It’s time to book your next tattoo.

FAQ.

What are you interested in tattooing?

• I am currently prioritizing booking Pre-drawn Flash Designs, my recent flash drops can be found on my instagram feed. Subject matters that I enjoy tattooing include: Fine line Florals, Freehand Snakes, [almost] all animals, Butterflies, Spooky Stuff, Movie Stills, Objects, Fantasy. Try me with your fun ideas!

What if I am interested in submitting multiple ideas to increase my chances?

• You may submit all of your ideas in the same proposal form, be sure to specify which placement on your body for each piece in the description box on the form.

What will you NOT tattoo?

• Anything culturally appropriated, racist, or offensive.

• Feet, Genitals, Fingers

• Flowers that have a ton of petals, ex: Dhalias. Flowers that don’t have enough petals, ex: Thistle. But, try me in your proposal! Flexibility is ideal but I will always try my best to accommodate special elements while prioritizing design, flow, and my skill set/style.

Can I use numbing cream/do you use numbing cream?

No, and this is absolutely not because I believe that clients should “tough out the pain” to deserve a tattoo. Numbing creams tend to make the skin a rubbery texture which makes it hard to tattoo, and can affect healing person-to-person. I use Bactine throughout the tattoo process which has lidocaine (numbing agent) in it, reduces swelling and redness, and helps take the sting off. I have a CBD topical ointment that I can also use during the tattoo process as an additional pain reliever. We offer CBD seltzers and gummies for sale in the shop, which help tremendously with pain! You may find yourself taking a nap. We take breaks throughout longer sessions as well.

What do I need to know for healing my tattoo?

Plan your appointment during a time where you will be arriving well-rested and fed (not coming straight from work or an event), able to take time off from exercising for the following week, and able to avoid pools hot tubs and saunas for the following few weeks. Depending on your tattoo placement, be mindful of clothing or activities that may cause friction against the tattoo- it’s important to avoid things that could peel off skin that is not ready to come off. Bras should be avoided as much as possible for sternum, shoulder, back tattoos.

For hand tattoos: be mindful of jobs that may affect the healing of your hand tattoo. Anything involving frequent handwashing, gloves, labor intensive jobs, hand sanitizer (drys out the skin). If you have dry hands, make sure you heavily moisturize before your appointment. Hands get used a lot, therefor the skin turns over quickly and is often thinner, thus making this placement susceptible to needing touch ups [particularly around the knuckles and fingers).

Please Do Not Arrive Sick or Sunburned to your Appointment.

Arriving sick puts all the artists in the studio at-risk of having to cancel their appointments for the week. We do not receive “sick pay”, and ask that you reschedule if you are ill.

Tattooing any form of compromised skin, including sunburns, will affect the healing. Email your artist if you have concerns about tattooing over skin damage.

PLEASE LOTION THE AREA PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT!

Why didn’t you respond to my proposal?

I only have the time to respond to the projects that I am able to take on. If you didn’t receive a response, it is likely because I felt that my style wouldn’t work well with your tattoo vision. Other reasons why I may not have responded:

• If your proposal was too wordy, or if I sensed that there would be a lack of trust. A perfect proposal would be concise, to the point, allows some wiggle room/freedom, and instructs me of your “MUST haves” and “MUST NOT haves”. I tend to avoid any possibilities of clients booking and then not being fully happy with the design that I send over the day before the appointment. I always discuss any concerns with designs prior to booking, once the deposit is sent I assume that I have been told everything there is to know about what you expect the design to look like and we have both come to an agreement . It takes several hours to design large pieces, avoiding any major last minute changes once the design is made is ideal for me. Some things that may seem like an easy swap, aren’t as easy as it seems! I spend a lot of time developing flow in my designs, which is why it’s important to know all of the elements I need to consider ahead of time. Over-complicating a design with too many elements can compromise flow, which is why flexibility is appreciated! I strive to communicate any design concerns at the time of booking so that you’ll know what to expect.

• If you included elements in your proposal that I don’t work with, or completely not in my style- check out my recent instagram posts to see what I work with.

-I have an amazing assistant, Danielle, who manages all of my e-mail correspondence. If you have a question for me, she will pass it along to me!

How do I book a Flash Piece?

Attach a screen shot of the flash sheet from my newsletter or instagram post, CIRCLE which flash piece you want to book if there are multiple on the same sheet. Indicate the placement and size of each flash piece in the description box on the proposal form, along with any small change requests.

Flash designs are only tattooed once, unless they are labeled as “repeatable” (typically smaller flash pieces).

