Why don't I give fixed quotes? Because "Honest Pricing" means you pay for the work done, not a padded estimate. Here is why paying for time is cheaper and fairer for you.
It’s the most common question I get, and it’s the hardest one to answer with a single number.
If you look at my pricing page, you’ll see I work on a duration-based pricing model. You are booking a block of my time—whether that’s a full day or a half day—rather than paying a fixed price for a "product."
Coming from a background in construction project management, I know that fixed quotes are often a gamble. In that industry, if a contractor gives you a fixed price, they add a "contingency" buffer to cover themselves if things go wrong. If things don't go wrong, they keep the extra profit.
I don’t work like that. I call my approach Honest Pricing. Here is why it’s the fairest way to pay for a realism tattoo in Sheffield.
For me to give you a 100% guaranteed fixed price for a tattoo, I would have to price it based on the worst-case scenario.
I would have to assume:
If I priced for all that, I’d likely have to charge you double the standard rate just to cover my back. That isn’t fair to the clients who sit like rocks, have great skin, and turn up on time.
I know exactly how long it should take me to tattoo a portrait. But once the needle hits the skin, there are four major factors that are out of my hands:
Everyone’s canvas is different. Some people have skin that takes ink like butter—I can work fast and get incredible saturation quickly. Others have skin that swells instantly, goes red, or becomes blotchy. When skin fights back, I have to slow down to ensure the quality doesn't suffer.
This is the biggest variable. I have clients who can sit for 8 hours without a murmur. I have others who need a 15-minute break every hour. If you need regular breaks, the tattoo takes longer. Under a fixed price, I’d be rushing you. Under duration-based pricing, you get the time you need, but you pay for the time you take.
If you’re booked for a day session and you turn up 45 minutes late, that is 45 minutes of tattooing time lost.
If we agreed on a design during the consultation, but you arrive on the day wanting to change the layout or swap a reference photo, that redesign time eats into the tattooing time.
When you book me, you aren't buying a sticker; you are hiring a craftsman. You are paying for my expertise, my studio standards, and my undivided attention for that booked slot.
It keeps things transparent. You know exactly what the rate is, and you know that every penny goes towards the time spent creating your artwork—not into a "just in case" buffer.
Ready to book your session? Check my availability and let's get to work.