Confused about anything? There is no stupid question! Click a question below to jump to the answer, or contact us if you don’t see your question!
- Where is Studio Lovecraft located?
- What are your hours?
- How do I request an appointment?
- Can I come in and meet an artist before I request an appointment?
- What is “Flash?”
- What is a “Custom Piece?”
- Why are tattoos so expensive?
- What if I can’t afford the price I was quoted?
- Why has my artist asked me to come in for a consultation?
- Do I have to pay for a consultation?
- Does my deposit come out of the price of the tattoo?
- Can I chose my artist?
- How can I contact my artist?
- When can I see a draft of my custom design?
- I want to make adjustments to my design. How much will it cost?
- I no longer wish to get a tattoo. Can my friend take my appointment/deposit?
- Does Studio Lovecraft use vegan ink?
- Does getting a tattoo hurt?
- How much will my tattoo cost?
- What is shop minimum?
- Can I pay an hourly rate for my tattoo?
- What is an invoice and why do I need one?
- Why am I being charged a “transaction fee?”
- How do I make payments to Studio Lovecraft?
- I don’t have PayPal. How do I pay?
- What if I can’t afford to keep my appointment?
- What does the due date on my price breakdown mean?
- Can I be added to the waitlist for an earlier appointment?
- I have been told my “invoice has been closed.” What does that mean?
- How far out can I schedule?
- How soon can I schedule?
- What time should I arrive for my appointment?
- What should I wear to my appointment?
- Can I bring a friend to sit with me during my tattoo?
- W hat if I “tap out” or feel like I can’t finish my tattoo?
- How is getting a tattoo by an apprentice artist different?
- I’m concerned that my tattoo may be infected. What should I do?
- What ointments should I use on my new tattoo? Can I use lotion?
- How do I schedule a touch-up?
- I have a complaint/compliment about an artist or staff member. Where should I send my feedback?
- I have credit/gift certificate at Studio Lovecraft! How do I use it?
Q. Where is Studio Lovecraft located?
A. We are located at 977 W Ramsey St, Banning Ca 92220 across the street from the DMV.
Q. What are your hours?
A. Studio Lovecraft is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. We schedule appointments to begin from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. If you have an exceptionally strict schedule, please contact us so we can organize off-hours appointments (upon approval only.)
Q. How do I request an appointment?
A. There are many ways to request an appointment, but the easiest way is to fill out our contact form. This is the fastest way to request an appointment, because by filling one out completely, you will providing us with all the information we need to provide you with a price breakdown and start the booking process. If you saw a design on one our our artists’ Instagram, or would like to claim a design, purchase it from our Flash Book. You will then be invited to fill out an availability form, or you can wait for one of our receptionists to contact you for booking!
Click here to go to our scheduling form: Schedule an Appointment
Click here for more information about scheduling: How to Schedule at Studio Lovecraft
Q. Can I come in and meet an artist before I request an appointment?
A. Yes! If you would like to come in to meet an artist, you are welcome to come in during hours, Sunday through Saturday 12:00pm to 7:00pm. In order to ensure that your artist will be in the studio, we recommend scheduling a consultation. Please contact reception to schedule or fill out our form by using the link below.
Click here to schedule a consultation: Schedule an Appointment
Q. What is “Flash?”
A. Put simply, Flash pieces are designs that an artist has created that they would like to tattoo. Because customization options may be limited, our Flash is usually priced lower than custom work. Additionally, our artists often put their Flash on sale for a limited time, so keep an eye on our Flash Book to take advantage of these deals!
Check out our Flash for sale: Studio Lovecraft Flash Book
Q. What is a “Custom Piece?”
A. A custom piece is a tattoo that an artist designs for you personally. When requesting a custom piece, you and your artist will work together to come up with a concept for your tattoo and your artist will draw a completely original design.
Click here to request a custom piece from one of our artists: Get a Quote for your Custom Tattoo
Q. Why are tattoos so expensive?
A. Tattoos are priced with many factors in mind.
You might be surprised to find out how much time an artist works on your tattoo outside of the actual procedure. Research and concept drawing usually takes at least as much time as the tattoo itself. After that, the studio pays their receptionists who also invest at least eight hours each day to handle booking, coordinating events, and providing the excellent client service Studio Lovecraft is known for.
