Reviews of Carmel Tattoo INK (Tattoo Shop)

Jade Mann

Mike is awesome! He is a great artist and knows what he is doing. He is very accommodating to what you want and will make requested changes to make sure you are happy. You can trust that it will be a good experience and you will love your new body art!

Gerald Pennington

I am currently 1/3 through my sessions with Michael. This is my first tattoo with any ambition. I had a value brand tattoo done in a basement shop earlier this year, and will never go to less than a professional again after my experience at Carmel Ink. It started with a meet up about a month ago. I sat down with Michael and discussed what I wanted, the reasons, and the source material. He had previous with Dark Tower tattoo's so we discussed potential designs he could implement. I have no artistic sense, so I am happy that he could take the thoughts of what I wanted, and implemented them into his own unique artwork. On the day of, his area was very clean & he was great at giving me a rundown of what we would accomplish that day. He bared with me through some of the unexpected pain(Not incredibly bad)and did a great job of giving tips to distract myself. After a 2 hour session, we are 1/3 done. The rose is BEAUTIFUL with the shading. He walked me through proper tattoo care for my tattoo and we booked our next appointment. Overall, very happy so far and would highly recommend.

Jody Meredith

Mike Hockman was amazing and professional! He made sure we were ALL happy with the design (5 lifelong friends getting matching tattoos made that hard to do) He took his time and did t make us feel rushed, we enjoyed the experience there and of course we LOVE our tattoos. He answered ALL of our questions and made us feel at home

Kristi Wright

Today I got my very first Tattoo with Michael. I was so nervous but he made me feel very comfortable and did such a great job! Facility was also the cleanest I have ever seen! I’m definitely looking forward to coming back!

Tyler Mitchell

I just got my third and fourth tattoos done on Wednesday and they are wonderful! Michael (who also did my second tattoo last year) took my ideas and translated them into beautiful tattoos that will stand the test of time. The environment is clean, professional and relaxing. I have not had a negative experience here. I like this shop so much I recommend it to all my friends (two of which have gotten multiple tattoos done by Michael as well). The staff is also very informative and helpful when it comes to the whole process from design/consultation to aftercare.

Karin Fix

Definitely a 5 star experience! Michael did an amazing job and made my first experience an easy one. He was patient and thorough and my tattoo came out better than expected. The facility was also clean and comfortable. I highly recommend Carmel Tattoo INK!

David Bash

My first tattoo, didn’t know what to expect. Michael’s eye for detail & creativity is second to none. Got my tattoo 3 days ago, already thinking of ideas for my next one. Thank you Michael.

mitchell sparks

Got some work done with Micheal he was super really nice guy had a fun time. I told home a vision I had and he knocked it outta the park! Will defiantly be back!

Mallory Groen

I had a great experience with Michael. He did a phenomenal job and was extremely personable. I would reccomend him to any of my friends.

Laura Kelsey

Went to Carmel Ink for my first tattoo. They were awesome! Not only were they able to squeeze me in that same day but Michael was awesome. He did a great job explaining everything to me about how it would feel and how to take care of it afterwards. He did exactly what I wanted and nailed it! Could ask for a better first experience!

Rachel Tompkins

If you’re looking to get a tattoo soon, Michael is your man! He’s extremely talented in his craft. Michael takes the time to listen to exactly what you want, and he’ll address all of your questions and concerns. While you’re getting your tattoo, he does a great job at making you feel comfortable in every aspect. He’s definitely the man to go to for your next tattoo!

Christian Chacko

Great experience! Got my first tattoo from Michael and it was amazing. He was very nice and helped me prepare for my tattoo in the best way possible. Very clean and inviting place with skilled artists to do any kind of work. 10/10 would recommend for your next tattoo.

Kristin Nelson

I got my first big tattoo by Michael, and I could not be happier. He spent quite a bit of time at my consultation. I showed him the ideas I had, and he took those and put his own twist on them, and it turned out awesome. He is extremely skilled artist, laid back, down to earth, and professional. The shop has a great atmosphere. It super clean and spacious. I spent five hours there in one sitting, and the time flew by. I’m very pleased with my new addition, and can’t wait to see what Michael does with it next. I highly recommend him!

