We chat to 29-year-old Kym Ellis, a technical advertising and marketing lead and journey photographer, about her tattoos and work. In the meanwhile Kym has no mounted deal with and as an alternative chooses to gradual journey around the globe – proper now she’s in Chiang Mai in Thailand…
When did you get your first tattoo and what was it? It was on my eighteenth birthday and it’s a small pisces star signal image on the backside of my nape. I wished it after I was 16, however my dad who has very outdated tattoos which he hates, advised me to attend till I used to be sufficiently old. It’s not an excellent tattoo however I nonetheless saved it as a part of my back-piece.
What impressed you to start out getting tattooed? Music largely, I grew up in my late teenagers with MSN and MySpace and entering into punk and metallic was the primary time I felt like I had my very own identification. I truly saved my music tastes a secret from my college associates for fairly some time as a result of I knew they weren’t into that scene.
Then after I turned 16 I made a decision sufficient was sufficient and altered my fashion in a single day. I by no means seemed again, it was extraordinarily liberating to specific myself in the best way that I wished to reasonably than making an attempt to please others.
Have tattoos modified the way you see your self and your physique? Completely – getting tattoos provides me company over my physique and I undoubtedly grew to become extra assured as I began to get extra huge items. Every time I get a brand new tattoo, it solely takes a couple of days for it to change into part of me. I usually overlook I’ve so many, and after I see outdated pictures of a less-tattooed model of me I discover it very unusual to take a look at.
I nonetheless have some huge gaps on my legs and arms that I wish to refill, however I’m simply taking it regular and having fun with the proces.
Do you suppose your tattoos have an effect on how others see you? Yeah, in each good and dangerous methods. To be trustworthy I don’t get an excessive amount of negativity about my tattoos as of late, however it might occur often as a result of I journey a lot and completely different locations have a special notion of tattoos as a complete.
What types of reactions do your tattoos get? For probably the most half I get numerous compliments about my tattoos and folks usually ask me the place I bought them carried out, what number of I’ve, or how lengthy they took. Generally individuals wish to contact them, that’s kinda bizarre!
There are nonetheless sure locations that I go to the place tattoos are much less accepted and I undoubtedly discover individuals looking at me. Nevertheless it actually isn’t the vast majority of individuals, and my method of coping with it’s to be proud and assured.
If individuals ask me what the that means behind my tattoos are, I present them the tribute portrait of my cat that I grew up with. I carry her reminiscence round with me in all places and sure I’m conscious that this places me firmly within the loopy cat woman class.
How do you discover your work and tattoos combine? Are you able to present them freely at work? Within the earlier days of my profession after I labored for firms within the UK, I largely needed to cowl my tattoos up. It’s not the worst drawback on this planet to have, however I by no means felt like I may take my full self to work and it did put on me down finally. In hindsight I ought to have simply had them on present. It most likely wouldn’t have carried out me any favours within the office however I additionally don’t suppose it might have gotten me fired.
Ever since I began working remotely for know-how firms, it’s been the exact opposite. I’ve at all times been accepted for who I’m by all of my colleagues. I wouldn’t take a job the place I’ve to cover my pores and skin once more.
Is your pictures a inventive outlet that means that you can share the actual you? It was once, after I began out with pictures about eight years in the past I did numerous portraiture and used myself as a topic when there was nobody else round to {photograph}. Alongside constructing my tattoo assortment, this was a way of expression.
Journey pictures is my essential focus now, as a result of that’s such a giant a part of my life. I share numerous my pictures at no cost on Unsplash.
What future profession plans do you may have? I’ve made some huge profession leaps prior to now couple of years, from discovering my first distant job to changing into extra of a technical marketer and enhancing my coding abilities. I’m actually pleased with my profession in the meanwhile and sooner or later I’d like to maneuver into senior management or advertising and marketing operations.
I’m going to maintain travelling too – having the ability to work from anyplace is such an unbelievable alternative. My subsequent challenge is to discover ways to sail a ship. Then my nautical tattoos will actually come into their very own!
How do you discover travelling and getting tattooed? It’s actually exhausting to get tattoos whenever you journey loads. From residing in locations the place there aren’t many artists who do the fashion you’re after, to making an attempt to get a reserving whenever you’re solely going to be round for a couple of weeks. I’ve a full back-piece that’s nonetheless lacking it’s color as a result of I have to get again to the UK so Ben Stone can end it up for me.
That stated I’ve managed to get some actually nice tattoos throughout my travels. I bought a mountain vary on my arm after I was within the Arctic Circle, a superbly gothic conventional tattoo at a conference in Cape City by @jarretcrosson, a beautiful snake and florals from @mooreahum.tattoo in Vancouver, and my abdomen piece was by @romain_labordille in Bali.