Additionally, part of the cost of your tattoo is the cost of running a business. Artists share the costs of rent and utilities for the building, all of their supplies, costs of operation, permits, insurance and other necessities to run a business legally and safely, and artists are responsible for paying their share of these costs regardless of how many appointments they book, even if they don’t sell any at all.
Outside of drawing and tattooing, remember to consider the investment of time and expertise a tattoo artist brings to their table. All of our artists have invested years studying art in an academic setting or privately. After that, they accept unpaid internships or apprenticeships to learn to tattoo, which can take two years or more. As a result, your artist can guarantee you a beautiful piece free of scarring or mistakes.
Studio Lovecraft does not subject its apprentices to unpaid internships, however, an apprentice artist who works full time can expect to do so for two years or more before clearing minimum wage based on their sales. An established artist will have invested several years perfecting their technique and building a client base to support his or her family. For this reason, our artists each have different price charts that are set according to their experience and client demand. A more experienced artist who is consistently booked will charge more than an apprentice artist.
Remember that your work is a lifelong investment in art that lasts forever, so don’t shop around for the best price, instead search for the best quality to ensure you won’t have to pay another artist to fix a poor tattoo.
Studio Lovecraft makes getting tattoos affordable! Click here to learn more: Our Payment Plans!
Click here to see our current Price Chart.
Q. What if I can’t afford the price I was quoted?
A. Don’t fret! You don’t need to pay it all at once!
Simply make payments of a quantity and frequency that works for you. For custom pieces, you’re under no obligation to pay any amount all at once and you can take as much time as you need. Please note that flash designs and special events may be subject to special rules, but by clearing your deposit, you will be able to claim your design or lock in your estimate regardless of changes to the artist’s price chart. After that, you can push your appointment date out as far as you need and make payments slowly, for as long as you’d like!
If you would like to adjust your estimate by changing the size or complexity in order to bring your price down, please communicate this to your receptionist by texting (909)430-1400 or emailing studiolovecraft@gmail.com. Additionally, you and your receptionist can discuss the possibility of breaking your design up into sessions so you can pay as you go!
Read more about how Studio Lovecraft makes tattoos affordable: Our Payment Plans!
Q. Why has my artist asked me to come in for a consultation?
A. If you have been invited to come in for a consultation, your artist has requested to meet with you in person to work together on the concept for your tattoo. This may be because they need to take measurements to make sure your piece will fit the requested placement. This is especially true if you are interested in receiving a piece that wraps around your body, is on your sternum or side, or if you have dark skin, as your artist will have to chose colors and a line thickness that will help your tattoo to look its best. If you have requested a custom piece with a lot of elements, your artist may want to talk to you more about placement of those elements in the piece or to learn more about you so as to best tell your story through your artwork.
You may request a consultation even if your artist has not asked you for one. You are also free to decline a consultation.
Schedule a consultation: Schedule an Appointment
Read more about consultations: What to Expect
Q. Do I have to pay for a consultation?
A. No. Consultations are completely free to you, and you are welcome to come in during hours to discuss a design with an artist without any obligation to pay. Just let us know you’re coming in so we can make sure the artist you are requesting will be in the studio to chat with you.
Read more about consultations: What to Expect
Schedule a consultation: Schedule an Appointment
Q. Does my deposit come out of the price of the tattoo?
A. Yes, your deposit is a payment towards your tattoo. The deposit covers your booking and allows the artist to start drawing up your piece. If you “No Show/No Call” your appointment however, your deposit is subject to forfeiture, so please keep us in the loop if you can’t make your appointment. Read more about our fees here.
Read more about deposits: What to Expect
Q. Can I chose my artist?
A. Absolutely! When you begin the booking process, we will ask you who you would like to book with, if you do not know we will attempt to match you with the artist most compatible with your request. You can also chose when you fill out our request form.
Click here to read about our artists: Our Artists
Click here to chose an artist and schedule an appointment: Schedule an Appointment
Q. How can I contact my artist?
A. After scheduling your appointment, your receptionist will provide you with methods of contacting your artist. Most of our artists have not given us approval to provide their phone numbers, but we will offer you their email address and Instagram handle. Instagram is often the best way to get in touch with them. If you have questions about quotes, scheduling, payments, or anything other than your design, please contact reception.
