Meet Amber Lea Burkey of Kansas City, Rosedale specifically

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Lea Burkey.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Dear You Tattoo was created, because I couldn’t find a tattoo shop to work at that believed in the same client care as I did. After some secret missions to try to find that diamond in the rough, my husband suggested that we just do it ourselves. My journey to becoming a person that cared about other folks experiences wasn’t straight forward. It took a lot of mistakes, most made prior to my career in tattooing. Teen angst that spilled into my twenties provided the armor I needed to navigate hardships and become the best version of myself, but at what point do I stop intercepting folks expecting the worst of them? Working in a tattoo shop helped develop my already decent way of relating to people. Being able to help them realize the things they wanted to put on their body could help not only beautify, but to work through the problems in their life. In a way, helping and listening to folks, helped me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I didn’t struggle to become a tattooer, but working past my excuses of not being able to produce art or become an “artist” was probably the most challenging. Since I’ve always admired art and tattoos, creating flow and balance in designs came naturally, but my lack of fine art technique and knowledge was trying. It definitely prevented me from ever growing an ego. I learned about art through tattooing, the opposite of most modern tattooers. I was lucky to have a mentor that allowed me to work, and to make money outside of the studio training, which in turn took more time to learn tattooing. I worked a full time job and a part time job along side my apprenticeship. It’s something I would prefer my apprentices not juggle, though I understand. In our leap of faith, creating Dear You, I found that many clients felt like it was finally time to be treated like paying customers and not beggars, buying their way into being cool. Our studio definitely has grown steadily since day one.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do tattoos and run the studio at Dear You Tattoo. I specialize in client handling and patience, and I do a lot of botanical tattoos. I prefer mostly black work, but I do my very best to elevate my color tattooing every couple of years.
I’m proud to have a studio that folks feel safe to be tattooed at, I’m proud of the tattooers that work with me to uphold the same standard. I’m proud of the respect our clients give us, and what we try to give them in return. That’s what sets us apart. That respect, communication and maybe the cleanliness and organization of the studio.

What makes you happy?
Happiness for me, comes from just having happy coworkers and clientele. Showing our freshly done tattoos to the entire studio when it’s complete. Seeing clients faces when they go look at that new piece in the mirror.
Happiness is having a day where I can trust that everyone at work without me is going to treat folks the exact same as if I was present. Happiness is being able to go spend time with my friends or family and not worry about those things. Trust.

Pricing:

• Tattoos at the studio start at $100
• Tattoos from me start at $150
• Hourly tattoo rates at the studio range from $120-$180

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Dearyoutattoo.Com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearyoutattoo/profilecard/?igsh=Y2lvdWJndHRxMDlx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FULdm1MPs/?mibextid=wwXIfr