If you've got the monies, hopefully Bayani can drop in and help you out with some of the people he's commissioned. His collection is top-notch.
Its hard to talk hard prices out in the open here, as its forbidden.
Oh, did not know that. My bad. 
No problem. You didn't say any price yet, so it was just a forewarning ^.^
Check the threads at the top of this page, one by Juggertha, on requesting Fan art, another by Thor's Assassin on the Network, which iis a listing of commissionable artists...
I'm having an affordable summer sale if you check my signature, but I won't be free for another week.
LJ
I'll be open again soon, but I'm not quite up to the standard of a Frank Cho or Namayaka.
Did you want a "professional" looking piece or someone just to bite their style... cause while a good artist can do that, not sure they would do that intentionally unless it was an homage cover.
You might want to prepare some links of things you like about both artists, that you want your commissioner to include. Like hair like this, effects like that, etc...
Also have clear and LARGE screen shots of the two characters you want. I use to have two different fees, one for the client letting me do my thing, and one for they have complete control, which usually costs more, because it is a more elaborate, and labor intensive process.
If you find a young buck who is willing to do both for one price, you may get lucky. This guy is pretty amazing, but I don't know his prices... you may have to write him personally, or talk to someone who's commissioned him before...
Your best bet at the moment is probably Jeremy Farlow. Conventions and vacations are in full swing, so few of the pro artists available for side work at least until the NFL Season rolls around (that's the fall for you non-sports inclined folk, and "September" for you folks who live in regions sans seasonal weather 
). His website says he's available for work during August. He's known for his attractive female pin-ups. I haven't really seen much action or story-telling artwork out of him, but he's familiar with City of Heroes/MMO characters and his prices are fair for his level of work.
Farlow Studios
See, what I like about their styles is that they make the ladies look like women. Not stick figures with a pair of boobs attached.
What I'm looking for, potentially, is sort of a combo action/pin-up piece. The two characters are fraternal twin sisters who somehow ended up on opposite sides of the fence (cliched I know). There would be power effects (not many, just enough to differentiate the two) and a semi-detailed backdrop.
I would want something suitable for framing.
Again, this is just throwing something out there. I've had this stupid scene in my head for quite a while, just like how some get a song stuck in their noggin.
Pin-ups.... my first and truest love.....
I would suggest myself because there's nothing I adore more than the super heroines, even moreso if they're in a pin-up mood, but I don't feel right pimping myself when I know I won't be available again for that sort of piece until probably September.
Well, I do have another scene in mind that would work strictly as a pin-up. (Git yer minds outta the gutter... )
And really, this isn't something I want done NAO, but rather to give me some ideas as to who to go to, turn around time, etc.
Well, you kinda have to manage your expectations. The artists who can draw dynamic action AND really beautiful women are top-tier pros and aren't lacking for well-paying projects. (David Nakayama for instance, is very busy. Frank Cho does not do commissions as far as I know) Artists who can draw really dynamic action are rare. It's a difficult task for an artist to depict characters interacting and still look naturally fluid. I kinda wish more artists practiced that more rather than just pin-ups. There are plenty of artists in comic books who have great detailed work but composition/story-telling wise, look flat. I've offered my suggestion, it's up to you to decide whether or not to pull the trigger and give Farlow a go. I don't think it's terribly difficult to find artists who draw women very well; it's far more rare these days to find artists who can draw action/storytell very well.
I find the hardest thing about doing action shots is actually getting any sort of decent reference. Especially for superheroes! I've come to find that pushing people off buildings to snap a few in-air pics is frowned upon in most municipalities.
On the other hand, its much easier and legal to set up a pin-up shot.
I'm waiting to see how much my supplies this semester will run me (it can vary from $100 to $500 or more depending on what supplies I might already have on hand and/or if I need computer software), and if I have extra left from my financial aid, I'm going to see about getting a DSLR camera. I believe I'll need one next semester anyway, as Photography is a required course. What I'd like to do is maybe head to one of the local martial arts places and ask if I can snap some photos of practice. I figure that will be a GREAT source of references for more action or interesting pieces.
