Picture Machine Tattoo

2 years ago

[[HIGHLIGHT]]I have a very specific memory of getting my first tattoo ever here while watching the Thanksgiving school musical and doing taxes on edibles episode of Bob's Burgers here in 2016.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Godspeed to you Picture Machine Tattoo and thanks again Jen Wong. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Hank M.

3 months ago

[[HIGHLIGHT]]I've been to Picture Machine two times and been tattooed by Moon on both occasions.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I definitely would recommend him, he gave me a good price for a walk-in on short notice, and they healed perfectly. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Abby ..

9 months ago

PLEASE DONT COME HERE. go to one shot tattoo instead lol. Im pretty sure they deleted my review on google but ill repost here. Came here in the beginning of the year for a hand tattoo. I do tattoos myself and have many other ones, but since i wanted one on my hand i decided ill pay however much to assure it's not messed up( since hands are like never covered!!). Originally i was going to a place on irving but they were booked that day so whatever i decided to come here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The guy that answered the phone was extremely rude.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ok whatever. I come in and we discuss what i would like. He kept on messing up amd refusing to do the stencil how i wanted it as if its not MY tattoo. We came to an agreement and as soon as we began he needed to take a smoke break. This continued damn near every 10 minutes. The tattoo was not that large lol. This dude had the HEAVIEST HAND EVER. now i have plenty other tattoos but it seems like he just wanted to make it as painful as possible??? Anyways after about 8 smoke breaks and him being unprofessional af, we were finally done. MY TATTOO WAS BLOWN OUT AF. HE RUINED MY HAND. And on top of that tried to OVERCHARGE ME. we agreed on a better price but please for the love of god do not come here. Literally go anywhere else. My hand is ruined and i would have probably been better off just doing my tattoo myself. Every time i look at my hand i wanna cry. Im so sad. I wish i never came here it was the worst mistake of my life. Moral of the story: be patient because the fastest option does not always mean the best option. Edit: it was honestly my fault for not leaving after multiple red flags but damn :( read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Justin A.

2 years ago

I have had multiple tattoos done here. Jen, Jason, & BIGMOON. All were excellent even with different styles. Top notch shop that I will always recommend to anyone in the SF Bay Area. Just a PSA : Tattoo Artists are not your friends they are artists. I have seen a lot of hateful comments on here about "Customer Service". Realize that they are people too and this is not a restaurant. Think about any artist in the history books.. was the first thing written was they were nice?... no they were unique. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Picture Machine Tattoo has a great vibe and everyone has treated me with respect.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Rob N.

138

4 years ago

Picture Machine Tattoo - Morning after - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Valerie N.

364

224

677

5 years ago

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Pouneh L.

2 years ago

She's extremely standoffish and rude. My mom, sister and I went for matching heart tattoos and it was a disappointing experience. She looked pissed off that we were there LOL like we were inconveniencing her. Heart tattoo is mediocre at best. This was 3 years ago but I still reflect on this and think to myself 'what was her problem?' I hope life is inspiring her to be more approachable for someone in the service industry. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Cindy L.

887

899

7 years ago

This is regarding my interactions with Jen via Instagram. I tried to book time for a consultation and Jen told me, via Instagram, she prefers to do everything via Instagram to save time. I told her my design, she said she could do it, and I proceeded to try and book time with her. She has basically ghosted me despite pinging her a few times to follow up. She will read my message within a few minutes, or right after I message her, and not reply. I'm a little glad I didn't get a tattoo from her, despite loving her work online, because of this poor customer service. read more

Helpful 23

Thanks 0

Love this 4

Oh no 1

Natalie S.

2 years ago

Did a walk in for my first tattoo ever and [[HIGHLIGHT]]Joel was so nice! He was able to guide me through the process smoothly (I was super indecisive) and was super reassuring![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A very nice ambiance. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sandy L.

145

117

342

7 years ago

Picture Machine Tattoo - Flower by Jen based on Jen's work. Wanted the top left's rose bud, bottom left's stem & I ended up with..? - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picture Machine Tattoo - After carefully rolling off the tape & moisturized. It kinda looks like the super Mario plant.. :( (supposed to be a rose) - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Helpful 6

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Natascha E.

Elite 19

1316

123

442

7 years ago

Picture Machine Tattoo - Angel wing - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Helpful 5

Thanks 0

Love this 4

Oh no 0

Niko B.

114

5 years ago

Review is for Jen. She's super standoffish. Initially had an appointment for a tattoo touch but COVID hit so it had to be cancelled. Saw her posting online about people getting tatted & getting their tattoos touched up but when asked if she is taking appointments she ignores you. She gives off this vibe/persona online that she's a super nice and welcoming person but in reality she is faaaar from that. I saw comments about it online and didn't heed people's warning so if you're reading this now and thinking about it, you've been warned. read more

Helpful 13

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 1

Anh T.

655

214

1400

12 years ago

Picture Machine Tattoo - Outlining of my sleeve complete ! - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 4

Oh no 0

Mac B.

5 years ago

I got one of Jen's flash tattoos and it is great! She's friendly and easy going. I would definitely get another from her and recommend her work to any friends who are looking for a tattoo artist. I would ignore all the negative reviews about her since they are all focused on her personality not matching up to peoples' weird expectations of her. Lots of reviews from people who have never even met her in person or been tattooed by her. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Josephine C.

8 years ago

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ang V.

