How to Be the Client Who Gets Their Tattoo Artist Excited

There are certain tattoo ideas that make an artist immediately want to clear their schedule.

Not because they're necessarily complicated. Not because they're trendy. And not because they come with a 47-page Pinterest board.

They're exciting because they give an artist something to work with.

Bring an Idea, Not a Finished Tattoo

One of the best things you can give an artist is a strong idea with some room to interpret it.

Tell me what you're drawn to. Tell me what it means to you. Show me references that communicate the style, mood, subject, or colors you love.

Then let me do my job.

You don't need to arrive with the entire tattoo figured out. In fact, sometimes the best projects start with a relatively simple idea and a lot of creative possibility.

Give Your Artist Something That Makes Them Think

The tattoos that get me particularly excited aren't always the biggest or most complicated.

They're the ones where I read the idea and immediately start seeing possibilities.

A combination of subjects I haven't put together before. An unusual composition. A meaningful story that can be translated visually. A beautiful reference with room to make it something entirely new.

Give your artist an idea that makes them think, “Oh, I REALLY want to make this.”

That's when things get interesting.

Trust the Artist You Hired

If you've researched an artist, looked through their portfolio, and decided their work is what you want, there's a reason you chose them.

Let them use their experience.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't have opinions. Of course you should. It's your body.

But there's a difference between communicating what you want and trying to design every detail yourself.

You know yourself.

Your artist knows tattoos.

That's a pretty good arrangement.

Give the Tattoo Enough Room

One of the easiest ways to make an artist excited is to give the artwork enough space to actually work.

Large-scale tattoos allow for stronger composition, more detail, better readability, and room for the artwork to breathe.

Sometimes making a tattoo bigger isn't about wanting a bigger tattoo.

It's about giving the artwork what it needs.

Come Prepared

Eat. Hydrate. Get some sleep. Wear something comfortable and appropriate for the placement. Bring anything you'll need to stay comfortable during the appointment.

It sounds basic because it is.

A prepared client makes the entire process easier for everyone.

And Enjoy the Process

The best tattoo experiences aren't necessarily the ones where everything is decided before the appointment.

There's something pretty great about watching an idea develop into something you couldn't have completely imagined on your own.

Bring your story.

Bring your references.

Bring your enthusiasm.

Then give your artist enough room to surprise you.

Those are the projects that make us think:

I can't wait to make this.