What is a Tattoo Reference Photo?

Artist Bella
Jul 13, 2021
1 min read

Updated: Sep 19, 2021

As professional artists, we don't expect you to be able to draw. And It's also totally ok if you can't find the right words to describe what your vision is. Art is obviously , a very visual thing.

Therefore, when speaking with your artist, the best way to explain what you are wanting to have designed, is through photo references. Visual references with photos, screenshots and drawings (even if the drawing is terrible because you can barely draw stick figures ;)) are the best form of communicating your artistic vision.

The best thing you can do, to prepare for your consultation with your tattoo artist, is really researching the subject matter that you are wanting tattooed.

Take screenshots of everything that you see, that you love.

Then in the following days or weeks, re-visit those photos and start to "weed-out" and delete the ones that aren't your favorite.

Eventually over time, you'll have a perfect selection of 3-4 images that really speak to you.

Then at your tattoo consultation, you can easily point out, using your photos as references, what you like, or don't like, about each image or design.