How should you check an artist and studio before booking?
A large gallery is not enough to tell you which artist is right for your project. Check whether they work in the style and scale you want, credit the pieces they show and have healed examples. A studio should also answer questions about hygiene and what happens at the appointment. These seven checks can help before you book.
A portfolio relevant to your idea
Start with style, motif, size and placement. An artist accomplished in large blackwork may not be the best choice for a small portrait. Compare work close to your plan, not only the most striking images on a profile. If you cannot name the direction, use our tattoo collection.
Check who made the work. Several people may contribute to a studio gallery, and not all of them work in every style. If a credit is missing, ask. Do not book solely because of an image whose origin cannot be established.
Healed photographs
A fresh-tattoo photo is useful documentation, but it does not show the skin's later appearance. Healed photos help you judge how lines, shading and colour read. Not every artist has such an archive for every style, but it is worth asking. A useful caption says roughly when the photo was taken and makes its conditions clear.
Be cautious with heavily sharpened images. For a very small design, look for work at a comparable size. A large tattoo reduced to an icon on a screen can mislead you about the amount of detail that fits into a few centimetres of skin.
Hygiene procedures
Ask how the work area is prepared, which materials are single-use and how aftercare instructions are provided. The GIS guidance published by the Sanitary Inspectorate in Słupca publishes hygiene guidance for services that break the skin. The issue is how the studio works, not how its interior is decorated.
If an answer is unclear, ask again. A good studio should be able to explain its procedures without resenting a client's question. Discuss particular health concerns with a clinician and tell the studio before the session.
How the artist discusses your design
In the first conversation, the studio should ask about motif, size, placement, references and existing tattoos nearby. “We do everything” without seeing the idea says little about fit. For a difficult project, it is valuable to hear about limits and alternatives: a larger size, different layout or simpler detail.
You should be able to ask what will change in your idea and why. An artist may advise against a design they believe will not read well. A useful consultation is not automatic approval of every image found online.
Clear prices and terms
Ask what a quote includes: design work, tattooing, any stages, and rescheduling or touch-up terms. Do not compare prices between studios until you know they cover the same scope. Confirm who will make the tattoo. A lower price does not automatically mean worse work, and a higher one is not a guarantee of quality.
If the studio cannot quote from one sentence, send a fuller brief. Motif, size and a photo of the placement often prevent misunderstandings. Confirm booking terms before paying a deposit.
Reviews and evidence beyond Instagram
Client reviews may reveal how the enquiry, session and follow-up went. Read the content, not only the average score. Is the review about an artist and style close to your idea? Does it describe a specific experience? One extreme comment should not replace a look at the portfolio and a conversation.
Check whether gallery images consistently credit their artists. A studio with a long history may show work by people who have since left. Before booking, confirm who would make your tattoo now.
Comfortable communication
For a larger tattoo, you will spend more time with the artist than you do in a brief consultation. You should be able to ask about breaks, moving the stencil and aftercare. If you feel pushed into an immediate decision, take time to think. A tattoo does not have to be agreed in the first conversation.
Choosing a studio means weighing artist fit, working conditions and clear terms. You need not have every answer instantly, but you should know who is responsible for the design and what happens next.
Checklist before booking
- I have seen credited work by the artist in a similar style and size.
- I know whether their portfolio includes healed work.
- I can ask about hygiene, design and aftercare.
- I understand the quote's scope and booking conditions.
- I know who will tattoo me and how to contact the studio.
Browse Dirty Lust's portfolio and process page. For a first visit, use the preparation checklist too.