Thoughts
WordPress article from davetedder.com: "What to Expect at a Custom Tattoo Consultation" (https://davetedder.com/custom-tattoo-consultation/) A custom tattoo consultation is a planning session where we figure out what you want, where it goes, how many sessions it takes, and what it costs. Everything gets decided before any work starts. No guessing, no surprises. Reaching Out: Start with the tattoo request form on my website or a phone call to the shop. Tell me what you want (subject, style, general concept), where on your body, how much coverage, any reference images. You don't need a finished design. "I want a Japanese dragon sleeve" gives me plenty to work with. The First Conversation: For local clients near Havelock, New Bern, or Morehead City, the consultation happens in person at the shop. For clients coming from further out, we can do the initial planning over phone or video call. We discuss concept and subject matter, placement and coverage, scope and session structure, and cost. For Japanese work, this includes choosing motifs and their symbolism and deciding on the overall composition direction. Design and Planning: After the consultation, I draw. For Japanese work, I sketch concepts based on our conversation, working from traditional woodblock print references (Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi, Kunisada) and adapting them to fit your body and the composition we discussed. For American Traditional, I design the piece from my knowledge of the style's rules and visual vocabulary. I don't work from AI-generated images, other artists' tattoo photos, or downloaded designs. Everything is drawn by hand, customized for you and the specific body placement. Setting the Schedule: Sessions are typically spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart to allow for healing. For each session, I tell you in advance what we'll accomplish: "Session 1 is the full outline. Session 2 is background on the upper arm. Session 3 is foreground and detail." Japanese work gets priority booking. Consultation usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. For larger projects like Japanese sleeves or backpieces, it might run longer because there are more composition decisions to make.