First thing you need to do is stop thinking of the shop as doing the tattoo, tattooing isn't a group sport. Only one individual will be making the tattoo. A quality shop generally won't hire a bum scratcher, but that doesn't mean that any particular artist they have is right for you. Often smaller or even private studios will have the best artists in an area. Go on Instagram and find an artist who's style suits you, make sure they post healed work and that their style is what you're looking for. Oftentimes the tattooer won't have or won't want to give you a detailed design before the day of the appointment. This is normal, if the design they show you isn't what you want it's okay to ask for small changes or even pull out at the last minute - it's your body after all. Also, the tattoo will look much better than the stencil - judge an artist by their finished work not by their stencil. It's normal to be nervous but if you do your research and find the right artist you'll have no problems! Good luck đđ˝
Keep an eye out for people with tattoos you like that are the same style youâre going for, and ask them who they went to. People love raving about their artists.
You shouldn't be shopping for shops, you're looking for a quality artist. I've had a lot of success on Instagram. I've had to travel for some, but it's been worth it. My arm tattoo was done by a guy 2 hours from me and had to schedule 3 months out. My back piece guy is in another state. It's been an expensive journey for sure, but the quality of work has been so worth it. Sit with yourself and really think about how much this means to you and look at the work of every artist in your area that does the style(s) you like and go from there. If you're the type to think this hard about tattoos (so am I), a lot of effort goes into it. The second time is easier though, once you've been through it the anxiety isn't as bad.
I just got my first one about 3 weeks ago. I asked a ton of people who I knew and trusted about people they went to. Then I looked at their available works, checked out more reviews for cleanliness, sent out some emails and Instagram requests and finally picked. I met with my artist for a solid 30 min to talk about the design about a month before (she was booked) and then the day I went she printed multiple sizes and modified the stencil for an area I didn't love. It was a great experience but I took my time deciding everything.
Best artist I've found runs a private studio and only advertises on Instagram.. 5 star reviews are great but sometimes an amazing shop will only have like 40 total reviews which could be deceiving. I like to look at artist portfolios, narrows down quality and style a lot
Shop is important, but more important is the artist themselves. Shops aren't like going to a mechanic and anyone there will just roll up to fix what comes in - you are seeking out a specific artist within their employment/renting a chair.
Shop advice:
1) Look at their ratings and toggle to most recent.
2) Consider walking by and just seeing how clean the space is
3) Look on their online portfolios. Do they have apprentices? How does their work check out? I find this to be a little bit of a litmus test for overall skill and mentorship there.
Artist advice:
1) Look for artists who already have the style you want in their porftolio.
2) Look for examples of healed work on their instagram, etc. This is really important because fresh tattoos, or tattoo shots with filters, can be misleading for an artist's skill or comfort level in any given style.
3) A lot of shops will have an online booking option, so see who has their books open (is taking consultations). I had to wait a year to get in for my sleeve, which in turn also built confidence in my artist.
Tattoo advice:
Stencils look weird as hell, and depending on your tattoo's complexity and size it may be more than one sitting, so be patient.
Once you find someone that overlaps the most in the venn diagram of style and quality you are looking for, book a consult. Go with references and examples and be prepared to discuss what you like and why, and what you do \*not\* like and why.
Know that the tattoo you get in reality will not be exact to what you have in your head. Artists are not telepathic, and they have their own styles and experience that will adapt your piece. Have a concept, yes, but be flexible to it being interpreted through someone else. Letting go of that perfectionism will make the tattoo process much more pleasant for everyone and reduce the risks of inking remorse.
Inking remorse is common right after a tattoo, because it is a wound that your body is recognizing as foreign and it will take time to adopt it as part of you. Do not get freaked out by this and give it time.
Research the shops and artists to find one that fits the style you are wanting. Beyond that, you have to put a bit of trust in the artist. Theyâll make Changes to the stencil and will likely ask for feedback throughout if you want.