324

578

6 years ago

I would not consider Jenn an artist. If anything, she's a con artist. She fools you into thinking she's capable of tattooing. All her tattoo pieces LOOK THE SAME and have the same feel (minimal line work). You get what you paid for. I've gotten two tattoos done by her. They're both small pieces. I didn't want to pay $300+ for 3 inch floral tattoos so at 80 a piece? Heck yeah I'll take it. Not one of my smartest ideas on something that will be on my skin forever. I found Jenn through IG. The first time I went I got sampaguitas on my ankle. I showed her a few designs I wanted and she was able to come up with a simple outline of sampaguitas. I was really hesitant because of the reviews I'd read online about her being standoffish. She greeted me when I came in. She took 10 mins to draw up the flower and another 15 to tattoo. No conversation besides the initial hello and asking if I liked the design. So it wasn't a bad experience, just very neutral. Also very quick. In and out in less than 30 mins. Also her drawings seem original but they're basic outlines. No artistry whatsoever. The second tattoo I got was done the same day I was touching up the sampaguitas. I made the appt through text. I figured my first experience wasn't horrible and the tattoo doesn't look half bad so I'll get a rose on the same ankle but opposite side. (I really need to stop justifying permanent decisions on a neutral first experience). I showed her a picture of a rose she originally did on someone and said I wanted something similar. She comes back and gives me the same exact design but just rotated differently. It's not a big deal that I have the same exact tattoo as someone else and it wasn't a flash sheet but it goes to show her design ability is very limited. She is weak in the drawing department. She kept asking me what size I wanted, and I said the same exact size as the one you tattooed on me a few months ago. She literally had the reference right there!! The first design she showed me was too small so I asked if she could make adjustments. Then I asked if she could add another leaf so I could see what it looked like. She comes back with the leaf added to the drawing but it looked like it was growing on top of the rose petals instead of on the stem. She didn't put any effort in the adjustments I asked. Just those two things and she looked so annoyed. Like asking her to make those changes really bothered and inconvenienced her. She was giving off major bad vibes! I didn't want her to revenge tattoo me or anything so I just settled for a basic rose tattoo. It just felt weird and awkward. This is where I experienced the "standoffish" attitude everyone talks about. She doesn't make you feel welcomed or comfortable. She's putting something on your body forever and she's supposed to help make you feel relaxed and calm and that you can trust her (that's part of the job) but instead she made me feel like a nuisance for asking her to make two tiny changes. And again like last time, no conversation besides the initial greeting. Not even any small talk afterward of "do you like it?" Just a pay and leave vibe. She doesn't treat you like a human being, more like just a number. I understand that talking might be a distraction but heck, even my nail lady talks to me more! I saw her again one last time a few months after the rose tattoo for a touch up on it. In and out in 10 mins and got the hell out of there as quickly as possible. Will not be ever coming bad, good riddance! If more than a couple people are warning you about her attitude, believe them! If more than a few people have the same terrible experience, then obviously there's something wrong and you shouldn't go here. I was really on the fence about writing this review because I don't want to talk bad about an artist but I think It's important that I share this criticism about her. Her artistry sucks. Her line work sucks. The first tattoo she does on you is actually going to be just a "first draft" because it won't heal nicely and then the second time around is when she'll do the decent part and you hope that the ink actually settles in your skin. I wouldn't recommend her to anyone unless you're down for a cheap unoriginal crappy quality tattoo. Also her tattoos won't last long. They're just simple line work that will fade overtime. The two that I have done by her are already fading and they've already been touched up plus it's only been less than a year since I've had them. If you want a long lasting quality tattoo, go elsewhere. Anywhere but here. read more

Helpful 22

Thanks 0

Love this 4

Oh no 1

Carly N.

6 years ago

Picture Machine Tattoo - Scorpion done by Jason - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 3

Oh no 0

Jennifer W.

101

8 years ago

See all

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Gus B.

308

8 years ago

James is amazing - I stopped by for a walk-in tattoo around 7pm, and he was able to help me right away. He made a custom design for me, was super friendly and knowledgeable, and I left with a great tattoo. I can't wait to come back! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Cecille W.

726

412

2095

9 years ago

I got my first tattoo from Jen after coming across her Instagram. What a coincidence that the artist I chose was at the tattoo shop that I always passed by whenever I'm on Geary! The whole process went smoothly from beginning to end. I came to the shop twice before my actual appointment, once to show/tell Jen what I wanted, and the second to see what she had drawn up for me. She was able to capture everything that I wanted and even the sizing was perfect. I had a hard time explaining to her what I really wanted in terms of the shading but she was very patient and was able to understand and offer tips. She was quick to respond over text message and I easily made an appointment in the time frame that I wanted. When the day finally came, I was super nervous but Jen worked quickly and precisely. My whole tattoo was done in less than an hour (it wasn't a super big piece) and the healing process has been smooth. I highly recommend getting tattooed by Jen because she's very professional and gives you what you really want! Couldn't be happier with my new art, thank you! read more

Helpful 6

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Alyssa P.

Elite 24

411

533

3414

6 years ago

Jen has done three of my tattoos that I love and always get compliments on! I've contacted her through Instagram and text. She was great at replicating what I wanted with her style incorporated. I've also had several friends get tattooed by her that love her work as well! read more

Picture Machine Tattoo - Phases of the moon dangling from a hand (with Jen's signature black nails!) - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picture Machine Tattoo - Leaves done by Jen - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picture Machine Tattoo - 'Close' by Quibe, tattooed by Jen - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Diane H.

