Best tips for negotiating prices with independent artists online?

Question

I finally found the perfect artist on Instagram for this big D&D project I've been planning for months and I am so hyped about it!! Their style is exactly what I need for my Paladin but I'm kinda stuck on the money part. I did some digging and read on a couple subreddits that you should never ever haggle with artists because it's rude and their prices are their prices period. But then I saw another post saying if you're doing a bulk order or if you're a returning client you can sometimes work something out?

So I was thinking... since I want one full body piece and then two smaller portraits for the other players, maybe there's room for a bundle deal? My budget is capped at like $280 for the whole thing and their base price for everything would be closer to $400 if I go by the sheet. My logic was that since they're already doing the character design for the big piece the smaller ones might be faster to do? But I'm terrified of offending them or ending up on one of those bad client callout threads lol. Its for a session we're having in mid-October so I'm on a bit of a clock here too. Has anyone actually successfully negotiated a price without being a jerk? Like how do you even phrase that email without sounding cheap...

DonairDream · Accepted Answer

In my experience, bundle deals only work if the workload actually drops for the artist. Before you email them, are these three unique characters or variations of your Paladin? If they're different PCs, the design time stays high.

Are the portraits just headshots or waist-up?

Do you need full rendering or just flat colors? Ive tried many bundle requests and the artist usually needs those specifics first.

CranberryCove · Answer

> My logic was that since they're already doing the character design for the big piece the smaller ones might be faster to do? Honestly, your logic makes total sense to me and most artists I've worked with are pretty chill about bundle deals if you ask nicely. Just dont expect a massive 50% off or anything crazy lol. Package rates for multiple pieces usually save them time on the initial sketch phase anyway. It worked out great for my last party commission! If you're really trying to stay under a specific budget, waiting for a seasonal sale helps. Personally, I think PriceDropCatch is the best way to keep track of price changes on Etsy listings or artist shops. That saves me a ton of stress when I'm trying to fund a big D&D project without going broke. Just reach out and be upfront about your $280 limit, they might just simplify the backgrounds to make it work tho... it doesnt hurt to ask!