Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I book an appointment?

I open my books twice a year and book up 6 months at a time using a booking form. ALL requests must be made through my booking form. I use the form to stay organized, to streamline my process, and to reduce back-and-forth questions.

You must be at least 18 years of age to book a tattoo from me.

Please see my booking tab for more information.

Q: Why do you book so far out?

If you are more of the impulsive type when it comes to your tattoos, I am not the Artist for you :) I batch book many months at a time so I can reduce overbooking, better control my schedule, my admin time, and the flow of my designing. This also gives you an opportunity to save up for your tattoos once you’re all booked in! And trust me, appointment day sneaks up quicker than you may think!

Q: Where is your studio?

I work at Tombstone Tattoos; a private, by-appointment only studio located in Stittsville; with a large, free parking lot on site.

Q: Do you charge hourly or by piece?

Recently I have switched back to hourly pricing and have different rates for custom vs. flash bookings, with a one hour minimum. More details about pricing can be found here.

Q: Do you charge tax?

All tattoos are subject to 13% in sales tax, paid in full on the day of your appointment.

Q: What type of tattoos do you like booking?

I specialize in black & grey, microrealism and highly detailed realism tattoos with an interest in pet portraits, animals, people, surrealism, and flora & fauna. I also love doing small text/script/lettering/handwriting tattoos! The best representation of my style can be seen here or in my Instagram @natashajessietattoos

When submitting a request for a tattoo, please be as specific as possible. If you have an ideal layout in mind for your tattoo, perhaps even include a rough sketch - this can be incredibly useful to me and often saves time on edits later on! I really thrive when working within design parameters and prefer specifics over full creative freedom. If you aren’t sure what to book but would like a tattoo by me, I recommend you check out my flash!

A tattoo is a collaborative effort between Client and Artist, and you deserve to work with an Artist who feels as committed to your project as you are. For this reason, I will only ever take on projects that I feel 100% confident in. I will always respond to all appointment requests regardless, whether I feel that I am fit for the tattoo or not.

Q: Will I see my design ahead of time? What if I want to make edits?

I will always email the design to you the day before your appointment (24 hours usually) by email. If any tweaks or edits are needed, I encourage you to reply then so I have time to make the necessary edits.

When you arrive on appointment day we will go over everything, make further adjustments if need be, and discuss placement and stencilling all prior to tattooing. I always book extra time so that this process does not feel rushed. Making sure you are happy with your design is my top priority and I will never pressure you into getting something tattooed that you don’t want. In the extremely unlikely event that we cannot come to an agreement on edits, I will keep your deposit to cover my designing time and cancel the appointment.

Your tattoo request has been processed and booked based in your original request. Please note that if you have changes to your original tattoo request, I respectfully ask that you email me at least 2 weeks prior to your appointment. Depending on how major the changes are, I may no longer be able to do your tattoo within the time slot we have booked for, which will result in a reschedule or cancellation. If the changes are outside my style or wheelhouse, this will also result in a cancellation.

Q: Do you book flash (pre-designed) tattoos?

Yes! Please see the flash tab to see my current available designs and for more information. Please note all my flash are non repeating, meaning you’ll always have a one-of-a-kind piece that only you wear.

Q: Do you do cover ups?

This really depends on the original tattoo! I enjoy the challenge of coverups, but since the nature of my work is small and very detailed, it does not lend itself well to all coverups. This being said, I‘m always happy to take a look and see what’s possible! Send me an email with a well lit photo of the existing tattoo to natashajessietattoos@gmail.com

Q: Do you book sleeves?

Typically - no. Any sleeve projects I book will be done patchwork style as I prefer to work on stand alone pieces as opposed to large, connected and flowing sleeve projects. A full arm sleeve of patchwork pieces can take anywhere from 4 - 8 full day sessions depending on your anatomy and what you’re looking for.

Q: Are touch ups free?

One free touch up appointment is included in the cost of your appointment if booked within a 6 month period. I always want to make sure that you are wearing the best possible version of my work. If your tattoo requires a touch up after it heals please send me a photo of your piece so I can see how much time I will need to book for you. After 6 months, a rate of $200/hr applies for touch ups. Most touch up appointments are less then an hour and usually booked on Mondays.

Q: How do deposits work?

After submitting a request for a tattoo, a quote will be given to you by email and a deposit will be required before any appointment is officially confirmed. No deposit = no booked tattoo. Your deposit will be deducted from the total of your tattoo after taxes on the day of your appointment.

Please note, I will ONLY ever ask for a deposit via the email natashajessietattoos@gmail.com, never from another email and never on Instagram, etc (beware of scammers!!!)

Q: Can I book on a weekend?

I tattoo Monday to Friday only. Weekends are for family time :) Regular bookings will not be made on weekends, holidays or after 4pm (reserved for small 1hr bookings and touch ups only).

Q: Can I bring someone with me to my appointment?

Yes of course! But if you plan to bring more than 1 or 2 people please give me a heads up.

Q: What should I bring to my appointment?

I always recommend packing snacks, a sweater or blanket, and anything else that makes you feel comfortable! For more information on how to best prep for your appointment, please see here.

Q: Can I use numbing cream?

I don't typically recommend numbing cream as it can make the skin more difficult to tattoo, and your tattoo taking longer to complete. However this being said, if you do wish you use numbing cream please get in touch ahead of your appointment so I can recommend a brand I would prefer you to use, that I have experience with.

Q: What is your reschedule/cancellation policy?

Please see here

Q: What payment options do you have in studio?

We accept cash, etransfer, debit, or credit. Please ensure you factor 13% sales tax into the cost of your tattoo.

Q: Are all bodies welcome?

Any and every body type, skin type, skin tone, gender and sexual identity will always be welcome. All people who are 18+ are welcome and encouraged to book a tattoo with me! I’m continuously working to educate myself on tattooing various skin tones and types, as well as tattooing individuals who may suffer with anxiety and or have had previous negative experiences in the tattoo industry. My tattooing practice prioritizes: informed consent, client self-advocacy, accessibility of services for all individuals, client comfort, client privacy, and mutual respect between the Client and the Artist. Tattooing is a collaborative process and I encourage you to speak up at any point if you feel uncomfortable :)

A note on accessibility: the studio I am at has a large staircase leading up to it and is not wheelchair accessible. If this is an issue please reach out to me and I would be happy to make arrangements to do your tattoo at an alternate studio in Ottawa.

Q: Why aren’t you replying to my DMs?

A lot can get lost in direct messages on Instagram. Please note all booking requests, edits, reschedules, or cancellations made via DM will not be processed as it is simply too difficult to keep up with. All the above must be made by email or via my booking form. The best way to contact me will always be by email at natashajessietattoos@gmail.com

Q: Why didn’t you accept my tattoo request?

Submitting a booking form does not guarantee your request will be accepted. If I turn down your request this may be due to the volume of requests received for the booking period, an incomplete form, confusing request, bad/blurry reference photos, or that your idea simply doesn’t align with the type of work I do. I book projects within my style so that I can always give you my best work, and if I feel overwhelmed or anxious about a particular request I will often turn it down. The good news is that if it’s not the style I specialize in, I’m more than happy to recommend a fellow Artist in the industry!

Art and tattooing is deeply personal and ultimately the last thing I ever want is to disappoint someone, but sometimes Client and Artist are just not the right fit 🖤