(There’s a list breakdown at the end for those who have a short attention span!)
Getting a tattoo is a big deal… a forever kind of big deal. I know it might be tempting to just book with that artist who keeps popping up on your Instagram feed with their trendy work. Choosing the right artist for your idea takes a lot more than a quick scroll through social media. After years of being around the industry and obsessing over tattoos, I’ve seen the great and the unfortunate. I want to share what I think really matters when choosing the artist who is going to leave a permanent mark on your body.
Research & Portfolios
What does research actually mean when it comes to looking for a tattoo artist? Everyone says "do your research," but what does that include? You shouldn’t just choose an artist with a big following or pretty photos. You need to understand what you're looking at when you check out their work.
When I look at an artist's portfolio, I'm not just looking at their freshly finished pieces. I'm looking at their consistency, skill level, and healed work. I look for artists that really understand what they’re doing. It’s in the lines, the shading, the placement, and the flow of each piece. Let me explain.
Start with their linework. This is the foundation of everything. Great lines aren't just straight or curved. The lines have to be confident. They need to maintain consistent thickness, flow smoothly around curves, and connect cleanly at corners. When you look at geometric pieces or text, those lines should be crisp and deliberate, not shaky or patchy. It’s not about perfection (obviously artists are human and art is not always perfect) but overall consistency and skill.
Now for color work. Good color saturation should be solid and bright, yes, but what’s important is how even it looks and understanding how different pigments work with different skin tones. Look at how their colors hold up in healed photos if they show them (and they should). Are the colors still bright? Is there patchiness? Pay attention to how they handle large areas of color. This is where you'll often see the difference between a good artist and a great one.
Social media makes things easy to hide. Those gorgeous, filtered Instagram photos might look amazing, but they can hide serious issues. I've seen plenty of artists who look incredible online but produce mediocre work in person. This is why you need to look past the obvious. Search for videos of their work (without crazy edits if there are any). Look for photos taken from different angles and in different lighting. Are the photos really dark? Are the photos really far away? That might be a sign. Most importantly, and I’ll say it again, look for healed work. Fresh tattoos, with their raised lines and bright colors, almost always look good. It's how they settle and age that really matters.
Understanding Style
Not every artist is great at every style. During an apprenticeship, artists should be learning how to do everything, but not everyone follows that path. Different tattoo styles are almost like artistic languages. Each style, whether it's traditional, neo-traditional, realism, fine line, or any other, has its own rules, requirements, and ways of aging on the skin.
What does that mean? Traditional tattooing, with its bold lines and solid colors, has stood the test of time for a reason. “Bold will hold” as all traditional tattoo artists love to say. These pieces are built to last. They are designed with an understanding of how skin ages and how the ink settles over time. When you look at a traditional artist's work, you want to look for a clean application, bold even lines, and someone who understands the use of color. Color theory plays an important role here.
Fine line work, which has exploded in popularity over the years, requires a completely different expertise. These delicate, intricate pieces might look simple, but they're incredibly challenging to do well. A fine line artist needs to understand not just how to create the delicate lines, but how to place them so they'll heal clearly and age well. This is why you'll usually see skilled fine line artists being very selective about size and placement. They know that what looks good on paper doesn't always translate to skin. So listen to them when they tell you something will or won’t work… unless you want to be disappointed.
Realism is another world entirely. When you're looking at a realism artist's portfolio you're looking for their understanding of light, shadow, and dimension. Great realism artists understand how to make the tattoo work and not just recreate the image. They know which details to emphasize and which to simplify for the best long-term results. It’s really mind-blowing to me personally.
The Communication Factor
Here's something many people might not realize. Tattoo artists aren't just skilled with a machine. They have an artist's brain when communicating. I’m not talking about being friendly or responsive (although I’ll get to that in a second). When you're talking about your idea, you're having a conversation about art, anatomy, and long-term results, even if it doesn't feel that way. A lot of artists see art and the world differently than others. They see shapes, muscles, texture, and dimension on a different level. (At least the really good artists do.)
