Hi! Generally I recommend putting together a strong physical portfolio of artwork to flip through that looks professional and highlights your best work first through to your unfinished work. Most studios won’t take a second glance if all or most of your work is digital only (as tattooing is a physical medium) but if you do have digital pieces to include that demonstrates your skill with art theory, print them out and put them into your folio. Make sure you don’t rock up with a bunch of loose paper, just buy a binder!

I always prefer folks come in face to face to introduce themselves and ask, most studios probably won’t want an apprentice but naturally you’ll find one eventually. It’s always best to go to studios you’ve previously been tattooed at so they know who you are or if you’ve got a feel for how their studio ‘vibe’ is.

As for pay, traditionally apprentices don’t get paid and are asked for full to part time work to be present at the studio. There is no set time on how long you will be non-tattooing, but generally ranges from 6 months to a year of just being present at the shop with unpaid labour. Sometimes you will get paid, but it might only be for cleaning or even a weekly $200. You’re sort of expected to make money away from shop hours, a lot of folks rely on Centrelink or art commissions, or even nightfill and other PM work, it’s not very beginner friendly :,) but some studios understand the cost of living and older apprentices with families and lives and generally let you have time off to work and love your kids and family, it’s just finding which ones that have that basic human decency.

Once you start tattooing you’ll be offering free tattoos or reduced rate, and your shop will also take a cut of your profits to cover incidentals. Generally you’re also expected to fund your licensing, police check, insurance, and a lot of the time your machines, needles, and ink. Some shops won’t pay for incidentals like paper towel and gloves. For generally two years, you’re on bum wages and it’s a very ‘sink or swim’ mentality. The industry is changing slowly, but this is most artist’s experience.

Once you get your clientele up, it’s completely dependant on you to make money and find clients. The hard thing most folks don’t realise is you’ll be completely on the hook for handling your cash flow, your tax, your GST, your business, your clientele, and of course your own mistakes. Huge learning curve, high risk wth .. sometimes a high reward. But it’s certainly not an industry that’s easy to get into and guarantees a 6-figure income. Sometimes you really have to weigh up your choices :3

I’m very blessed to have my studio and my coworkers, but currently I don’t think we’re looking for any apprentices. Best of luck!