Pet Portrait Tattoo Process — from first WhatsApp to final healing

A pet portrait isn’t made on the day the machine starts. It’s built in the weeks before, in a sequence of small, careful steps that together make sure the tattoo actually looks like your animal — and not like any random dog, any random cat. This article walks you through the full flow at Sinkply Zürich, exactly the way I walk every client through it. I’m Jon, the pet portrait specialist at the studio, and every portrait that leaves the studio is drawn and tattooed by me personally.

The process at a glance

Before we go into detail, here’s the map: first WhatsApp with photos, my reply within 48 hours, first digital draft after one to two weeks, revision round, appointment confirmation with deposit, session in the studio, healing phase, optional free touch-up after six weeks. The whole thing typically takes three to six weeks from first message to finished piece. For memorial work we move faster when the emotion is fresh.

Step 01 — the first WhatsApp

It all starts with a message to +41 77 212 07 67. What I need to give you a first estimate:

• Three to five reference photos of your animal (more on those further down)
• Their name and approximate age
• The body area you want the tattoo on (forearm, upper arm, shoulder blade, thigh)
• A rough size idea — “palm of a hand”, “ten centimetres”, “about the size of a credit card”
• Whether it’s a portrait in memory of a pet who has passed

No long explanations needed. One sentence is plenty. “This is Mika, 8 years old, Labrador, forearm, about 10 cm.” Totally fine. I reply within 48 hours with an estimate on size, sessions needed, price and next available dates.

Step 02 — the photo briefing

Once it’s clear we’re working together, I go through the photos you sent. Often I ask for two or three additional shots — usually from a specific angle or in daylight. I’ll tell you exactly what I’m looking for: sharp eyes, relaxed expression, light from the front rather than overhead. We’ve written a detailed guide on reference photos for pet portraits — if you shoot with that in mind, we save ourselves a round of follow-ups later.

Sometimes you’ll tell me: “I only have this one good photo, he passed away last year.” That works too. We work with what’s there. A good pet portrait doesn’t necessarily come from a perfect studio photo — it comes from the photo where your animal looks most like themselves.

Step 03 — the first draft

One to two weeks after our photo exchange I send you the first digital draft. Not a quick sketch, not an AI filter, but a worked-out drawing on the iPad that shows how the tattoo will really look — including fur texture, line work and shading. I usually work from one base photo and add details from the others you sent. Body from one image, eyes from another, ear position from a third.

You get the draft via WhatsApp. Sit with it. Show it to people who knew your animal. Give me feedback after two or three days:

• What feels right about the expression?
• What looks off about the head, the ears, the eyes?
• Is there a detail you want added — a collar, a name in lettering, a date?

One revision round is always included. Most clients don’t need it. A few notice that the expression isn’t quite “their animal” — then I redraw until it’s right. No extra charge, no argument.

Step 04 — confirmation and deposit

Once the draft fits, we confirm the appointment. For pet portraits we take a CHF 200 deposit via Twint or bank transfer. The deposit holds your slot and is subtracted from the total price on the day of the session. It’s non-refundable if you cancel at short notice (less than 72 hours) — with one exception: memorial work and medical reasons. In those cases we reschedule flexibly.

From that point on I plan the work concretely. Needles, ink, time slot — everything tailored to your piece.

Step 05 — the day of the session

Our studio is at Staffelstrasse 8 in 8045 Zürich. Arrive ten minutes before the appointment so you can settle in. What to expect:

• Welcome, brief chat, final questions
• Stencil transferred to the skin — nothing permanent yet
• Positioning in front of the mirror, last size check
• Only once you say a hundred percent yes do we start tattooing
• Session length depending on size: 3 to 5 hours (small portrait) or split across two sessions of 4 to 5 hours each (large portrait)
• Breaks as often as you want — water, snacks, step outside

While tattooing we work in silence if that’s what you need, or we talk if that helps. You set the pace. If you feel faint or realise your body isn’t up for it today, we stop and book a new date. No pressure, no discussion.

Step 06 — Second Skin and the first 24 hours

After the session you leave with a Second Skin bandage on. It’s a transparent, waterproof film that protects the fresh tattoo like a second layer of skin. You wear it for three to five days — then peel it off yourself in warm water.

What you need at home:

• Fragrance-free, pH-neutral wash
• A high-quality, unscented aftercare cream (Bepanthen, Bepanthol, Hustle Butter)
• Clean towels, loose clothing
• No swimming, no sauna, no sunbathing for two weeks

We give you a printed aftercare sheet. If anything is unclear — a bit of redness, a blister under the bandage, a feeling you can’t place — send me a photo via WhatsApp. I usually reply the same day.

Step 07 — the healing phase

Pet portraits heal in three phases:

• Day 1 to 5: Lymph and pigment collect under the Second Skin — this is normal and looks more dramatic than it is. Don’t touch, don’t pull off.
• Day 5 to 14: The top layer of skin dries and flakes lightly. This is the most critical window — don’t scratch, don’t scrub, just moisturise.
• Week 3 to 6: Skin regenerates underneath. The tattoo can look slightly matte during this phase. That’s normal. Full sharpness returns around six weeks in.

Step 08 — touch-up after six weeks

Four to six weeks in we look at the healed piece together. In 9 out of 10 cases everything has healed perfectly and there’s nothing to touch up. With fine line and micro-realism it occasionally happens that a small line fades slightly during healing — usually somewhere the skin moved a lot. For those cases we do a free touch-up. It’s part of the service, not an add-on.

Common questions that come up during this process

“Can I change the draft after I approved it?” Yes, up until 48 hours before the session. After that the stencil is cut and the prep is locked in.

“What if my pet passes away during the process?” We continue with the photos you already sent me. You don’t need to explain, don’t need to send anything new. You decide whether we keep the appointment or postpone. More on that in our article on pet memorial tattoos in Zürich.

“How many sessions will I need?” For portraits up to 12 cm, usually one. Above 15 cm or with very dense texture, two sessions four weeks apart.

“Can I watch you draw?” Not live — I need quiet to draw. But you see every intermediate stage as a photo on WhatsApp.

If you’ve never been tattooed before

Pet portraits are often the very first tattoo someone ever gets. The emotional trigger overrides the nerves. If you’re coming to the studio for the first time, read our guide to your first tattoo in Zürich — it covers everything about the day itself: prep, clothing, food, pain, expectations. A pet portrait is an excellent first tattoo because the emotional meaning carries the experience.

Ready for the first step

If you have the sense that your animal is still waiting at the door and you want them to keep doing that — send me the photos. No long commentary needed. I’ll get back to you within 48 hours with an honest assessment.

WhatsApp: +41 77 212 07 67 · Instagram: @jontattooist (portfolio) and @sinkply.zurich (studio). More about our pet portraits on the Pet Portrait Tattoo Zürich main page.