HOW TO CONTACT A TATTOO ARTIST

Advice from an Artist.

Tattooing can be a very time consuming process, and usually a tattoo artist won’t have time to answer emails in between clients and design work. When you are serious and ready to book your artist, make sure your message is detailed and to the point. Tattoo size, color, and placement are key pieces of information your artist needs to give you a quick and proper quote for your piece. You want to avoid any extra back and forth communication, which can be frustrating.

SO… here we will discuss a couple key points; when to contact a tattoo artist via email vs in person, the information that needs to be in that email, budget and a template of an email you can send the artist.

If you are serious about getting tattooed and have already decided on your artist, then it is appropriate to reach out and submit an inquiry. In the email be sure to specify if the tattoo will be a cover-up, along with the placement of the tattoo (if there are any other tattoos around the area, they will also need to be regarded.) Include the size and color preference as well. Generally, in this scenario you are looking for a quote and can follow the steps to pay your deposit and book your session with the artist.

If you are unsure of the tattoo you want, but are confident in your artist’s skills, then you will likely want to book a 1-on-1 consultation. A consultation can be conducted in person or other methods such as video conference. Once you have an idea of what you want, you can proceed to book your session. Keep in mind that artists usually charge consultation fee, because even the creative process during the initial brainstorming phase of a tattoo, can be time consuming and takes much creative energy.

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Greetings, I would like to inquire about a tattoo piece. I have viewed your portfolio, rates, and love your work. I have attached the design concept I would like tattooed.

© Lyric TheArtist I would like this design on my right front thigh area. I have a couple other tattoos, but this area has none. I want it to be about the size of an 8 x 11 sheet of paper wrapped around my thigh. I would like it to be mostly black and gray with some color accents on the flowers. I will be traveling to Atlanta for the first two weeks of July. I would appreciate your quote for this piece. I look forward to booking you. Thank you. Lyric TheArtist Example Email Inquiry

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When you are reaching out to an artist, first and foremost, keep in mind that a tattoo artist is a craftsman and take their work very seriously. More than likely their rates are already posted somewhere, so be sure to glance over their portfolio and bio. Avoid starting off with just a simple price inquiry—

“What’s your price for this? *Insert Pinterest Photo*”

will usually get your inquiry overlooked, ignored, and probably flagged.

Be professional and mindful. If the artist is not promoting any discount specials, DO NOT ask for one. At the end of the day tattoo artists are professional and provide luxury services. (This will be a topic in the future.)

In closing, this is the method I would recommend when communicating via email with a tattoo artist. Always, if there is any uncertainty with what you want, my recommendation would be to book a direct consultation with your artist.

Hope this helps.

Lyric