What to charge for texturing / modelling?
I've been asked to work for a few months with a indie game, doing environmental modelling and texturing. I've mostly been active in the modding community for a some various games, and i've gained a little reputation that way. I have some minor experience with the gaming business (not payed work).
With this project I could for example use some of my previous work, sometimes with minor alterations, retexturing etc, some of which i've spent hundreds of hours with to get right. So i think it's hard when someone asks "what do you want per hour?"
What to charge for a fully textured tree, for example? It's an indie game so i'm not expecting to get rich or anything, and again, i've not worked as a professional 3D modeller. What could i charge per hour do you think?
Thanks.
With this project I could for example use some of my previous work, sometimes with minor alterations, retexturing etc, some of which i've spent hundreds of hours with to get right. So i think it's hard when someone asks "what do you want per hour?"
What to charge for a fully textured tree, for example? It's an indie game so i'm not expecting to get rich or anything, and again, i've not worked as a professional 3D modeller. What could i charge per hour do you think?
Thanks.
Replies
$75 per hour is an average for a pro level guy. If you want to undercut from that: go right ahead.
For a tree, estimate how many hours it will take you to make that tree.
Also, get into the habit of charging for changes. If you know changes are coming, then charge them for what you think will be changed.
ya but even freelancing for $10 a hour for 30 to 40 hours a week, is going to leave you in poverty, you cant pay living expenses off that little lone, cover the costs of actually doing the work such as all the software, hardware and taxes on the income.
yes it can be good to give some work away on mod projects to get experience, and a rep, but when it comes to this and any work with art or media, there comes the time when you need to make sure your getting the money you deserve.
also think of it this way,
i could get a job at a local cafe and get more than $10/hour serving coffee, actually when i was doing that kinda job years ago, i was getting $15/hour plus tips, so im sure most we see it as de- valuing your work to charge so little.
I want to highlight that this is with; health insurance, computer- & software costs, rent etc divided by a year and incorporated into the price. It's not a random number
The secret is...to finish at half the time or less.
So you're agreement is $10 x 40 hrs. Finish work at 20 hrs (maybe 2-3 days depending on your skill level), so you can make it into a $20/hr gig.
You don't have to turn in until the agreed date (except if there's a bonus incentive) nor do you have to tell the client you're that ninja.
But if you think you're better than $10 or $20 rates...for sure...good luck in scoring higher paying commissions.
Then you break an arm, and get Autodesk auditing you for your software liscences, have not taken a day off in 3 years, then be my guest.
Also quote someone 3x the hours you think it will take to complete, because people are really bad at low balling deadlines.
I asked for a lot less than the $75
Got email of some colleagues saying I am to cheap and some other independent clients saying I am to expensive for them.
Really I do not understand my self and thinking to be a very bad business guy myself.
What I can say is I always fell working much that to be paid as freelancer to fix problem clients never though about, and years of light to understand what I am talking about when it comes too technical.
Also freelance starting to be really difficult to find today wishing to stay on old-school field designing very low poly assets etc...
Well that's all X_X!