Coty Johnson

Could not be happier that I chose to get a tattoo at this fine establishment! Michael was not only a super down to earth person who was easy to talk to for the 4 hour tattoo but he was an awesome artist. He took my vision and brought it to life and I know this is a piece that I will cherish forever! Pricing was spot on, he was worth every dime.

Kylie

I would highly recommend Michael. I had an existing tattoo that I wanted to add to but wasn't sure what. He took the time to brainstorm ideas with me and came up with something great that totally goes with what I already had. I have received countless compliments on it.

Cheryl Moose

Awesome shop, great environment and Mike does an amazing job!

Spencer Smith

I just got my fourth tattoo (second from Michael) and I’m already in love with it. Michael did an unreal job. In the consultation, which was super easy and comfortable, I gave him my ideas and he turned it into a work of art. As for the session, it was as painless as it could be. Michael got me a water and made sure several times that I was alright. I listened to music and watched YouTube and before I knew it I had an incredible piece on my arm. When I was finished he explained everything about taking care of the tattoo and keeping it pristine. I plan on going back to him forever and highly recommend him to anyone looking for grey and black work, at least from personal experience; he’s detail oriented and a fantastic artist. Check out his work @michaelhockmanart

Josh Collins

Matt C. is fantastic. Sleeved up right arm, fixed someone else's bs, and is working drawing up my left arm sleeve. 100% recommend.

Abbey Collins

I definitely recommend going to Benny for your next tattoo! He was very thorough, he helped my friend and I design our tattoos and was super patient! He was very sanitary and super professional! He is also an extremely talented artist! Super good with script and fine lines! Definitely worth the price:)

Mel Strode

Been coming here since January 2017... Wouldnt go anywhere else now! The guys here do amazing work and it's always a fun time!

Ryan Szemplinski

I had Michael as my tattoo artist and that man is awesome! Seriously had a great time getting my tattoo because of the seriously interesting stories he had. He did a phenomenal job on my tattoo and would recommend him to anyone that was interested in a tattoo.

Matthew Hayden

If you’re looking for a clean, professional environment with outstanding artists, go see Michael at Carmel Tattoo Ink. He first met with me for a consultation to discuss my vision, placement of the design, etc. He was clear on what to expect, the timeframe for completion and pricing. I appreciated the laid back environment the day of the tattoo and Michael allowed time for questions, double checking placement of the design, etc. He made the entire process smooth and stress free. I was incredibly impressed by his skill and will definitely be booking with him again!

Mackenzie

Carmel Ink is your best bet for the best tattoo. It's an amazing place to go for your tattooing or piercing needs. I just recently had my first tattoo done there by Adam and it was a great experience. He put any worries I had to ease almost immediately, was very knowledgeable, helpful and informative as well as being a nice and relaxed guy. Adam was very helpful during consultation and about any aftercare needs, and the tattoo process itself was easy, fun and worry free. He took my idea and turned it into even better than I was imagining and blew my expectations out of the water. The tattoo place itself is in a nice, easy to get to/find location, and the environment inside is even better, it's relaxing, stress free, clean and professional. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a tattoo and a fun personable and professional experience. 100% will come back for any tattoos in the future. All in all definitely a 5 star experience although I would put more stars if I could :)

Marisa Salasky

Michael was incredible and made the experience enjoyable and memorable! I’ve had two tattoos done and this was my far my favorite experience. He worked with the design to make it exactly how I wanted it to look. He listened to what I wanted and didn’t push what HE wanted, and together it came out to be the perfect design. He talked me through the process because I was nervous, but throughout the whole time he made me feel comfortable. I would get any and every future tattoo from him!

Erin Marie Sills

My daughter had her ears pierced with a great experience. One earring fell out overnight the first night and they reinserted the earring at no additional charge the following day. Noah was very good with my daughter and the facility and procedure were very clean!

