A consultation is the step between having an idea and getting tattooed. Many first-timers skip it or turn up unprepared. It's the conversation that turns your idea into a plan. The artist checks whether the design will work as a tattoo, and you check whether this is the right artist for you. You agree on the details, and you both find out if you work well together. A good consultation sets you up for a tattoo you're happy with for years.
Knowing what to expect makes the meeting less stressful and helps you explain your idea clearly. This guide covers what happens, when you need a consultation, what to bring, what it costs, what happens after and the red flags to watch for.
What happens during a tattoo consultation?
The format is simple. You describe your idea. The artist listens, asks questions and gives you advice from experience. They look at your reference images and tell you what will work and what should change so the tattoo looks good and lasts.
Then they look at the spot on your body. They think about your skin, how the area moves with your muscles, how skin there changes over time, and whether the size fits the placement. Our size and placement guide explains why this matters.
Most consultations take 15 to 45 minutes, depending on how detailed the piece is. For a simple design, the artist may sketch ideas on the spot or show you similar work they've done. For a bigger custom piece, they take notes and draw the design later. By the end you should know the design direction, the rough price, how long it will take and how booking works.
A consultation works both ways, so it's also your chance to check the artist. Our list of questions to ask before booking covers what to ask.
When do you need a tattoo consultation?
You need one for most custom work. That includes any design the artist draws for you, large pieces like sleeves and back pieces, cover-ups, tattoos over scars and tricky placements like hands, ribs or the neck. In these cases the artist needs to see your skin and the area before they can plan the design and give you a fair price.
For a small flash design or a walk-in, you usually don't need a separate meeting. The artist checks the size and placement with you on the day, just before they start. If you're not sure, ask the artist when you first get in touch. Many can tell from your message and photos whether a consultation is needed.
Consultations can happen in person, by video call or by message. Online works well for ideas, references and a price estimate. For exact size and placement, meeting in person is better, because the artist can see the area and try a stencil on your skin.
What to bring to your consultation
Reference images are the most useful thing you can bring. Aim for 5 to 15 pictures that show different parts of what you want:
- Style: line weight, type of shading, color or black and grey
- Subject: the thing you want tattooed
- Placement: photos of tattoos in the same area of the body
Save them on your phone or print them. Artists think in pictures, and a good set of references explains more than a description. Browsing real designs by style is a quick way to collect them.
Also bring:
- Notes on the details that matter to you, your preferred size and your budget
- Clothes that let the artist see the area: shorts for a thigh piece, a tank top for a shoulder piece
- Your calendar, so you can talk about dates
Go in with an open mind. The artist may suggest changes that make the design hold up better over time, or a different placement that suits it more. You don't have to agree with everything, but hear them out. Many artists are flexible, though some will refuse certain requests.
How much does a tattoo consultation cost?
Most artists offer free consultations, especially for simple designs. Some busy artists charge a small fee, which often counts toward your deposit or the final price. Ask when you book.
The bigger cost comes after, when you book the tattoo. Most artists ask for a deposit before they put you in the book. It's usually a fixed amount or 10 to 30% of the expected price, and it pays for the time spent drawing your design. Our deposit guide explains how deposits work and when you can get one back.
For a rough idea of the tattoo price, on Inkjin most small designs cost €80-€140 and medium ones €140-€200. The price estimator gives you a quick estimate for your own idea before the meeting.
What happens after the consultation?
If you're both happy, you book a date and pay the deposit. For custom work, the artist then draws your design. Some send it a few days before the appointment so you can ask for changes, and others show it to you on the day. Ask which they do, and how many rounds of changes are included.
Waiting times depend on how busy the artist is and how big the project is. A flash design can often be booked within a week or two. A custom sleeve with a popular artist may mean waiting months for the first session. Large pieces done over several sessions usually need a few weeks of healing between sittings, and each session is usually paid as you go, which makes the cost easier to spread out.
On Inkjin you can see an artist's designs and prices before you get in touch, and then book and pay your deposit online through their booking page.
Red flags at a consultation
A good consultation feels like teamwork. Be careful if the artist:
- Dismisses your ideas or concerns without explaining why
- Pushes you to decide on the spot
- Won't show you their portfolio or any healed work
- Quotes a price far below others, which can mean corners are being cut
- Works in a studio that looks dirty or run down
An artist who asks you nothing is also a warning sign. They should want to know about your pain tolerance, your skin, your lifestyle and why you want this tattoo. Without that, they don't have enough information to do good work. Our red flags guide covers more.
How to explain what you want
When you show reference images, say what you like about each one and what you don't. "I want something cool" doesn't give the artist much to work with. "Bold lines with very little shading in a neo-traditional style, about 15 cm, on the outside of my forearm" does.
Describe the mood as well: dark, light and soft, or bold and graphic. Tell the artist which parts you're flexible on and which ones must stay as they are. The more clearly you explain, the closer the first draft will be to what you have in mind. Before the session, you can use an AR try-on to see how a design looks on your body.
