Frequently Asked Questions
General
Where are you located?
My studio is located in the Kingfield neighborhood of South Minneapolis at:
314 W 38th St, Minneapolis MN 55409
What should I prepare for our appointment?
Please arrive with a valid form of ID - you must also be 18 or older to receive a tattoo.
If you can help it, please do not show-up earlier than 10 minutes.
Masks are required upon entry of the studio. We have new masks available for you if you arrive without!
Make sure you are adequately hydrated and have eaten at least 2-hours before our appointment.
I accept card payments and cash only - I do not take payment apps (including Venmo) at the time of appointment.
Tips are never expected, but always appreciated.
Please do not take ibuprofen less than 8 hours before the time of our appointment.
Am I allowed to bring someone with me to my appointment?
I prefer to work one-on-one with clients during appointments so I ask that you come without company. My space is also very quaint, so it starts to feel full very quickly. Please ask beforehand if you may bring company so I can plan accordingly. If you have a medical need or any other concerns, please contact me at least 1 week before the time our of appointment.
Are you learning machine tattooing?
What a great question - why yes, I am! In the last year or so I have begun learning, practicing, and offering tattoos using a machine. I have been licensed as a tattoo artist for over 2 years and the licensure is the exact same. Right now I am offering to use machine for clients who are interested. Pricing for these pieces will be discounted (for at least the next few months) as I work the skill into my practice more. The discount is $50-$100 a piece, but greatly depends on what was completed and how much shorter it took to complete. This is NOT a perfected pricing process, so please DO NOT count on the piece being done with machine (and therefore being discounted). If for some reason at the time of our appointment I do not feel confident in using the machine, I will tattoo via handpoke. All pricing and appointment durations will be set by my handpoking pricing/time. IF we complete the piece with machine - great! It was quicker and there will be a discount! I simply do not want people relying on the discount and pressuring me into doing work I may not be ready for/confident with if that is the case.
Is it “stick & poke” or “handpoke”?
“Stick and poke”, “machine-free”, and “handpushed” are all synonyms for handpoking.
Are handpoked tattoos permanent?
Yes, they very much are. Handpoking, when done correctly, should reflect the same mark-making process and permanence of machine tattooing. Handpoking reaches the same depth and ink insertion as a machine would - it is just done at a different pace and cadence.
What can I expect from a handpoked experience?
I describe the sensation of the way I tattoo as more of a literal “poke” than the “scratching” sensation often used to describe machine tattooing. A lot of my clients find the slow, gentle nature of handpoking more relaxing and meditative than machine experiences. Often, clients will share that they feel like they could fall asleep while being handpoked.
More often than not, handpoking is a slower process - though that’s not necessarily always the case - than machine tattooing. Speed and technique, like all tattooing, varies from artist to artist.
I consider myself a relatively efficient handpoke tattooer. I often schedule longer sessions to make sure there is time before and after the appointment for each of our comfort.
Does handpoking hurt more?
Some people find the slower pace more manageable pain-wise. A lot of my clients express that the handpoking process hurts less than machine tattooing - but everyone’s experience is different. I try to tell others that the best way to know is to feel.
Keep in mind that pain is also highly subjective. Pain or discomfort during a tattoo can not only depend on the placement of the tattoo, but also who is getting the tattoo and who is giving the tattoo!
There are such things as gentle tattooers and such things as heavy-handed tattooers - and this goes for machine and machine-free tattooing! Neither is inherently better than the other.
Generally speaking, areas that are on tender skin (think underarm, stomach), near joints (wrists, elbows, knees), close to lots of nerves (fingers, neck, feet), or near bone tend to all be more sensitive.
But depending on who you ask, that can change! In my opinion, the least sensitive spots are areas with thicker skin, or “sun facing” as I like to call it. These are areas like the outsides of your arms or the front of your legs.
Can I use numbing cream before our appointment?
Numbing cream can be a great tool in your tattoo experience. However, some numbing agents can affect the texture of the skin during the tattooing process. Also, if not timed out properly the numbing agent can wear off during the session - which can make the pain seem much more intense.