Macy Herron

Very clean and nice on the inside. Micheal Hockman did my tattoo and it’s amazing. good pricing for the amount of detail, and he did it exactly like i wanted it. definitely going back here for my next tattoo

Cynthia Souza

This is my second tattoo here, but this shop is much nicer than the old one. I went to Mike, and he did a great job. He had everything sketched when I got there, and re-did a couple placements to make sure I was happy. The process was quick and easy. Pricing was totally reasonable. The saniderm they put on at the end is a game changer for healing. Highly recommend them!

andrew Boles

Michael is a class act. From the consultation through our first session, he stated in contact and we worked together for a great piece. The piece ended up being much larger than originally planned, and he still took care of the customer. Looking forward to many more projects in the future and finishing this piece. Update. More work completeled last week. It’s awesome to see his vision come together with all of the shading. Very excited for the next few sessions to see the end result. Update 2. Big piece so more to come. Another session knocked out with some more shading. Piece is coming together great. Cannot wait to see the how the ending turns out

Leanna Lowry

My daughter got her first tattoo here today. She had a great experience and loves her new tat. Scheduling was easy and Michael was great! He was very knowledgeable and helped her design exactly what she wanted, then made it beautiful for her. The office is very clean and in a gorgeous space. We are very happy with the entire experience and will absolutely be back!

Stephani Emerick

Absolutely amazing experience!! I went to Michael Hockman with a generic fandom idea and after a great consultation of watching videos and bouncing ideas off of each other he gave me an amazing, one of a kind piece that I am obsessed with!! He is so easy to talk to and listened to my ideas and the reasons why I wanted them. Once I gave him a few reference photos I left him to his imagination and the outcome was better than I could’ve hoped for!

JJ Lavy

Benny is the best! Went in for my first tattoo not knowing what to expect. Came out with some awesome work on my hand and the feeling that everything was done professionally and clean. Definitely recommend!

K Dominick

Just got my first tattoo from here a couple of days ago. Was a walk-in and Matt helped me out. It looks fantastic. I was worried about getting a tattoo but just walking into Carmel Tattoo set me more at ease with how clean everything is and how friendly everyone is. Have already been recommending to my friends and plan to come here again for any future designs.

CHAOS ANARCHY

Had an awesome time here. Got ink done by Michael and he did an absolutely amazing job. He got everything correct! I wanted a particular piece and he brought it to life better that I could have imagined. He took the time to make sure everything was perfect and nothing missed. Atmosphere was great, good tunes and polite people. Definitely will be getting more ink done here. I highly recommend this place. Just ask for Michael.

Keyona Kleva

Definitely recommend going to Benny! He is so nice and very helpful. He is so talented and incredible with script, designing and the placement. Everything was so clean and very professional. BENNY IS AWESOME!!! Overall a 10/10 experience!!! I definitely will be going back to him!!!

roberta

I wanted a really nice tattoo. I visited four other places ( they were dirty and I was not confident in their ability to put my vision of what I wanted in ink) before I ended up at Carmel ink. I met Adam I explained to him my vision and what I wanted. I showed him a few photographs he understood me. He Shared his interpretation of my vision and he was dead on. Tattoo came out great the operation is clean friendly and sanitized . I highly recommended. Carmel Tattoo INK !

Bethany Foltz

I worked with Micheal on a piece I’ve wanted for a long time. He took my concept and gave it life in the most beautiful way. It was my first tattoo and he explained everything to me and answered all of my questions. He’s a heck of an artist and a professional. Highly recommended!

gargi thakker

I took my sister to this place and she had her first tattoo with Benny. Awsome work. Cant believe how fast and precise he is. Love his work and would surely recommend him.

Lindsey Bradshaw

I could not be happier with the tattoos Micheal did for me. He listened to exactly what I wanted, added his opinion, was conscious of my criteria, and created art. He was attentive to detail and even though I wanted something super simple, he paid attention to me like I asked for the world (I did ask for the moon, to be fair). I can’t say enough good things. It was pricier than two other places I had it priced at, but I truly believe I got the best of the best and it was 100% worth it. I’ve had tattoos other places, and I can honestly say I’ve never felt more at ease. Micheal is awesome!!

