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)

25th Shoot - Family and Heritage

Tattoos full of family crests and baby handprints, Chris's tattoos all tell a story. Scottish and Irish crests show Chris' heritage, the NZ flag and fantail show who he is now.

On the ribs:

He met you as you needed him
and grew alongside you.
With no promise he would stay
A friend, an friend to the very end.
He's old as you become a Man
His body wastes away
With no promise he will stay
This dog of dogs, this bitsa bits:
All heart
But no promise he will stay

Model: Chris Ryan

Tattoo Artist: Dave Stevens - Electric Ink, Levin

24th Shoot - Oh those eyes!

Oh another black and white set. I am loving these. All of Tara's tattoo's are black and white so I couldn't resist (although I find that her almond shaped eyes really draw you in to the first photo).

All her tattoos are by the same artist, and you can see the continuity in the design. Her Mum and sister also have the same left wrist tattoo, and her right wrist is her parents wedding flower. Tara's leg piece is titled 'Perfectly Imperfect'. Beautiful!

Model: Tara Cottle

Tattoo Artist: GZ Ink'd

23rd Shoot - Electric Ink

This was one of my favourite photo shoots. Libby and Danny are such a wonderful couple, and look great in front of the camera. The colour in their tattoos is bold, just like their personalities. Trying to get all their tattoos in to the photos was a bit of a challenge, but we snapped most of them.

Models:

Libby Bruhn

Danny Bruhn

Tattoo Artists:

Libby:

Dave Stevens - Electric Ink, Levin (arms, calf)

Nadine Bryant - Black Pearl Studio, Ohinewai (left thigh)

Ryan - Lofi Tattoos (back thigh)

Jed Hill (right thigh)

Danny:

Libby Bruhn - Electric Ink, Levin (arms, legs, back)

Dave Stevens - Electric Ink, Levin (left arm - crest, ribs)

Jed Hill (left hand)

Randi - Jed Hill Tattoo (dagger & snake on right leg)

22nd Shoot - Little tattoos, Big meanings

'A reminder to keep in touch with family' I think this is a reminder that we all need every now and then. Both Dot and Darnell have tattoos that have a lot of family meanings.

These 2 were wonderful in the studio (after the initial nerves calmed down). We chose to do these as another black and white set as their tans were quite different from each other.

Models:

Darnell Struthers

Dorothee Boudelot

Tattoo Artists:

Darnell:

Auckland Tattoo Artist 

Dot:

Illustrated Man - Sydney

21st Shoot - Black & White

Sometimes we have someone walk in to the studio and 15 minutes later we have a tonne of great photos. Kate was one of these. As all her tattoos are black (and white, but you can't see that one) this just lead to creating some stunning images in classic black and white.

Her tattoos all revolve around the human spirit. 'Om Mani Padme Hum' is a Buddhist mantra (Google it for the meaning, as there are many).

Mode: Kate Bale

Tattoo Artists:

Noel - Ink Tattoo Studio, Palmerston North (phoenix, paisley)

Dave - Electric Ink, Levin (Buddhist mantra, Pour l'amour)

Although I love these in black & white, the colour is stunning as well...

20th Shoot - Birthday Suit

Monique came to her photo shoot on her birthday. What a way to spend the day! She came prepared with cupcakes. Once we saw her tattoos the choice to have cupcakes as a prop became obvious.

Model: Monique Wiersma

Tattoo Artists:

Chaz Orr - Tattoo's For the Worthy, Mt Maunganui (sleeve, lower legs)

Kitty Dearest - The Black Mark, Melbourne (back calf)

Libby Bruhn - Electric Ink, Levin (feet)

Kimberly Purton - Garage Ink, QLD (thigh)

Steve Nesbit - Powerhouse Tattoos, Palmerston North (neck)

19th Shoot - To fly, to fly

Joy's tree, like all trees, is growing. The leaves falling from the branches follow her body, so no matter which way she is lying or standing, they still look like they are falling.

The saying on her side:

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive.
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise.
To fly
To fly

Model: Joy McDermott

Tattoo Artists:

Paul Harding - Tattoos by Paulie, Lower Hutt 

Libby Bruhn - Electric Ink, Levin (the word 'Jaxon')