Why Portfolio Quality Matters More Than Instagram Followers
Why a tattoo artist's portfolio matters more than follower count: evaluating actual skill vs social media popularity.
Followers Don't Equal Skill
An artist with 500,000 followers isn't necessarily better than one with 5,000. Social media success and tattoo quality are entirely different skill sets. The algorithms that boost accounts reward posting consistency, hashtag optimization, and entertaining content. None of these correlate with putting quality ink in skin.
Some of the best artists barely use social media. They built careers through referrals before Instagram existed. Meanwhile, some popular accounts produce mediocre work that photographs well but doesn't hold up in person or over time.
What Drives Follower Counts
High follower counts often reflect marketing investment rather than tattooing ability:
- Posting frequency and hashtag optimization boost visibility regardless of quality
- Viral content generates followers even when tattoos are average
- Early platform adoption created lasting advantages
- Some accounts are run by social media managers, not artists
- Purchased followers inflate numbers with no real engagement
The account's success reflects marketing skill. Whether that correlates with tattoo quality is coincidental, not causal.
What to Actually Evaluate
Look at portfolio consistency. Every piece should be strong, not just featured highlights. Quality should stay consistent across the feed. Years of steady excellence matter more than dramatic recent improvement, which suggests the artist is still developing.
Technical markers reveal genuine skill. Lines should be smooth and confident without wobbles or blowouts (ink spreading beyond intended lines). Solid blacks should be truly black, not patchy grey. Even color should have full saturation without gaps, sometimes called "holidays" in tattoo terminology. Shading should transition smoothly. Composition should flow with body anatomy.
Healed Work Is the Real Test
Fresh tattoos are forgiving. Swelling masks imperfections. Colors look vibrant before settling. The true test is healed work at six months, one year, two years out. Blowouts become obvious shadows around linework. Lines that looked crisp might have spread. Colors might have faded. Shading might have developed patchiness.
Ask specifically for healed photos. Artists confident in their technique are proud to show work that has aged. Reluctance to share healed work is information worth noting.
Finding Quality Regardless of Popularity
To find skilled artists regardless of follower count:
- Search by style ("Toronto Japanese tattoo") to find specialists
- Ask other tattoo artists for recommendations
- Check studio websites, not just Instagram
- Read client reviews describing actual experiences
- Book consultations to see work in person on real skin
Photos can be edited and filtered. Work in person reveals quality that cameras hide or exaggerate. Real skin under real light tells the truth.