FAQ and what to include in your tattoo request/email.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about tattooing, booking and what to write when booking. The more you know about the process, the easier things are.
Q- How do I book a tattoo?
A- You can fill in the request form on my website, email me at sunstormtattoo@gmail.com or you can find me on Instagram @sunstormtattoo and drop me a message there. Once we’ve had a chat and I know what we’re doing and that I’m the right person for the job I will send you a link to book your slot(s) online.
Q- What information should I send when requesting tattoo work?
A- Here’s a list of the minimum information that I need to know and how it looks written as an email;
The idea for your tattoo?
-eg. “I would love a Japanese Snake tattoo. I also like Kabuki masks like the Fox one.”
-eg2. “I have two existing tattoos on my thigh. I’d like a skull to fill the gap. Maybe some flowers too.”Where you would like the tattoo. Is this to be a sleeve or body panel?
-eg. “I would like it on my right arm, I would like this to be a sleeve eventually.”
-eg2.”On the side of my right thigh, at the top. I have no plans atm, but I would like to add it to a future rib piece.”How big, roughly, will the tattoo be?
-eg. “I would like a sleeve. but can I have a slightly higher cuff on my forearm. Above my watch line please.”
-eg2. “Roughly 6” tall, maybe 5'“ wide if it fit into a rectangle.”What style is the tattoo? Colour or just Black and Grey?
-eg. “I would like it tattooed in Japanese style. I prefer a more modern style than the traditional irezumi. Colour please, I like the bright greens and reds.”
-eg2. “I would like it in Neotrad to match my other tattoos. They are Black and Grey with yellow, so the same as that please.Share images of things you have seen already that explain further your idea, placement, style or anything that isn’t easily put in words.
-eg. “Here are images showing some colours I like, the style and the mask I mentioned earlier.”
-eg2. “Here are some skulls I like the angle of. I like these little leaves on this painting too.”Send a straight on photo of where you would like your tattoo. Please ask someone for assistance with this as the photo will be used as a reference for the scale of the tattoo.
-eg. “I asked a friend to photograph my outer arm. To show where I want my sleeve to finish, I’ve drawn a small mark on my arm.”
-eg2. “I sent the straight on photo and one that shows the other tattoos to tie them in.”
Q-What should I get? What style should I get? Should it mean something?
A- Get whatever you want. That’s my advice, find out what that is and go for it. You don’t have to get the same as everyone else, I know lions are really popular right now, but go deeper down the tattoo rabbit-hole and you’ll stumble across true beauty.
Q-Where should I get my tattoo? Do I have to have my whole body planned out now?
A- Wherever you want. If you’re starting out, think about somewhere less painful like the forearm. Just remember that you can’t rub tattoos out, so think about what can be added to in the future incase you get more.
The Traditional style tackles this with it’s layout, by placing lots of single tattoos on the arm, it gives the impression of a full sleeve.
Neotrad can be done in a similar way or it can be done like Japanese.
Japanese is built up of subject, background and flora. You can get the subject tattooed first, then come back later for the background and flora. If this is done with forethought and skill it can look as though the sleeve was planned all at once.
There are places I will only tattoo on people who already have considerable coverage, or whom I know to be in a position where they will not be affected by a visible tattoo. Hands, necks, faces, fingers are the places reserved for those already on that path. I see too many people with just hands and forearms, necks and heads tattooed without anything on their legs, shoulders and torso. Maybe that’s just the era we live in though, wanting the fruits without the labour.
Q-What should I bring to the appointment? What helps?
A- A sugary drink or sweets are very common and we even stock lollipops for those feeling the pain or feeling drained. I often find small jelly sweets give me something to focus on that isn’t the tattoo pain and the time seems to go by faster than when I’m focused on the pain or feeling sorry for myself.
Also bring suitable clothing. If you’;re getting your shoulder tattooed, a vest is a good idea. Thigh? shorts. Front piece? an open shirt if it’s particularly cold, or when getting your back tattooed you can wear a shirt backwards for warmth and to cover your dignity when in the studio.
Q- I want a sensitive area on my body tattooed that requires more than rolling up a sleeve or wearing shorts. Will I be getting tattooed in front of everyone else?
A- For areas like this, think the join between the thigh and ribs where you need the hip exposed but the rest of the groin covered, we place a barrier around the tattoo bay, or we can use one of the private rooms in Blackfriars Tattoo House. I only take on areas like this for customers I have worked with before and that I also feel comfortable with.
Q- How does a tattoo shop work? How does Blackfriars Tattoo House work?
A- Tattoo shop’s usually run with one Owner, who charges the resident Artists a weekly chair rent. This can be a set price or work on percentage. Apprentices usually work on a percentage when they start charging for tattoos. The Owner will pay the bills of the shop with the chair rent and then the rest is theirs.
Blackfriars Tattoo House was established by three Artists (Ollie Wallace, Brad Johnstone and Rob Richardson) who decided on a different format. Owners and Artists will both pay chair rent to the business and the business pays the bills and maybe some extra treats for the studio or paying for conventions etc. This means everyone is equal and there’s nobody being exploited. This is how Blackfriars Artist’s can keep their prices down and allow more people to get the chance to have high quality work.
Q- What does Sunstorm mean? Is that your name?
A- There really isn’t any meaning or even a cool story behind Sunstorm, it’s just an Instagram handle that stuck. I liked how some Tattooers just had seemingly random account names, so I went with something like that. Maybe I was trying to have some separation between myself and the online world a little bit. Who knows, I was 20 haha.
I hope that answers any questions you have, I’ll make sure to update this entry as time goes by as I’m sure I will have forgotten something!
Cheers,
Ant