What if I change my mind about the placement I want?

That’s okay! I want you to be entirely happy about your tattoo. If you would like to change the placement, I’d love to know a few days prior to your piece.

When can I see my design (for custom pieces)?

I sometimes will not be able to send the design over until 10pm-1am. Most artists do not send the design over the night before. I do this as a courtesy to clients, to give them some time to express concerns via e-mail, because I find that it’s less intimidating for people to communicate via e-mail rather than in person. I work 4+ days per week tattooing, most of my sessions are large 4-6 hour sessions, I come home, eat dinner, and begin designing for the next day. This is just what works for me, and I very much appreciate your patience with my process.

Small changes can be made to the design, but it is incredibly important that you are clear about the design you are hoping for in your proposal, and in our initial e-mails so that there is no confusion when I am designing! My style is very consistent, there shouldn’t be major surprises in what I send to you.

*I will allow for 1 re-design if you want to make small changes to the design that I send the day before. It is important to be as clear as possible before the week of your appointment so that I can design something that you will be happy with the first time around.

What time is my appointment and where are you located?

Appointments start at 11am unless otherwise specified. Please devote as much of your day to your appointment as possible. Sometimes tattoos take longer than expected, this is not something you want rushed! You will receive a confirmation email the week of your appointment, with detailed information on how to plan for your appointment. Our shop, Midnight Tattoo, is located in SE Portland, on Division and 11th Street.

How can I prepare for a larger tattoo session?

Get a good nights sleep, eat a good breakfast, and moisturize (and exfoliate) the area that is going to be tattooed for the week leading up to your session! It truly makes a difference.

You should also consider bringing headphones, a good book, downloading a podcast or a movie, your own CLEAN pillow and blanket, and wearing clothing that will allow easy access to the spot.

I do have pasties at the studio for any placements that interfere with bras.

I am bad at multi-tasking/talking while tattooing, so I truly don’t mind if you are listening to your headphones!

Wear comfy clothing that allows access to the area being tattooed.

This is my first tattoo, how do I prepare?

Just eat a solid meal before your appointment and come well rested/hydrated! Let me know that it’s your first tattoo, and I’ll start slowly and explain everything as I go.

My tattoo is sorta in a sensitive area, how do I prepare?

Wear a button-up shirt, zip-up jacket, or low-back body suit if you are being tattooed on your torso/back, Crop tops for shoulder placements, skirts with long slits or bathing suits with a tie closure for hip placements. Pasties will be provided and we have privacy dividers available for your comfort. We practice consent-conscious tattooing and will not proceed with any step without making sure you are comfortable in our space. We offer complimentary silk robes, and blankets to keep you cozy and protected.

Deposits

I require a $200-$300 deposit at the time of booking. The deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total cost on the day of the tattoo. The deposit acts like a contract for the specific tattoo discussed via proposal form. Changes after booking may result in a cancelation of your appointment as well as a new deposit.

What if I need to reschedule?

The deposit will be honored for one reschedule if given with 48 hours notice. Any additional reschedules will require a new deposit. You may reschedule or cancel your appointment through the square booking site- via confirmation emails.

Canceling or rescheduling your appointment within 48 hours will void the deposit and a new deposit will be required to book.

Being more than 20 minutes late for your appointment may result in the forfeit of your deposit and appointment.

If you no call / no show for your appointment, you will be charged 50% of the service total and you will not be allowed to rebook at Midnight Tattoo in the future.

What are your rates?

My rates are $250/hr. This rate reflects the time to design, tattoo, inflated supply costs, etc. When I reply to your proposal, I will tell you an estimate of how many hours to complete the piece. If it’s not within your budget, please let me know! Sometimes we can make things work out, by adjusting the size, etc. Pricing may adjust down from my hourly for longer sessions depending on complexity, or number of sessions booked. I do my best to price things as fairly as possible based on the amount of work put in to each piece!

I have a $250 minimum.

How long will it take to give me a sleeve?

Typically a forearm half sleeve is completed in 1 session, upper arm in a second session, and inner forearm + upper arm in additional sessions if desired, the more complex the sleeve, the more sessions it will require. Sessions can be spaced out to accommodate your budget.

It takes around 4-7 hours per session of tattoo time for a forearm or upperarm half sleeve, depending on size, and how many animal elements are involved, and also the client’s comfort & pain tolerance.

Do you do consultations?

Most questions can be answered via e-mail. Just shoot over a proposal and we will discuss all specific circumstances! I always take time to chat in person before the appointment begins about any initial concerns, and I make room to communicate throughout the entire appointment process.