Instagram handles:
David: @deweymonn
Cyn: @art_bycyn
March: @marchymeadows
Ashe: @art_by_ashleyvazmendes
Brett: @brett_does_piercings
Click here to send in a question with our form: Contact Us
Q. When can I see a draft of my custom design?
A. If you have requested a custom design, your artist will start drawing after your deposit is received and your appointment is on the schedule. Please note, that unless specific arrangements have been made, your artist won’t start drawing until your appointment has been scheduled. You can receive a draft within a week of your appointment date by request. During very busy times, you may not receive it until a couple of days before. Please contact your artist if you have questions about your design (see “How can I contact my artist?” above). If you need help reaching your artist, please contact reception.
Note: Reception does not keep copies of artwork and likely will not be able to provide you with updates about your draft.
Click here to send in a question with our form: Contact Us
Q. I want to make adjustments to my design. How much will it cost?
A. We want to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your design. If you would like to make adjustments to your estimate, please communicate with your receptionist and we will happily adjust your invoice for you. If you would like to make adjustments to a design you have already scheduled, communicate that to your artist (see “How can I contact my artist?” above). Most adjustments to the design are free of charge! However, if you would like to significantly change the size, color, or complexity, your balance might change. If you would like your artist to completely redraw your design, your invoice will be subject to a redraw charge, usually not more than $50. We will approve all changes to your balance with you before we charge you. You can request an adjustment at any time.
Click here to see our pricing chart.
The only way to know for sure what the difference will be is to ask, so please contact us!
Q. I no longer want to get a tattoo. Can my friend take my appointment/deposit instead?
A. Your deposits are transferable!
If you have changed your mind about receiving a tattoo, your contributions towards your piece can be credited to your account or transferred to a friend.
We will provide a transfer at no cost to you, however, if your artist has already drawn up a custom piece for you, you will forfeit the drawing fee by cancelling your appointment. On the other hand, if we transfer the same piece to a friend, the fee will transfer to them as well.
Note: Payments are transferable, but not refundable.
Q. Does Studio Lovecraft use vegan ink?
A. Yes. Studio Lovecraft only uses inks that are free of animal products.
Q. Does getting a tattoo hurt?
A. The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: The pain varies from person to person. Some people find it relaxing and can fall asleep, others use coping mechanisms or breathing techniques to push through. Furthermore, where you get your tattoo plays a part in the amount of pain you can expect to experience. Most people report less pain on the upper-outer arm than the ribs for example. Even specific areas in certain places may be more uncomfortable while other parts aren’t painful it all, such as closer to the wrist or closer to the crease in the arm when getting a forearm tattoo. It’s safe to say however, that it get’s easier as you go along. You’ll start to experience a spike in adrenaline which helps take the edge off.
Other symptoms some people might experience include dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, irritability, and rarely, vomiting or fainting. Please communicate your symptoms to your artist so that we can ensure the safest and most enjoyable experience.
On a lighter note, you might experience a very common side-affect to getting a tattoo, you can’t wait to get another one! Somehow, despite the pain, getting tattooed can be very addicting!
See what the fuss is about! Schedule an Appointment
Q. How much will my tattoo cost?
A. Your tattoo will be priced according to the chart of the artist you’ve requested, and will be based on size, color, and complexity. All artists follow their own price chart. The Drawing Fee covers the time they take to draw your design. If you have requested special techniques such as stipple, crosshatching, or portraiture/photo-realism, you may see a detail charge per unit of size on your invoice. Our artists also charge for how many colors they intend to use. Please note, that even if your reference image uses only one color, blue for example, the artist may use a light, medium, and dark blue, which counts as 3 colors. Color ink is a lot more expensive for your artist to purchase than black ink! The Shop Fee will be added to your invoice to cover booking and other business expenses. The Add Session Fee is added for tattoos requiring multiple sessions.
The deposit is not a separate fee – Your deposit payment will go towards paying your total balance. Your deposit will be equal to the Drawing Fee plus the Shop Fee, or 20% of your total, whichever is higher. Your deposit may also be higher if you are booking multiple sessions.
