Model & Photographer Submission Guidelines

SKINDEPENDENT MAGAZINE

A Tattoo-Industry Magazine for Those Who Live Tattooed

OUR VISION

Skindependent celebrates people who live tattooed, not just people who “have tattoos.”
Our magazine centers tattoo culture, tattoo art, and the tattoo lifestyle.

This means:
When someone sees your photo, the first reaction should be:
“DAMN, look at those tattoos…”
and only then:
“...and look at that person.”

MODEL REQUIREMENTS

Tattoo Coverage

90% tattoo coverage required for cover submissions.
Areas without tattoos must not be the visual focus.
If you have one sleeve, for example, pose so the blank arm isn’t dominant.
We prioritize models whose tattoos read as full coverage, cohesive, bold, and lifestyle-oriented.

Tattoo Quality

We seek models with:

Professional-quality tattoos
Large-scale pieces
Clear visual narratives or full-body work
Tattoos that photograph well

We may decline models with:

Mostly bare skin
Small scattered tattoos
Micro tattoos that read as “bare” in photos
Tattoos that cannot be clearly seen in images

Wardrobe

Wear clothing that:

Shows tattoos clearly
Does not distract from body art
Has simple colors or muted textures

Avoid:

Busy patterns
Brand logos
Lingerie-only shots unless tattoos dominate the image
Clothing that hides major tattoo work

Hair & Makeup

Should complement, not overshadow, the tattoos
Matte finishes preferred
Avoid reflective makeup that blows out under lights
Alternative, bold, natural, gritty styles all acceptable if tattoos remain the focus

PHOTOGRAPHER GUIDELINES

Lighting

Use lighting that enhances ink contrast
Avoid shadows that swallow tattoos
Avoid bright hotspots that wash out color
Soft directional lighting is ideal
Creative lighting is OK only if tattoos remain clearly visible

Editing

DO NOT blur, airbrush, or over-smooth skin
Tattoos must look real and maintain natural texture
Accurate color correction is required
No added tattoos or altered tattoos

Backgrounds & Scene

Simple backgrounds for cover submissions
Tattoos must always be the focus
Avoid cluttered or overly busy backgrounds

Posing

Pose to display tattoo flow
Avoid fashion poses that hide ink
Keep major tattooed areas facing camera
Full-body shots should show coverage clearly and immediately

IMAGE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Photo Quality

300 DPI minimum
High-resolution JPG or RAW
No screenshots
No filters
No watermarks
Professional cameras only (DSLR, mirrorless recommended)

Shot List

Required:

Full-body front
Full-body side
Full-body back
Waist-up shot
Close-ups of tattoos
Optional: Creative/editorial images

Credits

All submissions must include:

Tattoo Artist(s)
Tattoo Shop/Studio
Photographer
Makeup Artist (optional)
Clothing designer/brand (optional)

RELEASES REQUIRED

All selected submissions must sign:

Model Release
Photographer Release
Tattoo Artist Attribution Confirmation

WHAT MAKES A COVER-WORTHY SUBMISSION

To appear on the cover:

Tattoos must be the first thing the eye sees
90%+ tattoo coverage
Clean background + professional lighting
Strong presence that feels tattoo lifestyle, not fashion
Crisp, high-contrast images
High-quality tattoos with visible detail

We DO NOT feature:

Models with minimal tattoos
Photos hiding major tattoo areas
Heavy glamour looks that distract from tattoos
Poor lighting or low-resolution photography
Over-edited or filtered images

SUBMISSION PROCESS

WHAT TO SEND

6–12 high-quality images
Full credits (tattoo artists, shops, photographer, MUA, stylist)
Brief model/photographer bio
Social media links
Location
A short paragraph about your tattoo journey
Any special meaning behind your tattoos

WHERE TO SUBMIT

QUICK CHECKLIST

FOR MODELS

90% tattoo coverage
No major bare areas highlighted
Outfits show tattoos
Tattoos are bold & high-quality
Natural skin texture visible

FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tattoos readable from first glance
Accurate color
No over-editing
Strong, simple lighting
Visually clean background

Submit