Pitching Your Work to an Illustration Agent

Only the beginning

Securing an agent doesn’t mean you get to rest on your laurels: it’s when the real work begins! It is very important to keep developing and honing your craft. With every illustration and every project that you work on, you will get better and expand your talent. As an agency, we value development very highly and pride ourselves on our continuous work with our artists, making sure to provide constructive feedback and ongoing evaluation of their work. Operating, as we do, in the heart of the publishing industry means that we are always informed about new trends and developments in that world and are at the forefront of any market developments.

Publishing is a beautiful thing, but it can be a very demanding industry. An agent can help guide you through its turbulent waters, but to succeed, you need to show dedication and a positive attitude towards your work. One of our principal goals is to secure for our clients projects that will help them build relationships with key contacts in the publishing world. Showing up with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic can go a long way when it comes to strengthening those relationships. If a publisher knows they can count on you, they are more likely to want to work with you again – it can be as simple as that! As agents, we are always on your side and try to help you wherever possible, but ultimately it is you that needs to show up and create the work. Again, as wonderful as it is, publishing is still an industry.

[…]Working with an agent is a partnership based on mutual trust and respect. Communication is key and can start as early as telling your agent exactly what you are looking for from your career and your professional goals. A first conversation can be a great way for you to decide if an agent is the right fit for you! 
 

Anna Zieger joined the children’s illustration team at The Bright Agency in 2021, and works with a wide range of artists and projects.