Feedback on packaging design

[Virgo Nightingale]

Anything here can and will be indexed by Google, and can show up in a search. This is why we point all new members to the rules and FAQs, which include a warning about such things.

[infinity]

IMO, (and i don't know much about package design) but looking at this final piece, which looks really good, and seeing that you said you put a lot of work into it, I would say you deserve to be paid whatever the price is, no matter how expensive. After all stuff in our field don't come cheap.

[maynardsayswhat]

"Deserves got nothing to do with it."

Without an eyes-open contract and billing agreement, you can easily put yourself in a bad situation if you suddenly send off a invoice that the client wasn't expecting. It's naive to think otherwise and arrogant to believe we are justified in billing high without an "ok" before performing the work from the client.

[Lina Lime]

PrintDriver

If your hourly rate adds up to an exhorbitant charge, you put too many hours in the project. Or somehow didn't set limits.

how do you set limits when everytning is raw from both sides. They wanted smth, then I develop it, then change, then develop again, then add something. I wish I could follow some steps, and do it according to the instruction. But this is all turns up to be creative process with a lot of thinking and accuracy. Maybe it's just me, other freelancers are more stable..

as to your clients finding it. Yep. Most likely. Since the name has been mentioned.
Didn't read those Welcome posts eh?

Is there any chance to delete the post after discussion? I didn't mean to mention the name((

[Lina Lime]

infinity thank you, I needed these words))

[Jahbuzzz]

The work is good and solid - You shouldnt be afraid to charge as much as you feel you have earned. Send the invoice. It sounds like you have a good relationship with the client. Worst case scenario the client goes "Whoa, thats a bit steep!" or even worse "Whoa - thats very cheap!" :P

[Lina Lime]

kemingMatters

it is what it is, bill them for your time. If they take issue, explain your usage of time and/or work with them on it.

you are right. I guess it's better to overestimate yourself and have a talk with a client rather than underestimate.

[Lina Lime]

Jahbuzzz
thank you... I do have great relationship with a client, and never really had this kind of thing. But I feel much better now and more confident I'm usually happy when the client is happy, but this feels even better

[Buda]

Did you give your client a quote before starting this project?

If you didn't then you should bill them for the time spent.

If you gave the client a quote and went way over it, you need to figure out why:

1. Client made many rounds of unnecessary changes/amends.
Say you quoted 20 hours for a project and you are nearing the 19 hour mark on your project time sheet with no end in sight, you need to let your client know that the quote you originally gave them is coming to an end. Most clients that are being difficult are apologetic and understand that their demands have not be straightforward.

2. You underestimated the amount of work involved.
Depending on your experience, you either take your mistake and swallow the cost difference. If you think the client can bear it, you could contact them and let them know that you misunderstood the scope of the project and see if they will meet you halfway in terms of cost.

If it's a combination of both, then you need to take a little of 1 and a little of 2.

If you are charging an hourly rate, you need to make sure the client knows that any copy changes are above and beyond design changes and will be additional charge. Copy changes should be made by a writer or editor before it reaches the designer. But of course, that's an ideal world. Where nobody lives.

[infinity]

maynard, I realize what I said may have come out wrong, basically I was paying lina a compliment. Was trying to say not to worry if his/her bill comes out to a number he/she thinks is too high, looking at the work he/she did seems to me that he/she should have no problem with selling something like that for a rather "steep" price. But again I don't know anything about packaging.

Lina your welcome.