Humble Beginnings Tattoo Studio

Finally after many years of debating and searching for a spot to do my cover up I had the good fortune of setting up an appointment with Orly. I’ve come in previously for a touch up to my right arm previously so naturally I came back for my left arm. It was a tattoo I got when I was 13, I know a rebel and at the tone I thought I was so cool. Now in my thirties that tattoo just doesn’t cut it. Did a little shoulder piece to cover up my old tattoo. Orly had a vision and delivered, although a piece of my childhood has gone away in my first tattoo I’m hoping to start a new beginning with my new piece. A sort of humble beginning and a new story to tell on my left arm. Can’t wait to add to my left arm and finish off my right sleeve.

Jordan was such a nice guy and did an awesome job! He was fast and did such a good job. I am very happy with the outcome! Highly recommended.

I was referred to this place because I was told that they specialize in tribal tattoos. When I first went there for a consultation the artist that I spoke to was wasted and reeked of alcohol. I then called to complain about that and they apologized and asked me to come back to speak to someone else. I ended up going to another artist there who touched up a tribal that I already had from 20 years ago. I asked for suggestions on how to make my tattoo a little more current looking. He suggested putting white ink designs into my tribal black tattoo. After the white ink healed it ended up looking like hair or crackle on the tattoo. I called the artist to ask about this and then the artist tells me «oh you’ll probably need at least three sessions of the white ink for it to show up «. Something he might have mentioned before we started the white ink!!!
A year later I decided to go back to see the artist to show him the tattoo and see if he had any suggestions on how to correct this tattoo since he never advised me that several sessions would be required. Instead I got a blank look and no offer to rectify the situation.
This place is whack and super unprofessional. I will NOT be going back!

Before I start I confess I was going to give it 4 stars only and I will explain why. But I am waiving it since I’m very pleased.
So. I called 2 weeks ago. talked to someone who said everyone was busy, he took my info and said they were calling back. 1 week passed and not one soul called. I tried again on Monday, no luck on the phone so I decided to bring my designs and pay a visit.
They directed me to Josh who was free at that moment, he looked at the stuff, gave me some information and took my info saying he was going to pass it onto the guy who takes the walk ins and get a call back. He promised. One day passed and I decided to call again, explained all again and again I was promised they were calling back. Next day (today) I call again and bingo! Jordan answers the phone. He’s the guy who had my info and says he can take me in ! So that was a bit of a hassle to set up an appointment
Now onto the review: I am a complete newbie. Over 40, never thought of getting tattooed EVER. but never say never! :)
This place was recommended by two people I know from a yoga studio where I teach. Very clean, full of people working and I guess if you have a name of an artist you want it’s much easier to set appointment. I didn’t.
Jordan spent close to 2 hours preparing the design, working with me on size, shape, and even suggested to modify my original idea to make it look better; and he was right!
I got two Sanskrit words behind my neck. So. very simple and no drawings. The tattoo itself took around 20 min. But make sure you go with enough time to work on it beforehand. I was there for 2 ½ hours .
It didn’t hurt really much. just a few spots. Jordan was super patient, soft spoken, made sure I was ok, very detail oriented and offered to fix it for free if needed.
Very impressed by the work! Jordan is great! Will definitely go back if I decide to add more.
Also, very chill atmosphere and cool background music!

I came here for my first tattoo and I could not be any happier with my tattoo. Although they specialize in tribal tats I got a stitch tattoo with a beach scenery background from the disney movie and it came out better than I ever expected! I love it! Thank you Jordan! Jordan was very helpful, patient and did a great job incorporating my ideas together to get the exact tattoo I had in mind. Thank you. I definitely recommend this shop. Its very clean, relaxing and over all very welcoming!

I met with Jordan and he took the time to do the tattoo like I wanted it. He has great attention to detail and patient. If you want someone who will make you happy after your tattoo see Jordan.

Moving forward, oherly will be our go to guy. He was very pleasant and welcoming when he was working on the hubs. I also appreciated that he was paying close attention to detail, and cleanliness when he was tattooing! Thanks again Oherly!

I went in a couple of days ago and had a tattoo done by Jordan. I love it! Jordan was fantastic!!! He took his time drawing up exactly what I wanted, he has a great artistic mind and knew what would look good and what wouldn’t. He was very friendly, the place was super clean and welcoming. Will go back when I’m ready for another!

This was my first tattoo and I came into this shop on a whim and I am so happy I did. I have had this tattoo idea in my wallet for over four years and it was exactly what I wanted. Jordan did my tattoo and he made it even better then what I already had, which is amazing. The vibe of the store is so great, it is supper relaxed and fun. For my next tattoo I will definitely be coming back here to see Jordan.

