“ I want to book in for a tattoo, but I don't know what to tell my artist. ”
It’s tricky to know what information an artist needs when enquiring about a tattoo. Striking the balance between giving enough information for them to work with, but also not restricting their creative process is hard. It varies artist to artist but we’ll go over some things your artist might need or want to know.
Know your artist
This one seems obvious, but make sure you’ve made the right choice in artist before booking in. They should have examples of the style you’re after in their portfolio to ensure the best outcome for your tattoo. We have our own Guide to Choosing Your Artist, so for more information on how to do that, click the link!
You should also read any information your artist has on their booking process. Some artists handle bookings via Instagram, others may prefer keeping everything in emails. Artists usually have this information available either in their bio on Instagram, or in a separate Story Highlight.
Size/Placement
It’s important to know how big and where you want your tattoo BEFORE booking in. Artists will charge either by piece or by hour, and these things alter the quote you’re given for your tattoo. If you’re unsure you can ask for suggestions from the artist.
Depending on the design, your artist may suggest going bigger than you might have thought. This is because as a tattoo ages the lines will thicken slightly due to your body breaking down the ink beneath the skin. If a tattoo is too small, there isn’t enough ‘breathing room’ between the lines and some of the smaller details can end up lost.
The placement of your tattoo can influence the design. Artists who work on a bigger scale may prefer designing things that fit your body perfectly and knowing where the piece is going is a key part of this. For areas such as the ribs or sternum, everyone’s anatomy is different and so the design may need to be altered to fit your body. We usually ask clients to send us a picture of the desired placement during the booking process as this helps our artists visualise the design in the chosen space.
Knowing the placement is also helpful for your artist when they’re getting ready for your appointment. If they know beforehand, they can ensure they’re set up to accommodate how you’ll need to sit for the tattoo, which helps the appointment run smoothly.
Detail level/Coverage
The level of detail you’re after in your tattoo influences the design, the size your artist may suggest for the piece and what you get quoted for the tattoo.
We usually ask clients that in their picture of the placement, they circle on the image the exact area they want tattooed. This helps give our artists a clear visual of the size and amount of coverage they are after.
Sending examples of previous work by the artist you’re booking with that show a similar level of coverage or detail to what you want can also be helpful for your artist.
Touch-ups
Every artist will have their own policy when it comes to touch ups, but most artists tend to offer free touch ups within a specific time frame. If they do, they will typically let you know at the end of your session. Some artists may ask for a small fee to cover the cost of supplies used.
If you’re booking in with an artist for a touch up on a tattoo not done by them, reach out to the artist to see if they take on this kind of work. Some artists have a personal policy to not touch up another artist’s work so it’s better to be sure.
When enquiring about a touch up, provide the artist with a picture of how the tattoo looks healed. This will make it easier for the artist to advise you on how to proceed.
Make sure the tattoo is fully healed before thinking about a touch up as the tattoo can change a lot during the healing process.
Sleeves
Booking in for a sleeve is more extensive than booking in for a singular tattoo. A sleeve is usually made up of multiple concepts or images that come together to give a cohesive look to an arm or a leg.
Some artists are happy to work with minimal information, but other artists, like ours, prefer having a clearer idea around the imagery you want to see. Having a theme in mind is useful and providing your artist with the ‘elements’ you’d like to see in the sleeve will aid the design process and ensure both you and your artist are happy with the outcome.
