I'm gonna tell you the process of how I got MY tattoo. From the VERY beginning to the VERY end. Yours may or may not be the same/similar. I've seen those "How I got my tattoo" videos - they helped NONE WHATSOEVER! Anyways, it's less intimidating as...
So I've always wanted to get a tattoo. It wasn't a matter of if I got a tattoo, but a matter of when I got one. And I've done my fair share of research(ish) on tattoo etiquette and the process, but actually doing it brought anxiousness to me. Mind you, I'm not a very social being (I don't drink much, party much, rebel much) and this is my very first - VERY FIRST - tattoo. I don't know much about life, being a barely legal adult and all. So for those who are also noobs at life - like me - and want to get a tattoo, follow my journey of getting one. No corners cut in the process.
Step One: What the fuck do you want on your body?
Is it gonna be an elephant? How big do you want that shit? Is it gonna be something you might regret? Where do you want that shit? Be serious with this step, cause it's gonna be on there for a long, long time, like "till death do us part" kinda long. How do you want it to look? All black and grey (yes, that's the correct term - not black and white), or do you want all color? A mix of the two? Do you want thick lines? Thin lines? Is it going to be realistic? or like a caricature?
Step Two: Draw that shit out.
Make sure you know what you want is what you want. Draw that shit out and make sure it's how you want it. If you can't draw for shit, then find a shit ton of reference pictures. This way, you have a basis of who to pick for a tattoo artist. After you draw it out, or find your reference pictures (you should try to do both and find pictures with multiple angles of your desired tattoo - especially if it's a single person/thing) put it up somewhere you will always look at (on the fridge, somewhere you stare off into all the time, next to your mirror, etc.) and make sure you really want that shit. Give yourself a good 3+ months to really think about that tattoo. It's also a good time to do some research, maybe do a few mock ups of the tattoo you want, revise it, make it clearer for your future tattoo artist to see your vision. I've probably drawn out four or five versions of the tattoo I want, just to see where my personal desire is for my tattoo, in conjunction with reference pictures I used to make my mock-ups. This is also a great time to start saving money up for your tattoo. It's a known fact that a good professional will definitely cost some $$$. Don't cut corners or else YOU will be the one to suffer (either a reaction from cheap ink used or just a shitty tattoo, or maybe something else).
Step Three: Who the fuck do you want to tat you up?
Research local tattoo parlors/shops around your city/town. Look into each artist's portfolio of work (whether it be paintings, tattoos, drawings - aka their art style). Don't pick a tattoo artist that does realistic/portraiture tattoos to do a fun twisted animal-esque tattoo. Or like a blackwork tattooist to do a full arm in color - that's just not their forte. Look on social media, and try to use hashtags to refine the search like if you live in Seattle then you might want to use #seattletattoo. Social media does a fantastic job of finding tattoo artists all over the world and in your community. Do NOT BE AFRAID TO STALK THEIR INSTAGRAM! I'm serious. Study their works well, be completely sure you want that artist to do your tattoo. You do not want to Eff that shit up.
Step Three-point-Five: Study the shop.
Whichever tattoo artist you choose, make sure you know when their store hours are. You don't want to walk in before the shop is even open. Also, make sure the artist you want is in town during the time you want to get a tattoo. If that shop has a social media page, follow them and make sure to keep up with that shit. If you think your tattoo is a fairly small sized/decently simple tattoo it might be able to be done on the spot, but the shop might no take walk-ins at that time. So the shop's social media (whether it be Instagram, twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.), or the personal tattooer's page will most likely let you know.
Step Four: Man the fuck up.
So if you're going to be commissioning a tattoo - which is most likely - make an appointment to do so! Email the tattoo artist, call/go to the shop and ask for a consult. I've emailed my tattoo artist, and he has yet to reply (check that inbox frequently). So to prevent that, find a good time (when the shop is open) to go down to the shop/call the place to ask for a consult appointment - like I did. If you're not comfortable going by yourself, then go with a friend. The conversation will maybe sound like this if you go into the shop:
Worker: *sees you walk in* "Hi what can I help y'all with today?"
You: "Hi, I'm here to make a consultation appointment for a tattoo?"
Worker: "Do you know who you want to make an appointment with?"
You: "Yes, (Insert artist name here)"
Worker: *calls over tattoo artist*
Artist: "Hey, how can I help you?"
You: *internally swoons/is intimidated (it's okay to feel panic-y and nervous)* "Yes, I would like to set up a consult appointment for a tattoo/my first tattoo. I was hoping to get the actual tattoo (insert date/range of dates)."
Artist: "Do you have any inkling of what you want?"
You: "Yes, I have a few pictures and drawings of what I was thinking." *pulls out stack of pictures/sketches.*
Artist: *looks at the pictures/sketches* "Yeah totally, I dig this (or something similar to acknowledgements). Do you know where you want it?"
You: "Yes, I was thinking this area *points/gestures to specific area.*"
Artist: So normally, I have a *dollar amount* deposit for a tattoo, so we can do that during our consult and we'll just take some measurements and things like that. It shouldn't be too long. I'm free *gives you a day/range of days and times* is that okay with you?"
You: "Um. . . *think over your schedule. You may need to bargain for another time if you can't find the time to match his* (insert answer)"
*After agreeing on a day to meet for a consult*
Artist: "Cool, *hands you a shop business card* just call a couple hours beforehand to let the shop know"
*Here's something that you might find in doing your research for your tattoo artist/shop:*
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*Ongoing process. Update to come after the weekend.*
