In memory of Billy, his dad got a tattoo inked into each arm. He also had a camera carved on Billy's headstone, to symbolize their shared passion for photography.

Memorial tattoos, which can include names, portraits and special artwork, are common in his line of work, but there’s been an increase in requests due to the pandemic.

Memorial tattoos, which can include names, portraits and special artwork, are common in his line of work, but there’s been an increase in requests due to the pandemic.

Diaz, known as “Rock,” has been a tattoo artist for 26 years but still gets a little nervous when doing memorial tattoos, and this one was particularly sensitive. Diaz was inking a portrait of Philip ...

For those who marked the 49 murders of mostly gay and Latinx people inside Pulse with tattoos, the artwork etched into their skin provides a tangible symbol of the emotions etched into their heart.

At Tattoo Tribe in Newark, 30-year-old Miguel Prada, who said he took over the business several years ago, guessed about 30 to 40 percent of his customers come in for memorial tattoos.

Memorial Tattoos also act as a 'conversation starter'- a medium to tell the story about loss, which helps the bereaved maintain their connection with the deceased.

Memorial tattoos honor the dead and remind those left behind of their own mortality, said Jeff Greenberg, head of the University of Arizona's social psychology program.

Phil, from Stratford-upon-Avon, tells me about his memorial tattoo in memory of his grandad: "This is a crown I got on my forearm. It reminds me of playing chess with my grandad when I was young.