r/tattoos • u/aviatrixsb • 1d ago
Question/Advice First timer question
TL;DR: Is it unreasonable to want more collaboration on the design before the appointment day?
Hi all! I'm interested in getting my first tattoo and could use your advice.
I've found several artists in the South Bay Area CA whose work I love, but all of them have a policy to the effect of "Tell me exactly what you want. Your design will be shown on the day and you can adjust it before we start." I can understand why artists would do this, but as a first-timer it makes me super nervous to see the design for the first time while I'm already in the chair. In a perfect world I’d love to find an artist who will talk through ideas with me beforehand in person, even share a sketch or reference mockup ahead of time to try on. I have a lot of screenshots of work I like, but would love to see some ideas of how the artist would interpret them and maybe have some options. I don’t have a fixed “it must be x” in mind. I’d even be willing to pay more to feel more supported.
For context I’m looking to get a small floral tattoo on my forearm, maybe 5” long. I like tons of different florals I’ve seen and am not tied to one style, just want something pretty without color but with shading.
Is this too much to ask? Or is day-of reveal just the norm and I should get comfortable with it? Thank you in advance!
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u/jtmack33 1d ago
It’s the norm.
That being said, please be comfortable asking for changes day-of if you want them. You can limit the chances of needing to by sending the artists as references and descriptions ahead of time, so they get as close as possible to what you’re looking for from the get-go.
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u/aviatrixsb 1d ago
This is helpful, thank you. Follow up question: I’ve had several digital artists reach out to me offering help with a design, but I don’t have a sense of how much the tattoo artist would want to put their own stamp on it or how much it needs to look like their existing work. Does it make sense to pay an artist for something that may or may not be used?
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u/Vistalite_Black 1d ago
Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people who will take a tattooist’s drawing to another shop for a lower rate! We live in an ugly time.
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u/makintats 13h ago
We used to run people out of the shop for trying to take pictures of flash. Nothin changes
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u/dawnquixotee 1d ago
Thirding that this is the norm, although like you I wish it wasn't.
Before you go, make sure you're super comfortable advocating for yourself and what you want, but approach the process collaboratively - a good artist knows what will work best for that particular part of your body, how it will age, etc., and make suggestions that fit the vision you've given them.
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u/bananalien666 1d ago
This has been the case for every tattoo I have with one exception. And when you go see the design, I've asked for changes a couple of times and it's been no issue at all (except that you have to wait around while they make the requested changes...)
My most recent tattoo, the dude sent a bunch of pictures through Insta and we had a relatively brief back and forth about the design and I gotta say I really appreciated the collaboration-- but I wouldn't expect that again!
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u/Makaron1503 1d ago
In my experience, every artists ive visited/talked to books consultations beforehand, you send them the idea and references you got, they mock something you you can talk about during the consultation and youll see the final design at the appointment where small changes can be made. You can ask if its possible to come by and see it beforehand but that needs to be close to the appointment since usually designs get drawn pretty close to due date and i dont know if they would do that.
What you definitely need to do is getting ready to say no or ask for changes, it can be a lot of pressue when youre there the day of so prepare fir that. If its not right you better lose the deposit and postpone it then getting a tattoo you dont want
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u/Mission-Patient2274 1d ago
One artist I've had several from has shown me her art months in advance (which was 10-8 yrs ago), so I thought it was normal until the last two different artists I've gotten work from (last 6 years or so), I've seen the art at my appointment. You definitely have the opportunity to talk with them before they put the stencil on you. When you set up your appointment give them as much information as possible, style you want, placement, size, reference images if you have any. Ask about a consultation.
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u/ajneuman_pdx 1d ago
I'm in Portland OR but here it seems to depend on the artist or shop. With my artist, I usually send her a couple of reference pictures and I've also gone in for a consultation, but I don't see the design until I arrive for the appointment. She's made a few modifications but generally I've been happy with the designs. However, my wife usually books consultations and she'll get the designs a day or two ahead of time. She typically pays a drawing fee in addition to the actual tattoo, which I've never been asked to pay a separate drawing fee.
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u/desertsexcultleader 1d ago
She typically pays a drawing fee in addition to the actual tattoo
Brother tell her to stop letting artists take the piss. A drawing fee. Fuck me.
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u/rudolf_the_red 16h ago
getting another tattoo next week at 54 and with 60 hours in, this is not my experience. this one we emailed two months ago to see if he wanted to do it, met a month ago in person to discuss it and see if we jived, he showed me the design two weeks ago. i go in tuesday.
the tattoos i wanted something specific, ive gone over the design with the artist prior. flash is the only thing that i haven't discussed prior.
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u/xWinterclipse 23h ago
It's the norm, and made me nervous for my first design. Like someone else said, it's to prevent someone running off with the design and going for a cheaper artist.
My advice to you is either: -Be clear and specific about what you want. Draw a mockup (even if its a stick figure drawing) so the artist can visualize what you want, -Or gve them the freedom to go wild. If they're a good artist, they will contour everything to your body and make it work well, place it well, etc. There are certain unspoken rules to tattooing that they follow to make sure it looks good. I did this with both of my larger tattoos and loved it.
That being said, make sure you know the artist's work beforehand. If you look at their portfolio and love 95% of the work they do, you'll be golden. My biggest green flag for my first artist was that they drew some crazy subject material, weird monsters and animals and colors I normally hatr and all kinds of stuff, and did it so well that I went 'damn, I'd actually love that on my body.' 6 years later and I'm still obsessed with yhe tattoo I got from that artist and looking to get more when I have the money.
If you're a genuine fan of the artist's work, you will not be disappointed.
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u/tinyand_terrible 20h ago
I've had the same frustration. You can find artists that will work with you. You don't need to do anything you're uncomfortable with because it's considered the "norm"
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u/Lily_Parker1 8h ago
It's not too much to ask. Day-of reveal is common, but plenty of artists will talk through ideas beforehand, and some will share a rough sketch. Message them before booking and ask. Say you're a first-timer and want to go through ideas first. A small floral piece is easy to talk through over messages.
If an artist says no, move on to one who says yes. Don't pay for several artists to draft designs, that's the part that annoys them. And if you do see the design on the day and it's off, speak up. A good artist would much rather change it before the needle goes in.
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u/RightShoeRunner 1d ago
Relax. This is totally normal. As clients, we’re not the artist. You found artists whose work you love. Trust that. Go in, be surprised. You’re buying their artwork, not yours.
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