A portrait of a friend or loved one can be captured in a photograph and incorporated into a tattoo by a reputable artist. Getting a portrait of someone as a tattoo can be an enormous compliment to the person in the photograph. A portrait can also make a suitable memorial tattoo for a loved one who has passed away. A portrait tattoo can look realistic through proper use of shading.
Take a photograph of an object that has sentimental value to you, which can then be made into a tattoo. The object could be anything from a piece of jewelry to a musical instrument. Getting a tattoo of an object that hold significance to you means you can keep it with you for the rest of your life. The object could be a gift from a loved one, or it may represent something positive that has happened to you.
A tattoo that represents a place you love, such as a particular city, can be created using photographs of the relevant area as references. Take photographs or gather existing photographic images of any sites, landmarks and other special details of the place you like. Landscape photographs of the location can also be incorporated, such as the skyline of buildings in a city. A tattoo that incorporates a number of different aspects to create a theme will often require a large surface area, such as the back.
Tattoos that have been inspired by nature can include subjects like flowers, birds, fish or other forms of wildlife. Collect a number of photographs of your desired subject to create a tattoo that looks realistic and that incorporates the relevant physical features and colors of the plant or animal.