Getting a tattoo is an exciting and meaningful experience. Whether it’s your first tattoo or your tenth, each piece represents something personal: a story, a feeling, or a piece of art that becomes part of you. While the final tattoo is what everyone sees, there’s a lot that happens before the needle ever touches your skin.

One of the most common questions we hear is: “Can I see the design before I book?” It’s a fair question, but it’s important to understand that designing a tattoo is a major part of an artist’s work. It takes time, creativity, and skill — and that design time is included in the overall price of your tattoo. This is why a deposit is required before your artist begins designing your tattoo. It allows them to dedicate time and focus to your project and ensures their expertise is properly valued.

Art Meets Service

Tattooing is a unique balance of art and service. Every tattooer is an artist, but they’re also providing a professional service that involves collaboration, communication, and care. The client brings their idea and inspiration, and the artist uses their skill, experience, and creative eye to turn that idea into something that works beautifully on the body.

If the design you want can be done well, safely, and in a way that will last, your artist will be happy to create it for you. However, like any professional service, if something in the design won’t work — perhaps it’s too small for the level of detail, placed in an area that doesn’t hold ink well, or uses a style that won’t age gracefully — your artist will advise against it. In some cases, they may choose to turn down a design that they know won’t heal or last properly.

This isn’t about saying “no” to your idea; it’s about helping you get the best possible tattoo. Your artist’s job is to guide you toward a result that is both beautiful and lasting.

Booking and the Design Process

When you book your tattoo, your deposit does more than hold your appointment. It also covers the time your artist will spend creating your custom design. Depending on the complexity, a design can take anywhere from a couple of hours to several days of focused work.

Your artist won’t begin designing until your booking is confirmed because that creative process is part of the service you are paying for. Once booked, they’ll design your tattoo based on your ideas, preferences, and any references you’ve shared — always with the goal of creating something that suits you and looks great on your body.

Consultations: Sharing Ideas and Setting Expectations

Consultations are an important part of the process.

• For smaller or simpler tattoos, this can often be done online. You can share ideas, reference images, and general inspiration.

• For larger or more detailed pieces, an in-person consultation is best. This gives your artist a chance to see the area being tattooed, discuss placement, and talk through the design concept.

During the consultation, your input matters — this is where you and your artist make sure you’re aligned. However, the artist ultimately uses their professional judgment to decide what will work best technically and artistically.

Designing Your Tattoo

Once your consultation is complete, your artist begins creating your design. This stage involves sketching, refining, adjusting proportions, and planning how the tattoo will flow with your body’s natural lines.

You’ll be able to review the design before your appointment. Small changes can be made if needed, but the artist will lead the design to make sure it looks good and will last. If you decide to make major changes — such as completely changing the subject, size, or placement — the design will need to be reworked, and additional time or deposits may be required.

Why Deposits Are Important

Deposits are an essential part of the tattoo process. They:

• Secure your appointment time

• Compensate the artist for the hours spent designing your tattoo

• Show commitment and respect for the artist’s time

Without a deposit, the artist can’t begin the creative work needed to prepare your design. Like any professional service, it ensures that both the client and the artist are equally invested in the project.

Collaboration and Trust

Getting a tattoo is a partnership between you and your artist. Your ideas and feedback help guide the design, while your artist brings the experience and technical knowledge to make it work. When that balance is respected, the result is a tattoo that feels personal to you and is executed to the highest professional standard.

At some point in the process, you’ll need to place your confidence in your artist’s skill and vision. Tattooing is both a creative and technical craft, and your artist’s expertise ensures that what ends up on your skin will look great not just on the day you get it, but for years to come.

At Haunted Tattoo

At Haunted Tattoo, our artists take pride in blending creativity with professionalism. We see tattooing as both an art form and a service — a collaboration between the client’s ideas and the artist’s craft.

Our goal is always to create tattoos that are meaningful, well-designed, and done to the highest technical standard. If your idea can be done safely and beautifully, we’ll be thrilled to make it happen. If it can’t, we’ll offer honest advice and help guide you toward something that will work even better.

We want every client to feel heard, cared for, and confident in their tattoo. Book a consultation, share your ideas, and let’s create something lasting together.

Understanding the Tattoo Process:

Art, Service, and Collaboration