Picture someone with a phone photo of their dog, a rough idea that it belongs on the forearm, and no clue what happens next. That is a normal place to start, and it is enough.
The custom tattoo design process at M. Jones Tattoos runs in four steps. You send a photo or reference for an online quote, we settle size, placement and level of detail, you pay a deposit to hold an open day, and then you get tattooed. The rate is $150 an hour with an $80 minimum, and the deposit applies to your final price.
What does the custom tattoo design process look like from first photo to booked day?
It starts with a reference, not a finished drawing. You submit a photo, a sketch, a screenshot, or a description through the online quote form, and that gives me something concrete to price and plan around.
From there, the conversation is about four things: what the subject is, where it goes on your body, how big it should be, and how much detail you want. Those four answers decide almost everything else. A portrait on the outer forearm and a landscape across a calf are different jobs even if both start as a single photo.
Once the plan makes sense to both of us, you pay the deposit and pick an open day. That is the point where the work is on the calendar.
Why detail changes the hours more than size does
A small tattoo with dense detail can take longer than a larger one with open space. Realism is the clearest example: skin tone, hair, eyes, fabric texture and background all take hours, and a tight face at palm size asks more of the needle than a bold shape at twice that size.
These are the time ranges I work from:
| Piece | Typical tattooing time |
|---|---|
| Detailed portrait | 2 to 3+ hours (longer with background or clothing detail) |
| Simple half sleeve | 4 to 5 hours |
| Detailed half sleeve | 6 to 8 hours |
| Full sleeve | 12 to 16+ hours (a full outer sleeve is about half that) |
Color generally takes longer than black and gray, so a color version of the same design usually means more hours. Hours are what move the price, since the rate is $150 an hour. A sleeve is spread over several sessions with healing time between them, so plan for it to unfold over a stretch of time rather than one weekend.
What I'd tell you to bring, and what to skip
Bring a clear reference and a firm sense of placement. Everything else we can work out together.
- Good source photos. For a pet or a person, a sharp, well-lit photo beats a dozen blurry ones. If you have two or three angles, send them all.
- Placement in mind. Tell me where you want it, even roughly. Placement affects how the design flows and how much room the subject gets.
- A sense of mood. Soft and quiet, high contrast, bright and saturated. A line like that tells me more than a paragraph of description.
- Honest priorities. If budget or time is tight, say so up front. It is easier to shape a design to fit than to trim it later.
What you can skip is a polished drawing. You do not need to arrive with finished artwork, and you do not need to know the technical vocabulary. If your idea is a mountain range you saw once and a feeling about it, that is workable.
How the deposit works
The deposit holds your date, and it comes off your final price. It scales with the length of the session:
| Session length | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Under 30 minutes | $40 |
| Under 2 hours | $80 |
| Over 2 hours | $100 |
| Full day (7 hours of tattooing) | $1,000 |
A full day at $1,000 for 7 hours is the option for larger pieces where you want to get as much done in one sitting as the skin and your stamina allow. The studio is private and appointment only, and clients need to be 18 or older.
Where this process can go wrong
The usual trouble is a mismatch between the idea and the space. A highly detailed portrait shrunk to the size of a coin will not hold up as the tattoo ages, and I will tell you that rather than just do it. Likewise, if a reference photo is too low in resolution to read the fine features, we may need a better one before the quote means anything.
I also do not advertise cover-up work, so this process is built around fresh, custom pieces on clean skin.
Start with a photo
If you have a subject in mind, the next step is simple: send a reference through the online quote at mjonestattoos.com, or call +14133663685 with questions first. Once the plan and price make sense, pay the deposit and pick an open day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a finished design before I request a quote from M. Jones Tattoos?
No, a photo or reference and a rough idea of placement is enough to get a quote. A finished drawing is not required. The more clearly you can describe size and level of detail, the more accurate the estimate will be.
Does color make a custom tattoo take longer than black and gray?
Yes, color generally takes longer than black and gray. The extra time comes from building and blending color layers, so the same design in color usually means more billable hours at $150 an hour.
Can I walk in to talk about a custom tattoo?
No, the studio is private and appointment only, with no walk-in service. Start with the online quote or call +14133663685, then pick an open day once your deposit is paid.
How many sessions does a full sleeve take?
A full sleeve is about 12 to 16+ hours of tattooing, spread over several sessions with healing time between them. A full outer sleeve is roughly half that. The exact number of sessions depends on the detail, whether it is color, and how long you want each sitting to be.