TATTOO FAQ
Thank you so much for being here! This page is here to help answer common questions about booking, deposits, consultations, custom tattoos, flash designs, one of a kind designs, cover-ups, process, and communication. My hope is that this drop-down FAQ space helps you feel informed, confident, and clear on what to do next as you journey toward your next tattoo.
booking + policies
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Yes! I offer custom tattoos as well as flash and one of a kind designs.
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Custom tattoos are created based on your individual idea and brought to life in my style.
Flash designs are predrawn pieces that are ready to tattoo and can be tattooed multiple times on different people.
One of a kind designs are unique predrawn pieces that I have created and would especially love to tattoo, but they will only be tattooed once on one individual. -
I offer custom tattoos as well as flash and one of a kind designs, and the booking process looks a little different for each.
If you feel ready to move forward with a custom tattoo, you can fill out the booking request form on my Booking page. Once your request is submitted, you will receive an automated confirmation. If the date you selected does not work or there is anything amiss on the scheduling page, I will reach out to you personally by email.
If you are interested in predrawn work, please visit my Available Designs page to browse flash designs and one of a kind designs.
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A $125 deposit is required to book a custom tattoo appointment. This deposit secures your appointment time, covers the first hour of your tattoo, and helps protect the time I set aside to design, prepare for, and complete your tattoo appointment.
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Deposits are nonrefundable.
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If you need to reschedule your appointment, please email me directly at hello@annarutledge.studio. I kindly ask for at least 48 hours notice for any appointment changes.
Rescheduling with less than 48 hours notice, canceling, or not showing up to your appointment will result in a forfeited deposit.
If you need to reschedule more than once, your deposit will be forfeited and a new deposit will be required to book again.
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I do work hard to reply within 24 hours, but please allow up to 48 hours for a personal response to booking requests or email inquiries.
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If you are not sure what type of appointment fits your idea, please feel free to email me at hello@annarutledge.studio with details about your tattoo. I will do my best to point you in the right direction and give you a rough estimate for time and cost.
Please note that estimates are approximate and not guaranteed. Final timing and pricing can vary depending on placement, size, detail, skin, design adjustments, breaks during the appointment, pain tolerance, and other unforeseen factors that may come up during the tattoo process.
custom tattoos
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Yes! I do offer custom tattoos and love bringing meaningful, thoughtful ideas to life in my own style.
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Absolutely. Reference images are very helpful for giving me a sense of the style, mood, composition, or details you are drawn to. The more clearly you can communicate your idea, the better.
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No. I do not copy another artist’s work exactly. I am happy to use reference images as inspiration, but all custom tattoos are created in my own style and approach. Even if you purchased a “token” or the “right to use” another artists work, I will not tattoo their work.
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Not necessarily. It is helpful to have a general idea of your concept, placement, approximate size, and any reference images you would like to share. From there, I can help guide the process.
If you do not feel confident moving forward with booking right away or feel unsure about the details of your tattoo, you are welcome to book a consultation instead by emailing me directly at hello@annarutledge.studio.
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Yes! I do offer lettering tattoos and can also work from handwriting samples from a loved one.
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That depends on the font, amount of text, placement, and how the skin in that area tends to hold detail. Lettering naturally spreads and softens as it heals and ages, so I always want to make sure your tattoo will remain legible and age well over time. Because I care deeply about the long-term result of your tattoo, I will not tattoo lettering at a size that I do not believe will heal clearly or hold up well over time.
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Not always. I work in my own artistic style, so I always encourage clients to look through my portfolio to make sure my work feels like a good fit for what they are wanting.
flash tattoos
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Flash designs are predrawn flat-rate pieces that are ready to tattoo and can be tattooed multiple times on different people.
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To claim a flash design, please visit my Available Designs page and follow the instructions listed there. Each design will include details on how to move forward.
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Flash designs are typically offered at a flat rate depending on the piece. Pricing will be listed with each design. Price will increase if it is a line piece and you want it to be shaded or colored differently than appears and will be considered “custom.”
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Flash tattoos are handled a little differently than custom work. Most flash designs may require payment in full to claim.
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Once you have claimed a design, please follow the next steps provided or email me directly at hello@annarutledge.studio to schedule your appointment.
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Flash designs are intended to be tattooed as designed. Minor adjustments may be possible depending on the piece, but if you are hoping for customizations, your flash piece will be treated and priced as a custom tattoo.
