We charge by the hour for tattoos and will give an approximate time quote when design, placement, size and artist have been determined. Any quote given prior to finalizing these details will be a rough estimate.

Prices for single sitting (small) tattoos are determined upon completion of the tattoo, although we will give an approximate of time requirements at the time of booking. All clients are different and all skin types are different which can affect the overall time required to complete a tattoo.

Prices for large pieces are determined on a hourly rate of sitting-by-sitting basis only, although we will give an approximation of time requirements at the start of the project. This will ensure the quality of work and that neither artist nor client gets locked into a predetermined price that may be no longer accurate by the end of the project.

We advocate custom artwork for all tattoos, from the smallest design to the largest projects, but we also bill for any artwork that is required for your tattoo.

If you bring in reference of designs that you like but that we need to put together in a completed drawing, we will typically schedule this as part of your tattoo time and you’re billed accordingly.

We are here to provide you with the best service and top quality artwork available in the industry today, please be as committed to your tattoo as we are!

	minimum charge	hourly rate	art work	consultations
Miranda	$100	$140	$50+	$10
Tracy *	$100	$150	$50+	$10
Jesse	$100	$160	$50+	$10

*effective January 1st, 2010, consultations will be subject to a charge of $10

Appointments are required, and cannot be booked over the phone for several reasons. 1.  We need to see a design or artwork to determine how long the appointment will need to be.  2. We also require a deposit on all appointments, this cannot be done over the phone.   

We will do our best to give you as much information over the phone as possible, but it is always best to bring your artwork and questions into the studio so that we can answer your questions as accurately as possible.

* Tracy is currently not taking any new clients.  Please call the studio for more details.

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TATTOO CONSULTATIONS

Tattoo consultations are $10 and are typically booked for 30 minutes. The wait time for consultations vary, but is typically 2-3 weeks.

To keep our studio running efficiently, we need to see your tattoo design or reference prior to booking a consultation and for that reason, we do NOT book tattoo consultations over the phone.

Consultations are not always necessary and often times our experienced receptionists will be able to work with you to finalize your artwork ideas without having to book a consultation with an artist. This can obviously expedite the process of booking your tattoo appointment.

Consultation Appointment Prerequisites: You must be able to answer YES to the following questions prior to booking a tattoo consultation as well as come into the studio with your reference or design in hand:

Do you know what you want for a tattoo? You must have a solid idea of what you want as a tattoo! Believe it or not, we regularly have clients who want to book a consultation because they want a tattoo but they don’t know what they want!

During the consultation process, our artists will offer professional and creative advice on design, color choices, style, placement and size but will NOT help you decide on what it is that YOU want - So, first and foremost, YOU MUST have some sort of idea of what you want to have tattooed

Do you know where on your body you want to put the tattoo and what size you want it to be? Again, our artists will help you decide on the best placement and size for your tattoo, but you must come to us with at least an idea of where you want to put it and how large or small you want it to be.

Do you have reference? Reference can be either photos, images from the internet or simple sketches. Any of these things will help us to understand what you are looking for, but you MUST bring reference to your consultation appointment.

Do you know who you want to do your tattoo? Please take the time to look through our artist portfolios either online or in the studio to decide on which artist you would like to work with.

TATTOO APPOINTMENTS

Tattoo Appointment Prerequisites: You must be able to answer YES to the following questions before booking a tattoo appointment:

Do you have completed artwork or have you had a consultation? We will not book a tattoo appointment for you until we know what it is, where it’s going and how large it will be. That means that you need to either consult in person with our reception, have a consultation with an artist (see guidelines above) or have an exact picture of your tattoo.

Have you left a deposit? All tattoo appointments are subject to a 50% non-refundable, non-transferable deposit. (meaning you can’t give your deposit to a friend, nor can you get your money back). This means that prior to booking any tattoo appointment you must come into the studio - we CANNOT book appointments over the phone. We also do not allow any exceptions to our policies when it comes to deposits.

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People get tattoos for many different and valid reasons. Think carefully about your reasons, and make some informed, wise decisions about what to do with your body. Tattooing can be beautiful. Tattooing can be exciting & fun. Tattooing can open a whole new world for you, but make sure to do it RIGHT. Remember, you are making a permanent change to your body and appearance, don't just get a tattoo because your friend got one.

The decision to get a tattoo should be a serious, well thought about, well-informed decision. Maybe you should get a tattoo on your back instead of on your hand? Maybe you should get a tattoo on your left wrist so it can be covered by your watch if you have to? Maybe you should have your children’s names around your ankle? Or maybe you want a koi sleeve to represent perseverance. Maybe after reading this, you'll think carefully about it, and make some informed, wise decisions about what to do with your body. 

Take some time to research your tattoo and especially research the shop and the tattooer that you are going to be working with.  Go through portfolios, visit the studio of your choice, ask your friends who did their tattoos - there are a lot of tattooers and tattoo shops out there that will give you a great tattoo - make sure you pick one that you're comfortable with.