Your invoice will not be adjusted at any point before, during, or after your appointment without your approval, and only at your request for adjustments to your design. If you “No Show/No Call” or cancel your appointment less than 48 hours ahead, your deposit may be forfeited. A late fee may be added if you run significantly late to your appointment.
If you have any questions about your price breakdown, please let us know and we will go over it with you.
Request a price breakdown: Schedule an Appointment
Click here to view our current Price Chart.
Q. What is shop minimum?
A. Shop minimum is a minimum balance required for a tattoo at our shop. In other words, any price breakdown, regardless of how simple the request will be no less than the shop minimum. The minimum depends on which artist does your tattoo, and will equal the Shop Fee + the Drawing Fee + 1 square inch. We are very transparent about our pricing. You can see the price chart here, and get a custom tattoo quote here.
Q. Can I pay an hourly rate for my tattoo?
A. Yes. Our artists each offer an hourly rate, however we typically only recommend going hourly for clients requesting cover-ups or corrective tattooing, when it can be hard to determine how much work the tattoo will take to bring to completion. This is because we feel that tattooing “by the hour” puts stress on the client to “sit well” and may discourage them for requesting breaks or having their artist tattoo them slowly for fear of increasing their bill. This could cause them to ignore their body’s warnings when they feel sick. Furthermore, it may actually become more expensive for the client anyway.
At Studio Lovecraft it is our highest priority that your appointment is as comfortable and safe as possible and that you receive a tattoo you are happy with. As such, we prefer to price custom pieces by size and complexity instead, so that everyone is in agreement as to what is to be done and how much it will cost, even if it will require multiple sessions to complete.
If you would still wish to pay an hourly rate for your request, simply specify when you fill out your appointment request.
Click here: Schedule an appointment!
Q. What is an invoice and why do I need one?
A. When you request a tattoo or purchase a design from our Flash Book, a receptionist will prepare your invoice. This is where you will see your price breakdown in the case of custom designs. Your invoice will show your information about your design and your appointment if you’ve scheduled one. Your invoice is also how you’ll make payments against your balance. Simply click the “Pay with Paypal” button at the top of the page to pay your minimum amount due (which is your deposit amount,) your entire balance, or you can chose an amount to pay by entering it into the blank box. You don’t have to have a PayPal account – check out as guest to use a debit or credit card.
Invoices are generated for all tattoo requests and appointments. If you request a tattoo but change your mind, we will close your invoice (a.k.a. “close your request”) and you will not owe anything towards it.
Your invoice will be emailed to the address you provide. Simple click on the link inside the email to open it up. You can also see your invoices by logging in and clicking “My Tattoo Requests/Invoices” so don’t worry if you accidentally delete the email! You can re-access your invoice as many times as you’d like to make payments or check your appointment information. It is a live invoice, so it will automatically show you the most updated information.
Request one of your own! Schedule an appointment
Read more about making payments: Our Payment Plans!
Q. Why am I being charged a “transaction fee?”
A. Studio Lovecraft uses PayPal to handle all of our transactions to make sure our artists get paid and help our business run smoothly. Unfortunately, this service isn’t free. The transaction fee on your invoice is set to PayPal’s rate of 2.9% for custom invoices, for Flash Book sales it’s a little higher. Unfortunately this is unavoidable but please know that your support is appreciated and you keep us in business!
Q. How do I make payments to Studio Lovecraft?
A. The easiest way to make payments to Studio Lovecraft is to open your invoice and hit the green “Pay with Paypal” button at the top of the page. You may also pay at reception by coming into the studio during hours and dropping off a cash deposit or swiping your card. We are open from Tuesday through Saturday 12:00pm to 7:00pm, but occasionally we close early so be sure to let us know you are coming so we can be ready for you!
Q. I don’t have PayPal. How do I pay?
A. If you would like to pay remotely with a debit or credit card, you can still check out using the Pay with PayPal button on your invoice. Simply “Check out as Guest.”
We can only accept other forms of payment, such as Venmo, ApplePay, GooglePay, etc., in person at the Studio. Sorry for the inconvenience! You may also pay in studio with cash or by swiping your card. We are open from Tuesday through Saturday 12:00pm to 7:00pm. Be sure to let us know you are coming so we can be ready for you!
