Meet James Cooper of Against All Odds Tattoo ATL in Sweet Auburn District

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Cooper.

James, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started with a tattoo apprenticeship in 1998 in Ocala, FL at Body Graphix under Tony Mckeehan. I worked as a full time body piercer while learning how to tattoo. In 2001 I started tattooing full time and continued to tattoo in Central Florida until the Summer of 2006 when I moved to Massachusetts and worked at Moms Tattoo with George Malloy.

In the Fall of 2007 I moved here to Atlanta where I worked at Electric Body Art. In 2008 I had the opportunity to work at Psycho Tattoo 3 in Douglasville where I worked with some really solid artists that pushed me to better my craft. Fast forward to 2015 and the last studio I worked at in East Atlanta which was East Atlanta Tattoo (at the time).

Mid 2015 is when I decided to do my own thing and started working towards what is now Against All Odds Tattoo ATL.

Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think it’s ever really a smooth road starting a business from the ground up. What would make you appreciate it if it was easy? I don’t think you would. Nothing good comes without adversity.

There have been a few bumps along the way. From finding a location in Atlanta that isn’t overly saturated with tattoo shops and that served the purpose of the kind of studio I wanted to have. Then getting the owner of the building on board with my vision and having to continue to work on my clientele while building the studio.

Let’s not forget all the back end items like licensing, contractors, architects, and all the hoops you have to jump through if you want to open a business proper in Downtown Atlanta.

One of the biggest hurdles has been finding artist for the studio who want to work and be dependable, but who push themselves to be better artists.

It’s all part of growing pains and we are still growing as a business.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Against All Odds Tattoo ATL – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a private custom tattoo studio in the heart of the Sweet Auburn District of Downtown Atlanta. I do custom tattoos and graphic design. I specialize in Japanese and Neo Traditional style of tattooing, but can do just about any type of tattoo you are looking for. My clientele supports me and keeps me on my toes doing a wide range of tattooing.

What I am most proud of at the moment is that I get to wake up everyday and got to a studio I own and do the tattooing I want to do on my own terms. This sets Against All Odds Tattoo ATL apart from others. We have a private studio that allows us to focus on larger scale tattoos without all the day to day walk in traffic which can distract from us producing high quality tattoos that we want to focus on.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love about Atlanta is that there is always something to do! There is so much diversity here.

What I dislike about the city is that they moves the Braves out of Atlanta, haha.

Pricing:

• Our studio minimum is 60.00
• Our hourly rate is 125.00
• Deposits for small to medium tattoos is 60.00
• Deposits for large scale work start at 100.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 236 Auburn Ave NE, Suite 200
  Atlanta, GA 30303
• Website: www.againstalloddstattooatl.com
• Phone: 470-575-7408
• Email: info@againstalloddstattooatl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/againstalloddstattoo_atl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllOddsATL
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AAO_ATL
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/against-all-odds-tattoo-atl-atlanta

Image Credit:
Krisandra Evans Photography