How to Write a Good Tattoo Inquiry

Many people think a great tattoo starts with the artist’s skill.

In reality, it starts with a good consultation.

A good inquiry doesn’t need to be long. It needs to be clear.
 

Many people assume that the more information they provide, the better the design will be. But that’s not always the case.
 

When a single inquiry includes too many themes, multiple styles, overly abstract descriptions, countless reference photos, and long lists of requests, it actually becomes harder to understand what matters most. More information doesn’t always create more clarity. Sometimes it does the opposite.
 

A good inquiry usually only needs to answer a few basic questions:

* What do you want?
* What style or overall feel are you looking for? (Reference photos)
* Where do you want the tattoo?
* Roughly how big do you want it?
* What elements are essential to include?
* Is there anything you definitely don’t want?
 

From there, it’s the artist’s job to turn those ideas into a design.
 

Another thing that’s just as important is the quality of the photos you send.

These photos don’t just show the area you want tattooed. They allow me to evaluate any existing tattoos, your skin tone, the proportions of your body, the length and width of the area, your muscle flow, and most importantly, how the design should be composed to fit your anatomy.
 

When sending an inquiry, please take a straight-on photo of the area you’d like tattooed in good lighting. This allows me to create a more accurate rough sketch, estimate the appropriate size, and plan the placement and overall flow of the design much more precisely.
 

On the other hand, photos taken from above, extreme angles, or while twisting your body can distort the actual shape and proportions of the area, making it much more difficult to plan the design correctly.
 

If you’re asking about a cover-up, it also helps to mark the tattoo you’d like to cover directly on the photo and let me know how much you’re willing to expand the piece. This allows me to provide a much more accurate direction and estimate.
 

The simpler and clearer your inquiry is, the more time I can spend designing instead of trying to interpret what you meant.

Tattooing is a collaboration. My job is to create the design. Your job is to provide a clear starting point.

The best tattoos usually begin with a simple and clear conversation.