded?

Crowd funded campaigns are very hit-and-miss as to weather they meet their funding goals. I cannot risk working for someone who may or may not have the funds to pay me. It's just not logical. One way or another, you need to have your budget ready before I start working on your project. 
If you have a budget ready to spend on preparing the crowdfunding campaign itself, that is a different story. I would welcome that. 
Please be truthful with your budget and that will help us both to arrange a deal.

What happens after I submit a commission request?

Here's generally what happens When you submit a request using my contact form:

1. I will send you a reply email within 48 hours. Generally containing extra advice, payment rates, times of availability and so on.
2. We can either arrange to meet at a location (If you live in London) to discuss the project and it's budget in more detail, we can connect over Skype or we can maintain our conversation over email. The important thing is that we both have an understanding of: the project's budget; my availability; the agreed payment rate; the method of payment and the project's style and technical requirements.
3. We will set up a shared platform to exchange files and feedback. I recommend Trello because it is free, versatile and easy to learn. But Dropbox or Skype are also some alternatives
4. I get cracking on the production! I will keep you updated regularly with drafts and you will have masses of opportunity to give revisions throughout the project. In animation projects, the process is much longer so I would send lots of drafts. In Illustration and design, it is generally only split into two stages: a draft for revisions and the finished product.
5. I help you through the rest of the process, all the way to uploading the finished product and publicity if necessary.
6. You pay the final installment of the payment cost, only when you are happy with the finished result, do I get the final installment. If you are not happy for any reason, you keep the rest of the budget for yourself.

Are you ready to Order?

ORDER HERE

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