The Collector Series
the collector series
Tattooed & Professional — an ongoing record of tattooed people and the work they do.
Tell us what you do, what your ink is, and what carrying it has meant.
Put your ink on the recordFree to take part · about 20 minutes · 18+ · media@ancientink.com
the number behind it
24%
of visibly tattooed adults have covered their tattoos for a job interview. Another 17% cover them at work. Meanwhile 18% of people without tattoos still believe visibly tattooed people can't work in a professional setting — while the share of American adults with a tattoo roughly doubled between 2003 and 2023.
Sources: AARP Research / Ipsos KnowledgePanel, fielded December 2024 (n=3,076). Prevalence trend 2003–2023: Harris, Pew Research Center.
A tattoo shouldn't need a bandage to look professional.
Plenty of people still read visible ink as a verdict on someone's professionalism. The people carrying it know better — they just don't often get asked. This is the asking.
what the form asks for
You. Your name, what you do — however you'd describe it yourself — where you are, and an email so we can talk to you about your feature.
Your ink. The story behind it, and what being a tattooed professional has meant to you. If a piece means nothing beyond “I liked it,” say that. Not every tattoo has to carry a meaning.
Your artist. Name, handle, shop, and who did which piece. Optional — but it's the part artists appreciate most, and we credit them alongside you.
Photos. Up to six. Healed shots in natural light, no filter. A mix works best — a close-up of the work, a wider shot of the piece in place, and one of you at work if that's allowed where you are.
how it works
We read your submission. If a photo didn't upload or something's missing, we email you.
A short follow-up — usually two or three questions asking you to expand on one moment you mentioned in passing.
You approve the edited story and the photos. Correct anything, cut anything, or pull out entirely. Nothing publishes without your yes.
Your feature runs here as part of The Culture chapter, and is shared to our Instagram and email audience. You and your artist are tagged.
Every published contributor gets a care package. No strings, no posting requirement.
Your permission covers our website, email and social channels only. Paid advertising is excluded — if we ever wanted that, we'd come back and ask you separately.
a few things people ask
- Do I have to promote Ancient Ink?
- No. No posting requirement, no discount code, no script.
- Do I need to have used your products?
- No. The series is about tattooed people and their work, not about customers.
- Can I keep my workplace out of it?
- Yes. Tell us what you'd rather we not name — employer, station, firm — and we write around it.
- What if I change my mind later?
- Email media@ancientink.com and we take it down.
- Is this a contest?
- No. It's an invitation, and it's open-ended.
Your words, your ink, your credit lines.
One sitting, about 20 minutes — worth drafting the two long answers elsewhere first.
Questions: media@ancientink.com