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Yes. Flash designs are always available and can be tattooed multiple times on different people.
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Placement may vary depending on the design. Some pieces are created with specific placements or sizes in mind to ensure they fit and age well. I am happy to guide you if you are unsure what placement works best.
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Some size adjustments may be possible, but not all designs translate well at every size. I will always aim to keep the integrity, detail, and longevity of the design in mind when discussing size.
If you would like a flash design significantly larger than originally intended, it will be treated and priced as a custom tattoo.
one of a kind designs
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One of a kind designs are unique predrawn pieces that I have created and would especially love to tattoo. It would bring GREAT joy for me to do these! Each design will only be tattooed once on one individual.
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To claim a design, please visit my Available Designs page and follow the instructions listed there.
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Once a design is claimed, it is reserved for you and will not be offered to anyone else. From there, we will move forward with scheduling your exclusively designed tattoo appointment.
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If you feel confident that the design is right for you, I recommend moving forward. And if you want to make sure no one else beat's you to it — that is a great sign you are ready! Since these designs are only tattooed once, they will not be available later.
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These designs are intended to be tattooed as created. Minor adjustments may be possible depending on the piece, but if you are hoping for major customizations that alter the artwork, the design will be treated and priced as a custom tattoo.
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I will always make sure the design fits your body well. Minor adjustments for placement or flow may be made when needed, while still preserving the integrity of the original design.
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Placement may vary depending on the design. Some pieces are created with specific placements in mind to ensure the best fit and long-term result. Each design description will indicate what preferred locations are but as always, feel free to inquire and email me.
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Some size adjustments may be possible, but not all designs translate well at every size. If you are hoping for a significant and drastic size change, the design may be treated and priced as a custom tattoo.
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No. Once a one of a kind design is claimed and tattooed, it will not be repeated.
one of a kind designs
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One of a kind designs are unique predrawn pieces that I have created and would especially love to tattoo. It would bring GREAT joy for me to do these! Each design will only be tattooed once on one individual.
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To claim a design, please visit my Available Designs page and follow the instructions listed there.
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Once a design is claimed, it is reserved for you and will not be offered to anyone else. From there, we will move forward with scheduling your exclusively designed tattoo appointment.
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If you feel confident that the design is right for you, I recommend moving forward. And if you want to make sure no one else beat's you to it — that is a great sign you are ready! Since these designs are only tattooed once, they will not be available later.
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These designs are intended to be tattooed as created. Minor adjustments may be possible depending on the piece, but if you are hoping for major customizations that alter the artwork, the design will be treated and priced as a custom tattoo.
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I will always make sure the design fits your body well. Minor adjustments for placement or flow may be made when needed, while still preserving the integrity of the original design.
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Placement may vary depending on the design. Some pieces are created with specific placements in mind to ensure the best fit and long-term result. Each design description will indicate what preferred locations are but as always, feel free to inquire and email me.
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Some size adjustments may be possible, but not all designs translate well at every size. If you are hoping for a significant and drastic size change, the design may be treated and priced as a custom tattoo.
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No. Once a one of a kind design is claimed and tattooed, it will not be repeated.
consultations
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Not always. Many tattoos can be booked directly if you feel confident in your idea. However, if your project is more complex or you would feel more comfortable talking things through first, a consultation may be a good fit.
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To book a consultation, please email me directly at hello@annarutledge.studio with details about your tattoo idea.
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Consultations are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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Yes. I offer Zoom consultations as an alternative to in-person if that works better for you. Although in person is always better!
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During a consultation, we will talk through your idea, placement, size, and any questions you may have. This is a space to make sure we are aligned before moving forward with booking your tattoo.
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There is no need to overprepare. It is helpful to come with a general idea of what you are hoping for, including any reference images, thoughts on placement, and approximate size if you have them. If you are still figuring things out, that is completely okay.
Consultations are meant to be a space where we can talk through your ideas, help you feel more at ease, and make sure we are both on the same page before you book. My hope is that you leave feeling clear, cared for, and confident moving forward.
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Yes. Consultations are offered at no cost.
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If you feel confident in your idea, you are welcome to move forward with booking. If you feel unsure, want guidance, or have a more complex project, a consultation is a great place to start.
cover-ups
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Yes, I do take on cover-up projects depending on the piece. This is actually part of my “why” I am a tattooer!
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Please include clear photos of the existing tattoo, along with details about size, placement, and what you are hoping to achieve. Good lighting and multiple angles are very helpful.