7 years ago

VERY VERY HAPPY with my tattoo here!! Thanks Moon for helping to customize my arm piece and accepting my walk in the day of! He was super patient and made sure I was comfortable with the design before anything :) I was nervous at first but I'm super pleased with Moon's work and will definitely be back if I get another ink in Cali! read more

Picture Machine Tattoo - Tattoo shop - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Bianca Stephanie M.

5 years ago

This review is for Jen. If I could give her negative 5 stars I would. DO NOT GIVE HER YOUR BUSINESS! She does NOT deserve your money. Trust me! She is BEYOND disrespectfully rude. I think she actually has some issues based on her previous horrendous reviews. So I went to Picture Machine Tattoo with my sister to get a sister tattoo by Jen. When my sister and I arrived we were told to wait outside due to Covid. Understandable. After about 15 minutes of waiting (we arrived on time by the way) Jen came out, or I should say only popped her head out of the gate like my sister and I had a plague or something. She then proceeded with "so I don't even really know what you guys want?" (My sister had sent her an email two weeks prior with all the information needed for our tattoo appointment). Jen acted like she had never received any information so my sister and I gave her the run down, again, of what we wanted. We literally just wanted a hand doing the peace sign in line work with a quote. Nothing major. Jen said a total of one word in response..."okay." There was NO collaborative effort on her part. She was NOT trying to work with us at all. So she says, "okay, DM me the images that you would like," even though my sister had sent them all two weeks prior. So we send them. She then says "okay, you can sit here," and points to this small bench outside the shop. So my sister and I sat there for ONE HOUR! Jen had us sitting there in the cold for ONE WHOLE HOUR while she went and "sketched" out what we wanted. Like I said, no collaboration. There was no "okay, so what would you like, do you like this, how about that, etc, etc. What good and nice tattoo artists usually do. NADA! So when she finally comes out to show us the sketches my sister and I see that they were literally the images we DM'd her! The woman didn't even artistically add her own touch or flare. NOTHING. Jen copy and pasted the image and typed in the font. Can you believe it!? And she passed us the sketch as if she did us a favor while saying "here," and handing them to us. And you're going to tell me that that took an hour? HELL NO! So my sister and I looked at them in silence. My sister and I are basically telepathic so we were both thinking "is this girl serious?" So we tell Jen to get rid of two lines in the hands and Jen disappears for another TWENTY MINUTES. Just so disrespectful and rude and ungrateful. Just plain mean actually. My sister and I are nice people and were so excited about this tattoo. The whole experience was just so unnecessary and horrific. So the final straw was when we were about to go in to get the tattoos I asked if I could sit next to my sister and Jen said no because of city protocols, again, understandable. So I say goodbye to my sister and Jen then proceeds to push the gate open for me and then SWINGS HER ARMS in a "Get out" gesture. That was It. I couldn't even at that point. I turn to my sister and say, "No, I'm sorry but I can not get a tattoo by her." I turn to her and continue to say, "You have been so rude and disrespectful and I don't even know why." Needless to say my sister and I did not get a tattoo by her, and thank God we didn't because she had terrible reviews and we didn't even know. We are so relieved her BS tattoo isn't on our bodies, few! Dodged that bullet! It was just an awful experience. I am such a firm believer that the energy that you put out into the universe is the energy that you receive and the energy that Jen was exuding was truly purposefully mean, whether she is aware of It or not. In conclusion, being a tattoo artist you need to make people feel comfortable and collaborate well. It should be a fun and exciting experience. She doesn't do or make you feel any of that. On the contrary. Don't go to Jen. She doesn't deserve anyone's business. Periodtttttt. read more

Helpful 24

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 1

Billie Y.

4 years ago

Karl is a professional and very cool cat with great taste in music! He was able to fit me in on the same day I left them a message. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ethan H.

3 years ago

Had a lovely time with Jen. My tattoo turned out better than I envisioned. It was amazing to watch someone so skilled do their thing.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Amanda S.

6 years ago

James is as always amazing! Just wanted to update how happy I am with my newest addition. Thanks again! read more

Picture Machine Tattoo - Murky Mouse - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picture Machine Tattoo - Plodo - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picture Machine Tattoo - Dolan Duck - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Joelle P.

205

9 years ago

I was referred to Jen Wong by one of my friends who received a tattoo from her and needless to say, I'm in love with her tattoo art. Jen is a very kind and accommodating person, for my first tattoo from her (my second tattoo overall but larger than my first) she always checked up on me and my pain tolerance. Though after I left, I realized a branch wasn't filled in but Jen was quick and was readily available to schedule a touch up session. After a month I decided to get another tattoo from her and like before, she was cool with everything! She sanitized the tattooing area and worked pretty quickly (so I wouldn't cry from the pain LOL). I would definitely recommend Jen to anyone who wants a tattoo or is scared to start on their first one! read more

Picture Machine Tattoo - My first tattoo from Jen! I brought in some tattoo inspiration pics and she quickly designed a cute branch of cherry blossoms - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Picture Machine Tattoo - My second tattoo from Jen (not even longer than a month from the first one)! I love how she shaded the peonies on this one - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Emily M.