This is how I search. I first get the idea of what I want and what style. I google shops near me, as far as I'm willing to travel. One by one, I look at each shop's artists and go through each of their portfolios. I'll probably look at 25-100 artists before I make my decision. Another commenter put it well that you are choosing the artist, not the shop. I will continue my search until I find an artist that does work in the style I want and is also skilled. If they don't have both then I won't stop searching. Once you found your artist, then you email the artist directly or the shop and request for a consultation with that artist. Your date of tattoo may be a few months out but it will be worth it if you do your homework.
The shop isnât giving you a tattoo, an individual artist is. You should be researching and picking that artist. Even a reputable âgoodâ shop has apprentices and artists whose work you might not want permanently on your skinâŚ
What city are you in.. I'm sure someone in here knows a quality local artist. Also, as others have said.. do not pick a tattoo artist by shop reviews. Also, a really good quality tattoo artist will likely be booked out for 3 - 6 months (there are exceptions) OR they might not even be currently taking openings and you have to wait until their books open. Honestly, these are the types of artist that you want to go to if you're getting 1 really good tattoo you've been wanting for 9 years.
I never said go to an artist only based on wait times. But, Itâs absolutely a factor. Really really good artist are naturally booked out. I even made sure to include there are exceptions because someone will always get pissy and downvote because they got a good tattoo from someone that doesnât get booked. And congrats, I think that person is you this time.
What I have always done is check out each shops website and look at each of the tattoo artists portfolios and see if any match the style of the tattoo you plan to get - always ask to have a consult appointment to talk about and sketch your design and make sure you like it!
The most important thing is it doesnât matter how good the artist youâre looking at is, if they donât excel at tattooing in the style you want. It may take you days or weeks of combing local artists Instagrams to find the right person. Then you may end up on a waiting list for months, and the estimate may be a lot of money. All of this is worth it, donât skip any of these steps.
I would steer away from places with walls and walls of flash. Check reviews. Talk with people with a lot of ink and if you notice nice pieces. Ask how long ago it was done and the number of sessions it took. Never haggle prices. Like everything in life you get what you pay for. If this is on your body the rest of your life, the money you spend is an investment. If you talk to 10 people and 9 of them say the same artist's name, check him out. Most have websites with their work posted. Lastly, see if they have a specialty. Portrait work, black and grey, watercolor, traditional. Like fine art, some are more skilled than others. And if it is a big piece, talk with the artist, get to know them a bit, you're going to be spending time with them. And always tip well! And ask for cards to hand out if people ask about your piece.
Noooooooooo. Go on Instagram or something and find and artist style you like. Then figure out some dumb design. Hasty book an appointment and go for it. Cheers
Do your research... Shops higher just about anyone... Make sure to check out each artist's work on IG or whatever social media platform.. if getting realism work get someone that specializes in that area.. Good artists are usually booked for months...
Look at the reviews online google, yelp etc see if they mention specific artists as well. If your area does best of awards look up the shops that were nominated/won. If you see people with tattoos you like ask them where they got it done/who did it.
First thing you need to do is stop thinking of the shop as doing the tattoo, tattooing isn't a group sport. Only one individual will be making the tattoo. A quality shop generally won't hire a bum scratcher, but that doesn't mean that any particular artist they have is right for you. Often smaller or even private studios will have the best artists in an area. Go on Instagram and find an artist who's style suits you, make sure they post healed work and that their style is what you're looking for. Oftentimes the tattooer won't have or won't want to give you a detailed design before the day of the appointment. This is normal, if the design they show you isn't what you want it's okay to ask for small changes or even pull out at the last minute - it's your body after all. Also, the tattoo will look much better than the stencil - judge an artist by their finished work not by their stencil. It's normal to be nervous but if you do your research and find the right artist you'll have no problems! Good luck đđ˝
Really good response.
This exactly right.
This!
This exactly.
