Whether you’ve just opened commissions or have been doing freelance NSFW art for a while, the fear of disappointing clients always hovers over the shoulder.

This fear can get paralyzing, so here are some ways to come to overcome it so that your freelance career can get to growing.

Acknowledge that the fear never disappears

Even after freelancing for 6 years, I’m always nervous to know if my clients like their new artworks. The feeling happens regardless of experience; my professor who has been doing product design for over 40 years says he still gets the flutters when presenting work.

But if you think about it, that nervous feeling is good. It keeps you alert, helps you pick out mistakes, and keeps your service at its best. I believe it’s also respectful to clients, who trust us with their hard-earned money.

Once you come to terms with the fact that the fear will never go away, you can focus on doing your best, rather than waiting for an unrealistic future where you never fail.

And on to more actionable tips…

Keep your client updated

Clients get disappointed when things go differently than how they expect. I learned this the hard way when my client chose a sketch, and I decided to finish something completely different.

Unsurprisingly, the client didn’t like the end result. It wasn’t that one sketch was better, but that I had broken their expectation. No one goes to their favorite restaurant expecting the menu to be different each night. We expect consistency.

Now, to remove any unwanted surprises, I make sure my clients are on the same page by showing them key updates. These aren’t meant to let them change things, but to keep them involved and knowing what’s next.

Put yourself in your client’s shoes: if you were commissioning an artist, you’d want to see where your money was going, right?

As a bonus, this helps you catch mistakes that would disappoint your client. As an OC artist, details like tattoos and marks are important to the people who hire me. I’ve had some times where they point out that I miss something, which I happily thank them for and adjust.

Communicate openly

Lots of things can go ‘wrong’ when freelancing. You might have an irl emergency, or maybe just can’t seem to get the face right. Whatever it is, make sure you communicate with your client that you won’t be able to work for the time being.

One thing I like about the NSFW art field is that our clients are pretty respectful. After all, they’re commissioning artists they admire! 100% of my clients have been understanding when I tell them I have to pause their commission for a while (and if they demand otherwise, maybe it’s time to break ties).

It is daunting to see the “hey, how’s the commission going” message, but your honesty will be rewarded with understanding. A simple “sorry, I’m taking time off the weekend but I’ll have an update for you next week” is more than enough.

Whenever I ask my clients about bad commission experiences, they share the anxiety of being ghosted and wondering where their art is. One even said he’d been waiting for a few months.

My biggest slip-up was promising a commission using a new style. I wanted to challenge myself, but kept procrastinating the piece, telling my client I’d update him soon. That soon became 6 months, before he eventually gave me an ultimatum. I told him the real reason why I had delayed so much, and refunded the piece.

And if you do disappoint your client…

Get to the bottom of it!

Often times it’s not your art that’s the problem. Perhaps the client thought they were getting something else, or the outcome didn’t match the expectation. It’s rare that a client calls out the quality of a work, they don’t usually see the technicalities of art like we do.

Sometimes, there’s just a clash of interests. For example, I don’t like working with thrifty clients because it makes me feel like each choice I make is questioned. I’ve had to say goodbye to some long-time clients over that mismatch.

In the end, your client chose to work with you. Your art doesn’t have to be the best; just aligned with what you’ve already been doing. Do your best, and your client will be more than happy with what you make.