Elite 23

147

201

7 years ago

Review only reflects scheduling. I am so glad I trusted my gut and these yelp reviews. Reached out to Jen via email after seeing her work on instagram, included photos. I received a pretty canned reply, possibly something set up as a kick back response to a contact form email. We worked through scheduling aiming for June, at some point I asked if she had anything earlier than the date proposed for the end of June and she replied, "Not as of now. I can put you in touch with my coworker who will be available sooner." I thought this was strange, the idea of passing along a potential client. I replied that I wanted to work with her and confirmed the appointment. I didn't hear anything in response so sent an additional email making sure she got my confirmation, to which she replied, "Yep!" I am disappointed at the lack of effort and professionalism. Nothing about design, cleanliness, machines used, no conversation about what I want or details of it, no relationship building. And the more I thought about it the less I wanted a meh experience. I get that everyone is different and everyone has different personalities, maybe this place would have been great, maybe I would have had a big regret, I'd rather not take the risk. read more

Helpful 16

Thanks 0

Love this 8

Oh no 1

Stacie I.

188

8 years ago

Jen is amazing! I got my first tattoo here from her after I saw her art through Instagram & everything went well. I came in twice before my actual appointment, the first time to talk to her about what I wanted & the second time to see what she had created. She was so patient, kind, & responded quickly. During the actual tattooing, I was a little nervous but she always checked in & asked how I was doing & made small talk so it made me feel a lot better. My first tattoo was better than I imagined & I'd definitely come back here for more! I would highly recommend coming to Jen for a first tattoo or just getting a tattoo in general! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Nart T.

174

159

8 years ago

I have been a customer of Jen's for about 5 years. Got 6 tattoos by her. On my last one I got done she messed up on the feather and I've been wanting to go in for a touch up. She did not just block me on her phone but gave me an hourly rate of 170$/hr and when my friend called she gave her 160$/hr. I've been referring a lot of family and friends to her as well. Now I feel like she's feel like she's too good for touch ups and stuff? I also message Jason asking for a reply, surprise surprise no replied yet. Maybe this way someone will contact me back. Thanks read more

Helpful 11

Thanks 0

Love this 3

Oh no 2

William G.

7 years ago

Super old review I never turned in... I was referred to this place by a co-worker. She, my coworker, had recently had some work done on her arm that looked great. I walked in a week ago and met with Jake Diamond. I gave him an idea of what I wanted and he said "Not a problem" Jake scheduled me for an appointment a week later(yesterday). After a couple of hours, I walked out with a sweet looking tattoo Something I liked about Jake, other than his great work, was that he didn't talk my ear off. The place was clean, I felt comfortable and the staff was excellent! No one in the place seemed like a wannabe,,, everyone was down to earth. Thanks guys! read more

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Eva D.

314

7 years ago

I'm honestly surprised to see so many negative reviews for Jen. She was wonderful and super quick. It's not a tattoo artists job to entertain you, I appreciate that she puts her head down and gets to work. Her tattoos are always so beautiful and she will touch them up at no cost 4+ weeks out. Will definitely be going back to get more work from her. I also got a tattoo from James and he was amazing and great! Picture Machine has got some really great artists and I highly recommend. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Stacey F.

8 years ago

My boyfriend and his sister got their first tattoo here. Exciting right? I just wish their artist, Jen Wong, had a better attitude. If you don't care about the experience, then go for it her work is good- I won't deny that. But if it is your first time and you are not absolutely sure what you want, avoid her. It was difficult to get her to make any changes to the design and she was very clearly annoyed to do so. Afterwards when they asked questions about aftercare she blew them off with very short unhelpful answers. It just seemed like they were a box to be checked and she couldn't be bothered. Not the attitude you would want from someone putting something on your body that I'll last forever. read more

Helpful 9

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 1

Jessica F.

159

178

775

7 years ago

This review is for Jen and I got to say her work was amazing! I got my tattoo from her last week and once it was done, I just can't stop looking at it. The line work she did on my floral piece was amazing and the whole process from booking to finished product went smoothly for me. When looking for a new artist I stumbled on Jen's ig (electricpenjen) and loved the work she did. The whole booking process was done through DM and she was always quick to respond. I was able to ask her available times and she was easy to accommodate a time that worked for me. The pice I had done was a floral bouquet and she was able to design it right there, it took her maybe around 15ish minutes. I provided her the flowers that I wanted to use and some reference pictures and she was able to produce a piece that I love. With the first draft, I just had a slight change but she quickly went back and added what I wanted. The actual process of getting the tattoo was fine as well. Despite some of the past reviews for Jen, I found her to be pretty talkative and nice. We chatted for most of the process and it was great working with her. I definitely recommend her if she's your style and I would go back to her if I plan to get another tattoo done. read more

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Dania F.

7 years ago

Got this beautiful tattoo done by James, he's great !! Work is clean and the overall experience couldn't be better. Definitely will be back to have him add more to my collection. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Giulia D.

6 years ago

I just wanted to update my review to mention someone named James went out of his way to contact me and request I take down this review. Mind you I was never contacted about the poor service I received until James asked me to delete my post. What terrible customer service and a poor display of professionalism. This is the least professional shop I have ever walked into and I'm sorry I ever stepped foot in this disaster of a shop. Sorry James I will not delete my review as I hope I can spare some skin from the burden of a tattoo from this dump! read more

Picture Machine Tattoo - Poorly executed traditional rose, healed terribly - Tattoo Near Me - San Francisco, California

Helpful 8

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 1

Justine Ray M.

Elite 26 All-Star

800

404

2058

7 years ago

I was recommended to try this spot out for a tattoo and recommended to see Jason. Maybe getting a fake before seeing if this small tattoo on my middle finger is what I'm ok seeing for the rest of my physical life. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Page 1 of 10

See more reviews

More info about Picture Machine Tattoo

5124 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94118
Inner Richmond
Directions
(415) 668-7377
Call Now
Visit Website
http://sftattoo.com

Hours

What time does Picture Machine Tattoo open?

