So as some of you may know, I am working with a tattoo studio to barter services (I recently got a tattoo this part week and in return, took photos of the artists/clients and will help advertise their business for them). A Newport Magazine was interested in running a bartering story and contacted me a while back. They had to meet their deadline before the exchange took place, so I had a phone interview with them a couple of months ago. They have a website (
http://newportmercury.ri.newsmemory.com/) but it’s a little confusing to find the article.
If you were interested in reading the snip-it of what they said, here it is:
“Building your own business clientele and networking is another great reason to barter. Warwick resident Teresa Sweet, of Teresa Sweet Photography, is a full-time photographer who’s always wanted a tattoo. And since she typically photographs weddings and children, she was ready to expand her portfolio and shoot something edgy. So she posted an ad on Craigslist asking to trade her photography skills for a tattoo. When she didn’t get a response, Sweet emailed the tattoo parlor, Sin on Skin in Tiverton to propose her trade. They took her up on it, as did Underground Tattoo in Bellingham, Mass., who later saw her ad on Craigslist.
Sweet plans to barter with both shops that are currently busy designing her perfect tattoo (her first) for her upper back that incorporates her children and love of photography. For the size she wants, the tattoo would normally cost around $200. She will choose the best design and let her husband receive the other bartered tattoo. For both shops, Sweet will take photos of their tattooed clients, including a photo shoot of a corset piercing — a series of piercings on the back that emulate a corset’s lacing.
Definitely a far cry from Sweet’s typical wedding shoots.
“It might help me with future clients,” said 29-year-old Sweet. “Obviously, making money is a great thing for your business, but bartering is a great way to network.”
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Now, I’ll be writing up a nice article for Sin on Skin, who did my tattoo on Monday very shortly, so stay tuned for that! If I hear back from Underground Tattoo, I’ll still be interested in the barter but will let my husband get the tattoo, as one is enough for me. For now, at least. 😉 Here are a couple of photos that my hubby took of me getting the tattoo. I’ll post some photos once it’s healed. It’s a lot bigger than I planned on getting, but when the artist said it really wouldn’t look that good smaller, hubby and I completely agreed. Now, I am really glad I didn’t get it smaller, I love it!! If you can’t make it out, it’s a film reel with our sons’ names, Justin & Zachary inside of the film. The colors will fade as it heals and the color of the film will be a vintage “cherry bomb” color. =) It rocks! Thank you, everyone, from Sin on Skin!
Teresa Sweet Photography 