Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Smith.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I apprenticed to tattoo in San Francisco at Rose Golds on Haight Street. I continued to work in San Francisco for five years before moving to Austin to tattoo. I am currently working at Amillion Tattoo in North Austin.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge was finding an apprenticeship and then everything after that, haha. Tattooing is hard. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you learn that you know nothing. That same obstacle makes tattooing exciting for me. I like that I can continue to learn and see the results.
There are some more obvious challenges to being a female tattooer. I was offered apprenticeships for sexual favors. I still deal with male clients that cross boundaries. I have never had a problem advocating for myself but have also been fortunate that my encounters only go that far. I know many female tattooers who have suffered worse.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make tattoos. Tattooing is a special kind of art. It serves your community, it connects you to your community and beyond. I like to think about all of my tattoos floating around the world. I always struggle to define my work, but I guess my style would be considered illustrative. I love traditional tattoo imagery and ideas. Snakes, flowers, skulls, animals and lady heads are usually what I am drawing. My biggest request from my clients are usually chrysanthemum flowers and snakes. I never get tired of drawing them. I draw a lot of my tattoos directly onto the skin, it helps me create a better movement with the client’s anatomy.
I would say that I am most proud of how my tattoos make my female clients feel about their bodies. I receive a lot of messages after tattoo appointments from my female clients. They tell me they are thankful for me, for making them feel comfortable and helping them take back their body. I can relate to their sentiment. A big part of my tattoo journey was to take back my body. I hated my legs for being muscular and big when I was growing up. I started getting my legs tattooed and all of a sudden, an inner confidence came out. I loved my legs and wanted to show them off. Knowing that I can give that feeling to so many of my clients is the best part of my job.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
My dad always says, “you make your own luck.” I would like to say I agree a bit with that sentiment. I was fortunate to grow up with security, financially and emotionally. I have always had support from my loved ones to go out there and reach my goals. I think that was the first lucky gold coin I got and really all I needed. My parents were both very successful in their jobs and taught me a lot. They both taught me how to be confident in myself and how to talk to anyone. That has been my superpower for my business.
Pricing:
- 200 per hour
Contact Info:
- Email: stephaniesmithtattoo@gmail.com
- Instagram: @stephaniesmithtattoos
Image Credits
Nikole Velasco