Q. What if I can’t afford to keep my appointment?
A. If when your appointment date is approaching and you know that you won’t be able to cover your balance in time, simply contact reception and we will push your due date for you so that you can continue making payments against your balance in a manner that works for you! We don’t mind pushing your appointment out as late as you need, just let us know what’s going on and we will happily accommodate you. Please just let us know that you need to reschedule as soon as you do. Because artists lose income holding appointments for clients that make them, cancellations within 48 hours are subject to a fee. Check out our current fee schedule here.
Read more about how Studio Lovecraft makes tattoos affordable: Our Payment Plan!
Q. What does the due date on my price breakdown mean?
A. If you have requested an appointment but haven’t been scheduled yet, your due date has probably been set for one week from the date your breakdown was created. This let’s us know to follow up with you when that date passes to see if you are still interested or if we should close the request. If no activity is seen on your invoice at that point and you haven’t asked us to push the due date out, we will go ahead and close the request.
If you have scheduled an appointment, your due date should be set to the date of your appointment, as payment in full will be due at that time. For tattoos with multiple sessions, the due date will be set for your final appointment.
Q. Can I be added to the waitlist for an earlier appointment date?
A. Studio Lovecraft’s reception desk does not have a waitlist unless an artist has closed their books. In the case of a cancellation, the next client with a design the artist can be best prepared to do at that time will be offered the appointment first. Alternatively, if there are multiple clients we can fill the appointment with, the next appointment on the same day of the week will be contacted and offered the cancelled appointment. For example, if John cancels his Tuesday appointment, Jane who is scheduled for the following Tuesday has first dibs. This is because many of our clients have scheduled particular days of the week to work around their regular schedules, such as days off of work or childcare. Because clients often wait months for their appointments with a heavily booked artist, we must keep it fair for everyone however we can. We thank you for your understanding!
Q. I have been told my “invoice has been closed.” What does that mean?
A. If your invoice has been closed, it means that it was inactive (no payments were made against it) for a long time and we have not been able to reach you to see if you would like us to keep it open for you. The reason this is done is because the artists change their price charts, and we can no longer guarantee the estimate we originally provided you if you have not reached your deposit amount. Per policy, all inactive invoices which are later re-opened will be re-priced to reflect the artist’s current price chart, so make sure to put a deposit down on your piece to hold the estimate at the price quoted.
If you have made payments on an invoice but did not reach the deposit amount and your invoice later became inactive, the payments you made can be converted to credit. Pay
If you would like to re-open a closed invoice, please contact reception so that we can re-open it for you. Note: the price may be updated to the most recent pricing chart.
Click here to read more about our Cancellation Policy.
Q. How far out can I schedule?
A. As far as you’d like! The only limitation is how far out your artist is currently scheduling. There is no requirement to take the next earliest appointment, and we recommend pushing out your appointment far enough that you can comfortably make as many contributions as you need to pay off your balance before you come in. If you want to schedule for a date further in the future than your artist is currently scheduling, we can add you to a waitlist.
We do request that you schedule an appointment (as opposed to waiting until your balance is paid to schedule) because our artists really do want to tattoo the designs they create and because your scheduling options may be limited if you request to schedule during a busy season.
If you are coming from out of state, be sure to contact us as soon as possible for scheduling to ensure that your appointment will coincide with your visit to our area.
Click here to schedule your appointment!
Click here if you need to reschedule an existing appointment.
Q. How soon can I schedule?
A. After we receive your deposit, your receptionist will offer you the next available date while making allowances for the amount of time your artist needs to draw up your design. If you purchase from our Flash Book we will offer you the very next appointment your artist has available. Depending on how busy your artist is, we may be able to accommodate your request as early as the next day or we may have to schedule you a couple of months out. If you would like to schedule your appointment as early as possible, try to be flexible with your availability, and know that Fridays and Saturdays typically book out quickly.
If you are coming from out of state, be sure to contact us as soon as possible for scheduling to ensure that your appointment will coincide with your visit to our area.
Note: Remember that your deposit must be paid in full in order to be added to the schedule.
Click here to schedule your appointment!
Q. What time should I arrive for my appointment?
A. You can come in at the time listed on your invoice, it is not necessary to arrive early. Your appointment was already set allowing time for you to sign in and fill out your paperwork, so you don’t need to worry about holding us up or getting started late!
