I considered a lot.

I got my first one when I was 19 and the only considering I did was "what kind of flower do I want?"  I have since gotten 8 more and I'd say I only really put thought into one of them. Luckily, I never got anything too big and all but four of them can be easily covered without having to wear long sleeves (I really like those four though so I don't mind).  Before I get another I would consider the same things that Mama M mentioned, especially "will I love it forever?"

My husband is actually a tattoo artist and I still don't have any. I considered it. I can get one any time but in the end I decided it just wasn't for me since I can't commit to having something there permanently.

I knew where I wanted mine for years (wrists), it was just a matter of coming up with something that I knew I would want to live with forever. When I finally decided, I really only sat on it for about a week. I didn't talk to anyone about what I was getting (or even that I had an appointment) because I didn't want anyone elses words somehow altering what I wanted. (For instance, as soon as a friend saw my Live Strong tattoo on my left wrist, the first thing she said was "What? Like Lance Armstrong?" If she had said that to me before [because I really hadn't made the correlation!] I probably would have gotten different wording, but I like what it says!)

I love them both now though! Seriously haven't regretted them once!

 

I considered my first one for as long as it took me to walk from the parking lot to the shop. My second I considered about as long lol. My other tattoo(s) I thought long and hard about. They represent my kids so I wanted them to reflect their personalities.
They are all in places that I can easily hide them if I decide I don't like them.

I got my tattoo after my weight loss so that it could be a reminder to me of what I have achieved. I thought A LOT  about where it would be put (upper back, but below collar so most shirts cover it for work) and haven't regretted it. In fact, if the right oppportunity comes along, I would love to get another. :)

Mine was a dare, a friend of mine is a tattoo artist and dared me to get one.  I didn't want anything that was big or couldn't be covered up.  Plus I didn't want something that woul look terrible when I got older.  So I went with a small goldfish on my shoulder.  I won the dare!