Went to see Roc, and he did a superb job on my tribal half sleeve. I wanted a shark surrounded by tribal. He free hand the tribal, and it came out really amazing. Very detailed, and sharp. It was my first time getting a tattoo, so i was super nervous and had no idea what to expect. However, the tattoo artists made me feel comfortable. They are a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth the price.
All the artists are down to earth. I will for sure come back here again for more tattoos!

Humble Beginnings was recommended to me by a friend and on a whim I called to see if they could talk a walk-​in. Holy effing pancakes-​the stars aligned-​they could take me.
I headed over and spoke with Mel when I got there. Can I just say how freaking rad this chick is? Seriously a super cool down to earth chick that happens to have crazy awesome tattoo skills. She was unable to fulfill my request as the style I wanted was not her jam.
Feeling a little sad but happier for having found this place my sister and I headed for the door when we were stopped by Clae Welch. Clae, as it turned out, had time open up and after some quick internet stalking of his skills I realised this was an insane opportunity. The Patron Saint of pancakes was about to become a reality!
Maple, the Patron Saint of Pancakes, took 3.5 hours to complete and all I have to say is that Clae is a fucking ROCKSTAR. Everything about her is amazing, colors, shading, depth, she’s phenomenal. Seriously worth it to track this mofo down.
I will post pictures when she is fully healed and ready for the world. In the meantime you should definitely check out Humble Beginnings. It’s a great shop with amazing artists and a chill family vibe.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS FTW.
I have gotten 2 tattoos here.
My first beautiful tribal piece was done by Chris. AMAZING! Because I live fairly far from the studio, he had me look at his work on Instagram as well as the Humble Beginnings website. Usually, they recommend you to come in and check out the shop for yourself, but I heard about the place from a girlfriend and completely trust her. Plus its an hour and half drive for me. Although all of the tattoo artists there are amazing, they all have their own style, so make sure to see who fits your tribal needs. I got my piece done in 2 sessions and he was very accommodating (as all of the artists there seem to be) knowing that I was coming all the way from San Rafael to get the work done. Everyone there is very helpful and super friendly. Chris made it very comfortable for me to sit for 3 hours. twice. I almost didn’t want to mention his name because he is so under-​rated that he isn’t as busy as the other guys like Sef and Orly, so you can get an appointment in about 3 – 4 months, but he’s to fucking awesome, you have to give him the credit. I’ve had this tattoo 2 years, and I can’t how many people still compliment my beautiful piece. I love his work! and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY PIECE! Thanks Chris!
I got my 2^nd piece on my thigh and it was done by Sef. He’s so nice and so awesome! His work is so clean and he helps you get through the session. Only thing is his wait list is pretty long, but he has a great touch and an awesome eye for what he does. His assistant, Diana, is wonderful. She makes the magic happen.
This place is just very professional and makes you feel relaxed, despite that fact that you will be under the needle for quite some time.
On another occasion, I accompanied my cousin to get his tattoo done by Chris, and I was still nursing my baby. Although she wasn’t there when I went to accompany him, I did bring my pump. Chris and especially Jordan (who at the time would work the front desk, but apparently he’s taking on the needle, good for him! – how fucking awesome) were so nice and put up privacy shades, so I could do my thing. They even bought me food since we were there for a while. I’m just trying to point out that these people make you feel welcomed and sincerely care about their clientele.
I love this place, and I wouldn’t get my tattoos done anywhere but here.

I flew in from Austin Texas, to get tattooed here. Bong is an phenomenal artist. All the artist that I met their were very friendly and down to earth. The shop is clean, nice layout. Very cool atmosphere. I recommend this place to anyone looking for some great Polynesian tattooing. Thanks Bong.

Got my right leg sleeved up about 6 months ago by Mel. She’s amazing, looking to go back for more.

So, it kills me to write this review because I was truly hoping for more. I have researched for over a year to build on a memorial piece for my grandfather and finally found Toby. A good friend of mine reffered me to come in and get the work done from him. She had a similar piece created years back and it truly is amazing. Unfortunately despite the work looking clean it was not at all what I wanted as a finished product. Throughout my experience I found it extremely difficult to get my ideas across or get in touch with this particular artist. It was very unprofessional in my opinion.
At first everything seemed like it was going to be amazing! The consultation went quite well and he seemed super chill and interested but in the end I am now stuck with something that was supposed to be very dear to my heart that I feel is incomplete and not at all what I asked for. I realize what I wanted may not be the style that Toby prefers but he had done some amazing skull work before therefore I thought he was the right choice. Now looking back I think the piece was not something he was invested in and I would have much rather had him just let me know that than take on the job…
I was quoted something completely differenent than I paid, which please do not miss understand me, tattooing is an Art and I have no issue investing in great work but it is something on my body forever so I feel the artist needs to be open to my wants and communicate if the cost is going to change. The tattoo is lacking much of the initial detail and floral work that I had requested. My sugar skull is plain and in many ways looks unfinished. Each time I requested a change or made a suggestion I feel I was shut down. Since his work is so amazing I gave him the benefit of the doubt and thought he knew what he was talking about and the piece would be awesome… but its not. The artwork seemed rushed and he did not include the detailing that I really had hoped for. On the day of my first session I tried to speak my mind and was shut down through out the expeirence he was very stand offish and not open or friendly. I felt rushed, since on the day of the session there was really no time to make changes. This shop is amazing, and I really hate to give a bad review becasue all the other staff was extremely friendly and super helpful. I guess I just chose the wrong person for me.
In the end, I am stuck with a piece that doesnt fit the message or meaning I was hoping for. I now am stuck seeking out a new artist to finish the job and hopefully make me love what is on my body forever. Remember people a tattoo lasts a liftime dont let the artist push you into settling for something other than want you no matter how talented they are =/​. In the furtue I wouldnt recommned this artist for anywork he doesnt show passion for.