A skilled artist will ask questions you might not have considered. They'll want to know about your lifestyle, if you plan on adding more tattoos to an area later on, and more. They might recommend modifications to your design that seem minor, but make a huge difference in how well it ages. This isn't them being difficult. It's them using their expertise to give you the best possible tattoo long term. Not all artists do this of course, but they should. Do you work outside in the sun all day? Maybe the piece would be better in a more covered part of the body. If you don’t want your tattoo distorted, your tattoo artist will explain how your muscles will or will not work with the flow of the design.
Okay now, if they're taking days to respond to simple questions, then suddenly pressure you to book immediately, that's a warning sign. This might show they're either overbooked or disorganized which you don’t want in someone permanently tattooing your body. Watch out for artists who get defensive to reasonable questions. If you ask about their sterilization process and they get offended, or if you request to see healed photos and they try to change the subject or come up with excuses, trust your instincts. Professional artists should understand these questions are normal and have no problem answering them.
The Investment
Pricing. Everyone’s least favorite topic (even for artists). This isn't like buying a product with a fixed price. Tattoo pricing is a bit more comprehensive, and understanding how it works will help you avoid both overpaying or undervaluing the artist.
When an artist quotes you a price, they're not just charging for the tattoo itself. They're charging for their years of experience, their design time, their studio overhead, their equipment AND the artwork that you will have for the rest of your life. This is why comparing prices between artists purely on an hourly basis misses doesn’t make sense. “I can find an artist that does it cheaper”… good luck with that. Do not try to haggle on pricing. If you can not afford it or you think they are being unfair, find a new artist.
So what are you paying for? Before your artist even starts the tattoo, they're spending hours on your design. They’re sketching, refining, and often scrapping entire concepts to start over until it's perfect. Obviously not always for smaller pieces. (I know a lot of artists that will argue with me on this actually.) Some artists don’t feel like the design time should be included in pricing. I disagree. I think that just like other jobs that require research, they should be paid for it. Time is money after all. Now the cost of supplies. They're ordering specific needles, inks, sanitary supplies and a lot more. Yes, if they work at a studio, they may not have to pay for certain supplies, but the studio/shop DOES take a cut of the money you give them. Are they guest tattooing? They do have to consider the cost of travel depending on how far they go. All of this factors into their pricing.
But here's where it gets tricky. Overpricing and underpricing can be red flags. When an artist's prices seem unusually high, look at their experience level and demand. Are they consistently booked out? Do they have a unique style that's hard to find? These factors can justify higher prices. However, if their work doesn't match their prices, or if they're trying to pressure you into paying premium rates for basic work, that's a warning sign. If they offer to do it for very little, same thing applies. Check out their work if you haven’t done the research yet. They may undercharge if they aren’t producing great work yet and you need to decide if you want to be the practice for them or not. Apprentices will typically do this and I DO think you should support tattoo artists that are still learning! Just make sure you’re okay with possible flaws.
Shop/Studio Environment: Your Health and Safety Aren't Optional
The moment you walk in, you should feel like you're entering a clean, organized, and professional space. I’m not talking about the highly instagrammable shops/studios. I’m talking about safety, professionalism, and respect for what they do.
A professional studio takes cleanliness VERY seriously. Every surface should be regularly sanitized. Equipment should be properly stored and organized. You should see clear separations between the waiting area, tattooing stations, and cleaning areas. The bathroom (yes, check the bathroom) should be clean and well-maintained. So it’s not just aesthetic choices. These are indicators of how seriously the studio takes your health and safety.
Watch how artists handle their equipment. New needles should be opened in front of you. Fresh ink caps should be used for every client. Gloves should be changed frequently, especially when touching different surfaces. Did they answer the phone with gloves on and then continue to tattoo? RED FLAG! This should be second nature to everyone in the studio.
Initial Consultation
The consultation is your first real idea of how your tattoo experience will go. This first meeting sets the tone for everything that follows. You should know what to look for.
A good consultation should feel like a collaborative discussion, not a rushed conversation or a one-sided lecture. Your artist should be asking thoughtful questions about your idea, but they should also be sharing their professional insights. If you want a wrist tattoo, they should be discussing how hand washing might affect healing. If you're thinking about a finger tattoo, they should explain how these pieces age (usually not well) and what that means for your design choices.