Picture Machine Tattoo opens at 12:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Picture Machine Tattoo close?

Picture Machine Tattoo closes at 12:00 AM (Next day) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Picture Machine Tattoo closes at 10:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Sat 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Next day)Sun 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Picture Machine Tattoo take credit cards?

Yes, Picture Machine Tattoo takes credit cards.

Services

Is Picture Machine Tattoo by appointment only?

No, Picture Machine Tattoo is not by appointment only.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Picture Machine Tattoo have bike parking?

Yes, Picture Machine Tattoo has bike parking.

Does Picture Machine Tattoo have parking?

Yes, Picture Machine Tattoo has parking options. Street Parking

Other Amenities

Does Picture Machine Tattoo have free WiFi?

Yes, Picture Machine Tattoo has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

providing high quality tattooing, both custom and flash, our design or yours.

History

Established in 1976.

Picture Machine was founded in 1976. We're Located at Geary and 15th Ave. Open from noon to midnight everday except Sunday from noon to 10pm. We specialize in full color tattoos, black and grey, japanese, fancy lettering and more. Come by the shop and talk to one of the artists!

Meet the Manager: jason S.

Jason has been tattooing since 1991. he mostly tattoos large scale japanese/japanese american hybrid imagery.

Ask the Community - Picture Machine Tattoo

Do you guys do walk ins?

Yes, but it's best to call first to check artist availability 415 668 7377

Does this place do mini tattoo and can I get the white tatoo?

Yes!

Does anyone at this shop have experience with more feminine/detailed scalp/head tattoos? I'm looking to do a piece on the back half of my head, like 2/3 up my ponytail.?

Sorry for the delay. Our artists can do something like that, no problem. Speak with artists individually to make arrangements and prepare artwork

I had a piece that Marco was working on years ago. I was trying to locate him. Is there a way I can be pointed in the right direction? Thanks guys! Always a fan of Picture Machine and old customer

He works at Eye of the Tiger now!

Do you guys do septum piercings?

No we don't do any piercing, sorry.

Do you guys do needle or gun piercing?

We don't do any piercing

Hello, would you guys do designs? I have few ideas about get the tattoo.

Speak with artists individually to ask questions about artwork, match the style you're looking for, and to prepare artwork

Does this place have white ink for tattoo?

Yes!

Does this place do the black light/UV tattoos? If anyone knows, please let me know! Thank you

Yes, we have blacklight ink.

No answers yet. Be the first to answer.

I will be traveling down to SF from Seattle to get my third tattoo and was wondering if anyone can recommend any artists at Picture Machine Tattoo that specialize in lettering and text? Thank you!

View All 15 Questions

Review Highlights - Picture Machine Tattoo

“Jen Wong, another tattoo artist at the shop, is exceptionally talented and deeply appreciated by her clients.”

Mentioned in 73 reviews

You might also consider

Moth and Dagger Tattoo Studio

I sat on a this, and decided to share. The artist herself was amazing. She was great and did a…read moregreat job. However, my issue was with how the studio handled scheduling. I originally came in for a flash sale, but they overbooked and asked to move me to the following day. I let them know I would be out of town that morning, so they offered me the last appointment of the day and took my deposit. The next day, after reassessing my schedule, I realized I wouldn't be able to make it and informed them as soon as possible. I was told the deposit was non-refundable. I then asked if I could reschedule for another day, but they said no because it was part of the flash sale--even though the rescheduling was due to their overbooking. I also asked if the deposit could be applied toward a regular (non-flash sale) appointment, and that was declined as well. I ultimately kept the appointment, but the situation didn't sit well with me. While the artist did great work, I was disappointed in how the studio handled the booking and deposit policy.

Mario was fantastic, I feel that he really listen to what I wanted and drew a piece that I…read moreabsolutely love. It was a cover up that was important for me to move forward with new memories. His conversation was interesting and I felt like I'd known him for a while, not just meeting him for the first time. His studio was clean and decorated cool. I felt very comfortable. I highly recommend Moth and Dagger. I can't wait to go back and get more work done. If I could rate a million stars I would! Thank you Mario

I had to get this shot!

This is what I wanted.

See all

Inside the Studio

Seventh Son Tattoo

Just got another tattoo after 10 years and it was such a great experience! James and all the other…read morestaff members were kind and really made it a comfortable place to close your eyes and allow them to work! James was light-handed, quick, and did quality work! Second my second tattoo of the year for this month and I'm excited to get behind the needle again'!

I Wleent for a walk in. Wli was not sure I was going to get a tattoo here. But Andre decided to…read morehelp me with the design for the memorial tattoo for my inner forearms. He was very patient and understanding of what I was looking for. I decided to get right there. The vibe and atmosphere was amazing. Small yet spacious. Andre make sure I was ready and prepare for the process. Skilled and well professional. I recommended this place. Note: my first tattoo.

Snake and peony backpiece by Luke Stewart

Gauntlet and flame rosary by Henry Lewis

See all

Patchwork backpiece by Jordan Cole Wright

Let It Bleed Tattoo

Today I had an appt wit Karl. I had come into their store about five days be4. Karl was very nice…read moreand agreed to do this piece 4 me. I did a drawing of the two hearts wit my 4 kitties names. I was blessed to have them 4 12-14 years. I miss them dearly. I came to my appt today and completed their paperwork. Then Karl said to come in to their workstations. The staff are all very chill and very kool wit their customers. I have about a dozen small pieces on my wrists, shoulder, lower back of my neck and stomach. I hadn't had a tattoo in about ten years. I am very grateful to Karl your work today I think looks gr8. Thank you 4 wat you did 4 me I'm very happy with how it looks. I highly recommend Let it Bleed if you want some new art on you. Thank you again Karl 4 today. Sara Jane Firth

Thank you Eric for taking me on such short notice for a Friday the 13th flash tattoo. I love my…read moremoon and it's been healing beautifully. I appreciate you giving me extra bandages to keep it clean from my wedding dress as I got married the next day, haha! I felt at ease and welcomed coming into your guys shop. Everyone was so nice and helpful.