Will you tattoo in red ink?

I am currently focusing on only black ink tattoos, but I can sometimes include pops of red or other color depending on the design!

Will you do a scar cover-up (Mastectomies, Top Surgery, and other Surgical scars included)?

Yes. The scars should be around 2 years healed, and I would need to see a photo of the area so that I could properly design the piece to cover it. My work consists of fine lines and light shading, which means I would likely not be able to cover up deep scarring, but we can transform it with new flow! *Scar tissue is more prone to blow outs or ink-fall out, and can be more likely to need a touch up. We can discuss any concerns with this on the day of your session.

Will you expand on work done by another artist?

No, unfortunately all artists have their own specific style, and I prefer to have consistency in my pieces, which means I would not be able to include another artists style into my own. If you are getting a larger piece, I ask for a blank canvas to allow things to flow, if you think there is enough space, send a picture of the area and we can discuss it via email! *I will happily put my piece next to other artist’s work as long as there is enough room for the design to flow (mostly concerning larger compositions).

Will you fix a tattoo done by another artist?

No, I do my best work with a clean slate. Sometimes we can work around other pieces. Include good photos (taken at a distance) of existing tattoos in your proposal and I will let you know if we can place things around it!

Will you tattoo a design drawn by my friend?

No.

Do you do cover-ups?

No, my tattoo style (finer linework) is not the best option for cover-ups. My favorite business for tattoo removal is “Removery”.

How do I book if I am coming from out of town?

Submit a proposal and indicate the dates you are traveling in the Availability Section of your proposal.

What is the tipping etiquette?

Tipping is customary in the U.S., but what ever you are comfortably able to afford! Most people tip 10-20% for their session. It is not an obligation, it is greatly appreciated if you are financially comfortable enough to do it. As independent contractors, tattoo artists do not receive any benefits (including health insurance, workers comp, disability, etc.), are taxed heavily at the end of the year, and spent countless hours outside of your appointment that are “off the clock”.

How do you accept payment?

I prefer cash, but we can accept credit card. A 3% processing fee will be added to all card payments on the day of the appointment.

Can I bring someone with me?

Our space is small and unfortunately we can only accommodate clients with appointments and don’t have room for extra guests. If you are traveling from out of town and have a companion who wishes to join you, let us know ahead of time so we are able to confirm if the shop can comfortably allow an extra guest that day.

Is there parking near your shop?

There is on-street parking available around the studio location, **but**: if your appointment is on a weekday, it can be pretty hard to find parking. Just account for an extra 15 minutes to look for a spot! Saturdays and Sundays are typically easier. There are a few paid lots nearby (There is one on Division, just beyond Grixsen brewing, and a parking lot on 11th attached to my building which is currently $4 for the day!). Some of the nearby parking is unlimited hours, some of it is 4 hour parking-- if you are getting a larger piece, please try to account for the amount of time your car is allowed to be parked! Larger pieced can take 5-8 hours. We can still pause the session for you to go out and fill your meter or move your car but it is ideal if we dont have to stop!

Do you do touch-ups?

Yes!

Touch ups are free when booked within the first 3 months of your appointment. Many things can impact healing such as how you care for your new tattoo but there are other less frequently thought about things that can have an impact on how your body heals such as the state of your immune system, allergic reactions and the condition of your skin before the tattoo. One of the best things about fine line tattoos is that at worst some things become too light as the tattoo ages and need to be refreshed, this can be done 5-10 years in the future as well.

Touch ups are $50-$100 if they are deemed elective. This is in regards to minuscule things like a couple veins in a leaf, one petal outline healed light, etc. If the integrity of the tattoo is not effected and that leaf is very clearly still a leaf, I encourage that you wait a few years and maybe you’ll have a couple more things that can be touched up, but if it bothers you please email me photos to schedule a touch up because I want your tattoo to ensue happiness every time you see it!

I use different values of black to create depth and different styles of shading for varying textures; I do not intend for your tattoo to heal all one tone of black.

How do Fineline Tattoos hold up overtime?

They hold up great with proper care and maintenance! All tattoos will age regardless of tattoo style. When breaking down in the skin, ink will spread and break dowm overtime. Since there is less ink that makes up each line in a fineline tattoo, there is a “faster” breakdown of linework. It’s perfectly normal to get touchups in the decades to come, your tattoo will not “smudge” or disappear when cared for and applied properly. You will always be able to maintain a fineline aesthetic, when starting out with thinner linework. The best way to combat aging of any tattoo, is to properly heal the tattoo while it is fresh, and wear sunblock for ever after.