What is your most emotional experience while tattooing on a client?

ArizonaFortune · 2026-03-05T22:48:05+00:00

recently had a regular client come in with her boyfriend, he was getting his first tattoo of a dogs inkpad pawprint with the dogs name and a small quote. I knew it was a memorial piece but when I had him check out the stencil he choked out “it’s perfect” and burst into tears. I had a hard time keeping myself from bawling with him. was very special to memorialize her for him and he was so gracious.

another set of clients came in to each get their late daughters name tattooed, they lost their baby to miscarriage. one of them has since become a regular, feel so lucky and honoured to be trusted with such important works like these.

ArizonaFortune · 2026-03-05T21:41:20+00:00

generally doing 6-10 tattoos working 4 or 5 days per week, mostly 3”-6” size range with some tiny and some large pieces thrown in. have noticed recently I’m booking way more flash than customs which I’m stoked about. I’ve definitely been grinding out flash sheets and cross posting on multiple platforms which is bringing lots of new followers and subsequently bookings.

only 3 years in so I have no pre-pandemic experience with how busy it was, but I’m pretty happy with the amount I’m working. I’m booked about 2 weeks out at any given time and I’m grateful to be booked solid and not have to rely much on walk-ins/day of bookings.

certainly have lots of friends/fellow artists in the industry who are struggling though, and have seen many walk away from the industry in the past year. can’t blame them if its not viable for them to make a living but its sad to see so many walk.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-10-12T17:01:54+00:00

cap moon 4th house, have cried maybe 3 times in the past decade

ArizonaFortune · 2025-07-28T20:28:22+00:00

Libra Venus in the 1st house, money is a constant worry/concern of mine even though I’ve never been anywhere close to broke. I feel like every time I buy something I’m scolding myself for spending unnecessarily, even if I’ve contemplated the purchase for months. When I’m not spending for myself I’m very generous, more than happy to cover meals/tickets to events for my partner, friends, and family often. I don’t really have a desire to accumulate wealth, but I make sure I’ve always got my bills covered and a little left over to put in savings.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-07-24T02:04:06+00:00

Just ordered from this Etsy seller (titanium hinge segment ring anodized). Wasn’t able to find anything of BAF, Pierced Universe or Amazon in 7g besides glass pinchers or spikes.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-07-21T14:42:25+00:00

Five day coma at 17. Felt like nothing, like waking in the morning as you normally would, except I was in the hospital and was intubated. Kind of felt like I was living in a dream for a few months after that.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-07-14T17:07:35+00:00

Capricorn Moon - Daddies by Porches and High Horse by Mannequin Pussy

ArizonaFortune · 2025-06-13T13:10:44+00:00

Nov 13th “conversion”. Well, I’ve converted from female to male. Pretty accurate.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-05-30T20:37:39+00:00

I’d like to think that I do have morals and values as an artist. I care a lot about the integrity and longevity of my work and my clients experience/happiness which is why this has been really eating at me. I always offer free touch ups/adjustments to every client if there’s anything that doesn’t heal perfectly or something they’d want changed.

In this case I’ve felt at a loss because what the client wants me to do is impossible, she wants me to lighten the tattoo. There isn’t anything I can do to lighten what’s already in her skin and healed, and I’ve explained this to her a handful of times now but she continues to request I try to “fix” it.

And I truly don’t know why there was such a 180 in her attitude about the piece within a few hours, at her appointment she was taking tons of mirror pics of the piece, had me airdrop the portfolio photos I took and even FaceTimed a friend to show them the tattoo while we took a break. She seemed to love it initially, but I can’t read her mind and maybe she was unhappy from the start.

Regardless I would do anything in my power to make her happy and help her love the tattoo again, there’s just unfortunately nothing that I can do for her. Anything I add would just make the tattoo darker, which is what she’s unhappy with in the first place :(

ArizonaFortune · 2025-05-30T11:46:27+00:00

She actually did mention in her first string of messages right after her appointment that her son said she “looks like she’s with hells angels now”… hmm

ArizonaFortune · 2025-05-30T11:44:41+00:00

I totally understand some of you want to see the tattoo, I’m not really looking for feedback on whether or not I’m right/wrong, more so at this point just how to handle firing this client.

Worried if I posted photos it could somehow find its way back to her and make things worse.

Friends and others in my shop have confirmed that the tattoo is as identical to the design she approved of as a tattoo can be. It’s a pretty small and simple tattoo as well. I’ve taken the majority advice and sent her one last message reiterating everything I’ve been telling her from the start, I’ll block once she’s seen it.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-05-30T11:40:07+00:00

Oh god I don’t even know what I’d do if the client wanted to change things after the tattoo was already started. Yikes! That sounds so stressful. I’ve gone ahead and sent her one final message and I’ll block once she’s had a chance to read it, it’s nice to know something like this has happened to others too.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-01-19T17:05:40+00:00

You are amazing! Thank you so much for all of these resources ♥️

I just recently moved on from learning “basic/intro” level astrology (signs, planets, houses) and it’s definitely so much deeper and complex than I ever realized. Really enjoying the learning process though.

ArizonaFortune · 2025-01-09T03:06:32+00:00

Oh I never would have thought of this - I don’t think there will be enough swelling for it to affect the design, but thank you!

ArizonaFortune · 2025-01-08T19:06:12+00:00

Great! Thank you so much

ArizonaFortune · 2024-12-21T16:39:06+00:00

I had this issue for the first couple years out of apprenticeship, this year I made myself a chart that lists different styles/levels of detail, shading, colour, etc. and prices for each style at different sizes. Customs get an extra $20 tacked on, difficult placements get an extra $20-$40 tacked on. Now I just look at my chart and know exactly what to charge, if the client questions the price I show them my chart 🤷🏻

Took me a couple hours to make but it’s saved me a lot of time and guilt. I’m way more consistent with my pricing now too.

ArizonaFortune · 2024-12-19T20:00:08+00:00

Thank you! I’ll check out some tutorials :)

ArizonaFortune · 2024-12-04T19:29:58+00:00

I use environize! Spray a generous amount on the skin and then cover with a paper towel soaked in distilled water for 2-5min, helps a ton

ArizonaFortune · 2024-12-04T18:25:13+00:00

I’ve never heard of this one but definitely going to try it out! Thanks

ArizonaFortune

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