This is important: The consultation is also your chance to assess the artist. Are they actually listening to your ideas, or are they just waiting to tell you what they want to do? Are they taking notes? Are they showing you reference materials or examples that relate to your concept? Are they explaining why things will or will not work or are they just telling you they will or won’t? These things tell you how invested they are in creating something you'll love.
What to Expect During Your Session
Your actual tattoo session should be a smooth process from the moment you arrive, to the moment you leave the shop/studio. What does that mean?
First, your artist should review the design with you when you're not rushed or distracted. They should place the stencil carefully, taking time to make sure the placement works with your body's natural flow and movement. If you tell them you want to move the stencil and you feel like the artist is getting annoyed or tell you no, RED FLAG. Now if the artist explains (nicely) that they don’t think the spot or size will work, listen to them. They know better than you.
During the session, pay attention to their setup process. A professional artist treats their station like you’re getting ready for surgery. Clean surfaces, new needles opened in front of you, inks poured into fresh caps, new ripped paper towels, everything wrapped on the station, etc. These are important safety practices that protect your health.
The Graceful Exit
Sometimes the best response to red flags is to back out. Here's how to handle it:
Stay calm and professional, even if the artist doesn't
Document everything. Save screenshots of conversations, take photos of unsafe conditions if necessary
If you've already paid a deposit, understand you might need to consider it a loss if it means avoiding a bad tattoo
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is
At the end of the day, you want to find an artist that produces great work, understands your idea, makes you feel comfortable, and cares about your safety. Don’t let the excitement (or anxiety) of getting a tattoo cloud your judgment. The right artist is worth waiting for, and your future self will thank you. This is your body after all. Choose wisely and good luck!
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Portfolios
Look for consistency in their line work. Are their lines smooth and even, or shaky and patchy?
Check their saturation. Colors should be solid without spotty areas
Pay attention to the symmetry in designs that should be symmetrical
Look at how they handle different skin tones. Great artists can work with all skin types
Check their small details. Tiny lines, dots, or intricate patterns should be clean
Compare similar pieces they've done
Watch out for artists who only post:
Heavily filtered photos
The same few pieces over and over
Only fresh tattoos with redness and shine
Photos taken from far away or at weird angles
Instead, look for:
Multiple angles of the same piece
Close-up shots showing detail
Healed photos (especially for color work)
Different lighting conditions
Videos of their work
Communication
Good Communication Looks Like:
They ask specific questions about your design ideas
They explain why certain elements might or might not work
They discuss size and placement thoroughly
They're clear about their design process and timeline
They respond professionally, even if they're busy
They're honest about what they can and can't do
Red Flags in Communication:
One-word responses to your detailed questions
Pushing you to go bigger/different than you want without explaining why
Taking forever to respond, then rushing you to book
Getting defensive when you ask about their process
Brushing off your concerns or questions
Pricing
What Affects Pricing:
Artist experience and demand
Size and complexity of the design
Time needed (including design prep)
Color vs. black and grey
Location of the studio
Amount of detailed work
Price Red Flags:
Prices that seem way too high or too low compared to other artists
Not being upfront about their rates
Refusing to give even a rough estimate
No clear deposit policy
Hidden fees that pop up last minute
Shop/Studio Environment
Green Flags:
Clean, organized space
New needles opened in front of you
Fresh ink caps
Clean surfaces
Proper lighting
Private areas for more intimate tattoos
Clear COVID and hygiene protocols
Professional certification displayed
Clean bathroom (seriously, check it)
Good ventilation
Organized workstations
Proper sharps containers
New, wrapped equipment
Red Flags:
Cluttered or dusty spaces
Pets in the tattooing area
No separate cleaning area
Messy storage of equipment
People hanging around who aren't getting tattooed
No glove changes between tasks
What To Look For In Tattoo Styles
Traditional/Neo-Traditional:
Bold, clean lines
Solid color packing
Clear designs that will age well
Limited but vivid color palette
Fine Line:
Super precise, delicate lines
Minimal shading
Often includes micro-details
Usually works best smaller scale
Pay special attention to how these heal
Realism:
Look for accurate proportions
Smooth gradients in shading
Clear light sources in the design
Attention to texture and detail
Should look like a photograph
Black and Grey:
Clean gradients
Strong contrast
Consistent saturation
No patchy areas in the shading