Book Cover Project Questionnaire

Cover Project Questionnaire
I'll need some basic information about your project. Please be as thorough as possible! This helps me get the clearest picture of your design needs.
E-mails are purely for contact purposes. I will not use any of this information to spam you.
Check any boxes that apply. Select "other" for any misc. graphics such as audiobook covers, social media graphics, bookmarks, etc.
This is the name going on the finished cover. If you're using a pen name, use it here.
e.g., Book One of the Epic Series, etc.
e.g., "A storm was coming." This is optional, though usually helpful with print layouts.
Be as detailed as possible. Character descriptions, events in the plot, any other pertinent information (such as tone, important themes, etc).
This is a great place to mention any special symbols, fonts, characters, etc. that you'd like to maybe see on the design.
Hate the color orange or Comic Sans? Just let me know and I won't use them.
Please feel free to link to a few book covers you like in the space below! This helps me to get a better sense of the overall style/mood you're going for if you have something specific in mind.
Common Amazon/KDP trim sizes are included here. If your desired trim size is not listed above, please select Other and elaborate in the Misc. Notes section at the bottom of this questionnaire.
NOTE: These paper options are for Amazon/KDP. Select Other if using a paper color/weight from another printer.
This does not need to be an exact count. A ballpark estimate will do for proofing purposes.
Include a brief, intriguing synopsis for your story here.
A catchy one-liner to get the reader's attention.
Looking to put an author bio? Website link? Social media icons? Include all of that information here.
Select all that apply. Elaborate in the "Notes" section below.
The floor is yours! This is the space for anything not covered above. Notes about graphics you're looking for, additional information for print cover layouts, etc. It all goes here!
In short: You are hiring Aero Gallerie to create an e-book and/or print cover design for the estimated pricing outlined elsewhere on this website or in previous correspondence.

What do both parties agree to do?
As my client, you have the power, and ability, to enter into this contract on behalf of yourself, your company, or your organization. You agree to provide me with the information I need to begin our design project. You agree to review my work, provide feedback, and sign-off approval in a timely manner. Deadlines work two ways, so we both will be bound by any dates we set together. You also agree to stick to the payment schedule set out at the end of this contract. I have the experience and ability to perform the services you need, and I will carry them out in a professional and timely manner. Along the way I will endeavor to meet all deadlines. However, all important deadlines must be clearly communicated in advance. My ability to meet deadlines is dependent on client’s ability to provide all required information in a timely manner. I cannot held responsible for missed deadlines due to unavailable or inaccurate information, including (but not limited to): print specifications (page count, trim size, etc), blurbs/taglines, author bios/photos, excessive revisions, etc.

Design:
I will create designs for the look-and-feel of your book cover. This contract includes one main design plus the opportunity for you to make up to five rounds of revisions. If you're not happy with the designs at this stage, you must pay in full for all of the work produced up to that point, and you may either cancel this contract or continue to commission me to make further design revisions at the hourly rate of $30/hour set out in my original estimate.

Revisions:
As noted above, this contract covers up to five rounds of substantial revisions. Excessive revisions may be subject to the $30/hour rate. Upon final payment and receipt of finalized deliverables, you have up to 48 hours to request any minor last-minute changes at no additional charge. After that time, revisions may be subject to the hourly rate.

Portfolio Usage:
I am very proud of the work I do for my clients. As such, I reserve the right to display the finalized design on my website, on social media (including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), and in advertisements, blogs, etc. as deemed appropriate.

Licensed Content:
All elements used for your cover will be either royalty-free resources or properly licensed from stock websites such as Shutterstock. However, if you request elements that are not royalty-free (such as commercial fonts, etc), you may be responsible for the cost of the license of that element. You may also provide your own photographs for use on covers, but I do require that a signed model release form and all proper permissions/documentation be submitted to me before I can use the images on your cover. I reserve the right to refuse to use client-supplied images if I feel that the proper permissions have not been obtained.

Revision of Services:
You can decide to add/remove services at a later date if you choose (for example: if you purchased an e-book only package, you can choose to add the print cover later). You will be charged accordingly for the services you are adding. Along the way, I may ask you to put these requests in writing so that I can keep track of changes.

Deliverables & Rights:
Once the design project is completed and final payment is rendered, you will receive the “deliverables,” which may include any of the following:

1. High-resolution images of your design for use on Amazon, B&N, etc.
2. Full-sized Createspace layout in PDF format, ready for submission
3. High-resolution images of supplemental graphics (business cards, etc)

After the final payment, you will also have full rights to your design. You may use the design in advertisements or promotional materials as well as post it on social media or elsewhere online.

PLEASE NOTE: To protect the quality and integrity of my work, PSD rights are NOT included with deliverables. PSD files are only provided in rare/special circumstances--speak to the designer if you have questions about what circumstances apply.

Legal stuff:
You agree I will not be held liable to you, or any third party, for damages, including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages arising out of the use of the finished design.

Payments:
I’m sure you understand how important it is to pay the invoices I send you in a prompt and timely manner. To make things run smoothly, you agree to the following payment schedule.

1. 50% deposit of total design cost up-front
2. Payment for any additional services during the course of the project
3. Final full payment upon project completion.

You will not receive deliverables until the final payment has cleared.

Cancellations & Refunds:
Sometimes things happen and we may have to part ways before a project is completed. Therefore, I have a few guidelines in place in the event that you need to cancel this contract.

Before I can begin designing, I require a payment of 50% of the total cost up-front. You have up until you receive the first draft of the design to cancel the contract and receive a full refund of that deposit. If you have received the first draft and choose to cancel the contract, you forfeit the full amount of the deposit. Depending on the number of revisions made to the design at that point, you may be subject to a $30/hr art fee.

If for some reason I need to cancel our contract due to an emergency or otherwise, you are entitled to a full refund.

But where is all the legalese and horrible fine print?
Although the language is simple, the intentions of this document are serious. Just like a parking ticket, you cannot transfer this contract to anyone else without my permission. This contract stays in place and need not be renewed. If any provision of this agreement is determined to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this agreement and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.