Martino-
What kind of work are you after? Is the style or type of tattoo you want one of the artists fortes, and or are they excited about the idea of doing it? Have you seen her work in person, the online gallery she has is un-impressive (her lines look weak, solid areas are pretty spotty, her "big" work really isn't.....)
Do you and the artist have a good rapport? Is she comfortable drawing your design, 'cause if she can't even draw it well, she could never tattoo you with it and do it justice. "flash" or designs drawn by someone other than the tattooist are something to avoid unless the artist is really strong, contrary to popular belief. If the tattooist is just "tracing" a design, with little understanding of the design itself and the weight and purpose of each line within the design, as well as a good understanding of how the muscles and skin work in the area you are getting it, it will look "flat" and cartoony.
I was a tattooist myself for a while, trained by one of the legends of 20th century tattooing, Pinky Yun, and have a pretty good understanding of how it works, and the things that separate a fine tattoo from something sub-par. I stopped doing it for a number of reasons, not the least of which being I didn't feel like I was technically proficient enough to make really fine tattoos. If you are going to do something like tattooing for a living, you had better be damn good. There are way too many marginally skilled tattooists out there, and nothing sucks worse than getting a #$%*ty tattoo.
DONT rush your decision on design or artist.
If this is something worth getting, it is worth waiting, researching, and getting it done RIGHT the first time.
Good tattoos aint cheap, and cheap tattoos are rarely good.
Rapport with artist is as, if not more important then the artists skill when it comes to custom work. If someone can do the coolest skulls you have ever seen, but you want a portrait of a Panda bear or something, and the skull dude isn't into it, or doesn't "get" your vision/idea, you aren't going to be pleased with the results. The tattooing process should be pleasant and 2 sided, and the artist should value your ideas and input, and you should respect the artists skill and understanding of things you couldn't begin to understand. The respect should go both ways.
The tattooists I respect most are those who really know their strengths, and are willing to turn away work that doesn't fall into their scope of expertise, and more often then not suggest the right person for the job.
hope this helps and I didn't ramble on too long
lmk if I can guide you any further
