Frequently Asked Questions

I typically open my books every 2-4 months and post all updates on instagram.

You can submit a proposal at any time, however I schedule in batches so it could be up several weeks before you get a response.

I typically get more proposals than I can accept, so if you don’t hear back feel free to resubmit! I do try to prioritize people when I see several proposals. If you don’t hear back, it is usually because there arent enough hours in the day and days in the week.

If you don’t hear back, it means I am not able to take on your project. Being one human, I can only work so many days in a month so space is inherently limited. I do my best to prioritize people who have submitted a proposal multiple times.

If you don’t receive a response it is likely that your proposal was lacking sufficient information, the subject matter is not something that is in my skill set, your proposal is TLDR and includes irrelevant information (such as the trauma behind the reason for the tattoo), or your proposal is unclear and leaves me with research to do. For example, if you want to include a flower to symbolize someone’s birth month, please tell me what that flower is, not the month that it is representing.

Please be patient with my response time.

It starts with your proposal. After reviewing the information you submitted, you’ll receive an individual email with a quote, approximate time and a link to schedule your appointment. I’m happy to answer any & all questions regarding the process.

When your appointment approaches, you’ll receive confirmation with clear directions to locate the studio, find parking etc. You will always receive custom designs via email, prior to your appointment.

At your appointment, we will start by deciding a final size and placement before placing the stencil. Once the stencil is placed, we will take a final look and you’ll have an opportunity to see how the tattoo moves as you move, and make any final adjustments.

Florals, plants, animals, almost anything natural/organic ranging from tiny tattoos to sleeves.

I always have a selection of pre-drawn designs available, but custom designs are also fairly common.

Flash and pre-drawn designs will still be customized and sized to fit and flow. Most pre-drawn designs are not repeatable, however certain common motifs will be repeated (specific butterflies, specific birds etc).

There is a fee of $50-$100 for custom designs.

I do not tattoo on certain areas such as the neck, face, and scalp. In addition, some placements such as fingers come with some caveats. Additionally, I don’t work with geometric designs, simple outlines, or human portraits/faces. While cover-ups are considered on a case-by-case basis, due to the nature of fine line tattoos, they have to be pretty small in order to hide amongst all the negative space.

My goal is to create a tattoo that you will love and that I am proud to have created and for that reason I won’t take on things that aren’t in my skill set.

When I respond to your proposal I will give you a quote for the total cost. I will never charge more than the quote, however changes or additions to the original proposal may result in extra time needed. My rates are generally $200/hr. I require a $50-$100 drawing fee for all custom designs.

A deposit relative to the time scheduled is required to schedule. The deposit is non-refundable, so I do ask that you are somewhat certain before scheduling an appointment. The amount of the deposit does contribute to the total cost of the tattoo. The deposit and appointment serve as a written agreement fand are specific to the design we discussed.

Any changes made to the original concept after booking may result in appointment cancellation/require a new deposit.

Reschedule and cancelation policy?

Please notify me at least 48 hours in advance if you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment. The deposit is transferable for 2 reschedules with notice. Additional reschedules will require a new deposit. For cancellations or rescheduling within 48 hours, a new deposit is required to secure a new appointment slot.

Late arrival beyond 20 minutes may lead to loss of both deposit and appointment.

Changes made after booking may result in forfeiture of the deposit.

Failure to show up for your appointment without prior notice (no call, no show) can result in a charge of 50% of the service total and prohibits future bookings.

Cash or card! My prices do not currently reflect the 3.5% fee, so that will be added for card transactions.

Tips are alway appreciated but never an obligation.

Unfinished projects always have priority. We can schedule multiple appointments at once or take time to save between sessions. I do my best to make sure you’re not living with a tattoo that looks drastically unfinished between sessions.

When can I see my design?

Your tattoo design will be sent to you the night before your appointment, this gives you the opportunity to give feedback prior to your appointment.

Additional Requests: If there are specific details or requests not covered in your original proposal, you can email me additional reference photos to further illustrate your vision before the design is drawn. If changes requested require a redraw due to missing information, an additional drawing fee may apply.

Tattoo Placement: To maintain harmony with body the body, please inform me of any desired details beforehand. Changes in tattoo placement may require an entirely new design.

Please keep in mind that designing tattoos takes several hours, so multiple email exchanges for adjustments may not be possible once the design is complete.

My goal is for you to love your tattoo and I do not take your trust in me lightly. I ask that you match my care by making sure your provide all the necessary information and reference photos in your proposal.

Yes! Especially if it helps your nerves. I just ask that you limit this to one person.

10am - 6pm | Sunday - Sunday

The studio is located at 305 SE 3rd Ave. Portland, Oregon 97215. It is on the 4th floor. The building is ADA compliant, however only by way of the tenant/freight elevator so please let me know if you prefer or need to use the elevator.

There is plenty of street parking surrounding the building, often right out front.

Generally, I am only seeing clients who are vaccinated. If you are unable to get vaccinated due to a medical condition we can talk about you getting a covid test no more than 3 days prior to your appointment.

Masks are optional, however if you’d like me to wear one please just let me know.

If you are feeling unwell before your appointment please let me know. I often have people traveling to get tattooed, so if I get sick unexpectedly it impacts more than just me.

Yes, absolutely! Touch-ups are complimentary for any minor hiccups during healing. Various factors can affect healing, including aftercare practices and individual immune system responses. Elective touch-ups for minor details that don’t impact the overall appearance like veins in a leaf or lightly healed petal outlines cost $50-$150.

However, I encourage clients to reach out and send photos, because I want your tattoo to ensue happiness every time you see it!

I do use different values of black to create depth and different styles of shading for varying textures; I do not intend for your tattoo to heal all one tone of black.

Send me an email at maria@atelierluminapdx.info

Please wear dark colored loose, stretchy, clean comfortable clothing that allows the body part being tattooed to be accessed easily. We have robes and pasties for placements that require minimal clothing. Please note there is a chance anything you wear might end up with ink on it.

We have wifi and an iPad available with movies downloaded, as well as access to streaming services (Netflix, etc.). We play music but you are invited to bring headphones if you would like to listen to anything of your choice. You’re also welcome to bring your own book, tablet etc. We have blankets, snacks and water but feel free to bring your own! I personally compare getting ready for a tattoo session similar to getting ready for a multiple hour flight.