Haley Michelle

The whole place was full of friendly people and super clean. My appointment with Michael was awesome and went smoothly. He took my idea and made something incredible, and the execution exceeded expectations. Great experience

Lydia Ratcliffe

Everyone at Carmel Tattoo is so so nice and so amazing!!! The new building is beautiful and super clean:) Noah King is an amazing piercing artist and if you need any piercings I would 100000% recommend him! He is fun to talk to and very gentle when it comes to the piercings. I can't wait to go back!!!

wyatt storey

First thing to put out there this isn’t your typical dingy dirty heavy metal playing tattoo shop. Carmel Tattoo is very clean and just an all around amazing place. Everyone there is extremely nice from the person at the front desk to all the artists themselves. My Tattoo artist was Michael Hockman who besides being a tattoo artist is an amazing artist. His creativity and skill is out of this world. He is also very good at making sure you stay calm and just breathe so the tattoo can come out looking absolutely amazing. Which is what happened. I plan on going there again sometime in the near future with the same amazing Artist Michael Hockman

Emily Beasley

My friend and I were very excited to get some tattoos at this place. The reviews looked decent. But wow. Really reconsider. The receptionist, Caden, is extremely rude. The communication in there is unbelievable. We scheduled a consultation with Raven to meet with our potential artist on Monday. He was very friendly and nice! Talked is through our ideas and showed us some of his work. Yet, We decided to go with another place. We emailed/spoke with Raven on Tuesday (very next day) about the consultation and told her to cancel our Friday appointment. Friday night we get an extremely rude call from the receptionist saying how we are late and missed the appointment. We called back and told him we spoke to Raven about the cancellation and he had no idea who that even was! We proceeded to ask to talk to our artist. He apologized yet the rudeness and miscommunication is enough to never make me recommend this place to anyone.

Diego Aguilar

Michael is a great artist; very professional and with a great vision. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to my friends or family as he understands what you're looking for with great ease!

Tony Betbadal

I love Michael's work. The tattoo on my wife's leg looks fantastic, great depth with subtle lines. I got my first tattoo with him, and he was very accommodating. Made me feel like he valued us as customers.

Samantha Skibinski

Just recently got my 3rd tattoo here with Michael Hockman. I saw his portfolio and knew he would be the best for my flower tattoo on the back of my arm. What he created absolutely blew my mind. I have already gotten a ton of compliments. The detail work on my flowers is amazing. He was patient and answered all my questions. He is very knowledgeable and talented. I would recommend Michael to anyone!

Ryan Drew

Benny is a great artist, and even better person. Super light hand. Work healed super fast i was very surprised. If i can get a pic of one if the ones he has done i will post it. But i would recomend Benny to anyone for sure. He has tons of experience and it shows. Thanks again Benny always loved getting work done by you, cant wait to get more!!!

Taylor Baker

I recently went to Carmel Tattoo ink to have a old tattoo covered. Michael was my artist. He did a phenomenal job, it turned out better than I could have ever imagined. The shop is clean and tidy. Michael was really cool to work with and I enjoyed my session very much. He is very knowledgeable and professional. He drafted up an original concept that we decided to go with. I plan on using and referring friends and family to Carmel Tattoo Ink exclusively from now on. THANK YOU MICHAEL!

Nick Snyder

I chose Carmel Tattoo based on their great reviews. I stopped into the shop and met Michael Hockman. This was my first tattoo and I did not know what to expect. He explained the entire process and he was very attentive to the design I requested. Great experience and AWESOME tattoo! Thanks Michael!

Makara Starnes

Nothing more to say than it was a 5 star experience. Noah was so professional, it was the absolute best piercing experience I’ve ever had. It did not hurt at all, other than the initial piercing, and he was so helpful with nerves. Super happy, 100% recommend.

Samantha Copenhaver

Michael just did the best coverup tattoo for me! More amazing than I could have ever imagined. I loved the shop, very clean and friendly people. Michael did such a great job drawing up my new tattoo to make it the perfect shape and size to cover the old one! His vision with all of the shades of gray and black in the tattoo really make it pop. I’ve already gotten a ton of compliments. He also makes you feel very comfortable and talked me through my whole experience to help me relax. I will definitely go to him for all future tattoos!

