How To Prepare And What To Bring to Your Tattoo Consult

Exhibit A: This client went above and beyond bringing this into her consult. Not expected, but super helpful.

So, you’ve booked a tattoo consult — now what? Your consultation is basically our chance to get on the same page before your tattoo appointment. You don’t need to show up with every tiny detail figured out, but the more information you can give us about what you’re looking for, the easier it is for us to understand your vision and eventually put your design together. Here’s what helps.

Bring Reference Photos

Reference photos are probably the most helpful thing you can bring to your consultation.

Save some examples of tattoos, artwork, styles, subject matter or other images that show us what you have in mind. They don’t all have to look exactly like the tattoo you want — they’re there to help us understand what you’re drawn to. It can also be really helpful to show us examples of what you don’t like. If you love the flowers in one photo but hate the overall style, tell us. If you like the layout of another tattoo but want completely different subject matter, tell us that too. And please don't worry about putting together the perfect Pinterest board. A handful of good references with an explanation of what you like about each one is usually much more useful than 75 screenshots to sort through.

We're an AI-free art studio because we believe the artist should be a part of the creative journey from start to finish. When you choose us as your artist, we hope it's because you trust our style, experience, and vision - and feel that our work is the right fit for you. We understand AI can make it easier to visualize and communicate an idea, but your words, photo references, and examples of tattoo styles you love are more than enough! This gives us the creative freedom to take your ideas and turn them into something unique, personal, and designed specifically for you. AI-generated designs can create unrealistic expectations about what will translate well onto skin, and can sometimes can limit the creative possibilities we have as artists. You chose us because you love what we create - so let us create for you. Trust your artist, trust our vision and let's make something together.

Have a General Idea of Placement

Come in with a general idea of where you want your tattoo. Arm? Thigh? Ribs? Back? An awkward little gap between two existing tattoos? Placement is a big part of the design process. The same idea might need to be drawn completely differently depending on where it’s going and how it needs to fit your body. During the consult, we can talk through placement, sizing and what will work best.

Let Us Know About Any Skin or Health Conditions

If you have any skin or health conditions, or take medications that could affect the tattooing process or healing, let us know during your consultation rather than waiting until the day of your appointment. This could include things like scarring, varicose veins, skin conditions, allergies, conditions that cause involuntary movement such as Parkinson’s, or medications that may affect bleeding, healing, or your skin. None of these things necessarily mean you can’t be tattooed, but they’re important for your artist to know ahead of time. Depending on the situation, we may need to adjust the placement, design, or how we approach the appointment. In some cases, we may also ask you to check with your doctor before being tattooed. If you’re not sure whether something is relevant, mention it anyway. We’d much rather know during the planning stage than find out when you arrive for your tattoo.

Think About Size

Try to have a pretty good idea of the actual size you want your tattoo to be, especially if your consultation is happening online or over the phone. It’s surprisingly hard to picture inches without actually measuring them. Someone might tell us they want a tattoo that’s 8 inches tall, then see what 8 inches actually looks like on their arm and realize they were picturing something half that size. Before your consultation, grab a ruler or measuring tape and actually measure the area you’re thinking about. Even better, mark out the approximate size on your skin so you can get a feel for how much space it will take up. Size can make a big difference in how we approach the design, how much detail we can include and how we estimate the time needed for your appointment. We can always help fine-tune the size, but starting with a realistic measurement helps make sure we’re all talking about the same thing.

Tell Us What Parts Are Important to You

If there are certain elements that absolutely need to be included, make sure we know. Maybe there’s a specific flower that has meaning to you. Maybe you want an animal facing a certain direction. Maybe you're incorporating something from an existing tattoo. Whatever it is, tell us what’s important and what you’re more flexible about. That distinction helps a lot when we're designing.

Know Your Non-Negotiables

Just as important as telling us what you want is telling us what you don't want.

If you hate a certain style, don't want any colour, don't want your tattoo extending past a certain point, or there's an element you absolutely don't want included — let us know during the consultation. We would much rather know that from the beginning than find out when we're finalizing your design.

You Don't Need to Have the Tattoo Designed Yourself

This one is important. You don't need to show up with a perfectly put-together tattoo design. That's our job. Your references are there to communicate the idea, style and overall direction you're looking for. They don't need to combine perfectly into one finished piece. In fact, giving your artist some room to work with your idea often makes for a better tattoo than trying to piece together five different tattoos you've found online.

Be Open to Suggestions

Sometimes an idea that looks great on a screen doesn't translate perfectly into a tattoo.

We might recommend changing the size, simplifying a detail, adjusting the placement or laying something out a little differently. We're not trying to take over your idea. We're looking at it from the perspective of how it will actually work as a tattoo — both when it's freshly done and as it ages. You still get the final say on what goes on your body. The consultation just gives us a chance to work through those details together.

What Should You Actually Bring?

Honestly, not much! Bring your reference photos, any photos or artwork that specifically need to be incorporated into the design, and yourself. If we're working around existing tattoos, scars, or a specific area of your body, wear something that makes it easy for us to see the area if possible. Most importantly, come ready to talk through your idea. You don't have to have every detail figured out beforehand. That's what the consultation is for.

What can you expect after your consult? Read about how we design your tattoo.

Ready to book your tattoo? View our artist portfolios and book your consult with us.