How to Take a Proper Photo of Your Body Part for Tattoo Design
When planning your tattoo, one of the most important steps is providing a clear photo of the area you want tattooed. This helps me size and design the artwork accurately on my iPad so that it flows naturally with your body. Unfortunately, many of the photos I receive are crooked, reversed, or taken at odd angles, which makes it difficult to prepare the design properly.
Here are some simple guidelines to make sure your photo works:
1. Have Someone Else Take the Photo
Selfies in the mirror or front-facing camera shots often flip or distort the image. This makes it very confusing when trying to tell left from right. The easiest solution is to ask a friend to take the photo for you.
2. Keep It Straight On
Stand naturally and keep the body part flat. The photo should be taken straight on, not twisted, angled, or tilted. Imagine I’ll be placing the design directly on top of that photo — it should match as closely as possible.
3. Indicate Left or Right.
Always specify whether it’s your left or right arm, leg, or side of the body. Don’t assume the photo will make it clear — depending on the camera or mirror, it may come through reversed.
4. Keep It Simple
No filters, no extra background clutter — just a clear, well-lit shot of the body part. Natural lighting works best.
By following these steps, you’ll save us both time and ensure that your tattoo design process goes smoothly. A good photo means I can get your artwork sized and placed correctly the first time.
