Commissions can be incredible—or a slow-motion regret. The difference is usually clarity up front. I’m not a lawyer; this is what I run through before I commit.

What exactly are we making?

Medium, approximate size, style reference (their photos, my past work), and what is explicitly out of scope. “Surprise me” sounds fun until nobody’s happy. I want a shared picture in words before money changes hands.

Timeline and checkpoints

When do they need it? When do I need feedback? I schedule one or two approval stages—sketch and underpainting, for example—so neither of us discovers a mismatch at the end.

Money and changes

Deposit percentage, balance on completion or delivery, who pays shipping, and how many revision rounds are included. Extra rounds cost time; I name a number instead of absorbing it silently.

Rights and privacy

Can I post process photos? Who owns reproduction rights? If they need exclusivity, that has a price. If it’s a portrait of a real person, confirm permission.

When in doubt, email beats DMs for paper trails. My contact page is open—ask early, agree clearly, then make something great.