Let’s Talk Pricing…

Tattoo pricing can feel like a mystery sometimes, right? Some artists charge per piece, others go by session, and some stick with hourly rates. So, why do I personally prefer charging hourly? Great question…let me break it down!

Over the years, I’ve experimented with different pricing methods, and hands down, I’ve found that hourly with a timer is the fairest and most transparent way to go. Here's why:

Creating a beautiful, detailed tattoo especially when it’s realism or anything intricate requires deep focus and intentional pacing. There’s no “rushing through” good art. I want to give each tattoo the time it truly deserves without cutting corners or feeling pressured to speed things up just to fit a flat rate or limited session time.

When I work, I’m fully tuned in matching tones, perfecting shading, making sure every line and highlight translates from the reference photo to your skin as accurately as possible. It’s all about that attention to detail.

Now here’s the fun part: I use a timer built right into my power supply that only runs while the tattoo machine is actively working. That means you’re only being charged for actual tattooing time no breaks, no prep, no small talk, no distractions. Just pure, focused tattooing.

The system even lets me set an hourly rate and then calculates the cost based on the exact machine run-time. This keeps everything super fair and transparent for both of us. You’ll never be left wondering, “Was I charged for that snack break?” (Short answer: nope!)

At the end of the day, this method helps keep sessions stress-free, focused, and totally fair for me as the artist and for you as the client.

Power supply showing the voltage and Tattoo time.