Getting hired · 7 min read
Building a tattoo portfolio
Your portfolio is the whole application. A shop owner decides in about forty seconds, and most of that decision is made on presentation, not talent.
Photograph it properly
Shoot in daylight near a window, with the limb straight and the skin clean and un-shiny. Wipe off ointment shine, fill the frame with the tattoo, and don't use a filter.
Take the same shot again at two weeks, six weeks and three months. The healed version is the one that gets you hired.
Pick a lane
A portfolio that shows fine line, realism, traditional and lettering says you haven't decided what you are. Lead with the style you want to be booked for, and keep the rest in a second section or leave it out.
Order and cut
Open and close with your two strongest pieces. Cut anything you'd feel the need to explain. Fifteen pieces you're proud of beats forty with apologies attached.
- Caption each piece: style, size, placement, number of sessions.
- Include at least three healed shots.
- Show one or two full-scale pieces if you want large work.
- Remove anything more than two years old unless it's exceptional.
Where to host it
Instagram is still the default, and a grid that reads cleanly at thumbnail size matters. Back it with a simple site or a single PDF so a shop owner can look without an account.
Make contact obvious: one email address, one booking link, and the city you work in.
Frequently asked questions
- How many pieces should a tattoo portfolio have?
- Ten to fifteen for a job application. A public Instagram can hold more, but the book you hand over should be curated.
- Do I need healed photos?
- Yes. Healed work is the only thing that shows how your lines and shading settle, and experienced owners look for it first.
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