The four names in the hearts are of my four kitties I was blessed to have. Thank you Karl again 4 your gr8 work today. Sara Jane Firth

Big thank you to Let it Bleed today. Thank you Karl 4 your gr8 work today. Sara Jane Firth

See all

Two Cranes Tattoo

I just got some work done by Nicolas Lee and he was fantastic, truly. This is my 4th tattoo…read moreoverall, first by him, and definitely my best experience. Just an amazing shop, great vibes and beautiful work. He and I collaborated a lot throughout the design phase and it was really generative and I couldn't be happier with everything.

A friend and I decided to finally get a couple tattoos we wanted and did a walk in, they were a…read morelittle busy and we were prepared for that. They fit us in a couple hours later (scheduled a time). The artists were all very nice, fun and helpful. The place was clean and well lit. Their webpage was very informative. I will mention they are cash only! We both love our tattoos and the experience. No regrets here.

What i got

See all

Tattoo Boogaloo

I went to Chris Peralta with an idea for a cardinal tattoo with a bunch of concepts of what it…read morecould look like but what he came up with exceeded expectations in a massive way. This was my second tattoo and I can say confidently I'll never go anywhere else for my future art - wow! Chris' design captured the exact vibe and art style I was looking for and the experience itself was absolutely phenomenal. I'm so incredibly pleased with the final result and we had some great conversations that made the couple hours I was there fly by. The shop itself was clean and welcoming, vibes were off the chart great and the playlist was fire too. If you're looking for an incredible tattoo shop in SF look no further - Chris is a beyond top notch artist and Tattoo Boogaloo is as good as it gets. I'm already planning the next one!

Just scheduled a same-day appointment to get a fairly simple tattoo done. Staff was friendly,…read moreconcise, and took down some important details before the appointment. Lahel was the artist, and she was professional, knowledgeable, and charming. She worked quickly and I was very happy with the result, then she went over aftercare and shared contact information. She and the other staff present were very welcoming, this is a great shop for first time tattoos and at a very reasonable price as well. Would highly recommend the shop and Lahel in particular!

Black and gray moth tattoo done by Chris Henry

By Mez Love

See all

Dog portraits by Mez Love

Dream Masters Tattoos

Hello! Just dropping in to update my review and go over how…read moremy tattoo has held up. It will be 2 years in March since I got this tattoo and I still love looking at it everyday! The detail still looks great and I have regularly been complimented on it by strangers on the street. (See updated pictures). It may need a couple small touch ups but, overall I don't really notice that and neither does anyone else that sees it. Im hoping to come back for another one someday in the future!

I found Dream Masters because I was looking for a high quality, clean, and technically skilled…read moretattoo shop. They exceeded my every expectation! I already had part of a sleeve done, and was looking for an artist to continue the piece since my former artist retired during the pandemic. Svetylo (who I worked with) is an incredibly friendly, communicative, and collaborative artist. After emailing them describing my idea, he quickly reached out to set up my appointment. I brought along sketches of my idea, and he not only made sure he understood what I wanted, he also asked great questions to understand my job and daily routine to make sure the tattoo would fit my lifestyle. His technique is very precise, and i can say out of all my 6 previous tattoos, this one hurt the least! Especially for a piece on the back of the hand, this tattoo has beautiful line work and is healing very well. I can't wait to go back and finish my sleeve. I would recommend Dream Masters, and Svetylo, to anyone looking for high quality and unique tattoos.

Tattoo session with shop owner, super easy going!

Tattoo in process.

See all

Tattoo finished and healing.

Golden Star Tattoo

5.0

(11 reviews)

3.8 mi

Tea is the best! My partner, my friends and I all love going to him- he is so kind, thoughtful, and…read moreso talented. He took the idea I had, found the best in each inspiration photo, and created the perfect tattoo that was placed in exactly the right spot. The shop is really clean and the energy is pleasantly calm, overall can't recommend going to see him enough!!

This is an amazing place. Tea, the wonderful artist, did great job on my tattoo. And I appreciate…read morethat he can provide me a flexible appt since I have non flexible schedules. He is also nice to the guest. This is my first tattoo and he taught me how to take care and some knowledge about tattoos. I think I would be back soon.

See all

Tattoo City

About a year ago, my sweet dog Romeo passed away unexpectedly. I knew I wanted to get a tattoo to…read morememorialize him, and I knew I couldn't go just anywhere. After some online research, I discovered Jen Lee's pet portrait skills. I'd actually been following her for a while on Instagram, and I love her style. I made an appointment for a consultation, not exactly knowing what to expect but with high hopes. I already had 3 tattoos, but they were all simple line work, and I knew this one would be much more intricate. During our consultation, I explained to Jen what I had in mind for this piece, and another one of her tattoos I'd seen on her Instagram that I liked the style of. She put me at ease, describing what she thought would work well for my vision. We made an appointment for the actual tattoo, and I walked away feeling more excited than ever. I emailed her some pictures of my pup as well as a few more details that had occurred to me, and about a week before my appointment I stopped by the shop to take a look at the design. I loved it! Finally came the day of my tattoo. I was admittedly a bit nervous since it was the largest tattoo I'd have gotten to date, and the longest amount of time I'd have to sit. But Jen did a great job of making me feel comfortable. We talked about my dog and hers, and from one dog lady to another, I knew she would take care of me. Two hours later, we were done!!! The final design was so much more than I could have ever imagined. I am absolutely in love with my tattoo, and it fills my heart each time I look at it. Endless gratitude to Jen - you are amazing!!

