If you're a tattoo artist, you already know the drill: you open Instagram and you've got a pile of DMs from potential clients. Half of them don't say where the tattoo's going. Some don't mention size. Some just say, “how much for a sleeve?”—with no other details. You end up spending hours chasing info instead of creating art.
That's exactly where booking forms step in. They cut through the chaos, get you the details you need, and make sure only serious requests make it into your inbox. Think of them as your personal gatekeeper that keeps your energy on tattooing, not inbox management.
Why Booking Forms Make Life Easier
Here's the real value they bring:
-
Less chaos. No more scrolling back through DMs to find reference pics or client details.
-
Clarity upfront. Placement, size, style, budget—it's all in the form before you even reply.
-
Brings in serious clients. If a client take time to fill out a form, they're more likely to follow through.
-
Everything in one place. No juggling between Instagram, text, and email threads.
Bottom line: less admin, more focus on your art.
How Other Tattoo Artists Use Booking Forms
There's no one way to set these up. They can travel with you—whether you're doing a guest spot across town, flying out for a convention, or running a flash event. Most artists create different custom forms for different situations. A few ideas:
-
General bookings – your go-to form for new or returning clients.
-
Flash sign-ups – short, simple, and fast for flash events.
-
Custom work requests – longer forms that collect inspiration pics, timelines, and budgets.
-
Guest spot forms – for booking time slots when you're working in another studio or city.
With InkDesk, you can build as many custom forms as you need, so you're not forcing every client through the same process.
Tips for Making Your Forms Work for You
Think of your booking forms as your gatekeeper. Here's how to make them as useful as possible:
-
Ask for what you need. A long form can turn some clients off, but too short and you'll be stuck chasing additional info later.
-
Cover the essentials. Size, placement, style, budget, availability — those basics save a ton of back-and-forth.
-
Let them upload reference images. A couple of images can save you a paragraph of description or a dozen back-and-forth messages.
- Learn about your client. Take the opportunity to grab their birthday, pronouns, history, and any special accommodations. You'll be able to provide a more personalized service, and your client will feel like a star.
-
Spell out expectations. Let people know about your deposit policy, response times, and what you do or don't tattoo.
InkDesk makes it super easy to set all of this up and customize as you go, so your forms can be as unique as you are.
Bonus Resource
👉 Need ideas for exactly what questions to ask? Check out this post: 15 Questions Tattoo Artists Should Include on Their Booking Forms. It's a solid list you can adapt for your own forms and workflow.
Setting It Up in InkDesk
If you want to put this all into practice, InkDesk makes it super easy:
-
Go to Booking Forms in the left menu.
-
Edit the default form or create a new booking form from scratch.
-
Add it to your profile with a button you can style however you want.
That's it—clients can now send you full, clear booking requests, and you'll know right away if the project's a good fit.
Ready to Make Booking Easier?
You didn't become a tattoo artist to spend your nights answering “Where do you want it?” or “How big should it be?” Booking forms let you skip the endless back-and-forth so you can focus on what really matters—sketching, tattooing, and building your style.
Set them up right, and they'll save you hours, cut down on stress, and help you instantly spot which projects are worth your time. They're also a simple way to set boundaries and keep your focus where it belongs: on your art.
If you need inspiration for what to include, check out 15 Questions Tattoo Artists Should Include on Their Booking Forms and make it your own.
👉 Ready to streamline your process? Try InkDesk free for 30 days.