Inside: What to Include in a Tattoo Portfolio.
Whether you are a painter, a fashion designer, or a tattoo artist, you need to put an extra effort into making yourself recognized in a busy industry with a large pool of struggling artists. And for that, you need to make sure you have an appealing portfolio that can showcase your previous work, your working style, and your potential to work in the industry.
The biggest concern for tattoo artists these days is to stand out from the crowd, especially if they are applying for an apprenticeship. So what is the best way you can secure a proper apprenticeship, attract the right clients and make way for your professional future? Well, as we said, it is by making a good tattoo portfolio that can help you get shortlisted for apprenticeship as well as for a full-time job at a tattoo parlor you’ve always wanted.
But most tattoo artists face the real issue of creating a good tattoo portfolio. All tattoo artists know they need to secure an apprenticeship to be able to work as full-time artists professionally – but most don’t know that to secure a sound apprenticeship, they need a good portfolio. While many argue the importance of a portfolio, others are unsure of how to create one.
Therefore, we decided to bring this article to you, which includes everything you need to know about a tattoo portfolio. From why you need one to how you can make a compelling tattoo portfolio – we have compiled everything for you. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
What is a Tattoo Portfolio?
We all know what an artist’s portfolio is – it is a collection of the artists’ best work, edited and compiled to showcase their working style, method, and techniques using the best projects they have done so far. Similarly, a tattoo portfolio is a portfolio featuring a tattoo artist’s best work so far and explaining what working method they use or what they would relate their working style with. Most aspiring tattoo artists use their portfolio to show various techniques they have learned to do until now, the designs they have come up with from scratch, and what they can offer their clients.
Why Do You Need a Tattoo Portfolio?
Every tattoo artist needs an apprenticeship – which is a position like an internship that helps in training and getting experience before you can start an actual job. To secure the apprenticeship at a reputable parlor, you need a compelling portfolio, just like a good CV so that it can land you the job.
Even if you are done with your apprenticeship, you need a portfolio to attract your clients. Most tattoo artists place their portfolios in their tattoo parlors so that clients coming into their shops know what they can offer them. And most importantly, they can look at your previous work for credibility and gain trust.
You can form an online presence – which is very important for every business today. You can post your portfolio online and build a social media page around it (in fact, most people use their social handles as a portfolio itself). This helps you attract potential clients from various parts of the country and make a name for yourself in the industry as well.
Tips for Making a Tattoo Portfolio
If you want to make a killer impression on your clients, you need a tattoo portfolio just as good. Hence, here are some tips to help you with that:
● Make a Compelling Cover Page
It’s best not to judge a book by its cover, but it is human nature only to pick that book whose cover appeals to us. This is why it is important to make a compelling and super appealing cover page that can help you appear more professional and compel your employers or potential clients to read your portfolio further.
● Include your Best Artwork
Most tattoo artists forget to include their artworks – other than the actual tattoos they have done. While it is not mandatory to add these artworks as well, they help showcase your talent and increase your employer’s or client’s trust in you as an artist.
● Keep Digital and Traditional Both
While this is time to transform everything on a digital platform, you need to make sure you make a digital as well as a physical portfolio. Each type has its own perks and plays an important role in attracting your potential audience. While the digital portfolio can help you get more access to more people, the physical portfolio can let people view your work in person upfront.
● Organize Work by Styles
As a true tattoo artist, you must tattoo come in different styles, inspired by different cultural backgrounds or histories, and each tattoo artist might have their style, but they do follow multiple styles. Make sure to make your portfolio organized and divide all the work into categories as per different styles so it doesn’t look messy and people can gauge your work properly.
Make your Tattoo Portfolio!
We are sure you have understood the importance of a tattoo portfolio, so it’s time you start working on your tattoo portfolio. Whether you are an aspiring tattoo artist or a tattoo artist already employed, you need a tattoo portfolio to represent your work to your potential clients and make a name for yourself among the crowd.
Variety of Tattoo Styles to Include
Learn More About Tattoos
- What is an Autoclave? – Using an autoclave allows items to be steamed under pressure to properly kill bacteria and germs. It’s vital that the tools and things are heated to the proper temperature to achieve sterilization. We will teach you all about autoclaves and how you can benefit from using one. While they are normally used in healthcare, they can be used to clean and sanitize tattoo equipment.
- Why your Tattoo Pens Matter – There are various ways to create a tattoo. Tattoo pens are a simplified tool from the traditional tattoo machine that uses a small motor to drive a needle up and down. The result is a simplified and lower cost method of tattoo creation. Read more about tattoo pens and their advantages and disadvantages.
- Tattoo blowouts are not super common, but when they do occur it is generally because of the tattoo artist applying too much pressure. The ink is placed below the surface of the skin and in turn is injected into the next layer of fat. This can cause a number of issue both with the tattoo clarify, longevity, and even some health concerns. Read more about how this happens and what to do.