So sad to hear they are closing at the end of the year but Gracie has done a few of my pieces and…read moreshe's been absolutely fabulous every time! She's so sweet and takes her time but also listens to you if you need to take a quick break. I moved before I could come back and show her my last piece that healed after she did it (so sorry girl!) but had to give her skills some props because she is so great!

Part 2 of tattoo by Kahlil

See all

Cloud 95

5.0

(46 reviews)

3.6 mi

Karime rocks. Great artist. Super fun to shoot the breeze and get a knee tattoo. I appreciate them…read morebeing able to work me in. Shop can be pretty easy to walk right by. So be aware is a blueish color (sorry I'm colorblind) and the door may be closed. So you may have to ring the door bell or knock.

If I could give higher than 5 stars I 100% would! I've gotten several tattoos at this shop from a…read morefew different artists, and the vibes are always super high!! Very comfy and cute- highly recommend this shop for those looking for a safe space especially for LGBTQ+ folks or those who are very nervous. Even though I am covered in ink, the artists ALWAYS take their time telling you exactly what is going on and ask you how you're doing throughout. Thank you to Lo for my most recent work (photos attached), and to Maggie and BeeBee for my past work! Will 10000000% be coming back for more!!

She recreates phenomenal anime scenes

A jelly fish tattoo

See all

Dragonfly Ink

5.0

(5 reviews)

3.6 mi

Sasha is amazing. Not only is she kind and caring but is a true artist. After having a double…read moremastectomy she was able to create 3D nipples that look surprisingly close to the originals. She has helped me regain some of my confidence in the beauty of my broken body and helped me realize what a gift life really is. I am immensely grateful for her talent and ability to read the situation and talk me through the process. I would highly recommend her!

I just got home from seeing/working with Sasha so this review is hot like fresh baked bread…read more Where to start? Okay so 15 years ago I had surgery on my chest (keyword: transman, ftm, transguy, transgender male, you get the idea) and my nipples did not stay in tact. They actually feel off in front of me in the shower with the scabs. What a nightmare. Reconstructing new nipples was not possible or ideal with my surgeon so I've been living with flat nipples and discolored areolas for the last 15 years. I really thought I had NO hope until I found Sasha. Angels sing please, wait for it and rejoice. I've been wanting to do 3D nipple tattooing and areola re-pigmenting for awhile but was 1. not in the best state of health and 2. very very very nervous. Well today, we finally made this happen. I got an appointment schedule over a month in advance. I put down a $100 deposit via Pay Pal. I waited and panicked and then the big day came. I got a ride down to SF. Sasha's shop is on the 17th floor of a building in Union Square. There's a parking garage a block away. It cost $35 and gets you up to 12 hours in the lot. You are not going to find street parking so if you're driving you will want to fork out $35 and be happy your car is safe with only a block to walk! Sasha gave me complete instructions and directions ahead of time. She is VERY professional and organized with her scheduling and timing. The office she works out of is awesome! The entire office and outdoor patio (with wild beautiful birds and parrots might I add) has a total zen approach. The front desk folks were also REALLY NICE and totally trans/queer friendly. Sasha's room was very clean with a sitting area for guests. She was extremely polite, patient, compassionate and thorough to walk me through the ENTIRE process and 1. give me voice throughout it all and 2. check in frequently to see how I was doing. Nipple and areola shopping is quite fun! I got to pick the size, shape and color variation to design on my chest. Boom! I feel so Hollywood now ;) She is extremely sterile and showed me ALL the needles she was using before and as she was using them. Everything from the office, her station, the tattoo bed, frequent changing of gloves, packaged needles, organized ink palettes, fresh paper towels, rubbing alcohol, ETC were CLEAN. I really appreciated how intuitive she was like when I held my breath during bits of pain and she could feel me tense up and gently remind me to breathe. I was excited and anxious and nervous and emotional all at once but she eased me through EVERYTHING. May I also include she has a gentle hand so the needles don't feel like they are digging deeper than deep like some tattoo artists who put all their weight on their artistry hands. Pain level ... well this boy whimpered some but she did use some topical anesthetic after the skin had been broken into to help ease pain. It DID help some. My results, pre bandaging, were beautiful. The bandaging she used is really neat. It's waterproof and clear like a clear tape. I honestly can't stop staring at my new nips even if things are still bloody and bandaged up! I was given very detailed after care instructions which I will be meticulous about following. I can't wait to see the overall results. I'll be scheduling a touch up/follow up in a 1 1/2 months or so. I look forward to seeing her again! Cost breakdown for ME and what I got done: $700 total... that's $100 deposit then $450 the day of the tattoo and then I will pay $150 during our touch up + tip today and I'll tip again on the touch up. Don't forget to tip. Some artists will say you don't have to, don't listen! Tips for those new nips my friends! TIPS! 100% happy with my experience, actually happy is an understatement. I am enthralled like a unicorn catching rainbows and sprinkling glitter from the sky. Yes, indeed. I will recommend her in a HEARTBEAT to any other trans folks who need this procedure, cancer and mastectomy patients or just anyone in need of this kind of help. I was SO ASHAMED of my chest, a chest I fought so hard to learn to love post surgery but still deeply upset about what happened and the trauma from loosing my nipples to my feet in the shower (yikes, just imagine). Now I can live again. This is part 1 of my chest tattooing process (I'll be doing scar coverage with another artist since Sasha is not taking new decorative tattoo clients at this time) and then I will be free. You deserve to be free too. I hope you will consider Sasha and let her help you change your life, confidence and get your groove back!!!

