sprouler

A lot of the issues stated here seem to be caused by that joint problem area of "assumptions" and "communication breakdown." I always always always talk to my clients before we sit down about what their budget is. To be fair, I don't have a big name or a reputation that precedes me (to the best of my knowledge) like some folks do. However, I still like to have that talk beforehand to forego any hurt feelings at the end.  I don't think it's terribly unreasonable for someone on the other end of the transaction to initiate that conversation either.  In tattooing as in most things, I've found that thorough communication almost always spares uncomfortable situations and hurt feelers. 
In this specific instance, I would let it go. If you're really upset about it (which it doesn't sound like you are) then I would bring it up if you plan on going back to them again before you sit down, but only if you can think of a tactful way to bring it up.  A friend of mine would frequently get tattooed by a Big Name in California, and the last time he got his back worked on was charged for four hours work, but about an hour and a half of that was purportedly taken up with smoke breaks, a consultation, and a personal phone call.  When he brought that up to him during the next session things didn't go so smoothly and he was recommended to have someone else finish his back if he didn't like the way things were.  Now, that is an isolated and second-hand incident, but it's the best example I have of the worst-case-scenario.

Walking around with linework only on my arm. The one I got today was, "Hmmmn, is that even going to look good finished? I kinda think you should just leave the lines."

I've just remembered something a (tattoo hating) friend said to me once:
Her "have you still got that tattoo on your leg?"
Me: "no, it fell off; can you believe that?"

Oh for sure.  The happenstance of tattooing is one of my favorite parts of it. 
Even if you do end up goofing and going to someone you're not super extra pleased with it, don't beat yourself up over it. Ultimately they're just tattoos and you can always get more down the line.

Personally I prefer to dry-heal everything if I can.  However, since moving to Washington from California I've found that there's something with the air that keeps me from dry-healing well.  Or maybe I'm just getting old.

I'm not really sure what all's going on here, but I do know that Sonju is a solid dude. So +1 on that, I guess.

ladyheads

honestly with all your troubles you have described
i get why you are turned off to internet, social media, etc
but then...why are you here
also - stop with these long winded posts man
keep it short and simple
i think part of the issue here is you say waaaaay too much

I think you should take a few hours and watch some LST interview videos before posting again.  Nobody wants to hear every new idea you have every single day, especially when you seem to have no actual interest in educating yourself about good tattoos.

A big ol' eagle always makes for a great chess piece.

Here frands:
Feeling pretty tattoo-flu-y, but I have a steak on the way, and then it's time to drink every water and sleep every sleep. So happy that we finished the areas that were the most painful for me during lining, though.

Couldn't be happier.

I have stretched lobes (gauge is a measurement) and about a dozen other piercings (mostly non-ear piercings). So obviously, I love both. I am done getting anymore piercings for now though and I'm concentrating on tattoos.

the heart with the key and banner was my first tattoo,I got it in 1985,(I was 26)it was for an ex-wife with her name in the banner.it was flash off the wall,that's the way it was back then.
and a couple other stupid choices from a while ago.

.but now it's all nicely covered up ! :)

@Kracov, I highly recommend sharing your ideas with a tattoo artist and let them create something for you.

You're right. I'm going to put "LaToya" in bold, all over my back.  Been with her for 3 months now.  I'm also going to put her kid's faces on my back too.

@mmmsarah where people run into problems at LST is when they beat a dead horse - post or create in 3 or 4 different threads looking for some sort of validation of their tattoo or tattoo idea - no one is bullied or picked on here - but you'll get honesty - and if you're desperate to get honesty in 3 or 4 different threads about the same damn thing - then thats what you'll get - yeah obviously traditional styles win the day here - but thats also because they tend to make the most solid looking tattoos 

I would have to disagree. My experience has been totally the opposite - people have been helpful and tolerant. Again, this is a tattoo forum. People who frequent it tend to be passionate about tattoos and that sometimes leads to strong opinions and discussions. In the end, though, it's a personal decision as to how much stock one places in another's opinion or idea. I have only one tattoo - and it is not of the prevalent style. No one has ever made me feel unwelcome.

Great video @Graeme thanks for sharing.  Filip is almost like a myth for me at this point.  A unicorn.  A great white buffalo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naeJE6Rw7PE
 
Three years ago Filip Leu and Kurt Wiscombe did three collaborative backpieces in three days at the Montreal convention, and here's a short documentary they made about it.

It's not just a UK thing, it's a Washington and LA thing as well. It's a very peculiar concept to me that so many people treat tattoos as a fashion accessory; the "I like this tattoo where they have it, and I want it just like that on me" (ignoring that this person is very possibly built and proportioned very differently than they are. It's fine, not really offensive, and not really my problem; it just seems a bit like they're forgetting that this isn't the must-have phone that they can just trade in after a better one comes out.

OK for me, I do a lot of walk in stuff and as we work in a student town we get a lot of requests for pinterest style stuff. It irks me when people ask for an exact copy of tattoo AND placement (aren't tattoos meant to be individual?), obviously we usually don't copy but if it's a crescent moon outline 2cm big there's only so much you can do with that. We also get huge gangs of girls especially who all try and pile in to watch, and there's usually a tattoo 'expert' among them who of course knows more about tattooing than you do. It also grinds me when someone has to ask all 8 of their friends whether the placement is alright. Before you even get them in the chair, I also hate it when people get shitty with you when you try and advise them on placement, size etc and look at you like you're being a dick. Honestly I could take your money but I'd rather give you a good solid tattoo.
I realise I'm on a roll here, and this is probably a UK thing but I pretty much get asked every single day,3/4x a day whether I watch tattoo fixers. I tell them I don't have a TV licence (which is true). Also fuck those guys.

An ex of mine referred to some Korean folk as being "oriental," to which my friend said "you know they're not spice traders, right?"

An ex of mine referred to some Korean folk as being "oriental," to which my friend said "you know they're not spice traders, right?"

People are Asian. Rugs are oriental.

Man, Dobelman does some awesome stuff.  His color palette alone is rad
edit - back on topic, definitely stick with the griffin sans dates or any other "afterthought" ideas. The manticore idea would be slick if you were trying to cover your whole leg. If not, griffin and manticore on opposing calves (calfs?) would be really solid.