THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GETTING A PORTRAIT TATTOO
Portrait tattoos must be done correctly – no questions asked. Even the slightest misstep in the process of planning the tattoo all the way up to its aftercare can make a huge difference in its accuracy and quality. But don’t stress! I’ve got all the info you need here. Read on, my friend…
We are going to cover how to make the three very important decisions you will be making in getting your tattoo, and the role each of these play in the final outcome.
Decision #1: HOW TO SELECT THE BEST REFERENCE IMAGE FOR YOUR PORTRAIT TATTOO
The quality of your reference image directly correlates to the quality of your tattoo; to produce a great tattoo we need a great photo to work off.
The better the photo, the better the tattoo.
As an artist responsible for precisely mimicking a photo to provide you with a realistic and impactful piece, I need to be able to read the information in the photo. The subject’s facial expression, the structure of their jaw, the sparkle in their eye – it’s the ability to mimic these minute details that will give you the best realism portrait tattoo possible.
And to get the best realism tattoo possible, don’t expect a person’s entire body to be tattooed – good realism tattoos usually just capture a person’s face. Tattooing subjects “close-up” like this allows tattooers to include those minute details. It’s best when looking for reference images to source those that just have a face in the frame, rather than the entire body.
Take a look at the lighting of your photos too. Avoid images that are washed out, as this will reduce the ability to make out those finer facial details. The tonal values of your photo will play a big role in the disposition of your piece, so pay attention to how the light and shadows in the picture pick up the contours of the subject’s face.
When providing your tattoo artist with your reference images, send the highest resolution version possible. Keep in mind that when sending via text message or email, the resolution will be compressed.
If you have a few images to choose from, send them all through. Your artist will be able to discern which will best translate in tattoo form.
If your photo is a hardcopy, ask your artist if you’re able to bring it into the studio to be scanned. Most portrait tattoo artists will have a high-quality scanner.
I’ve provided some simple bullet points you can refer to when searching for tattoo reference image material. Click here to take a look.
Decision #2: HOW TO SELECT THE BEST LOCATION ON YOUR BODY FOR YOUR TATTOO
Tattoo placement can make or break how your tattoo appears (as explained in this post). Never underestimate the effect the shapes and contours of your body can have on the look of your tattoo.
The key here is selecting a place on your body that will enhance your portrait tattoo, rather than undermine it. This means finding a place on your body that is large enough, and flat enough.
For realism portrait tattoos to be done with precision and as true to life as possible, they need to be large enough to fit enough detail in to do so. Take my Harry Potter portrait for example: if we had halved the amount of space on the skin to do this tattoo, there’s no way I could have included the level of detail to the hairs on his eyebrow, the sweat on his forehead, the creases around his eyes that ultimately define his expression. Have you ever seen a small tattoo that looks completely life-like? I rest my case.
To this end, I will normally recommend having portrait tattoos located on large, flat surfaces of skin. The inner bicep is usually the best place for a portrait tattoo. This is dependent on each person’s frame (if you’re a big guy your forearm is likely a canvas just waiting for a portrait; if you’re small-framed we’d be bypassing the forearm to view the real estate on your upper arms or legs).
Having your portrait tattooed on a flat area of your body means that it won’t be contorted when you move around. It will maintain its appearance regardless of your movement and the angle it’s viewed from.
Decision #3: HOW TO SELECT THE BEST PORTRAIT TATTOO ARTIST FOR YOU
If you’re going to get a tattoo - especially a realism portrait – deciding which tattoo artist is best suited to carry out the work is massive.
You’ve got to ask yourself what price you’re prepared to pay for the quality of tattoo that you’re after.
Then you’ve got to ask which artist you’re prepared to put your trust in.
Luckily for you, Instagram makes it wildly easy to view an artist’s portfolio. Only ever choose an artist with a proven record of producing insanely good portrait tattoos, and question photos that look heavily edited.
Chat with your chosen artist and provide your reference images, plus images of the area you’d like tattooed, and gauge their response. If you’re like me, you believe tattoos should be a collaboration between the artist and client, meaning both are truly invested in the idea. As most portrait tattoos have a depth of meaning behind them, you want to make sure that your artist is fully committed and serious about your piece.
Also, consider the quote that they provide, and please think twice before going cheap. Many factors influence how artists price their tattoos, one of which is skill. While I wouldn’t expect you to take out a loan and sell your third child to pay for your tattoo, I would expect that you will at least pay what you can for quality and precision. If selecting the best artist means delaying your tattoo by a few months to save some extra cash, do it. Your third child will thank you.
It’s easy to see why the decisions you make during each stage of the tattoo process will affect the outcome of your piece. By making your image, placement, and artist decisions wisely, you are laying the groundwork for the creation of a phenomenal tattoo – one destined to be the best possible, rather than a massive fail.
To finish off I want to mention aftercare. It’s really important that you do all you can to promote healthy healing of your tattoo. If not taken care of properly, it can really compromise the final healed look of the piece. Once you have booked your tattoo, I highly recommend you take a read of my aftercare tips and take notes.
If you found this article helpful you can check out my blog or follow me on Instagram, where I regularly post tips to help you triumph with your tattoos.
Happy tat zapping,
Jeremy
