Frequently Asked Questions
HOW TO BOOKFlash
The easiest way to book with me is to grab a flash piece! Flash designs are posted on my website on the 15th of each month at 6pm. They are first come, first serve and each will only be tattooed once (unless marked as repeatable). Follow the instructions at the top of the flash page to claim a flash design. Freehand Bookings You can request a freehand tattoo when my books are open. I currently only do botanical subjects for freehand tattoos (pretty much any kind of plant, flower, fruit etc). I typically open my books twice a year. There will be a booking form linked on my website and Instagram when I'm accepting requests. Short Notice Availability I will sometimes offer last minute appointments when cancellations come up. Dates are posted on my Instagram stories when they're available. They can be booked by anyone and are first come first serve. These appointments can be either freehand or flash. STUDIO INFOMy studio is located in the basement of my home in Kitchener. It is fully licensed and inspected by Region of Waterloo Public Health annually, as required.
It is a private studio, meaning there are no walk-ins and there is just one artist, no other employees. So during your appointment it will just be you & I and you’ll have my full attention during your appointment. The studio is large enough that I can accommodate one guest if you prefer not to come alone for any reason. There is plenty of parking available in the driveway and the access to the studio is through the side door. Accessibility: There is a flight of stairs to get down to the studio. Please let me know if you have any accessibility needs prior to your appointment. PRICINGMy hourly rate is $200, tax included. This is also my minimum (tattoos that take under an hour will be charged as a full hour to compensate for the expense of supplies and set up time).
For freehand tattoos, there is a $500 minimum and I prefer not to freehand pieces smaller than 6 inches (unless they are part of a larger project). You will not be charged for drawing time, just tattoo time. My full day rate is $1000, tax included. A $100 deposit is required for all bookings. This guarantees your appointment date. If you change your mind about getting the tattoo your deposit will be refunded, with the exception of short notice cancellations. CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULESIf you cancel or reschedule with less than 48 hrs notice your deposit will be forfeit and you’ll need to pay a new one in order to reschedule. Exceptions may be made in cases of emergency.
If you no-call no-show on your appointment day your deposit will be forfeit and you will not be able to book with me in the future. If you need to reschedule your appointment that is not a problem as long as you give me proper notice. However, if you reschedule a flash tattoo more than twice I may decline to tattoo you. I will refund your deposit and make the design available to someone else. In fairness to others who are looking to book and in consideration for the time I’ve spent designing the piece I will not wait for an indefinite amount of time to tattoo a design. If you are uncertain about when or if you can commit to a tattoo and an appointment date please wait and book when you are ready. This goes for freehands as well - if you give up a date and do not reschedule promptly you may need to resubmit your idea when my books open next. SCHEDULINGI work Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Start times are typically between 9am - 3pm. For large scale work and freehand tattoos it is ideal we start in the morning.
Appointments typically don’t exceed 4-5 hours of tattooing. Large scale work is broken into multiple sessions. If you require shorter sits for a large tattoo please let me know, whether for comfort or budgetary reasons, things can always be spread across shorter appointments. TOUCH UPSTouch ups are free as long as they are booked within the year the tattoo was done. If booking after the first year, there will be a $100-200 fee depending on the extent of the touchup.
I recommend waiting 2-3 months for the tattoo to settle in before reaching out for a touch up. If you are unsure whether it needs one feel free to send me a photo! WORK I WON’T DOI don't tattoo anyone under 18 years old.
I don't tattoo script/text, symbols, minimalist or linework-only tattoos. I don't do colour tattoos and will not copy the work of other artists. I am not currently able to tattoo ribs. I generally decline hands, neck and face tattoos unless I have tattooed you before and you have extensive coverage already. If I decline your tattoo idea please know that it is not a reflection on you or your idea, I just feel it is not something I am well suited to. I feel that every client deserves a tattoo artist who is excited to bring their ideas to life and that it is worth waiting to find the right fit for your tattoo. Feel free to ask for a list of artist recommendations if I decline your request and you’re not sure where to look! WHAT IS FLASH?My flash designs are original drawings that I’ve made for no one in particular, they are just things I’d like to tattoo. They are often drawn with certain body placements or size in mind.
Generally I do not make changes to flash designs, but minor adjustments can be made on the day of the appointment if the piece just isn’t fitting you right or needs to be worked around other tattoos, etc. I do not allow my flash designs to be copied by other artists and they will not be tattooed on other clients unless they are marked as “repeatable”. WHAT IS A FREEHAND TATTOO?Freehand tattoos are drawn directly onto your skin with marker before being tattooed, rather than being drawn in advance and applied via stencil.
The process is a little messy and does require a good degree of trust. I have lots of examples of before & afters on my Instagram highlights so you can compare the marker drawing to the finished product. Please see my Freehand page for more details! HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR TATTOO
TATTOOING OVER SCARSCovering scars is not an issue as long as they are fully healed (this takes at least a year). In some cases I may ask to see a photo of the scars to ensure the tattoo will cover them the way you want. Keep in mind the skin may be more sensitive during the tattoo session in areas with scarring. The tattoo may take longer when going over scars in some cases and may be more likely to require a touch up.
COVER UPSSince my work is fairly delicate and relies heavily on negative space, I don't take on many cover ups. Cover ups over small or very faded tattoos are sometimes something I can do, but it is on a case by case basis.
Flash tattoos are typically not suitable for cover ups. CONSULTATIONSFlash tattoos typically don't require a consultation. In most cases all of the details can be discussed over email.
The same goes for freehand bookings, however for very large projects such as sleeves or backpieces I may ask you to come in for an in person consult so we can make a rough plan together before the day of your appointment if I don't feel we're able to cover all the bases over email. I don't offer consultations for people who aren't already booked in for a tattoo, but if you have a booking and are anxious or uncertain about your tattoo and prefer to meet in person before your appointment I'm always happy to do so. Consultations are always free. CONTACTEmail is my preferred method of contact. If you have any questions that aren't addressed in this FAQ please feel free to get in touch with me at [email protected].
My instagram is intended as a portfolio and for sharing booking information and updates. Instagram DMs are unreliable and hard to keep organized, if you DM me you may not get a reply. I do not arrange bookings over Instagram. |