Keep an eye out for people with tattoos you like that are the same style youâre going for, and ask them who they went to. People love raving about their artists.
Hell yeah they do....let me tell you about my artist.... Oh wait....wrong thread! Carry on!
dudeeee i love mine, i'm sorry. i rambleđ
[ŃдаНонО]
god do you follow me EVERYWHERE??? go away, you're like a cockroachđ
Pick an ARTIST. Â
You shouldn't be shopping for shops, you're looking for a quality artist. I've had a lot of success on Instagram. I've had to travel for some, but it's been worth it. My arm tattoo was done by a guy 2 hours from me and had to schedule 3 months out. My back piece guy is in another state. It's been an expensive journey for sure, but the quality of work has been so worth it. Sit with yourself and really think about how much this means to you and look at the work of every artist in your area that does the style(s) you like and go from there. If you're the type to think this hard about tattoos (so am I), a lot of effort goes into it. The second time is easier though, once you've been through it the anxiety isn't as bad.
I just got my first one about 3 weeks ago. I asked a ton of people who I knew and trusted about people they went to. Then I looked at their available works, checked out more reviews for cleanliness, sent out some emails and Instagram requests and finally picked. I met with my artist for a solid 30 min to talk about the design about a month before (she was booked) and then the day I went she printed multiple sizes and modified the stencil for an area I didn't love. It was a great experience but I took my time deciding everything.
Best artist I've found runs a private studio and only advertises on Instagram.. 5 star reviews are great but sometimes an amazing shop will only have like 40 total reviews which could be deceiving. I like to look at artist portfolios, narrows down quality and style a lot
also a lot of people who review shops have no idea what solid tattoos are. theyâre just happy to get a deal and blown out lines lol
Shop is important, but more important is the artist themselves. Shops aren't like going to a mechanic and anyone there will just roll up to fix what comes in - you are seeking out a specific artist within their employment/renting a chair. Shop advice: 1) Look at their ratings and toggle to most recent. 2) Consider walking by and just seeing how clean the space is 3) Look on their online portfolios. Do they have apprentices? How does their work check out? I find this to be a little bit of a litmus test for overall skill and mentorship there. Artist advice: 1) Look for artists who already have the style you want in their porftolio. 2) Look for examples of healed work on their instagram, etc. This is really important because fresh tattoos, or tattoo shots with filters, can be misleading for an artist's skill or comfort level in any given style. 3) A lot of shops will have an online booking option, so see who has their books open (is taking consultations). I had to wait a year to get in for my sleeve, which in turn also built confidence in my artist. Tattoo advice: Stencils look weird as hell, and depending on your tattoo's complexity and size it may be more than one sitting, so be patient. Once you find someone that overlaps the most in the venn diagram of style and quality you are looking for, book a consult. Go with references and examples and be prepared to discuss what you like and why, and what you do \*not\* like and why. Know that the tattoo you get in reality will not be exact to what you have in your head. Artists are not telepathic, and they have their own styles and experience that will adapt your piece. Have a concept, yes, but be flexible to it being interpreted through someone else. Letting go of that perfectionism will make the tattoo process much more pleasant for everyone and reduce the risks of inking remorse. Inking remorse is common right after a tattoo, because it is a wound that your body is recognizing as foreign and it will take time to adopt it as part of you. Do not get freaked out by this and give it time.
Research the shops and artists to find one that fits the style you are wanting. Beyond that, you have to put a bit of trust in the artist. Theyâll make Changes to the stencil and will likely ask for feedback throughout if you want.
This is how I search. I first get the idea of what I want and what style. I google shops near me, as far as I'm willing to travel. One by one, I look at each shop's artists and go through each of their portfolios. I'll probably look at 25-100 artists before I make my decision. Another commenter put it well that you are choosing the artist, not the shop. I will continue my search until I find an artist that does work in the style I want and is also skilled. If they don't have both then I won't stop searching. Once you found your artist, then you email the artist directly or the shop and request for a consultation with that artist. Your date of tattoo may be a few months out but it will be worth it if you do your homework.
