Every year around the holidays, I get questions about gift cards. I genuinely appreciate the thought behind it — tattoos are meaningful gifts, and it’s flattering that people want to surprise someone with artwork from me.
But here’s the honest truth: I’m not a grinch! The type of work I do simply doesn’t fit inside the typical gift-card system. And rather than quietly brushing off the question each year, I wanted to explain why — so you understand it’s not about being difficult, it’s about maintaining the integrity of the work.
1. My Work Is Highly Selective — I Don’t Take Every Project
I focus on large-scale black and gray realism, and I’m very particular about the projects I take on. I need the freedom to choose pieces that fit my style, my skill set, and my current booking structure. A gift card means anyone can hand someone a prepaid “spot” in my schedule for a tattoo I may not take on. That doesn’t work with how intentional I am about every piece I create.
2. Sales, Discounts, and “Specials” Undermine the Artwork
Gift card “deals” — like the buy $400, get $800 promotions you see floating around — sound amazing on the surface. But here’s the deal; Warning- SPOILER: You’re not getting an $800 tattoo for $400. You’re getting a $400 tattoo, and the shop is inflating the “value” for marketing purposes. When you’re doing custom realism that takes multiple sessions, high-level detail, and specific preparation, there is no such thing as a discount day. I can’t “mark down” hours of work, planning, and technical execution. This is my livelihood — and I give 110% to every tattoo I put on someone. That level of effort is not something I can or should discount.
3. Gift Cards Create Massive Logistical Problems
People rarely think about what happens after they buy one. Here’s what I’ve personally dealt with: Someone losing a gift card and expecting it to be “magically redeemed” anyway. People trying to cash out multiple cards at once. Clients waiting 3–5 years to use a card. People selling the gift cards for a discount. And the biggest one: On the day the person redeems the card… I don’t get paid. I just receive a piece of paper for work I’m doing today. For a one-artist studio, that becomes a real issue.
4. I Need Control Over My Schedule and Cash Flow
Realism projects are booked with intention. They take planning, multiple sessions, and structured scheduling. Gift cards often create surprise, last-minute obligations that disrupt that flow — and can lead to people holding a “spot” for work I might not accept today.
5. If a Shop Is Offering Huge Gift Card Deals… Beware!!
I hate to say it, but it’s true: Deep-discount gift card promotions are almost always a sign that a shop is trying to make money during slow season (Holidays). Quality artists don’t run “shopping mall” promotions. They don’t do BOGO gift cards. They don’t discount artwork. If you’re buying a gift for someone, you want them to receive something crafted with care — not a rushed coupon tattoo.
6. Bottom Line: I’d Love to Offer Them… but I Can’t.
I wish gift cards made sense in my business model, but they don’t — and being transparent about that protects both you and me.
If someone wants to gift a tattoo from me, the best approach is to support them through my normal booking process — and once we confirm the project, they can put money toward the deposit or appointment. That way the artwork, the plan, and the budget all make sense together. If it’s a project I’m excited about, we can move forward the right way — with intention, clarity, and the level of care that my work requires.
Thanks for understanding. I’m grateful for every client who values my work enough to want to gift it. Not offering gift cards isn’t about saying no — it’s about making sure every piece I create gets the time, attention, and quality it deserves.
