What to look for in their portofolio?
When you do look in their portfolio, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Do you see any photos of pieces that you recognize in the flash (on the wall, or in a flash book)? If so, how is it rendered in tattoo format? Before anything else, check to see that the lines are clean.
Are they well-defined? Straight where they should be; not shaky or blurry? Are the borders all uniform in width? Do the colors seem true?
Are they bright? Proportionately correct?
Look at the people in the book
This can be an indicator of the clientele in the shop (besides looking at the ambiance of the shop). Is there a fair mix of women and men in the book? Are they all sporting “biker” tats, or any one particular genre/style?