Q. What should I wear to my appointment?
A. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing that reveals the area wherein you would like to receive your tattoo. Additionally, you should wear something you do not mind getting stained as tattoos bleed and the ink will likely stain any fabric it comes into contact with. We do our best to keep your clothes clean, but ink splatters easily.
Q. Can I bring a friend to sit with me during my tattoo?
A. Yes! Clients often prefer having a friend to sit with you, especially if you are nervous about your tattoo. Please note, however, that minors are not allowed in the tattoo room and that any more than one guest will have to wait in the lobby due to space constraints. If you would like to book the room (a.k.a. private appointment) for an added charge, please let us know, as we will be able to accommodate additional guests this way
Click here to schedule your appointment!
Q. What if I “tap out” or feel like I can’t finish my tattoo?
A. Don’t worry about it! We will schedule another session for you. The important thing is keeping you as safe and healthy as possible, so don’t feel the need to push yourself. An add session fee will apply.
Note: Your balance will still be due at the end of your original appointment. Thanks for your understanding!
Q. How is getting a tattoo by an apprentice artist different?
A. If you book with one of our apprentice artists, especially early in their career, please be flexible with your expectations for your piece. Your artist may not be willing or able to accommodate your request if they find it out of their skill level. You may want to chose from their flash sheet in the beginning. All designs offered on apprentice flash are authorized first by the senior tattoo artist in order to ensure that they are within the skill set of the apprentice.
That said, please expect that lines won’t be as “clean” or straight as an experienced artist, color depth may vary, and there may be some gaps in filling. Don’t worry though! Apprentice flash has been designed in such a way that “mistakes” will be fixable (at no additional charge to you,) and a senior artist will be available to help if you have any concerns.
When you submit a tattoo request with no artist preference, we may assign an apprentice artist to your piece if we feel it is within their capabilities. We know our apprentices skill levels and will not assign a piece to them if we do not feel that they can do it. If you have been booked with an apprentice and still have any concerns, feel free to reach out to us or contact your artist directly.
You can see our apprentices bios and portfolios on our artists page or in our gallery.
Q. I’m concerned that my tattoo may be infected. What should I do?
A. Don’t panic! It may be nothing. Contact your artist right away with your symptoms and offer photos of the tattoo. Your artist will provide you with advice about what to do next.
If you do not have contact information for your artist, contact reception.
Q. What ointments should I use on my new tattoo? Can I use lotion?
A. Studio Lovecraft recommends using A&D during the first week after receiving a tattoo (after removing the SaniDerm, if it has been applied). We will send you home with a packet of A&D ointment with your care-sheet at the end of your appointment. Be sure to review this sheet for more information regarding the aftercare of your tattoo. After your tattoo looks healed and you don’t see any scabbing you can go ahead and apply lotion, we recommend an unscented brand. You can also use coconut oil if you’d like.
Click here to read more about tattoo and piercing after care.
Q. How do I schedule a touch-up?
A. Fill out a form or contact reception directly as you normally would to schedule an appointment.
A fee may apply. Click here to check out our current price chart.
Q. I have a complaint/compliment about an artist or staff member. Where should I send my feedback?
A. Studio Lovecraft takes your feedback very seriously and we work hard to ensure the best possible experience for you and your guests. If you would like to let us know that we’re doing a great job, or if in any way our performance falls beneath your expectations, please let us know so that we can make it right! Below is a link to our contact form, and all submissions will go directly to our Client Relations Supervisor who will work with you to come to a resolution. At your request, we will keep your complaint anonymous.
Click here to send feedback: Contact us!
Q. I have credit/gift certificate at Studio Lovecraft! How do I use it?
A. If you would like to apply a gift certificate or credit to your request, please let us know on your request form, or let your receptionist know when you are contacted for scheduling. You can also apply credit/certificates to open invoices that have not been paid off yet, simply let us know. NOTE: Gift Certificates and Credit are for custom pieces only. We cannot apply them to deposits or flash designs. Thank you for understanding!
Contact us to schedule!: Schedule an Appointment
Don’t see your question here? Contact us!
Updated February 5th, 2021.