Every shop is different when it comes to pricing tattoos, but there are a few things that are pretty much universal. First of all, you should go to a tattoo artist whose work you are somewhat familiar with. Not just by his or her portfolio, but you should try to see some of their work in person. This is why word of mouth is still the best advertising for a tattoo artist. Anyone can take credit for a photo. Once you have found an artist who’s work you like, before you price a tattoo, you should be sure of what you want. Lot’s of people ask for prices before they even know what they want, which is obviously impossible for that artist to tell you without knowing exactly what he will be doing. Once you have an idea, talk to the artist and make sure they are able to deliver what it is you really want, and more importantly, that they are into your idea. If an artist is not into what he is doing, you will not be getting his best work. When asking what the price of your tattoo will be, it very important to remember the following:
1. Good work ain’t cheap, and cheap work ain’t good. This will be with you for the rest of your natural life, so don’t be cheap. You get what you pay for.
2. When a tattoo artist quotes a price, it is (or should be) based on the difficulty level of the piece, and/or how long it will take to apply. Color tattoos tend to cost more because they take more work and time to complete. Larger tattoos that will usually take more than one sitting are normally on an hourly rate. Every artist has their own rate.
3. Once the artist quotes the price, some people try to haggle and chew it down, as if they were buying a car. This is not a good idea for several reasons. First, asking him to lower the price is also asking him to take a pay cut, which is pretty insulting. And his work is going to be with you forever, so you’ll want it to look its best. Remember, bargain basement tattoos LOOK LIKE bargain basement tattoos.
4. People often ask if you are supposed to tip a tattoo artist or piercer. The answer is YES. Happy Inking