Sophia's Beauty Lounge

I've been coming here for years, and it's the only place I trust I get my eyebrows done with…read moreSophia she truly has a magic touch and always gets them perfect. And Hellen absolutely killed it with my nails! She was so attentive, made sure I loved every detail, and even tried different ideas to make them look their best. Everyone here is so kind and welcoming, I was even offered tea while getting my service Such a lovely experience every time.

I usually LOVE this salon for the atmosphere and service. It's one of the few places where you…read moreactually feel pampered as a part of getting your nails done, which normally justifies the price tag for me. However, my last visit left me a little disappointed because while it was extremely relaxing and the service was great, I'm not so happy with how my actual nails turned out :-( I did the Volcano Spa service for both my pedicure and manicure which were absolutely lovely, along with gel remove and gel on both my fingers and toes. The 10 minutes of massage for both were so nice, especially the shoulders and upper back that came with the manicure. But during the gel remove, the gel on my fingers was removed with the drill. It was the same on my toes but I don't have an issue there. Normally I wouldn't mind, but my natural fingernails were drilled down so thin that even though I cut my nails short, they're ripping at the ends with normal daily wear and tear. I went on Saturday morning and I've had two nails rip at the ends already and it is only Tuesday morning. I'm not sure if it was because I came in with long nails already (imagine asking for a medium-long set) and they may have been mistaken for gel-x or something of the sort, but it was just my natural nails with gel on top. I can even feel on all of my fingernails just how thin they were drilled down because suddenly all my nails are very flimsy, even with several gel coats on top. The rest of the service and experience were great, so it's a bit disappointing to feel like I regret how much I paid because of how weak my fingernails became after this appointment. Regardless I would still return in the future if I want the pampering experience, but if I can do without the massage and just need my nails done I may choose another salon instead. Just something to note if you're someone who is worried about your nail strength. UPDATE 8/4 9:48PM: Another nail ripped pretty far down just from scratching my head :-(

Gel mani+pedi by Jenny

See all

Look At Me

Certified professionals

Women-owned & operated

LOOK AT ME....Is what your lovely and perfectly nails will be whispering to you and all your…read morefriends!! Sulamita see you soon ;)) !!!!

Best manicure I've ever received in my entire life. I have extremely short round nails which I…read morenever paint because I feel like they're a lost cause sometimes. I was extremely nervous about getting the gel x extensions (I've never done extensions and I worried they would look strange or fake on me) but Nataly did a phenomenal job--they look truly beautiful and I can't stop looking at them! I felt truly taken care of and I can't wait for everyone to see the nails on my wedding day! (Tried to capture just how pretty they are in the video but I feel like it doesn't do them justice!)

Perfection of Russian manicure

Process of creating Russian manicure

See all

Atmosphere

Quince Spa

This is my go to nail spot. It's right next-door to my apartment and they do such an amazing job.read more

I found this place initially in Groupon. My daughters and I decided to try it…read more The ladies are nice, the place is clean and the service was great. We have been back several times. The location has a steady flow of people but not super busy. You never feel rushed

Outside

See all

Outside

Crystal Nail

Thuy did my gel manicure perfectly and she was so kind and sweet. I love finding neighborhood spots…read morethat are affordable and friendly. I recommend!!

Just back from having a pedicure at Crystal Nail and I have to say it was the very best pedicure…read moreI've ever had. Highly recommend! Very caring and knowledgeable staff with close attention to detail. Extra long foot and leg massage was heavenly. I will go back again and again. Thank you for providing such a nice, relaxing space!

I took a graduate for mani pedies

Acrylic

See all

Prices November 2022

Tootsie Toes

I randomly walked into this place about a year ago and have been going back ever since. Jenny gets…read moremy shape right every time and has an eye for picking out the right color if I describe it or show a picture! Was obsessed with this last color - OPI gel "como se llama"

Two stars off for a pretty bad experience today but three stars for the owner, Jenny, her kindness…read moreand artistry. Jenny did a beautiful job on my daughter's nails in early July, gel-x. A very tasteful, custom design for an 11 y.o. They lasted almost 4 weeks but finally time to take them off. We made an appt for 2:30 today and due to Jenny not getting the message we had to wait about 30-40 minutes. Not the biggest deal, really nice out and our favorite boba spot just a few blocks down Polk St. When we got back the other woman in the shop started taking off the gels, they were taking a while to saturate enough to fully remove so the cotton with acetone and foil had to stay on longer. My daughter's fingers started burning and when we let them know, Jenny prompted the other woman to take a look. Not ready yet so while the owner was finishing up with another client this other woman needed to take care of it. At one point a customer had to ask this other woman to help my daughter, that she would kindly wait. It took over an hour to remove and clean up her nails, no manicure after. Two hours later my daughter's poor fingers are still burning. Jenny was quite apologetic and adjusted the price as a courtesy. We love Jenny but maybe she needs some more support in her shop.