Specialty
Portrait & Memorial Tattoos in Whitby
Portrait and memorial tattoos are some of the most personal pieces we do — a face, a pet, a date, an honour piece. At HeadRush Whitby, portraits and memorial work are handled by Ross, Max and Maks.
What portrait & memorial work involves
- •Portrait realism — usually black & grey, sometimes colour. Photo-true rendering of a person, animal or object that matters.
- •Reference quality matters. The clearer the photo, the better the tattoo.
- •Memorial pieces often combine portrait work with lettering, dates, banners, or symbolic elements (flowers, religious symbols, etc.).
- •These take time. Most portraits are 4–6 hour single sessions; larger memorial compositions span 2–3 sessions.
What makes a portrait work
- •A clean, well-lit reference photo. Direct sunlight or window light is best — not phone flash, not heavy filters.
- •The face fills the frame. Group photos cropped down don't carry enough detail.
- •The size matters. Portraits below palm-sized lose too much detail. We'll tell you the minimum viable size at consultation.
- •Placement on stable skin — upper arm, shoulder, chest, calf, thigh. Not on areas that flex constantly.
When a portrait might not be the best path
- •Reference photo is unclear, blurred, or low resolution. Sometimes the right move is a stylised illustrative version, not photo realism.
- •You want it small. Small + photo-realistic does not work — we'll recommend either going larger or shifting style.
- •You are not emotionally ready. Memorial pieces especially — there is no rush, and we never push you to book.
Who does portraits at HeadRush
Ross, Max and Maks all take portrait and memorial bookings. Which artist depends on the style — Ross and Maks for black & grey realism, Max for colour realism, neo-traditional, or memorial work that includes lettering and decorative framing.
Pricing
- •Studio minimum: $135 (HST included).
- •Hourly rate: $180–$250 depending on artist.
- •Single-day portrait (5–8 hours): $1,000–$2,000.
- •Larger memorial compositions: split across 2–3 sessions, priced by hours.
Final price is always confirmed at your free 30-minute consultation, before any deposit changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a good reference photo look like?+
Direct natural light, in focus, the subject's face filling the frame. Window light or outdoor daylight is best. Phone flash distorts shadows; heavy filters strip the contrast we use to render depth.
What if I only have a low-quality photo of someone who has passed?+
Send it anyway and we will look. Sometimes we can work from a less-than-ideal reference, sometimes the right call is a stylised illustrative interpretation rather than full realism. We will be honest about what is achievable.
Can you do a portrait of multiple people in one piece?+
Yes, but composition matters. A two-person portrait usually needs to be larger than a single-face portrait to keep both faces readable. We will plan layout at the consultation.
How long does a portrait take to heal?+
Same as any tattoo — about 2–4 weeks surface healing, 3–6 months full settling. Portraits with heavy shading often look slightly off during peeling and settle into the final tone over the next few weeks.
Do you do pet portraits?+
Yes — pet portraits are one of our most-booked portrait types. See the /blog/pet-portrait-tattoos-getting-the-likeness-right post for what makes a good pet-portrait reference.
Ready to start?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. Bring references, talk through size and placement, leave with an honest quote — no deposit until you book the session.
Book a Free Consultation