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It can be hard to commit to one image that will be permanent. Here are some tips from a professional artist to help you get started.

Find an image or subject that you like. If you don't have any very specific ideas or you can't find something you want to commit to permanently, abstract art is always an option. Simple, flowing shapes work very well on the human form, hence the popularity of "tribal" tattoos. You can even be as vague as wanting a shape, or a curve tattooed on you. "Abstract" means just that- there is no subject matter, and the meaning is obscured. This is a good choice if you're indecisive or change your mind often. Getting something that is pure decoration can save you the trouble of trying to commit to one point of view or meaning. Most tattoo artists enjoy doing some abstract work; just be sure the artist you choose works in the style you enjoy seeing. (more on this below!)

When seeking subject matter, keep an open mind. Look at tattoo magazines and imagine yourself as the people in the pictures. What would feel right for you? What can you relate to? Look at photographs and paintings that aren't tattoo-related and imagine them on your skin, instead of on paper or canvas. Would it look right to you? If you have hobbies, think about whether there are objects or images that express them. If you have inside jokes with friends or loved ones, think of ways to express them with images. Getting matching images is usually not a jinx on a relationship the way getting a tattoo of someone's name can be. Does your child have a favorite toy, or a nickname? Does your wife have a favorite flower? You can get her a bouquet, or memorialize this time in your child's life, by tattooing it on you.

If it's a tattoo for a relative, "Mom" or "Pop", think about what kind of images they enjoy, and what their personality is like. Memorial tattoos and relationship tattoos, just like gifts, mean more if they are personal to the receiver.

Don't feel hedged in to what you have already seen as a tattoo. The tattoo industry has expanded in technique and equipment rapidly in the last ten years or so, and besides being safer (with disposable equipment and such) the artistic possibilities are close to endless. Try to get exactly what you want, exactly how you want it. If one artist tells you something can't be done, ask for a referral to another artist, and keep asking different artists. While not every design can be applied as-is, usually a few modifications can make it possible

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