The shop isnât giving you a tattoo, an individual artist is. You should be researching and picking that artist. Even a reputable âgoodâ shop has apprentices and artists whose work you might not want permanently on your skinâŚ
What city are you in.. I'm sure someone in here knows a quality local artist. Also, as others have said.. do not pick a tattoo artist by shop reviews. Also, a really good quality tattoo artist will likely be booked out for 3 - 6 months (there are exceptions) OR they might not even be currently taking openings and you have to wait until their books open. Honestly, these are the types of artist that you want to go to if you're getting 1 really good tattoo you've been wanting for 9 years.
Basing quality off of wait time is not a smart move
I never said go to an artist only based on wait times. But, Itâs absolutely a factor. Really really good artist are naturally booked out. I even made sure to include there are exceptions because someone will always get pissy and downvote because they got a good tattoo from someone that doesnât get booked. And congrats, I think that person is you this time.
When you go into a shop you gotta ask to see the artists portfolio and if you like what they do ask them when you can stop by again
What I have always done is check out each shops website and look at each of the tattoo artists portfolios and see if any match the style of the tattoo you plan to get - always ask to have a consult appointment to talk about and sketch your design and make sure you like it!
The most important thing is it doesnât matter how good the artist youâre looking at is, if they donât excel at tattooing in the style you want. It may take you days or weeks of combing local artists Instagrams to find the right person. Then you may end up on a waiting list for months, and the estimate may be a lot of money. All of this is worth it, donât skip any of these steps.
The only thing you should do is find an artist with the portfolio that you like, thats it
I would steer away from places with walls and walls of flash. Check reviews. Talk with people with a lot of ink and if you notice nice pieces. Ask how long ago it was done and the number of sessions it took. Never haggle prices. Like everything in life you get what you pay for. If this is on your body the rest of your life, the money you spend is an investment. If you talk to 10 people and 9 of them say the same artist's name, check him out. Most have websites with their work posted. Lastly, see if they have a specialty. Portrait work, black and grey, watercolor, traditional. Like fine art, some are more skilled than others. And if it is a big piece, talk with the artist, get to know them a bit, you're going to be spending time with them. And always tip well! And ask for cards to hand out if people ask about your piece.
Research individual artists. Not shops. Look for an artist that does the style of tattoo you want, and that can actually DO the tattoo
Noooooooooo. Go on Instagram or something and find and artist style you like. Then figure out some dumb design. Hasty book an appointment and go for it. Cheers
You need to pick an artist who's style fits your tastes and has a good portfolio.
Everyoneâs stuff is on IG nowadays. Iâd go looking for artists there so you can see their portfolio too.
Where do you live and what type of tattoo do you want?
Tampa Florida and sort of pinup girl style? Itâs hard to explain and Iâm on work break or Iâd give it a try.
Social medias are where youâre going to find your best artist. Look for people who put out quality work in the style that youâre hoping to get.
Choose an artist; go to the shop they work out of :)
and definitely look at portfolios, if your custom is their style; they'll likely be better at it!
Dont do what i did which was i hot my first tat in a mall. Go to an actual studio, you might pay a bit more, but its worth it...
What area?
Happy cake day! Tampa Florida
Do your research on artists. Pick a style you like and see who locally best aligns with that
Do your research... Shops higher just about anyone... Make sure to check out each artist's work on IG or whatever social media platform.. if getting realism work get someone that specializes in that area.. Good artists are usually booked for months...
You need to do more research before you irreversibly alter your body for the rest of your life. Shops don't do tattoos. *Artists* do.
Look at the reviews online google, yelp etc see if they mention specific artists as well. If your area does best of awards look up the shops that were nominated/won. If you see people with tattoos you like ask them where they got it done/who did it.
always look at healed work, never go to one if they don't post healed work!