Please always make sure to email me well before our appointment (at least a week!) if you are interested in, or have questions regarding the use of, numbing cream.
Do you only tattoo certain people?
No! I will tattoo any body, size, shape, and skin tone. I do not believe there is any true justification for not tattooing someone because of the melanin in their skin or because of their body type. I have zero-tolerance for that kind of rhetoric - in life and in tattooing. All people and bodies are welcome to receive my tattoos. I strive to open-up my work to a more diverse body of clients by showing my work on more non-white bodies online. I aim to prioritize diversity in my clientele and provide representation of non-white bodies within the world of tattooing.
Booking
When do your books open?
I try to open my books around every three months. I call these my "booking seasons" - and I aim to open them several weeks in advance. I keep the status of my books (open/closed/opening next) in the bio of my instagram account.
When your books open, how do I book?
My books will be open for a 24-hour window. All booking is done through my website. I do not book ‘first-come, first-serve’. This means that you do not have to be the very first person to submit to get a spot! After my books have closed, I will review all submissions and reply to everyone who submitted. Please allow me several days to reply. Keep an eye on my instagram for updates in my progress as I reply to submissions.
If you receive an email saying I am ready to book you, a $100 deposit will be required in order to schedule (this is applicable to both custom and flash).
How does the deposit work?
Paying the deposit secures you a spot in my books. The deposit is non-refundable. The deposit goes toward the final cost of the tattoo provided you don’t cancel, no-show your appointment, or show-up excessively late to the appointment (more than 15 minutes).
I require clients to pay a deposit to help secure a steady income for me as an independent artist. Drawing, booking, and emailing are all things that go into our appointment before it has even begun. When people cannot follow-through with their scheduled appointments, it directly affects my business and personal income.
Flash
When booking flash, there will be a flash-specific submission form on my website. There, you will fill-out all required fields within the 24-hour window that my books are open. Each design will have a name for you to select from the options in the form. Each design may also have some specifications such as minimum size, ideal placement, and possible color variations. Please keep these notes in mind as they are non-negotiable.
When reviewing submissions for flash, I am usually looking for folks who have requested sizes and placements that coincide well with the piece. If there are a lot of submissions for one piece, I select the client via a random lottery system.
If I am able to book you for your requested flash piece, I will reach out to confirm the piece, and then send over an invoice for the $100 non-refundable deposit. Once I receive the deposit, I will send over my calendar for you to find an appointment time that works.
Customs
When booking customs, there will be a custom-specific submission form on my website. There, you will fill-out all required fields within the 24-hour window that my books are open. The form will ask for a description of the custom piece, size specifications, placement, and your budget.
When reviewing submissions for customs, I am usually looking for folks who have requested concepts and designs that I feel align with my artistic style and capabilities - as well as work that excites and inspires me. I am also looking for placements and sizes that I feel confident in working within.
I do all of my consultations and custom projects via email. I do not meet in person to discuss custom projects. Because of this, I ask that if you are interested in working on a custom piece with me that you be responsive and thorough in our email exchanging.
If I am able to book you for your submitted custom piece, I will reach out to confirm the piece, send over an invoice for the $100 non-refundable deposit, and request reference/inspiration photos related to your custom project. Once I receive the deposit, I will send over my calendar for you to find an appointment time that works.
Can I change the placement of the tattoo?
I am always happy to talk placement options/changes day-of the appointment. Finding the right spot is all a part of the process, and unless it is a very different placement than I was anticipating, there’s no need to worry about asking me to change the location. For example, if the original placement was “right bicep” but now you’re thinking “left rib cage”, I would ask that you reach out before the time of our appointment so I can plan accordingly. However if the intial placement was “right bicep” but now you’re thinking “left forearm” that’s very doable and needs no prior clarification. If you’re ever unsure, always feel free to email me!
Will I get to see the Custom design before the appointment?
