r/TattooArtists

Hi there! I am currently thinking about moving which means I’d have to find a new studio to work at. I have an eye on a few and they all ask for a portfolio. (Not my Instagram page)
I haven’t made a portfolio in like 6 or 7 years and I have no clue what would look good.
I obviously have a ton of tattoos and flashes as well as non tattoo related drawings to showcase my skills but I literally don’t know how to arrange them to make the portfolio itself look professional.
Any tips? Suggestions?
Thanks guys

✍️ I’ve been tattooing for years and started with a 3.5mm stroke Neutron Equalizer.
Really nice, but not punchy enough.

➡️ So I bought 2 Bishop Power Wands 2 years ago and been tattooing with it ever since :
• The Liner (5mm)
• The Packer (4.2 mm)

🫩 Honestly my tattoos look great once healed (that’s why I keep tattooing with them lol) BUT the process is SO ANNOYING to the point I don’t even enjoy most of my sessions :

❌ since day one, I’ve noticed how messy those 2 machines were. The ink just spills and squirts everywhere, no matter the voltage, the amount of ink in the cartridge, the amount and type of ointment, no matter the cartridge brand, the sizes of the needles…

It doesn’t do that with other machines, only with the Bishops.

💦 The ink flow is pretty bad, I have to refill my cartridge every 2 lines because of the ink just spilling all over the skin.

So I need some tips, ‘cause they are so expensive lol and as I said the result is great, but as it’s so messy, my sessions taxe time x2 because I spend more time refilling my cartridges and cleaning the mess than actually tattoing. It sucks.

I have a guest spot coming up where i will likely do 15-30 tattoos. I usually just bring the little 1 oz dynamic ink with me but one of the studios i’m guesting at doesn’t provide ink and i worry that a new bottle of this won’t be enough. Any good black lining ink recommendations that fits in the tsa carry on size requirements?

TLDR: If i leave my apprenticeship can i continue where i left off with a new studio or will i need to start over?

Id like to start off saying i know im very privilaged to even be getting payed during my apprenticeship, Ive had shit for complaining before about my boss but im at my limit here.

Basically im a tattoo apprentice that has been tattooing people for a few months now, Since january i think.

My studio owner is HORRIBLE, I work part time as a receptionist and part time as an apprentice.

Since working here the owner has threatened to strangle me, Screams at me basically every week (this week it was because i reorganised a shelf without her permission), Threatened to reduce my pay because the building owner needed to borrow a key to check the gas meter outside of work hours (which she said i shouldve come in at 7am, unpaid, to let him into the studio, I dont start my shift until 11.30am), and has now been refusing to pay me because she "cant afford it"

Im currently waiting for my April paycheck which was meant to be given to me on May 4th, It is now the 20th and still no pay.

Im seriously thinking of leaving because its getting to the point where im having anxiety attacks just thinking about going into work incase she is there.

I love my mentor, I love the piercer, I just hate the owner and im fed up of having to sort out her rent and shit as an 18yr old who doesnt know what im doing and then getting screamed at because i dont know what im doing

IM A RECEPTIONIST ON APPRENTICE WAGE AND IM DOING MANAGER LEVEL JOBS (even the landlord thinks im the manager because of everything i do for this place, Im just meant to be answering the phone and making adverts)

legally she cant even have me on apprentice wage as she never gave me any training in the first place. The job was listed as an "apprentice receptionist position" which for the first 3 months i recieved no training so legally it wasnt an apprenticeship and she couldnt charge me apprentice wages. I only let it slide because i said im happy to stay on apprentice wages if i get the tattoo apprenticeship that our tattoo artist wanted me to have (We had to try sweeten her up with that deal because shes a bitch)

I want to leave for so many reasons but with how far into my apprenticeship i am is there any point? Will i have to completely start over? And theres literally no studios wanting apprentices at the moment so should i just suck it up and deal with it?

Edit: Yes i am meant to be getting paid, Ive been getting paid since october. I have two contracts, One as a receptionist which i get payed for and one as a tattoo apprentice which i dont get payed for and dont expect to get payed for

I didn't notice till they left. They also didn't notice. It is a chemical compound. I'm not a science person. They okayed the design after seeing the stencil so I'm safe but holy shit my dudes, they also didn't say anything after seeing the final tattoo. I didn't take photos. I feel physically sick.

My shop owner owes me money from over a week ago, I have tried to contact him but he is ignoring my messages. I was on a split with the shop. He is withholding my portion of my pay because I chose to no longer tolerate his abuse. However, I am still entitled to my hard earned money. What can I do in this situation?

A part of me wants to expose him and the shop but I really don’t need a lawsuit for potential defamation. What would you do in my shoes, or have done? Thanks in advance

Hi all, I do colored and B&G microrealism, fine line, and pattern tattoos with color packed. I mainly uses 0803RL.

So delicacy is most important part of choosing a new machine.

I’m currently using a critical supply power and Cheyenne Hawk Pen with the cord, and I want to change to a cordless machine.

Here are my lists I’m keep debating.
- Bishop Packer
- Bishop Shader
- Cheyanne Sol Nova
- FX Iron Max

Can anyone help me to choose a machine from the list?

I’m curious how majority feels about this. At my previous shop it was standard to text clients to book. I just moved to a new place and it seems the artists are mixed on this with some using their personal and some only doing email. I have been texting my clients my whole two years I’ve been tattooing but I feel like it’s getting unorganized because the texts get lost in my personal and I don’t typically save clients contacts so it can be confusing. I also don’t love the late night texts or calls to my personal. I started emailing those that submit through my Jotform but I’ve noticed I’m not getting as many replies and then thought about how often I don’t check my own personal (not work) email either. So I thought about getting a Google number and transition to that? Very curious what other people do. Thanks!

Looking to buy a different color set of inks, right now I’m looking at Luna, Chroma, and Dermaglo. Maybe Solid or Fusion. Leaning more toward the first 3. What is your favorite brand for colored inks and why? I’m wanting to build a palette of 25, but if I can build a good palette with less than 25 what are all the colors from your favorite brand do you recommend me getting to have the most versatility?

Hi, I'm looking for a woman owned supply company in the UK, anyone know of one? Thanks

Is there a platform or an app that still shows actual photography, sculptures, etc and not just endless AI garbage? Ive struggled so much in the past few months to find any decent reference photos. I try to take them myself as much as what I can, use books, or pose reference apps like: handy, art pose pro or adobe. But realistically, it’s just not always feasible for everything. Google and Pinterest are miserable to use now. If there is a better alternative, I would love suggestions.

I can't do anything afterwards. I do 6 h sessions only. I feel like it's either that or chores. No go for both. I know I have a physical issue that I'm treating atm and I'm in my early 30s only. I go to gym multiple times a week. Anyone else?