Kelly Wallace

I got my first tattoo this week by Michael and I love it! He’s extremely professional and makes you feel relaxed the whole time. The studio is clean and inviting. I would definitely recommend to others!

Katie Flor

I absolutely love this shop. Everyone is extremely friendly and it is very clean and organized. Michael is an incredible artist who is willing to take time and listen to all of your ideas; he also offers advice and adds his own personal style to them. I would highly recommend Michael if you are looking for a realism piece because he does amazing detail work.

Andrew Saunders

Got my very first tattoo from Michael. Incredibly professional and friendly. Did great work and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a tattoo. It’s a really nice shop as well.

Jordan Caulk

Micheal is awesome. He took my ideas and turned them into a design that exceeded my expectations. By far my cleanest tattoo. Will definitely be back.

Emily Babb

Michael Hockman is such a personable and talented artist. My experience was very pleasant and laid back. I had my first tattoos done by him and am overjoyed with the outcomes! I highly recommend Michael to anyone looking around the Indy area for an artist.

Don Davis

Michael worked with me to create an awesome back piece that exceeded my expectations. It incorporates all of the tattoos of my family into an original piece of art he designed. My piece is large so I have two 8 hr sittings. For the appointment Michael made sure that I was comfortable and he got a lot done in one session. Because my appointment lasted for 8 hours I saw more of the the shop than most people will. It is clean with awesome artists. They also do a lot of little girl ear piercings.

Gamer Girlzz

This place is classy and super Clean. Best Artists around who touch up for life at no charge.

Addi Partlow

Michael was the best! He made us feel like we’ve known him forever and helped my mom feel so relaxed getting her first tattoo! Definitely the best artist I’ve ever gone to!

Brian Wisker

I had Michael Hockman as my artist & I highly recommend him. He was very professional and when I came to him with the concept what he came back with exceeded my expectations. I’ll definitely will be going back to him for future work I need done.

Bri Dimit

Had the most amazing session with Michael. His work and talent is out of this world. You won’t find an artist like him. Carmel Tattoo Ink’s new facility is also very welcoming, clean, and modern. At this point, they’re like family. I would recommend Carmel Tattoo Ink and Michael to anyone in search for fantastic art accompanied with a great experience. -BRI-

Maddy Catton

Carmel tattoo has done all three of my tattoos & I wouldn’t go anywhere else for new work or touch ups. Michael did my most recent tattoo and did a great job! Super friendly and talkative making the experience great even through the irritating pain. Will definitely be back.

Mary Keller

Michael turned my simple tattoo idea into an awesome work of art! Not only is he highly skilled as an artist, he took his time making sure every thing was perfect right down to the last detail. The final result turned out better than I could have hoped! He also did an excellent job of covering up some troublesome shoulder scars I have been self conscious about for years. Now I can get excited about wearing sleeveless clothing! Thank you so much for such a great experience!

Abbigail King

Michael Hockman has been working on my sleeve with me and he has done an AWESOME job. Highly recommend him to anyone looking into getting their first or another tattoo. He’s very skilled and professional. The shop is brand new and super clean- everyone in there makes you feel welcome. It makes the long sessions fly by.

Indy Sabre Formerly KC Sabre

Mike is such a good artist and is very detailed oriented to make sure that I was totally happy with the overall piece. Definitely coming back for more!

Rachel Lynch

I had such a great time got two tattoos by Michael, both just as beautiful as the last best first tattoo experience.

Alicia Arbaszewski

I'm from Fishers, but i am an active duty military member. So when i come home my time is limited. Not only did Michael accommodate me by moving around his schedule so that he could fit me in the time i was here. But he also made sure i was comfortable, i recently got injured and am on crutches. So laying down or sitting needed to happen in a certain way for me to feel okay. We both powered through around 14hrs of work in two days, back to back. I cant say enough on his talent, professionalism, and welcoming personality!! The shop itself, well it is an upgrade from their last location. Their new location; which is just down the block from the old one. Has a open and modern feeling, very clean and welcoming. Every artist there is willing to start up a conversation and make sure you feel apart of their shop. They are all talented! I will for sure be coming back for another tattoo in the future!!!