I do not show/email custom tattoo design before the time of the scheduled appointment. One reason for this is that I do not want anyone taking the design and getting it tattooed elsewhere - and secondly I do not send designs over beforehand to avoid over-complicating the design process. I am happy to make minor changes/adjustments to the piece before we start the tattoo process. If for some reason at the time of the appointment we are not seeing eye-to-on on the concept, or it needs extensive changes/alteration, I may ask that we reschedule or re-evaluate whether or not I am the best artist for the concept.
Can I make changes to my Custom tattoo idea?
Since I select and book all of my custom projects individually, looking over and reading each submission before accepting to take them on, I ask that you do not change the initial concept that was submitted (after you’ve paid your deposit and scheduled). If I’ve chosen to work with you on the concept you originally submitted, that means I am comfortable working on the idea and feel that it is a good fit for my style and skills. Changing the concept entirely puts me in an uncomfortable situation where I do not feel liberated or free to work as an artist. I am happy to make small adjustments and changes throughout the designing process - however I reserve the right to decline the project if too many changes or alterations are asking to be made to the original idea.
Why didn’t you book me?
I am never able to book every client that submits a form. I have the incredible honor of tattooing as my vocation and getting to work with so many different clients - but at the end of the day I am just one person with my own limits.
Once I have reached out to offer spots for the submissions, I will send out a follow-up email to those I was not able to book this season.
Pricing
How much do your tattoos cost?
Right now, all of my tattoos are a flat-rate. With Flash, this is often displayed on the Flash sheet at the time of my books being open. Depending on size and level of detail, most pieces start at $200. With Customs, after you have submitted your concept and if I have chosen your piece for that booking round, I will include an estimated budget for the piece based on the concept, size, and placement. Increased size or level of detail may increase the overall budget of the piece. All customs start at a minimum of $250.
Do you accept tips? And how much should I tip?
Tipping is, and always has been, a strange and unclear element of tattooing. My rates are all set at a budget that works for my needs as an artist and a business; for my time, labor, supplies, health insurance, and creative skill. I do not require or expect tips - however they are always greatly appreciated. Tips can be a generous way of letting your artist know how much you appreciate them and the tattoo they’ve made with you. If you have an income that allows you the freedom to tip, most clients tip their tattoo artist anywhere from 10% - 25%. I always leave it up to your discretion as my client!
Do you accept non-financial tips?
Yes! Tipping with goods, treats, or art are all great alternatives to tipping monetarily. Some non-monetary tips I accept are:
Handmade goods
Artwork
House plants
Anything Anime/Nintendo
Tiny cute figurines (the likes of which you can see all over my studio!)
Candy and treats!
Coffee
* I do not accept recreational drugs/alcohol/nicotine as tips as I am sober
Miscellaneous
Why haven’t you answered my DM?
I don't use instagram DMs to book. This is a personal boundary that helps me maintain balance in my time spent online and helps streamline my communication process. Instagram is a phenomenal tool to share work with others, show you the kinds of pieces I've been doing lately, and to connect myself with other artists. DMs, especially on Instagram, are inconsistent and disorganized.
However if you're sharing a healed photo, asking a question about a tattoo I gave you, or replying to a story of mine your DM is always welcome!
How can I reach you?
When my books open, I will post about it on my Instagram and provide a link to the submission forms. If you have a question about anything, regardless of if we have worked together or not, you can send me a message here.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
I understand that things happen and sometimes cancellations are inevitable. If you do need to cancel your appointment, I require at least 24-hours notice in order to reschedule without an additional deposit. If you cancel with less than 24-hour notice, I will require a second deposit to reschedule.
If you reschedule more than 2 times (even with more than 24-hour notice) - I will require a new deposit to reschedule again. The second deposit replaces the first and only the latter will be taken from the total cost of the tattoo at the time of the appointment.
Artist’s right to terminate services
If at any point in our relationship as tattooer/client I feel unsafe (physically or mentally), I reserve the right to terminate services. I want both of us to feel respected, heard, and safe throughout the entire process of working together. I prioritize the well-being and safety of all my clients - and I expect them to do the same for me as their artist.