My Tattoo Society magazine cover w/ Inkmaster Angels host, @ryanashley!

Hey, Steemit! Another early morning at @caffetto. I’m going to use these next few weeks to catch up on edits for clients that’ve been patiently waiting while Dark Pinup made it’s final lap of production before going to print. Now that it’s out of my hands, those edits and logistical things like ads, marketing and planning for Viva Las Vegas will now begin. 

I wanted to share with you all a surprise package that came in the mail last night. Late last week, my friend @ryanashley texted me and said “Hey! What’s your address?”. I sent it to her and then hadn’t heard back. When I got home from @caffetto last night, waiting for me was a sealed manilla envelope. 

I saw the senders address said Tattoo Society, and it occurred to me that this was the issue I’d shot @ryanashley for back in January. To be honest, I’d almost forgotten about it. @ryanashley was allowed to choose any photographer she wanted for the feature in Tattoo Society and back in early December, she asked if I could make it back to our hometown by the end of the year. We did our usual tattoo/photos trade, but I’ve been so fixated on Dark Pinup, the magazine was an afterthought after the photos were sent to the editor. 

Here’s something to note about Tattoo Society. It is not Inked magazine. Inked and magazines like it are for fans of tattoos. It’s the mainstream tattoo culture magazine. Tattoo Society has a long standing reputation as the magazine for actual industry tattoo artists. There’s a prestige in being in it because it’s an acknowledgement of your peers, not [just] your fans. 

I’ve done a lot of magazines over the years, but it’s not high on my list or priorities as a photographer. It’s rare to ever get paid and seeing my work in print doesn’t motivate me the same way it does others. It also tends to be a lot more work, release forms and email correspondence. Fortunately, Tattoo Society was painless and this ended up being one of my favorite publications to date. 

You can pick up a copy of Tattoo Society, issue #61 featuring @ryanashley now at www.tattoosocietymagazine.com or on store shelves. Thanks for reading! I post daily. For more photography, art, illustration and the stories behind the work, follow me here @kommienezuspadt!