Tim Thompson

Michael Hockman is an outstanding artist. Extremely impressed with is artistic ability and professionalism. Clean, comfortable environment. I was also blown away with Michael as a human being. A true patriot. I would not have anyone else for a tattoo. It may take awhile to get in but it is worth the wait.

Courtney Stubbs

Had my first tattoo done last Friday at Carmel Tattoo by Michael Hockman. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and a super nice guy. When I first went in to see how the process worked, Mike sat down with me to understand the vision I had for my tattoo. He talked through placement, and what to do prior to receiving my ink. Fast forward to day of ink and seeing his design. He had taken my vision and made it awesome. I was a little nervous and Mike put my jitters right at ease. I couldn’t have asked for more interesting conversation or an easier person to talk with during my tattoo. My tattoo turned out amazing, thanks to Michael’s beautiful artistry. I’m sure I’ll be back for more!

Rhonda Day

Had a great experience with Michael. We had a consultation with him about what we wanted, and he tweaked it to perfection. He was fun, professional, and easy to work with... He is definitely one of THE tattoo artists in Carmel.

erica butler

Very nice. Gave me the realistic details and asked if I was doing okay throughout the entities process. Very straight forward.

Emma williams

They fixed a horrible tattoo from Indiana Tattoo Company. They were so nice they did not even charge me because they felt bad charging me again since it was brand new. There customer service is out of this world. The whole process was like a day at the spa not a typical tattoo shop. They since have done 2 more tattoos on me and they are all amazing. Even the bad one has turned out beyond my expectations! I advise anyone getting tattooed to make sure you do your research because I not only got a bad tattoo at the other shop but the guy (I cant call him an Artist because it was so bad) had a criminal record and its scary that he is allowed to touch people. Google has lots of info on anyone. I wish I would have read these reviews for Carmel Ink first before going any where else! A+++++++ Carmel Ink ALL THE WAY! The Owner was nice and super generous and another Artist Michael did my other tattoos. I think every one there tattoos on the next level of may places.

todd utzig

Micheal is awesome! Highly recommend him and the store. Very clean, comfortable, very knowledgeable and very detailed on post tattoo care. Will definitely be going back for tattoo nmbr 2!!!

Angel Faulkner

I have had two sessions with Mike and absolutely love the attention to detail on his art, shading, and vibrant colors! He always keeps your ideas in mind and adds the little bit of extra attention to make them so unique and beautiful! The artwork alone has made it worth coming back for more of his work. Definitely the best tattoo artist for this area.

Whitney Dore

Michael did a fantastic job! He was patient and understanding of what I wanted. Did a dragonfly as a tribute to my late niece. It looks amazing and so realistic. It only took like 45 minutes. And it came out just as I hoped! Love love love!

Jackson Garrett

Company over prices drastically. Talking double and triple the normal price. Happy with my piece but paid way too much for the size of the tattoo. Didn’t feel at home in this shop. Recommend looking else where. This is the tattoo I received. Paid $300 for this. Was told I was cut a deal and would have paid hell of a lot more for it. Plenty of other shops offer free touch ups for life. Not just this company. They are not special in an sense.

Jeffrey Alperovich

This was my best tattoo experience so far! I scheduled a session with Adam to talk through my ideas and what I was looking for. Adam was super insightful and ran with my thoughts to come up with an amazing design for me! My session a few weeks later was easy and awesome! Best care and quality I’ve gotten from my 3 separate tattoo experiences/locations. I would highly recommend coming back to see anyone here at the shop!

Sydney Elise Fentz

Michael was my tattoo artist and I was really pleased with his work. He was also very nice and attentive to how the tattoo was going on and what I wanted. Very happy with his work

Jessica Kurrasch

We had a great experience. From the polished website that brought us in to the excellent customer service, cleanliness, style and talent of the store and Adam specifically. Thanks for a great memory!