Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What specific graphic design services do you provide?
I offer a variety of graphic design services, including:

• Logo design and business branding
• Image editing, photo touch-up and restoration
• Promotional design: flyers, album artwork, posters, banners, brochures & more
• Custom graphics and vector art

To learn more about my services, please view the pricing page.

Q: What are your prices?
You can get a rough idea on my pricing here, but because every project is unique I don’t find it fair to offer clients a “one price fits all” pricing structure. Instead, I offer specific price quotes tailored to your needs. This way you know exactly what you’ll be paying before committing to a project. If an hourly pay rate is more suited for a project, my usual fee is $50/hour.

If you’d like to receive a price quote for a graphic design or photography related project, please fill out a custom quote.

Q: Will you price match?
Price matching only works for items that are identical. Since no two designers or projects are the same, it’s not really fair to demand “So and so charges X for a logo design, why don’t you?”

There are various reasons why one designer may charge $200 for a logo, and another charges $900 (factors include: time spent on projects, level of experience and expertise, quality of product/service, etc). Graphic design is like any other service industry; the pricing is based on a value of "worth." It is up to the buyer to determine whether the price justifies the worth.

Q: What forms of payment are accepted?
PayPal, credit card, check, money order, and cash are all acceptable forms of payment. Please be aware that projects begin once form of payment clears. There will be a $45 NSF fee for returned checks.

Q: How do I receive my files once a project is complete?
Your final design files will be emailed to you after payment is received. If for some reason the files can’t be sent via email (file size), then there is always the option of FTP, Dropbox, or on a CD (subject a $10 convenience fee for projects less than $1,000).

The file types/formats received depend on the type of project. Please let me know in advance if your project requires specific formats. Logo files for example, will be provided in *.eps and/or *.pdf format, both of which are scalable and printable documents that can be accessed and edited by any graphic designer or print shop using industry standard software.

Q: How long will a project take to complete?
The time frame for project completion will depend on your specific needs and my existing workload. To give you a rough idea, I usually request 1-2 weeks for a logo project, 2 weeks for a basic brochure design, 1-2 weeks for most print work.

Q: I don’t live near you, will this be a problem?
Not at all! Although I love having local clients, many of the people I work with are miles away. With the internet, distance is not a barrier. All communication can be done effortlessly through email and phone.

Q: Do I own the rights to a design?
Absolutely! Full ownership of all accepted and contracted design work is transferred to the client once final payment for a project is received. I reserve the right to display created works in my portfolio for promotion purposes only.

Q: Why should I hire you over someone else?
This is for only you to decide, but I can offer you a list of conveniences of working with me:

• You will be working with me directly. With some of the larger design firms, you may not receive this one-on-one attention. Projects often get tossed around between designers.
• Based on the industry recommended pay rates, my pricing is quite fair and somewhat lower than what similarly skilled designers are charging. With design firms, you can typically expect much steeper pricing due to their higher overhead costs of paying for larger office spaces, supervisors, larger scale advertising, etc.

• My logo designs are tailored specifically for your company. My logos are original, scalable vector, researched, and one of a kind.
• You'll receive continued file support at no additional cost as different file needs arise during the course of business. Your vendor wants a different image file? Just let me know.
• A design firm may consist of a dozen designers. Eight of them are fantastic at what they do, but the other 4 are not so good. Which one will be working on your project? Unless you can view the designer’s individual portfolios at a design firm (usually not the case), you may just be playing a game of Russian roulette with your design. By viewing my portfolio and website, you are able to get a good sense of my abilities.
• My projects are not outsourced to other designers or overseas to cheap labor markets.
• I don’t cut corners or rush my projects. Always quality design over quick design.

Q: What if I don’t like the artwork or designs presented to me?
My policy is pretty standard. In the unlikely event you are unsatisfied with the final design, you are left with a few options. For logo design projects, you will have the option to purchase additional concepts (rate is $10 per additional design), or to walk away.

If you decide to walk away from a project, I will keep 75% of the fee for time invested, and you will receive a 25% refund. For all other (non-logo) projects, the same rules apply.

Please note: It is my goal to make you happy, and I will do what I can to achieve just that. However I must protect myself as well. Offering unlimited concepts and revisions is just not possible or realistic. Any design company offering this sort of deal is pure bogus.

Q: How will I be able to communicate with you throughout the design process?
You can contact me by email or phone, which ever you prefer. I can also meet with you in person if possible, and when necessary. To avoid salespeople and spammers, I choose to only provide my phone number to clients and those who request it.

Q: So... why the serpent?
In Greek mythology, the Hydra was an ancient serpent-like water monster with reptilian traits. It possessed many heads and for each head cut off, it grew two more. It had poisonous breath and blood so virulent that even its scent was deadly. The Hydra of Lerna was killed by Heracles as the second of his Twelve Labours. Its lair was the lake of Lerna, and beneath the water was an entrance to the Underworld, and the Hydra was its guardian. Sounds pretty wicked to me. Unwavering, strong, efficient.