Don't go into permanent change lightly - this decision will affect you for the rest of your life.

- Tracy  tattooer artist and owner, Renaissance Studio

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We will take the time to discuss your ideas thoroughly and will not tattoo you until all details of the tattoo are decided so that you will be satisfied with the end result of your tattoo.  Your tattoo will be applied with sterile equipment and procedure and with non-toxic colors. We guarantee the workmanship. Healing and caring of your new tattoo is YOUR responsibility.

If you follow our aftercare instructions carefully and you will have a crisp, bright tattoo for the rest of your life. Disregard them and you will go through life wondering why your friend’s tattoo looks better than your tattoo. All bodies are different, all healing is different and all tattooers are different.   The methods that we recommend are from our years of experience with clients healing OUR work and healing work on our bodies.  If you are not sure about the way your tattoo is healing, then give us a call or stop by and let us evaluate your tattoo’s progress.  (see touch ups)

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Is it safe?

Your new tattoo is applied under the strictest guidelines. We are a health inspected & approved studio and test our autoclave monthly with UBC.

All needles are new and sterilized in a steam and pressure sterilizer known as an autoclave. All stainless steel tubes are sterilized in the same manner and packaged in separate bags. The needle and tube assemblies used for each client remain in a sealed, sterile bag until they are removed in front of the client. Pigment receptacles and excess pigments and any other items are disposed of after use. Disposable gloves are worn by the artist at all times.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to come in and meet our artists or have a tour of our studio.

Does it hurt?

The answer is yes. Having needles pierce your skin does hurt. But what you really want to know is "How MUCH does it hurt, and can I handle it?". It's not nearly as bad as what you might imagine. The pain comes from the cluster of needles on the tattooing machine piercing your skin very rapidly. This sensation, however, doesn't feel like the poking pain of an injection--it's more of a constant vibration. You will be amazed at how quickly your body releases endorphins, (pain killers), which dull the pain significantly. The pain will also vary according to where on your body you get worked on. Skin above bones (collarbone, anklebone, etc.) tend to be more painful than other areas. Remember, you are volunteering for the experience. The amount of pain will depend on your psychological attitude.

Where do I start?

All tattoos start with a picture. You can bring in your own picture, have a picture custom drawn, or choose a picture from the hundreds of designs we have available.

What about anaesthetics?

Some people say that taking a couple of over-the-counter analgesics before tattooing can take the edge off the pain. Acetaminophen commonly sold under the brand name 'Tylenol' is generally recommended, but NOT aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs, as they tend to inhibit clotting. In short, you may find yourself bleeding like the proverbial stuck pig.

There are topical anaesthetics available, we recommend EMLA, an over the counter topical anaesthetic. When used properly it will work well on unbroken skin.  We also have a topical numbing spray which is VERY effective and can be used once the skin has been broken.  This spray can be requested for a nominal fee. 

How much does weight gain/loss affect a tattoo?

If your skin stretches from weight gain and then shrinks back up without losing its elasticity (the loss of elasticity is what results in stretch marks), then there won’t be much distortion of the tattoo, perhaps none at all. Tattoos can definitely be affected by stretch marks. Whether you will or won't get stretch marks is apparently determined genetically, so placement is a consideration if you are planning on getting pregnant.

How does pregnancy affect a tattoo near the abdomen?

If you are planning on getting pregnant, you should be very cautious about the placement of any tattoo near the abdominal area. Not only will the tattoo stretch during pregnancy--there is no guarantee that the tattoo will go back to its original shape after the birth of your baby. Be particularly wary of getting any tattoo where the shape is important, such as with symmetrical tribal pieces, or Celtic knots. Even geometric patterns such as a circle could end up looking like an oval (or worse, an irregular blob). A more "giving" image, such as that of clouds, might suit you better.

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How does weight lifting affect a tattoo?

For most people, the amount of muscle gain is nowhere near as quick or as dramatic as what you would see with the stretching of skin on a pregnant person. For this reason, you don't really have to worry about your tattoo changing shape when you start lifting weights.

Can I get a white ink tattoo?

White ink is most often used to highlight certain parts of your tattoo design. The effect of white ink differs greatly among clients and its visibility and retention on the skin has much to do with the natural coloration of your skin.

What do I look for in a portfolio?

When you do look in their portfolio, there are a few things to keep in mind. Do you see any photos of pieces that you recognize in the flash (on the wall, or in a flash book)? If so, how is it rendered in tattoo format? Before anything else, check to see that the lines are clean. Are they well defined? Straight where they should be; not shaky or blurry? Are the borders all uniform in width? Do the colors seem true? Are they bright? Proportionately correct? Is the tattoo well placed on the body part?

No, you can't drink beer while you're getting tattooed, eventhough it would be great.  Sorry.

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