We got the call from the producers of a Dazed Mag photo shoot in mid 2022. They needed A$AP Rocky’s tattoos for a photo shoot using body doubles. Yes, multiple body doubles. Six to be exact. I had no more than 3 hours. Most people have no idea what they are asking for when they call our shop, and this is no different. I am certain no one else has been able to pull that off.

After finding that there was no one else in Los Angeles that could do the job, they came back to us literally 48 hours before the shoot. This meant that I had that much time to design and create the stencils from A$AP’s tattoo collection and get myself to Los Angeles in 48 hours to do the application. The stencils were designed and laser cut in time to travel to LA in time for the shoot. I can say if it was Wiz Khalifa might have taken longer.

The real story about this shoot was what happened when I arrived on set. I received word that A$AP had been arrested at the airport! Yes, it was the day he was arrested. My plan was to setup and be ready to go whether or not the shoot was cancelled. I had the first model finished in 45 minutes! That was when they told me to “pause”. OF course it came back that the shoot was indeed cancelled. All the models & crew were cut. I decided since I had no where else to be, I would stay set up and wait and see. Word came that he was released and on his way. Everyone needed to be UN-cut!

I was ready to get all 5 of the rest of the models finished and I did in about 40 minutes each, as I was told the rush was on because of the lost hours. I had them done hours before the talent arrived. A$AP and entourage showed up at roughly 6pm. We had a hard stop at 10pm so they had to get things done at breakneck speed. We are lucky our shots made it into the the editorial. A$AP arrived with his crew and a very Rhianna. Both were gracious and polite which was a welcome development after a clearly rough day. I’m sure the talent and crew appreciated.

I have a very interesting life.