Well, I don't think you need highly-specific references like that. In chats with Nakayama and other artists who draw fluid character posing and design, the common theme has been their steady, meticulous practice of drawing muscles straight down to the skeleton.
The critique I've tossed here and there on dA on action pieces from stems from a background in extensive martial arts training and some stunt-work in movies. I'd advise delving into some kung-fu/wire-fu type flicks and studying how those folks move. The really really old kung-fu movies (classic Jackie Chan for instance) are great because the action is slower but the body structure is sound. These days, movies glam up action scenes excessive lighting, over-exaggerated camera angles, and the ilk.
I highly recommend the Canon DSLRs. You can get them relatively inexpensively, and they take fantastic pictures.
/threadjack :P
Yeah, can't really judge with the action movies nowadays. Very little is real anymore.
And as far as drawing muscles and skeletal systems, yes, I'm DYING to do that. Its an area where I know I've been severely lacking. My coursework is kind of messed up because I had only been able to take a class here and there for a couple years, but now I can FINALLY do things correctly and get in my figure drawing class. I'm very excited to start it.
Reminds me I should get a commish from Alex...
[ QUOTE ]
I highly recommend the Canon DSLRs. You can get them relatively inexpensively, and they take fantastic pictures.
/threadjack :P
[/ QUOTE ]
In my searching through Photography forums and such to find which model to buy, I found that asking "Canon vs Nikon" is like asking "Mac vs PC" o.o
My wife makes her living with a DSLR, when she started, her photographer friends suggested spending her money on a good camera body first, and then worry about adding on special lenses (macro, wide angle, ultra zoom).
Meh, the differences between a Mac and a PC are fairly apparent. From what I understand of DSLRs, the differences between Canon and Nikon are incredibly minute for an entry-level user. It's just that you can't put Nikon lenses on Canon bodies and vice versa. Those lenses are the bigger long-term investment. Just pick a camera body that's comfortable for your hands and roll with it.
Well, I meant that people are fierce loyalists to one or the other, regardless of actual specs.
Edit to LJ: I do need to look into lenses pretty early on, because a lot of reference that I want to shoot involves special lighting. So I'll need a good low-light lens (going for a nifty 50) straight off.
Yeah, that's because if you buy an entire set of Nikon lenses, then decide you want to switch to Canon, you'll have to buy an entirely new set of Canon lenses to replace the Nikon ones. Both Canon and Nikon have something in every pricing category. I picked up a Nikon myself, but that's because the guy in Chinatown who sells things out of the trunk of his car said the Canon ones don't fall off the trucks as much. >.>
I've used both Canon and Nikon, and I just like the Canon better. Fits my hands better, and I like the controls better too.
I learned on a Pentax, bought a Canon SLR, and have shot with both Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
Go to a camera shop and hold them and get a feel. They're all fairly comparable.
Yep, we have a good camera shop nearby, so I figured I would actually handle the cameras I'm looking at before settling on which body I want. I definitely want something that I'm able to carry with me fairly often, as there are many times when I'm out and about and see something like a really interesting cloud formation and want to grab a good shot for future reference usage.
This has been quite the threadjack.... sorry Dark One!
Don't forget a decent tripod, I've seen them from lightweight and fairly sturdy to cannon size and well, you could do kung fu with them.
Hello all. New to this part, but I needs some halps...
I'm thinking about getting a commission done of two of my characters. I've had this idea bouncing around in my head for quite a while now, but the thing is, I need someone to draw it.
What I'm looking for is a Frank Cho/David Nakayama-esque (tried asking DN if he did commissions, but no response. It's cool, I know he's a busy guy.) draw-er of females. Naturally, I'd want it colored and probably of the 11x17 size with a fairly detailed background. I don't want to go too much into detail here as I don't want someone stealin' mah ideas.
What/who would be a good place to start, in terms of availability and prices?
Thanks for your time.