Collecting healed photographs of my work has always been something I value and enjoy doing.

I feel strongly that a tattoo doesn't really look "done" until a few months after its completion; at which point it's settled into the skin and the client has had a chance to wear it. Once a tattoo has been lived in for awhile, it takes on the energy of the wearer and it just feels different. It's a part of them and their story.

Plus, on a more superficial level, I simply like the look of healed black and grey tattoo work. The shading softens, black appears less dark and takes a more organic feel, and the skin is free of any irritation associated with the application and healing process.

Got a healed tattoo from me? Always feel free to reach out! I'd love to grab healed photographs.

I love tattooing flowers.

Floral tattoos lend themselves quite nicely to the flow and form of the human body: complimentary shaped petals that mirror and echo the curves of an arm and leaves that tumble and twirl around the curvature of a rib cage. These design are always a joy to draw and to tattoo. I'm always excited when potential clients reach out with design that include floral elements.

Birth flowers for loved ones, herbs for healing, or botanicals that acknowledge significant life events. Perhaps the blossoms from a wedding bouquet  or blooms which used to adorn the backyard of a grandparent who has since passed away; flowers are a powerful way to mark something meaningful without having to disclose the underlying intent of a tattoo. There is always strength and potency in subtlety.

Flowers emit a balancing of energies. Their bold power exudes delicate grace and a fragility that's met with unforgiving resilience. We give flowers to celebrate birth and acknowledge death. The intoxicating scent of a rose cannot be enjoyed without cautiously minding the prick of its thorns. There's an exciting tension created by two opposing forces together in harmonic union.

Here's some projects that feature floral tattoos...

I've been doing a deep dive into my tattoo photo archives.

I have photographed almost every tattoo I've done in the last 13 years. Every once in awhile I'll go back and look through all the photos, it's a real trip and a valuable experience. It's like watching one of those "flip books" where you move the pages with your thumb and the picture moves like a mini movie (...depicting how my style and craft has evolved over the years).

There's a story behind each piece. Conversations with the client and shared moments of silence while the work was being done. It's a reminder of how lucky I feel to have made so many connections through the years. As some of you may know, I'm not the most chatty tattoo guy, but I still try to be fully present to someone, even if we're not exchanging many words.

Looking through all these photos also reignites my interest in documenting work. I hope this year to begin again having a little more fun with photography. Time to break out the ol' (real) camera...