So You Want to Book a Tattoo? Here’s What You Need to Know.
- Melissa Alexandra
- Apr 23
- 6 min read
Whether you're looking to book your first tattoo or your 50th, it doesn't take long to realize that every artist has a different approach when it comes to booking clients.
When you're working with a new artist, it can feel intimidating wondering what exactly you need to do to make sure that the information you're sending to your artist is going through the right channels to get to them, and whether or not the information you give them is enough for them to understand what you're actually looking for (or even if it's too much!)
I wanted to write this post to walk potential new clients through my own booking process: how it works, what I need from you, and what you can expect from me so that the whole thing feels a lot less overwhelming. My goal before booking anyone is to make sure that we're both super clear on what you want before moving forward.
What I need to know from you:
When you reach out to book a tattoo, there's a bit of info that I'll need to know before I'm able to get back to you with any helpful information:
Your idea
What do you want to get tattooed? A butter fly? A dragon? A whole sleeve of mushrooms? Just the basic concept!
Size and placement
About what size are you thinking for the tattoo and where on your body are you hoping to get it? If you're not sure, that's totally fine! I'm happy to discuss it, but the more info that you do have, the easier it is to get on the same page.
If you do have an idea already, the more specific you can be the better. For example, a size in measurements (inches or centimeters) is better than something broad like "medium". Also a tattoo on the "leg" can be a dozen different places, so try and narrow it down when you can.
Style
This can be tricky since "style" is broad and subjective, and can make it very difficult to narrow things down to a specific term that describes the look that you're looking for. Because of this, reference photos are a great place to start to get on the same page visually. Reference photos aren't pictures of the exact idea that you want copied, but a few images that show the vibe you're going for (think, line-work, shading, colour choices, layout, etc)
Other considerations
Some circumstances require specific considerations that are helpful to know beforehand, such as:
Cover ups
Reworking or adding onto old tattoos
Filling tight spaces between tattoos (or gap fillers)
Scarring or textured skin on the area
Melanated skin tones
Make sure to include any kind of relevant information, including photos, if you can!
What if I'm not sure about any of this?
If you don't know how to answer any of these questions, don't hesitate to reach out anyways! would recommend asking for a consultation so we can discuss in person.
Consultations are a free 30-ish minute appointment where you just come in and have a chat about your ideas or plans. Typically I would recommend, or even require a consultation for any kind of large scale or cover up work, but I'm happy to do them for any size or kind of tattoo if it makes you more comfortable.
What Happens Next?
Once I have all the information that I need, I am able to do two things:
Decide if I'm the right fit for this project or idea
Based on the information you give me, I'll have a pretty good idea as to whether or not I'm going to be the right person for the job! If not - no hard feelings! I want you to walk away with the tattoo you love, even if it’s not from me.
I also have tons of artist friends in the city that I might be able to recommend based on what you're looking for!
Estimate size and cost
Based on the size, placement, style and subject matter, I'll be able to give you a rough idea of how long the tattoo will take and roughly how much it'll cost so that you won't be surprised by the price on the day of the appointment. That being said, the larger the tattoo, the harder it will be for me to be exact in my estimates, so they will usually be an estimate of a minimum amount of time that it will take, with the possibility of it taking longer.
If you have a budget that you need to stick within, please let me know!
Deposits and commitment
Once we're both confident that we're on the same page with the design, we can look for a date and time for you to come in and get the tattoo started. Once we figure out a time, I'll put you into my booking system which will send you an automated email that will include information on how to send the deposit by EMT.
Your deposit:
is non-refundable
goes toward the total cost of your tattoo (it's not an extra fee)
holds your appointment time
covers the time spent prepping and drawing for the appointment
helps protect my schedule in case someone no-shows or cancels last minute
Life happens, appointments can change - it's no biggie! If you do need to reschedule, I do ask that you give a minimum of 48 hours notice to reschedule your appointment (although, the more notice the better!)
The full rescheduling/cancellation policy info will be included in the booking info that is sent to you before you send the deposit.
Once your deposit is paid and you've gotten confirmation, you're all set!
You probably won't hear from me personally until the day of the appointment - but my booking system will send you an automated reminder 2 days ahead of time to give you a last chance to reschedule if need be, and to send out a digital version of the waiver so you can take your time and read all the information beforehand.
Tattoo Design Process
When it comes to the design, I don't send out the drawing before the appointment.
A drawing will be prepared for you to review at the start of your appointment. We'll have plenty of time to go over it together in person. I always have extra time built into the appointment for any changes that you might want to make, whether that's changing some details of the design, adjusting the size or moving the stencil around until it feels 100% right!
That being said, if you have a larger or more complex piece - of if seeing the design ahead of time is something that you absolutely need to feel comfortable - let me know! I'm happy to make accommodations whenever I can to make sure that you're confident going forward.
That's it!
I know that's a lot to read through, but it's very important to me that clients feel informed and confident going into their appointment, and I know there are tons of folks like me that love to get into the specifics with stuff like this to ease their over-thinking mind.
But for those who like to skim, here's the TLDR:
When requesting an appointment, please make sure to include your idea, preferred size, placement and style (as well as any reference photos)
I may not be the right artist for the job, but I'll happily point you in the right direction if I can!
Consultations are a great way to work through your ideas and to make sure that you feel confident that we're on the same page before committing to anything.
A non-refundable deposit will be required upon booking to secure you a time, and to protect me from no shows
If you have any questions, concerns or anything, JUST ASK!
Tattoos are so personal and specific from person to person, that it's impossible for me to cover Tattoos are so personal and specific from person to person, and I couldn't possibly think of everything you'd need to know here. So if there's one thing that you take away from reading this, let it be that it's never too much trouble to reach out and ask!
If you're ready to get started, you can reach out in whatever way is easiest for you:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melizatattoos/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melizatattoos
Email: booking@melissaalexandra.com
Website: https://www.melissaalexandra.com/
Can't wait to hear from you!
Melissa
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