How a Designer Tattoo Works
Getting a designer tattoo can sometimes feel like a leap of faith, but the result is always worth the process. At Eden Body Art Studios, our tattoo artists work with clients to give them a tattoo beyond what they could imagine themselves. If you’re considering getting a designer tattoo, here are a few tips on how to collaborate with your artist.
Familiarize yourself with the artist’s portfolio and style.
We always recommend starting your tattoo search by finding an artist whose style you like and would want on yourself. When sending an inquiry, it’s important you have an understanding of the kind of tattoos an artist will or will not do. An artist won’t do an exact replica of a tattoo they’ve already done, but it’s important to understand the tattoo you get is going to have a similar look to the work the artist does. If you want an artist to tweak little things about their technique or style though, you might not have found the artist for you.
When it comes to subject matters, take a similar approach. For example, if you’re looking to get a tattoo of a timepiece, but don’t see any in the artist’s portfolio, it might not be something they're too fond of doing. If you want specific flowers tattooed, but only see peonies in an artist’s portfolio, they’re probably most comfortable sticking with that flower.
If you don’t have an artist in mind yet, that’s okay too! Send us a booking form and we’ll be happy to recommend one for you if we have the right fit. Once we’ve done that, follow the guidelines above to make sure they’re a good fit for you.
Have some basic guidelines in mind.
You want to hit the sweet spot between saying “do whatever you want” and dictating every detail of the tattoo. We find our clients get the best tattoos when they pick a subject matter (ex: lion, rose, eye, etc) and a placement (ex: upper left arm). From there, let the artist do their thing.
Send details on the concept ahead of time.
Your tattoo design won’t happen until the day of the appointment, but it’s important to get your ideas to the studio before then. It’s important for the studio staff to review your requests (sometimes with the artist) to ensure it’s something the artist is comfortable and excited about doing. If you accidentally leave out some key details about what you’re wanting until you arrive to your appointment, it could change the design completely or even put it outside the constraints of what your artist is willing to do.
Trust your artist.
Going to a designer tattoo artist isn’t a quick or hasty decision. Your piece of art is a thoughtful, permanent, and sometimes very expensive investment in your body and image. Treat it as such! Your artist has years of experience designing and applying tattoos — they know exactly what they’re doing. Part of the premium spent on an expert tattoo artist is paying for that wealth of knowledge. Your artist of course wants you to have input on the tattoo, but we generally find that our artists do their best work when they have more creative freedom. If that sounds scary, keep in mind that you and your artist both have the exact same goal of giving you the best tattoo possible!
Be patient with the design process.
Our artists are extremely quick to design pieces! Relatively speaking, at least. The design can sometimes take less than an hour and the tattoo lasts forever. That being said, sometimes there can be delays in the process, whether it’s because of design changes, making the stencil, or printing out multiple versions to get the perfect size. Don’t be surprised if it’s an hour or even a few before the tattoo actually starts. You don’t want to rush the design process, and you can’t rush perfection!
At Eden, our artists want to be on the same page as our clients as soon as we meet them. We work hard to create an environment where our clients feel valued, comfortable and at ease. We never want anyone to leave feeling like they didn’t get the tattoo experience they wanted. Never worry about talking too much or getting too detailed about explaining your idea.