Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Lemke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

Since the day I started my business, I have donated 10% of my sales to causes and organizations that i trust. Currently, I am honored to partner with The Alpha Project in San Diego. They are dedicated to providing bridge shelter, resources, rehabilitation and permanent housing placement for our homeless community in San Diego. Thankful for all that they do to support our city and the many people who need assistance bettering their lives and living a healthy and fulfilling one.

Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been a cosmetic/restorative tattoo artist for over six years! I have a unique style of tattooing where realism meets cosmetic/restorative tattooing. I am based out of La Jolla, Ca and I also work in the SF Bay Area. I enjoy travel pop-ups and working in fun spaces. Maybe I can come to your town if you aren’t in sunny San Diego! I also train other artist who want to grow in their own artistry and learn techniques that only come with experience. It is so rewarding to be able to pour back into the industry and talented artist! I am constantly pushing myself and the envelope as to what is possible within my craft.

I specialize in uber-natural, nano eyebrow tattoos, juicy lip-tint tattoos, delicate lash-liner and areola restorative tattooing. My goal is to create a super natural tattoo that not only looks great when you leave the studio, but also once it is healed and as it fades out over time. I look at the big picture, your tattoo, your skin as a whole, taking into consideration longevity. I want to tattoo with my clients year after year. I wont compromise on quality or the integrity of my work. I wont compromise on your face and body.

My studio is my home away from home. Iv’e been told it is pure peace, I won’t disagree! It’s a place for all things tattoo, real conversations, connection and of course, naps. It’s a good space. Come say hi, you’ll see!

I have to say, the best and most cherished part of my business, would be my clients. They are why I do what I do. It truly is an honor to be a small part of their tattoo story, see a re-claiming of confidence and to bring out and enhance their natural beauty! It never gets old. Every day, every tattoo and every client are uniquely beautiful and different.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Good question! For starters, I think that “reputation” and “image” are wildly different and often used interchangeably. That has really kept me focused on what’s important and my goals here. I think that I grew my reputation within the industry as well as with my clientele, focusing on work integrity as well as personal. I have always tried to be genuinely me as an artist, as a business woman and in relationship with my clients and community. I knew if I stayed authentic in every facet, I wold attract the right clients, community and collaborations, I let that authenticity spill over to my social media, my branding and that is my “image”.

I consider image to be what is displayed for an audience to see, portraying and providing an idea of who we are. Reputation is who we are actually known to be. Being seen and being know are two different ball games. I think people appreciate that I am who I say I am, my tattoo work is represented with true transparency and high quality is a non-negotiable behind the scenes, and that shines through to the surface.

I also think that my actual style of cosmetic and restorative tattooing is a bit unique. It stands out a bit. My style is realism tattooing, creating life-like and hyper-realistic tattoos. My goal is to create a tattoo that looks so real that it is undetectable. A polished, enhancement. A piece of physical identity that has been restored through the art of tattoo.

I have never stopped my own personal education, practice or pushing myself to become a better and more versed artist, person and business owner. I genuinely care about my clients, the growing artists that I am teaching and those who I am connected with. I genuinely love, value and respect people, I hope and I think that brings a level of comfort and trust – reputation.

And when you love what you do, that also shows. I feel blessed and grateful to say I love what I do for work every day.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Honestly, I would say that 85% of my clientele is referral base. I consider that to be a compliment because it means that my existing clients are happy with my tattoo work and me as an artist. It also means that potential and new clients are seeing my work on their friends, co-workers etc., and they think it is quality enough to trust me with their face and body. I don’t take that lightly, it’s actually quite an honor.

I also am active on instagram. When I post, I try to be clear, transparent and educational. I think that social media is a great way to connect and provide for people in a lane that maybe there wouldn’t be reach otherwise. Because i know that I personally am a part of my brand and that getting a tattoo is an extremely personal process, I have always ran my own account and personally responded, posted and operated my account. I want you to get a feel of who I am.

I have also made the most beautiful connections putting myself out there and letting the right contacts organically grow with trust and value. I have relationships with respected providers, artist, doctors and the with-in the beauty industry, I love my community that has blossomed over the years. It’s something special. I love meeting a potential client, and they already feel a sense of safety because they were referred by someone else with a solid reputation and who they find trustworthy.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.SLcosmetictattoo.com
• Instagram: @SLcosmetictattoo.com