Photographing Tattoos?? Help

Dom_Cabarete

Dom_Cabarete

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Dominic
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Hey guys, i was getting tattood the other day and had my camera gear with me, as i was reviewing some pics she really like them and asked if i could take some pictures of her past clients because she wants a new look for the shop portfolio, something more unified. I was thinking simplicity on a black background, but i dont have the first idea on this kind of subject manner.

How would you do it... Prime, zoom, flash, no flash :help:
 
Depends on the size and location of the tattoo. If it's on a curved part of the body and large I'd go for whatever lens frames the tattoo with the least amount of barrel distortion. Lighting can be what ever is available. Natural or flash (but get it off camera!)

If it's a small tattoo, macro with a ring flash.

Get the white balance right because there is nothing worse with tattoos than the skin tone being orange!
 
Great thanks for the advice. I dont have off camera flash, i really just want to capture the tones of colour make them really pop from the skin, thats why i thought black background, and i know exactly what you mean about orange skin tone. Ill Try and get a flash off camera i really think that would help. Although its time consuming its for people i know so ill be shooting everything in raw and PP all the images taken
 
You might also like to consider using some form of diffuser for the flash. This will give a softer light, for the skin tones.
 
my wallet is already crying but yeah i might have to do that. i could rent a macro lens for the small pieces but i think they will mainly concentrate on their big intricate work.
 
Personally, I'd say you needed a tripod and a big softbox to light the subject. Perhaps a beauty dish as well for some specular highlights.

The cheapest route would be to hire a studio (£30 an hourish, maybe less) and get everyone there for a day.

Oh, and use primes. 35mm, 50mm and 105mm are what I use in a studio. Though, if they're going in a little album, your kit lens at distortion free focal lengths at f/8 would suffice. A nice prime or very nice f/2.8 zoom would be best if the artist wants any blown up to put on a wall.
 
thanks
 
For this shot I used natural light and some fill in from a shoe mounted flash, shot at about 200mm with a 100-400 to keep distortion down. The magic is that the background colour pulls out some of the colours in the tattoos to make them pop :)

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Another...

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beautifull shot :) i have no problem shooting casual shots but this shop specifically wants them for their display books and portfolios so its going to have to be on a black background :(
 
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