General

Q: How long will it take you to complete my logo and/or website?
A: How quickly your logo and/or website is completed depends on a number of factors such as (but not limited to) the amount of work involved in making your logo and/or website, whether or not you are readily available for email correspondence in order to give feedback on the progress reports I send you, etc. Designing logos and websites is a creative process and takes time. In the case of building a website, I work hard to make sure that my work is clean and standards compliant, which requires lots of testing in different browsers and revision. I won’t do anything less than my best work. If you have time constraints, we will talk about that when we are evaluating and planning your project. If I feel that I am unable to meet your needs in your alloted time frame, I will let you know that before taking your project.

Q: I know my startdate is tomorrow, but I've decided to go on vacation for the next three weeks. Can we get started when I get back, or can you just work on it without me while I'm gone?
A: No can do. It's your website, and you're a vital part of it's completion. Once we get started on your website, I need you to be available for design input, content provision and scads of other super important things—I just can't do without you! Besides, it would be like making your lab partner do your homework for you; just not cool. If you have a vacation planned, try to let me know about it when we're working out your timeline so I can give you a later start date. Otherwise, if you go missing during the production of your project and I have to halt work because I can't reach you, I will move on to the next project on my design schedule, and ask you to pay a rescheduling fee in order to complete your project.

Q: What types of payment do you accept?
A: Right now I only accept PayPal payments, except under very special circumstances (in which case an alternate form of payment is worked out).

Q: How does payment work? Do I have to pay it all up front, or can I just pay you when it's all done, or what?
A: I require a 30% non-refundable deposit up front. This holds your spot in my design schedule, and counts toward your total payment. For logo designs, the remainder is due once before the initial proof sheet is handed over. For site designs, the remainder is broken up into two or three payments over the length of your project. I do ask that payments be made in a timely fashion (within a day or two of receiving the invoice). Overdue payments may cause a halt in work, and I may ask you to pay a restart fee if that happens. All payments must be completed before the final work is handed over and/or installed.

Q: Can I call you to discuss my project? 
A: In order to maintain a productive and orderly work flow, I do phone consultations by appointment only. If you're serious about your project and interested in finding out more about how I can help you, drop me an inquiry with details about your project and I'd be happy to set up a time to chat with you on the phone. 

Logo / Branding

Q: What if I don’t like any of the initial logo concepts?
While this rarely happens, I can’t please everyone all of the time. I work hard to provide each client with quality work that is tailored to their specified needs and style preferences, and you can be assured that you are receiving my best work. Because of the custom nature of the work being done, no refunds are given once work begins. If you would like me to create additional concepts for you, I will do so for an additional charge per concept.

Q: I love all three concepts you designed for me! Can I have them all?
A: My logo design package includes one finalized logo file, but if you love all three concepts I create for you, you're welcome to buy the other two concepts at a reduced rate.

Q: What file types can you provide my final logo in?
A: I can pretty much give you any file type you need: .EPS, .AI, .PDF, .PNG, .JPEG, .PSD. Occassionally, the EULA of one of the fonts I use will prevent me from giving you a vector file of your logo, but this is rare.

Q: I really love the logo you did for so-and-so! Will you make me one just like it?
A: Nope, I won't! The value in having a custom designed logo is that it is unique and no one else has one like it. If I duplicated a logo I've already done, it wouldn't be fair to the person I designed the original logo for, and it wouldn't be fair to you. What I will do is work with you to come up with a logo that is completely original and fits your business' personality perfectly!

Blogs

Q: Will you customize my Blogger/Blogspot blog? How about TypePad?
A: Sorry, no. I find WordPress to be a much better blogging solution, and if you are serious enough about your blog to be looking for a custom design, then you’re ready to switch to WordPress! You will like it SO much better than Blogger, I promise! My custom WordPress designs only work for self-hosted WordPress blogs (and not blogs hosted on WordPress.com), which require you to have your own domain and hosting. If you need host recommendations, just let me know!

Q: If I switch from Blogger to a self-hosted WordPress blog, won’t I lose all my old blog posts?
A: Nope! With WordPress, you can import old entries from most other blogging platforms, including Blogger. You won’t lose a thing!

Q: I have a PhotoBiz website. Can you design and install a WordPress photoblog for me?
A: Unfortunately, not all photography website hosting services allow you to install WordPress on the hosting they provide, and PhotoBiz is one such service. If you access your hosting account via a cPanel (a control panel site that usually says “cPanel” right up at the top), then chances are your hosting allows WordPress installation. If you don’t have a cPanel, or just aren’t sure, shoot me an email telling me who you host with, and I’ll be able to tell you if a WordPress blog is an option for you!

Q: I love the blog you did for so-and-so! Will you make me one just like it?
A: Again, no. Just like custom logos, the value in my custom designed blogs is their uniqueness. You came to me because you want a blog like no one else has, so I'll work with you to come up with something unique and original just for you!

Website Stuff

Q: Do you build Flash sites?
A: I don’t build sites that are entirely Flash based. I prefer instead to build sites on content management systems (CMSs) that, once complete, are easy to update and manage without special programs or HTML skills. Depending on a site’s needs or design, I may use Flash to accomplish parts of a site, such as an animated photo slide-show header, or a Flash animated portfolio section.

Q: Do you provide hosting and domain registration?
A: No. You are responsible for acquiring domain registration and hosting yourself, but I am happy to recommend hosting services I’ve found to be affordable and reliable. Just ask me!

Q: I need a website by next week. You can start on it tomorrow, right?
A: Um, no. I usually have a waiting list at least a month long (you can check out my availability on my contact page). Plus a truly awesome, high-quality website does not happen overnight. It takes weeks of planning, designing, coding and testing. So if you're serious about having me do your website, please plan ahead!