33rd Shoot - Wings of an Angel

Sometimes the simplest of tattoos can be the most effective. This is certainly the case with Mini-Rose's angel wings. And she had them tattooed for the simplest of reasons - because she liked them.

Model - Mini-Rose Samuels

Tattoo Artists:

Smugs, HDS Ink - Wings

Jimmy, Powerhouse Tattoos - Rose

32nd Shoot - Life's Journey

Sometimes life is not the fairy tale journey that we all want it to be, and we all cope with that in different ways. For Charlie, a way for her to find peace with her journey is to decorate her body with beautiful artwork . Every tattoo I look at I think that's my favourite, then I see another and think no, that's the best one. But I think it is the teddy bear on her calf which represents her son and his journey.

Model: Charlie Hedgeman

Tattoo Artist: Libby Bruhn - Electric Ink

31st Shoot - Red thread of fate

I love all the stories I hear about tattoos. Some tattoos people get just because they like them, while for others every tattoo has a meaning. For Rebecca and David there are meanings written all over their bodies. My favourite one is the matching tattoo on their hands and arm - the red thread of fate (Google it for the meaning).

Models:

Rebecca Te Maro

David Geary

Tattoo Artists:

Rebecca:

Noel - Inked, Palmerston North (middle back, butterfly, red thread)

Tim - Inked, Palmerston North (right wrist)

Haze - Urban Ink, Hamilton (right back shoulder)

Steve - Powerhouse, Palmerston North (left ankle)

David:

Haze - Urban Ink, Hamilton (shoulders)

Noel - Inked, Palmerston North (red thread)

Tim - Inked, Palmerston North (forearms, inside left arm)

30th Shoot - Master Carver

Gray's tattoos have all been designed by the same person, who also happens to be a Master Carver. The first tattoo Leon Barnes designed for Gray was tattooed by another artist. Then he progressed to doing the tattoos themselves (I want to say he went from carving wood to carving people, but it sounds so macabre).

Gray's arm's and chest are his family tree, and his legs represent himself and his kids.

Model: Gray Park

Tattoo Artist: Leon Barnes

29th Shoot - Puppy Love

Sheryl arrived with Bell, her 1 year old puppy. Bell wasn't there to be in the photo shoot, but she certainly made her presence known. I kept getting distracted by her adorable attitude.

Sheryl's tattoos are an amazing riot of colour. They travel along the shape of her body perfectly. There are quite a few coverups which you can't pick up. The new tattoos represent fresh starts, cover up the old with the new and improved.

The paw prints on her back suited this shoot so well.

Model: Sheryl Brightwell

Tattoo Artists:

Nick Fletcher - Flamin Art, Wanganui (right shoulder, back, right thigh, inner arms)

Steve Curtis - Monster Ink(Egyptian Gemini)

Hemi - Womad Paepae (ta moko left thigh)

Kim Brightwell (ta moko left wrist)

28th Shoot - Love that hat

Butterflies, Sugar Skulls and Roses. Marilyn and kids names. Chrissy's tattoos  have it all. I love how the tattoo on her right arm reflects her and her personality.

The colours on her monarch butterflies, and the details in her Marilyn are fabulous, and all the other colours just pop so well.

And the hat! Such a perfect prop.

Model: Chrissy Yuile

Tattoo Artists:

Dave McEvan - Tattoo Freaky (Marilyn, Monarchs)

Libby Bruhn - Electric Ink, Levin (Pretty much everything else)

26th Shoot - Something a bit cheeky

From Calligraphy to hand prints, 'Love conquers all' to honeymoon tattoos, this couple were a real joy to have in the studio.

Hannah has her name tattooed on her back in Chinese rainbow calligraphy, and the hand print of her, then, one year old son. VJ's tattoos are a mixture of themes and the colour is really vivid on his sleeve.

Models:

Hannah Cooper

VJ Cooper

Tattoo Artists:

Hannah:

Holger - Left Hand Path, Christchurch (right side calligraphy, behind ears, wrists, lower back)

Andy - Left Hand Path, Christchurch (hand print, ankles)

Tere - PQ's, Hastings (inner elbows)

Skin FX (feet)

Chalkie - Graphic Addictions, Christchurch (left side calligraphy)

Black Rose Tattoo, Christchurch (hip)

Johnny - Monster Truck, Napier (upper back)

VJ:

Skin FX (lizard, inner arm)

Kevin - Dragon Tattoo (predator sleeve, stag on shoulder, butt cheek)

Noel - Dragon Tattoo (middle back)