What You're Actually Paying for When You Commission an Illustration
When clients see an illustration invoice, they're often just seeing the final image. A clean, polished piece that looks like it appeared fully formed. But that finished file is the smallest part of what they're paying for.
Custom illustration takes longer, costs more, and requires more back-and-forth than grabbing something from a stock library. And it's worth it. But only if you understand what's actually happening behind the scenes.
You're Paying For The Thinking
Before I draw anything, I need to understand the problem. What is this illustration communicating? Where does it live? Who is it for? What's the tone? What else will it sit next to?
A hero image for a website has different requirements than an icon set. An editorial illustration needs to land a concept fast. A brand illustration system needs to flex across dozens of use cases without losing coherence.
That thinking happens before the pencil hits the paper. And it shapes every decision that follows.
You're Paying For The Sketches You'll Never See
Most projects start with rough concepts. Sometimes three, sometimes ten. These aren't polished. They're ugly on purpose. The goal is to explore directions quickly before committing to one.
Clients usually see two or three sketch options. But those options came from a larger pile that got edited down. The bad ideas, the obvious ideas, the ideas that almost worked but didn't. You don't see those, but they're part of the process.
Knowing what not to do is just as valuable as knowing what to do.
You're Paying For Revisions That Make It Right
A sketch gets approved. Then comes the refined drawing. Then color. Then details. At each stage, there's room for feedback and adjustment.
Does the expression feel right? Is the weight of the line working? Does the color palette fit the brand? These conversations take time. Good illustrators build that time into the process because they know the first pass is rarely the final pass.
Revisions aren't a sign that something went wrong. They're how the work gets dialed in.
You're Paying For Craft
The difference between amateur illustration and professional illustration is in the details most people can't name but everyone can feel. Line weight. Composition. Color relationships. Consistency across a set. The way negative space is handled.
Craft is invisible when it's done well. It only shows up when it's missing.
You're Paying For Files That Actually Work
A finished illustration isn't one file. It's a set of deliverables built for how the work will be used. Web-optimized versions. Print-ready formats. Transparent backgrounds. Layered source files. Light and dark variations. Different aspect ratios.
Prepping these files takes time. Skipping this step means the client ends up with something that looks great in a presentation but falls apart when it hits production.
You're Paying For Something No One Else Has
Stock illustration is fine for certain uses. But it's also available to everyone, including your competitors. Custom illustration is yours. It's built for your brand, your message, your audience. That's not a luxury. That's differentiation.
A custom piece becomes an asset. It works harder than stock because it was made to do a specific job.
When Custom Illustration Is Worth It
Not every project needs it. If you're testing a concept or moving fast on a tight budget, stock might be the right call. But if the visual is central to the brand, if it's going to be used repeatedly, or if you need something that feels unmistakably yours, custom is worth the investment.
Quick Answers
Why is custom illustration so expensive?
You're paying for research, concepting, sketching, revisions, craft, and production-ready files. The final image is just the visible output of a longer process.
How long does a custom illustration take?
Depends on complexity, but most projects take one to three weeks from kickoff to final files.
What should I have ready before commissioning an illustration?
A clear sense of where it will be used, who it's for, and what it needs to communicate. Reference images help too.
Is custom illustration worth it for a small business?
If the illustration is central to your brand or marketing, yes. If it's decorative and low-visibility, stock might be enough.
The Takeaway
When you commission an illustration, you're not just paying for a drawing. You're paying for the thinking that shapes it, the options that got cut, the revisions that refined it, and the files that make it usable.
The finished piece should look effortless. But the process behind it isn't. That's the work. And that's what you're paying for.
