The best thing you can do is take all your ideas to your chosen tattoo artist. They’ll make notes of what you want, how you want it and make copies of any pictures you show them so they can draw it all up for you.

Very nice, except that script is too small 🙁 What does it even say?

I bleed like i’ve got gallons to spare because I’m anemic.
Try having a big healthy meal before you get tattooed, nothing too fatty. Avoid painkillers and drinking the night before or if you’re slow to recover from hangovers give it two days detox time.

Don’t be silly. It’s HANDWASH!

Antibacterial creams/ointments/lotions are bad for the healing process because they draw out anything that’s not supposed to be there in the skin so you need to use a gentle lotion, the most recommended by top tattoo artists is Bepanthen or Bio-oil 2 – 3 times a day.
The body reacts to ink the same way it would bacteria/infection/burns/cuts etc etc and tries to push it out with magma – which forms scabs. We need to counter that by applying care for the skin but also keep the ink inside the dermis layer of the skin.

Bestest ever idea in the history of ideas, ever.

Hello 🙂
Get some designs up ASAP! 😛

Your stuff is pretty good! In my experience one year courses don’t really teach that much so well done for being a natural!
I’d say practice your lines more than shading when you’re drawing, draw as if you’re tattooing someone just so you can perfect that delicacy and steady hand.
Don’t just put drawings in your portfolio either, do paintings too, prints, collages, all sorts of creative stuff that shows your ability, your style, influences and stuff like that. You want to start your portfolio strong and end strong too. My portfolio starts with my best tattoo designs, designs inspired by my favourite artists, pencil drawn portraits then ends with mixed media art works.
After I finished my art course I went around asking for an apprenticeship but to no avail. I’ve just been asked to join a tattoo parlor after my friend recommended me to his boss so I was so so lucky. It’s a hard industry to break into, sure you’re great artist and keen but it just depends whether the tattooist wants to honor you with the opportunity..
Good luck!

Maybe she could be holding a flag instead of a sword? Resting it on her shoulder? Is the sword really important?
If you really want the flag anyway, get the tattoo in colour.
Maybe modernise her? Make her a pin up?