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No. Cover-ups depend on the size, color, placement, and age of the existing tattoo. Some pieces may require a larger design or a different approach (like some laser removal sessions) to achieve the best result.
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In many cases, yes. Cover-ups often need to be larger or incorporate darker elements or bright and vivid colors in order to properly conceal the existing tattoo.
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In most cases, yes. A consultation is usually recommended for cover-up work so we can assess the existing tattoo and talk through the best approach before booking. In some cases I will go communicate over email if that feels sufficient.
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For more information about survivor cover-up tattoos, please email me directly at hello@annarutledge.studio. You can also learn more about my nonprofit, REMADE, at remadeformore.org which covers the cost of these special cover ups.
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Thank you so much for wanting to support this work. Survivor cover-up tattoos are offered through my nonprofit, REMADE, which exists to support healing and restoration for survivors of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. You can learn more and donate at remadeformore.org.
appointment
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Whether you booked online and your appointment has been approved, or I have manually booked your appointment for you, your spot is secured once your deposit or flash/one of a kind design payment has been fulfilled.
If your tattoo is custom, I will begin preparing for your tattoo and planning your design. If you purchased a flash or one of a kind design, we will go over any needed details by email before your appointment.
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I usually draw custom designs the night before or the morning of your appointment. This allows me to stay focused on each client and create thoughtfully for the time we have scheduled.
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No, designs are not sent ahead of time. We will go over your design together at your appointment and make any minor adjustments needed before tattooing.
My hope is that you have spent time researching artists, have seen my work and portfolio, and that we have communicated well—whether through a consultation or email—so that we both feel confident going into your appointment, both as an artist and as a client.
If major adjustments are needed, we may need to consider rescheduling so I have time to redraw the design. This is why consultations or thorough communication before booking and before your appointment are so important.
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Sometimes I freehand part of your tattoo, or your entire tattoo, with a Sharpie marker before tattooing. This will be discussed prior to your any tattooing, and we will verbally go over the artwork before we tattoo with the machine.
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During our appointment please feel free to let me know if you want to move the stencil. It is so important to me for you to feel comfortable to speak up because this will forever be on your body, and I want to make sure you walk away happy without any wishes or regrets. Your voice matters.
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Yes. We will review the design together and make any reasonable minor changes needed to ensure you feel confident before we begin.
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Please come well-rested, hydrated, and having eaten beforehand. Wearing comfortable clothing that allows access to the area being tattooed is also helpful.
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Please bring a valid ID so we can complete the required paperwork by law. You are also welcome to bring anything you may need to stay comfortable during your session. Water bottles, snacks, and ear buds are always great additions!
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Please avoid bringing a large group of guests with you to your appointment, as seating is limited. One support person is usually okay, but please ask ahead of time if you are unsure.
Please also avoid bringing children, pets, messy food, alcohol, or anything that may make it harder to keep the tattoo area clean, calm, and focused.
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Yes, we will take photos of your tattoo at the end of your appointment. I also love receiving healed photos once your tattoo is healed!
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Payment is completed at the end of your appointment. I accept cash, check, Venmo, PayPal, debit/credit card payments.
I will also provide aftercare instructions so you know how to care for your tattoo as it heals.
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That is completely normal. My goal is to create a calm and comfortable environment for you. We will take things at a pace that feels right, and I am here to support you through the process.
communication
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I do not personally respond to DMs regarding tattoo inquiries, booking, or pricing. I do have autoreplies set up on FB + IG to help point you in the right direction. To keep communication organized and make sure nothing gets missed, I handle tattoo-related communication through my website, booking page, FAQ page, and email.
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The best place to start is my website. You can use my Booking page for custom tattoo requests, my Available Designs page for flash and one of a kind designs, and my FAQ page for common questions.
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Please email me if you are unsure how to move forward, need help choosing the right booking option, need to reschedule, or have a question that is not answered on my website.
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Please email me directly at hello@annarutledge.studio.
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I do work hard to reply within 24 hours, but please allow up to 48 hours for a personal response. It is possible your email has been sent to spam —I do check my spam folder once a week.
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If you have not received a response within 48 hours, please feel free to follow up by email to make sure your message was received.
Email is my preferred method of communication. If you are concerned your email may have gone to spam, you may text or call my Google Voice number as a backup, (651)-337-9005.
READY TO BOOK?
If you feel ready to book your appointment, you can begin your booking request below. I’m honored to create something meaningful with you.