Question 1

How does your booking process work?

Accepted Answer

Please read carefully, understanding this process helps things go smoothly for everyone involved!
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How Booking Works
Booking opens every 2 months, usually on the 1st day of the month.
When open, a booking form will be made active under the “Appointments” tab on my website. The form stays active for 3 days, closing at 10 PM CST on day 3.
After the form closes, I take 1-2 days to review submissions. Due to high demand, submitting a form does NOT guarantee a spot.
Selected clients will receive a booking link through email. This link will take you to my calendar, where you will be able to choose from any available spot. In order to keep things moving, the link will expire after 48hrs and I will move on to the next in line. 
Please be aware that this grace period does not guarantee that I will have availability by the time you go to schedule. This is especially true towards the tail end of booking when my calendar starts filling up, so it's best to secure your time and pay your deposit ASAP. 
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Details & Policies
Appointments require a deposit of $50–$150 to secure your time. After selecting an appointment time, you will be prompted to pay your deposit through Stripe before your appointment is confirmed.
No appointment is guaranteed unless the deposit has been paid and you have signed the deposit form.
For group bookings, submit one form for everyone involved. There is an "add member" feature that allows you to keep all information neatly separated. 
For handwriting, signatures, or hand-drawn designs, please attach the original photo in your submission.
For pet portraits, include multiple clear photos of the pet. You may request a specific photo for the tattoo, but final choice depends on stencil suitability.
Submissions without required reference photos for handwriting or pet portraits will not be considered. 
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Important Reminders
My booking process is NOT first come first served. Slow down, and make sure your information is entered correctly.
Ensure your phone number and email are correct. If we cannot reach you, we will move on to the next submission. 
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I understand that my booking process can be frustrating and may not be the right fit for everyone. This is what works best for me and has allowed me to maintain a good work/life balance. If I'm not the artist for you, that's totally ok! I am more than happy to assist in finding an appropriate artist for your needs.

Question 2

How do I book an appointment?

Accepted Answer

To book an appointment, simply submit a form when my books open. The form will be available under the "Appointments" tab on my website.

Question 3

How can I book a touchup appointment?

Accepted Answer

There is a booking form underneath the "appointments" tab where you can request a touchup appointment. Make sure you are familiar with my touchup policy, details can be found in the General FAQs!

This form is only for existing work that I have done. If it's another artist's work you want touched up, please send in a submission during my regular booking rounds.

Question 4

What type of tattoos are you more likely to book?

Accepted Answer

microrealism
pet portraits
birds birds birds
fantasy inspired art
baroque/renaissance paintings
trinkets
dainty script
vintage illustrations

Question 5

What type of tattoos are you less likely to book?

Accepted Answer

coverups
comprehensive sleeves
traditional-style tattoos
large scale color
large scale realism
human portraits
tribal
armbands/wrap tattoos

Question 6

Can I see the tattoo design before my appointment?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, no. Your design isn't finalized until the day before your appointment, and due to past instances of art theft, I no longer share them beforehand. I follow the details from your booking form closely, so as long as the information you provided is accurate, it's rare that there’s an issue with the design. On the day of your appointment, there will be time to make any necessary tweaks or adjustments.

Question 7

Can I book for a group session?

Accepted Answer

Yes, just submit one form for everyone involved and please utilize the "add member" feature on the booking form. It makes things much more organized on my end.

Question 8

Can I get more than one tattoo per session?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can! Please include all of your ideas in the booking form. Please note that while I will do my best to accommodate all of your requests, it’s not always guaranteed that I’ll be able to tattoo everything in one session due to time constraints or the complexity of the designs.

Question 9

Do you offer flash?

Accepted Answer

I mainly do custom work, but when I do have flash available it will be posted to my Instagram (@mae.tattoo).

Question 10

Do you accept walk-ins?

Accepted Answer

No, I am by appointment only. I do have the occasional walk-in tattoo event, which will be announced on my Instagram page (@mae.tattoo).

Question 11

Why do you only book yourself out for 2 months?

Accepted Answer

I choose to book appointments in two-month intervals to ensure a healthy work/life balance. This allows me to stay focused on providing the best possible experience for my clients while allowing myself to recharge. By limiting my bookings, I can avoid overcommitting and ensure that I’m always able to dedicate the necessary time and energy to each project.

Question 12

Do you have a waitlist?

Accepted Answer

As of April 1st, 2023, I will no longer have a waitlist. Moving forward, any last-minute openings will be announced and booked through my Instagram broadcast channel. You can find the channel in my Instagram bio under "Updates and Openings." I recommend joining for notifications about last-minute availability.

Question 13

I submitted multiple times, why haven't I gotten in yet?

Accepted Answer

I do my best to accommodate as many people as possible with each booking round, but as a solo artist with limited time, I can’t fit everyone in. I have received over 300 appointment requests in one booking round, so not everyone will be selected. For reference, I can only schedule 75-90 people in the span of 2 months.

I prioritize submissions that align with my tattoo style and vision with a focus on artwork that will help me grow as an artist. From there, the selection process is random. If your submission wasn’t chosen, it doesn’t mean I don’t like your idea—it just means it wasn’t the right fit for that particular round.

Question 14

I have an idea for a tattoo, can you draw it so I can see if I like it?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not draw designs unless you have an appointment with me.

Question 15

Are there any other artists that I can go to?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! If you're unable to get into my books, I encourage you not to wait around, as I can't guarantee a specific timeframe for when I'll be able to accommodate you. Feel free to explore the talented artists listed below. While I can’t speak for their availability or the types of projects they are currently taking on, all of them have styles similar to mine. Be sure to review their booking guidelines and procedures before reaching out.

@familiarshape
@faithjohnsentattoo
@evergreenstudios.chicago
@silverliningtattoogeneva
@k_inx (has a story highlight with fine line artists from the Milwaukee/Chicagoland area)

BookIng Process