If you would like to submit a request for a tattoo, please use the booking request form found here. For general inquiries, please email info@katiemizuno.com.

My books remain closed until I fulfill approximately nine to twelve months of tattoo appointments, after which they reopen to take on as many clients will fill the following year. Closing my books allows me to give my full attention to clients with upcoming appointments and helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• I note the status of whether my books are open or closed in my Instagram bio, in addition to making announcements through posts.

• I prefer tattooing pieces that fall in line with my most recent posts and concept pieces. I will only post a concept if it is within my ability to tattoo and if I believe it to be unique and trendsetting within the industry. 

• Concepts are meant to inspire. I can tattoo them as they are or adapt them. If you like a design or pattern but want it to be a different size or on a different part of the body, let me know. 

• I work best with artistic freedom. Clients who expect to control the entire procedure or want me to replicate a design exactly as they envision it are not a good fit for my process.

• I do not copy another artist’s artwork or tattoo, but I will accept images as inspiration if given the opportunity to adapt it to my style. 

• I avoid requests for color tattoos, however I may make exceptions for red ink.

• I do not tattoo script, religious symbols, or movie/TV imagery.

• I will not take on a project if I believe that it problematically appropriates a culture.

• I do not tattoo anyone under age 18 regardless of laws allowing the tattooing of minors with parental consent.

• I will not tattoo a client’s face unless the client has visible tattoos on other parts of their body.

• No. I show a design, and often multiple designs or options, to my clients on the day of the appointment. At that point, and if need be, we can make small adjustments to the design together. 

• If a new design is requested or you would like changes to the piece that I am unable to complete efficiently enough to also leave time for tattooing, the appointment will be rescheduled and a new deposit will be paid for a new design. 

• I am not offended if a design is not to your liking and there is absolutely no pressure to get a design tattooed.

• I tattoo cover-ups and blast-overs if a client accepts certain conditions.

• I will tattoo around other tattoos or incorporate them into a design only if they do not disrupt the style and flow of my design.

I charge a flat, single-day rate of $2000. This makes multi-session tattoos more affordable and helps clients budget. A fixed rate covers all aspects of a session including stenciling, free-handing, tattooing, reimbursement of supplies, as well as transaction fees.

A $1000 non-refundable deposit is collected when an appointment is scheduled and is deducted from the price of the tattoo on the final session.

I commit a great deal of time and care into creating each design. The deposit ensures that I am paid for that time if you decide not to undergo the tattoo. It also ensures that I do not have a loss of income in cases of last minute rescheduling or if a client does not show up to an appointment.

• I only create custom designs with the purpose of tattooing them.

• Tattooing is my current artistic medium of choice so I am unable to adapt any current designs/patterns into paintings, sketches, or other physical forms of art at this time.

• I am willing to sell any pre-made digital patterns or designs depending on the intended use.

Though I only tattoo a design one time, let me know if there is a tattoo that I have created that you like. I can adapt it so that you have a similar, but one-of-a-kind piece.

• Large tattoos such as sleeves and back pieces will take multiple, full-day sessions to complete. A full-day session usually involves four–eight hours of tattooing, with breaks, and depends on a client’s comfort level.

• The length of time needed to complete a tattoo is difficult to predict and is dependent on the level of detail in the piece, location on the body, and the client’s skin type. I make time predictions as accurately as possible based on similar, completed tattoo projects once I review your booking request. Please note that the actual time needed to complete a piece may vary from my original estimate.

I strongly prefer cash payments, however I also accept Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, and credit card payments.

Why I’m No Longer Accepting Tips!

As a tattoo artist, I set my own pricing. I’m very content with the amount that I charge!

I truly believe that my  pricing structure accurately reflects the time and effort that I put into every project. Any additional earnings through tips (though appreciated!) feels to me like undue burden on my clients. It’s important to me that clients are in a position where they can finish their projects, start to finish, with less financial stress.

Tipping culture is a difficult habit to break!

Effective immediately, if you still decide to leave a tip, it will be donated to the local organizations of the Bay Area that give the highest percentage of donated money to their causes: (list a few).

Instead of tipping, do this!:

Write a 5-star review for Dark Water on both Google and Yelp. These reviews not only help me, they help my coworkers become more noticed too!

Share my work on your social media, online forums, etc.

I know that sometimes artists encourage gift-giving… with me, there’s no need!

Without you, my art doesn’t exist in the way that it is intended and so, your collaboration with me is the perfect gift.

• You may reschedule your appointment if need be. If I am contacted at least 48 hours prior to the session, your deposit will still be valid for the new, agreed-upon date. 

• Note that my schedule may or may not have immediate availability for rescheduled appointments. 

• If I am contacted to reschedule and your appointment is removed from my calendar, you have one month to reschedule without losing your deposit. This ensures that my clients are operating under my most current style preferences and policies.

• You may cancel your tattoo appointment. To guarantee that I receive serious requests only, deposits are not refunded in the case of a cancellation, even if a design has not yet been produced.

Please refer to the Pre-Care Instructions located here.

• Appointments may include designing, stenciling and freehand drawing on your skin. Your skin will also be prepped for tattooing and later bandaged.

• Applying a tattoo is a team effort. I work with clients and implement practices to make sure they are as comfortable as possible and can sit for long periods of time.

• I will check in with you often, we will take breaks, and you are encouraged to eat even if your appetite is low.

• Distractions such as a phone, tablet, or book can be helpful when dealing with pain. More often than not, I am comfortable chatting with clients while I work and I will let you know if I need a quiet moment to better focus.

Please refer to the Tattoo Instructions located here.

• I offer a free touch-up within one year of getting a tattoo. Touch-ups that are requested after that deadline will be charged my tattoo rate.

• Touch-ups are done at my discretion and are considered only if I am emailed a photo and brief explanation of the portion that you would like touched up.