Sniper Tattoo burst onto the scene in 2022 with its game-changing Sniper Tattoo Photography Set.

A small company with big ambitions, the team at Sniper Tattoo have spent years researching and testing the optimal configurations for tattoo photography, distilling everything they’ve learned into this clever piece of equipment.

We talked with Marco, CEO and Founder of Sniper Tattoo, about his experience, who’s doing amazing work in the tattoo world now, and what’s next for this fledgling company.

When did you start designing the Sniper Tattoo Photography Set?

The idea was born in 2018 when we realised that there was an issue with photography and videography of tattoos, and tried to solve it professionally for ourselves. The first prototypes of the Sniper arrived in early 2020.

What are the biggest problems artists face when photographing their tattoos?

The variety of problems is wide, including shine, red skin, lack of contrast, no saturation of the tattoo, and finding the right light sources to create good lighting.

How does the Sniper reduce redness in images of new tattoos?

The ability to adjust the colour temperature of the light in combination with the polarisation makes it possible to find the right setting to handle redness in almost every environment.

Are the images the Sniper takes suitable for social media?

Absolutely! Although no one at Sniper is a big Instahead, we know the struggle of having a really nice piece done and wanting to share it with the world ASAP, but not being able to take a nice picture of it. So making suitable images for social media was definitely important criteria!

Can the Sniper also be used for video?

That’s actually a funny story – back in 2018 when we had the idea, we were truly mainly basing this device on photography. With the first prototypes we realised that taking videos with the Sniper is as good as taking pictures! So it’s definitely a great tool for making videos as well.

Why is it better to take great photos without needing to edit?

Well, first of all, timewise – with Sniper you have a perfect image within 2 minutes, instead of spending a long time editing. Additionally, the picture will appear more natural if you use the right equipment to take a photo, rather than editing a photo.

Why would you change the colour temperature before taking a photo?

There are two reasons. One is being able to adjust to the environmental lighting situation. The other is the style of the tattoo (for example black and grey or coloured) and the appearance you want to give to the picture.

How does the Sniper get rid of reflections on fresh tattoos?

This is due to the degree of polarisation from the light source, as well as the filtration for the camera.

Will you be working on any upgrades or improvements to the Sniper?

We are already working on new ideas to make tattoo artists’ lives easier in terms of photography and videography. So stay tuned!

Do you have tattoos, and if so which is your favourite?

Yes, everybody working at Sniper is passionate about tattoos, and of course also inked. I have a little collection from artists such as Tim Kern and Victor Portugal. My favourite piece is from a good friend of mine.

Tell us a little about yourself - what are your hobbies?

I love to be outdoors, spending time with my dog and avoiding crowds and cities. I’m enjoying the contrast of working with many people at work, but then disappearing into nature in my free time. And of course, photography is a big thing for me.

Is working on the Sniper your full-time job?

All the people working at Sniper do this alongside their day jobs. We own tattoo studios, tattoo supply businesses and so on. But since we launched Sniper, it feels almost like a full-time job!

How will you achieve World Sniper Supremacy?

I think anyone who’s tried the Sniper will feel the supremacy already - at least that’s the feedback we get! It was essential for us to bring a top-quality product to the market, one which is fun to use and beneficial to work with. This will be our main priority in the future.

Who are some of your favourite tattoo artists working today?

Standard answer: there’s too many to list! But definitely Boris, Robert Hernandez, Carlos Torres, Rob Borbas, Timmy B, Victor Chil and Julian Siebert – these are artists who have an outstanding style in my view.

What do you think will be the next big thing in the tattoo world?

I think AI is definitely a big thing coming, although I’m sceptical what it will bring to the tattoo world.  The risk of losing a big artistic part of tattooing is high and that’s something I’m worried about. On the other hand, I don’t think we should fight against development.

Will you be visiting any conventions in 2023?

Hopefully! We’ve planned something awesome for conventions and we think the artists will love it. We hope to get a chance to be at Gods of Ink and Paris.

What does the future hold for you, and for Sniper Tattoo?

I’m very glad that we do not know this. Life would lose all its spice if we did!

But seriously, I hope that we can establish a brand known for its great photo and video tools, and make tattooists around the world happy with our products.

Huge thanks to Marco for taking the time to talk us through the Sniper Tattoo backstory and answer our burning questions about the future of tattooing and tattoo photography!

You can buy the Sniper Tattoo Photography Set on the Killer Ink shop, follow the company on Instagram, and make sure to keep an eye out for new products and developments from Sniper Tattoo!