Tattoo Artists and Other Creatives, If Your Instagram is Only Photos...

That's A Problem

Instagram isn’t a photo app anymore. It’s a video platform that still has photos. This will relate to you if Instagram plays any role in how people find you or decide to book (which probably means YOU.)

For a long time, tattoo photos with good lighting end edits were enough.

It doesn’t work the same way now.

Instagram is built around keeping people watching. Reels do that better than static posts, which is why the platform prioritizes them. One photo gives Instagram very little info. A short video gives it time, behavior, and context.

That’s why video reaches further.

Movement holds attention in a way images don’t. Hands working, ink being wiped, a needle running... those get attention. Even subtle motion is enough. When there’s a face or a voice involved, people tend to stay longer, because humans naturally pay attention to other humans.

This is why a quick video during a session often performs better than a carefully edited finished photo. It feels more personal and easier to engage with.

Content quality might not be the problem; it might be the pattern.

A lot of artists only post when something feels finished or worth sharing. A piece gets done, a photo gets taken, it goes up, and that’s it. That worked when Instagram grids mattered more.

Now, posting occasionally usually means being invisible outside of your existing audience. Reels reward consistency more than perfection, and waiting for the right time to post usually means posting less.

As IG continues pushing video, static posts reach fewer new people. Growth slows. Booking relies more heavily on referrals or paid ads. At the same time, artists who post video regularly start appearing more often, because the platform can circulate them more easily.

That visibility gap has nothing to do with talent.

You don’t need to talk to the camera or change how you work. You don’t need to explain yourself or build a persona. But something in the frame needs to move.

That can be your hands, your setup, your flash, or the tattoo in progress. You can film from the side, without commentary. You can add text later or leave it alone. The goal is to give Instagram something it can distribute.

Posting frequency matters more than polish. Seeing your work repeatedly builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust. Trust leads to bookings. They book the artist they remember.

If you wait.. you lose.

This isn’t temporary. By the time it feels unavoidable, the artists who jumped on this early will already have momentum. You’ll have a better sense of what brings client inquiries and less frustration around your declining reach.

If your account only shows finished work, people don’t see how you work or what it feels like to be in your space. Video fills in that missing context.

If Instagram matters to your business at all, don't rely on a format the platform has already moved past!

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