Jordan was our Artist and he was amazing! they were about to leave for the day when we came on a last minute mission for the end of my birthday night. We wanted to get matching 1−1-Six Tattoos (romans 1:16)
He adjusted the size of mine, because originally I had a bigger size. He knew what looked nice for my placement and did such an awesome job. I am definitely going back for my tribal.

I’m probably half way done through my tattoo with Toby, a ¾ flower sleeve with a couple more sessions needed. He’s super chill, funny, nice and an extremely talented artist. He’s pretty popular so he’s usually booked a few months out. His style is asian but he puts his unique twist on it, and that’s why I chose him to be my artist. Every time we’ve had a session, people always walk in looking for him to get consultations and set appointments.
He free handed the entire outline and I’m going to trust him with the colors.
Shop is super clean, everyone else is cool and friendly.

Very cool tattoo shop in San Jose. On the second floor with an outdoor patio and a very awesome lounge area with picnic tables and leather couches for you to chill while you wait.
I went in to Humble Beginnings to check out Toby Torres’ artwork after finding his instagram account. He’s a busy guy so find out his hours and get in touch with him if you’re looking for some grade A work. Consultation was easy and fast: I conveyed my ideas and he worked with it. He had me text him photos of the type of designs I liked as reference, but what Toby came up with totally blew me away. We scheduled the first appointment 2.5 months after the consultation.
Check out my uploaded photo and see the result of our first session! I am highly satisfied with the results so far and cannot wait for the next 3 sessions

Originally sought a tattoo from Orly but was recommended to Sef instead, and no disrespect to Orly but I am quite happy the switch was made. Sef is an incredibly cool person, much like all of the other tattoo artists at the shop. Seems like a very family oriented shop with no bad vibes whatsoever. Definitely takes your mind away from the stinging of the needle when you’re sharing laughs with other people at the shop discussing sports, dieting and everything you can think of.
Much like another post said, these guys are people too and they don’t have a regular receptionist to greet. They can’t drop everything they’re doing in order to attend to a consultation. There are times when they can’t attend to you immediately despite your scheduled time because some appointments are going a little longer than expected, just gotta have patience— you’re getting one hell of a tattoo, you may as well stick around and hang out.
During consultations, you can get an idea of how many sessions it will take to finish your tattoo and a rough estimate of the price. After you’ve made your $ 100.00 deposit with Sef, you’ll be asked to be in contact with Diana, his assistance on an appointment date. Don’t be discouraged if your date isnt for another couple months because you can always check in with Diana to push your date sooner if someone cancels. And people cancel ALL THE TIME. In fact, I went in for my consultation at the end of February (2015) and was penciled in for a late August appointment. After constant check ins with Diana, I managed to get two of my appointments on March. It’s just about consistency.
Humble Beginnings has the best ink; though over time it won’t be as dark as the day you first got it, it certainly won’t turn dark green like bad ink. I don’t see myself going anywhere else for a tattoo.
So to sum it all up, Sef is an incredible artist but I don’t think you can go wrong seeing anyone there.
PS; Don’t try and haggle on the prices, guys. LoL. It was embarrassing to see that when I was getting ink’d.

Humble Beginnings is the sh*t! There are several talented artists here, but I was really intrigued and impressed with Sef Samatua’s work.
Look at his Instagram, and you’ll realize why he’s one of the best Polynesian Tattoo Artists out there.
— His prices are very fair. A+
— What I also loved about Sef were the deep conversations (about life, family, and God) that he had with me and my fam while I was getting inked. I’d go get another tattoo just to hear what he has to say about life again. He’s so enlightening that it’s ridiculous. (You should write a book, Uce!)
— You have to make a $ 100 deposit to get put on his wait list. To start the process of getting on his wait list, email Sef’s assistant Diana (
).
Takes about 7 – 8 months to have your turn on his list, but it’s well worth it.
Here are pics of the beautiful calf wrap he did on me:
A++++++++++
oh and don’t forget to tip your artist!