Career / Work · Advice & Questions · Oct 18

My freelance client’s latest “revision” is a different project. How do I reset the work?

Career / Work

The feedback began, “Love the illustrations—could we make them about the city instead of the countryside?”

I’m drawing six cards for a small stationery business. We agreed a rural theme and two rounds of revisions. The first round changed colours and a few details. This second round would mean replacing the farm buildings with streets, shops and buses.

I can see why the client prefers the new direction. Her shop display has changed, and the city cards would fit it. I also can’t produce them by adjusting the drawings already done.

The written agreement lists the number of cards and revision rounds but doesn’t explain how a change of theme would be handled. I’m not looking for a verdict about what it legally covers. I want to discuss the actual work before promising a date or a new price.

How would you reply without sounding as though I’m punishing her for having a better idea? What would you show her so we can choose a realistic next step?

Discussion

3 community replies

@TheoInTransit

Show one card with the parts that would need replacing. “The city direction works, but it requires a new set of drawings rather than changes to these” explains the effort. Then ask whether she wants to keep the existing set or discuss a fresh scope. You don’t need to argue that the new idea is bad to say it changes the work.

@maren17

The client may not know how much of an illustration survives a theme change. A short explanation of what you can reuse and what you must redraw would be more useful than debating the word “revision.” Keep the discussion on this request and the choices available now.

@northstar88

Don’t offer a new deadline until you’ve worked out the remaining work and your other commitments. Her changed display creates a reason for the request, but it doesn’t create drawing time in your calendar. You can be interested in the new direction and say you’ll return with a concrete proposal.

My freelance client’s latest “revision” is a different project. How do I reset the work?

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