Getting Started - Artist Guide
Set up your TattooReserve profile and start accepting bookings
- Account Creation
- Artist Subscription
- Onboarding Wizard
- Your Public Portfolio
- Quick Start Checklist
- Next Steps
- Modifying Your Settings Later
- Need Help?
Getting Started as an Artist
Welcome to TattooReserve! This guide will walk you through the complete setup process to get your profile live and start accepting bookings from clients.
Account Creation
All users start by creating a basic account. You'll upgrade to an artist account through our subscription process.
Sign Up
Create your account by providing:
- Name - Your full name
- Email - Your contact email for notifications
- Password - Secure password for your account
- Confirm Password - Verify your password
- Timezone - Auto-detected, but you can change it
- Terms Agreement - Accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
All users initially sign up as clients. Once registered, you'll upgrade to an artist account through our subscription system.
Artist Subscription
After creating your account, activate your artist features through our subscription system.
Starting Your Trial
Navigate to Settings → Subscription to activate your artist account.
Current Trial Offer:
- 30-day free trial
- Credit card required (you won't be charged during trial)
- Cancel anytime before trial ends
- Auto-converts to paid subscription after 30 days
Click "Start 30-Day Trial" to begin the Square checkout process. After completing payment setup in Square, you'll be redirected back to TattooReserve to start the onboarding wizard.
Onboarding Wizard
Once your subscription is active, you'll complete a 6-step setup wizard to configure your artist profile and booking system.
Step 1: Set Your Hourly Rate
Set your base hourly rate for custom tattoo work. This helps clients understand your pricing and is used when creating session products.
Step 2: Connect Square for Payments
TattooReserve uses Square to process all payments securely. You'll need a Square account to collect deposits.
Connecting Your Account
Click "Connect with Square" to authorize TattooReserve to process payments on your behalf. You'll be redirected to Square's website to:
- Log in to your Square account (or create one)
- Review TattooReserve's access permissions
- Authorize the connection
Connection Confirmed
After authorizing, you'll return to TattooReserve and see "Square Connected Successfully!"
Your payment processing is now active and ready to collect deposits from clients.
Step 3: Set Your Working Hours
Configure when you're available to accept bookings.
Default Schedule:
- Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday - Sunday: Closed
Customize each day:
- Toggle days open or closed
- Set start and end times
- Configure hours for your actual studio schedule
Reschedule Policy:
Below your working hours, set your minimum advance notice for reschedules:
- Default: 1 day (24 hours)
- Clients must reschedule at least this far in advance
- Helps protect your schedule from last-minute changes
Step 4: Enable Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is your public-facing artist profile that appears in search results and allows clients to book with you.
Enable Portfolio
Toggle on portfolio functionality to create your public artist page.
Artist Profile Information
Complete your artist profile with:
- Artist Name - How you want to be known professionally
- Studio/Shop Name - Your shop or business name
- Bio - Tell clients about your style and experience
- Allow my portfolio to appear in search - Make your profile discoverable (recommended)
- Tattoo Specialties - Select all styles you specialize in (select multiple)
Shop Address & Booking Settings
Location Details (for location-based search):
- Address Line 1
- Address Line 2 (optional)
- City, State
- Zip Code, Country
Booking Availability:
- Accept booking requests - Toggle to enable/disable new bookings
- Custom booking message - Optional message shown when bookings are disabled (vacation notice, schedule full, etc.)
Step 5: Add Portfolio Photos
Showcase your best work to attract clients.
Upload tattoo photos:
- Click to upload images from your device
- Add multiple photos at once
- Each photo can have a title and description (optional)
- Photos appear in your public portfolio gallery
Best Practices:
- Use high-quality, well-lit photos
- Show a variety of your work
- Include different styles and sizes
- Update regularly with recent work
Step 6: Create Session Products
Define the booking options you'll offer to clients.
Products are the session types clients can book. Common examples:
- 2 Hour Session
- 3 Hour Session
- Half Day (4 hours)
- Full Day (6+ hours)
For each product, set:
- Product Title - Example: "2 Hour Session"
- Description - Optional details about what's included
- Session Length - Duration in hours
- Deposit Price - Required deposit to book
Add Multiple Products:
Click "Add Another Product" to create additional session options. You can offer as many different session types as you want.
In the screenshot example, you can see two products configured:
- 2 Hr Session
- 3 Hr Session
Setup Complete!
After completing all setup steps, you'll be redirected to your Artist Dashboard.
You're now ready to:
- Accept booking requests from clients
- Manage your calendar
- Create flash events
- Track analytics
Your Public Portfolio
After completing onboarding, your portfolio is live at:
tattooreserve.com/artists/your-username
Share this link on:
- Instagram bio
- Facebook page
- Business cards
- Studio signage
- Email signature
Quick Start Checklist
Before your first booking, make sure you've completed:
- [x] Created account and activated trial
- [x] Set hourly rate
- [x] Connected Square for payments
- [x] Configured working hours
- [x] Enabled portfolio
- [x] Added artist profile information
- [x] Uploaded portfolio photos
- [x] Created session products
Next Steps
Now that your profile is set up:
Modifying Your Settings Later
All of these settings can be changed anytime by visiting:
Settings → Various Sections:
- Profile settings
- Working hours
- Availability
- Products & pricing
- Portfolio management
- Square connection
- Subscription
Need Help?
If you run into any issues during setup, contact our support team.
Need help? Contact our support team