Advice For First Time Tattoo Collectors

i came from your '10 Tattoos I Wish People Would Stop Asking Me For' video, and i was just astonished on the amount of criticism you got in the comment section, it was full of idiots who couldn't be subjective and handle an opinion from a pro. thanks for all this advice, im looking to get my first tattoo in around 6-9 months and wrapping my head around styles and picking out the artist i'll definitely bide my time on. cheers

Great video, but RE: your "LET GO" issue can be totally BS. I gave my artist many ideas and gave them AMPLE time to give me a concept I could live with. It was a chicken-egg situation......I gave ideas.....he said you need to make decisions........I emphasized ideas...........he said "hey, you need to make decisions".....but then he never gave me ANY kind of vision of my concepts. He was a really great tattooer.........not necessarily a good tattoo artist. What I mean by that is I was asking for a full sleeve piece and he couldn't give me a concept for a full sleeve vision and started piecemealing things. I learned a valuable lesson and everyone should push their artist that if they want a large piece.........full sleeve, back piece, etc.......if you don't get a full concept and design before you have your first session, well, WALK AWAY!!! Luckily I found a different artist that understood my situation but agreed with my premise. She has been awesome with working with me to integrate the rest (75%) of my arm into the unfortunate previous 25% I already have done. I get that people are absolute DICKS and tattoo artists likely spend lots of time up-front on designs without compensation. I feel that is a reluctance of artists to spend time early when they may not get paid. Consider offering money up front to do the design, but suggest crediting that to the first session to get a "skin in the game" agreement. Sorry, just really real and current for me as I am just now working through my sleeve project and transitioning from one artist to another. No regrets (ragrets ;-)) but something to consider. Don't take your tattoos and your visions lightly......

Every tattoo I have so far is customized. I have three dragons on my left collarbone that I did send a reference for, and the tattoo artist drew it in his own style. Bubbles on my right collarbone that I drew myself. A rose on my wrist which was some flash art. And a huge floral piece on my thigh that I had the artist make himself.

And now I'm getting into drawing my own tattoo designs, I already drew one that I'm super proud of (I keep coming back to look at it). And the other ones I want to get are in my families writing (four hearts, each one drawn by my mom, dad, and two brothers. And my great grandma's name in her writing from a christmas card three years ago). I really want to have a patchwork kind of look when I'm done

I've got like 30 tattoos all stem from deep meaning and everything I have has a story, but I have been telling my kids since the day they were born (4 kids is total 16,12,8&7) I love you to the moon and stars and back again to infinity &beyond. Obviously I didn't want that entire quote wrote on me I don't do many letters tats but I went with the cliche infinity sign with my 2 youngest kids names in it. I also added the cliche feather but I also rescue big birds and we have 5 birds in total they are like my own children so I went with a feather from my Moluccan Cockatoo. I was almost embarrassed to even ask for the tattoo to be done but at the end of the day I don't want it bc it's overdone or bc everyone has one I want it done bc it has real meaning to it. So my 31st tattoo will be the first and only cliche tat I'll own 😂❤

Your videos are so helpful! I was going to get a memorial tattoo for my grandma with just a name (her nickname). After watching one of your videos, I thought about it more in depth and came up with a really cool idea that’s more personal and doesn’t include just a singular word.

Everything u said here made alot of sense. Thank god i found this video. Great job bro!

I’m glad I learned early on with terms and vocabulary trends and styles that helped me pick my tattoos I stick with relatively similar styles (American traditional Japanese traditional or simple black or black and grey thick lined) and I’m in love with my patch work sleeve 🙏🏼💕

Advice on how to approach a tattooist with your own design (I’m a painter and make most of my designs on Illustrator)

My tattoo is not a floater…

The praying hands, Only God can judge me, I seen it on so many people

Helpful and cute x

Don't go out and get one right out of boot camp just because you have a bunch of money. There's a good chance you'll end up just getting it covered at some point down the road.

Love your kitchen!

Good informative video.🙂👌🏾
I have 18 tattoos and all of my tattoos look well crafted and Beautiful.
I tend to stick to the black and gray tattoos. On my caramel skin I feel like they hold up better & look rich .

Appreciate you spreading the knowledge James! Great stuff!

Thank. Great content.

Your delivery when you talk is perfect and funny to me. Don’t change you and your videos are great. Really appreciate the info

Dropping a thumb up for how well-spoken you are, Sir.

I wasn't exposed to a lot of 'good' tattoos when I was younger - and by that, I mean I didn't see a lot of styles to my taste. I'm glad I waited a while and did a lot of research on artists and styles of tattoos. I'm in a place where I'm collecting exactly what I want.

Do you have any tips for someone planning to get a full body piece done, in terms of how the process may be different from getting a normal tattoo? Preparation, timespan over multiple days back to back, things to avoid doing.

Im getting my first tattoo soon and this has been the best informational video ive seen on the subject. I felt like i had to have the specific design in my head already for the consultation but you’re right. The artist’s imagination will be much broader and give me something i wouldn’t have been able to think of before. This takes away some of the stress for me of having to know exactly what it should look like

Really valid and useful points delivered with great articulation. I love how you often "signpost" in the middle and end of longer videos so we can remember what you've talked about. Clear presentation!

I didn't really plan my tattoos because I though I would only have one tattoo, but now I've decide to cover a arm and before that I always thought I would never get a tattoo 😁😆

Just got Roman numerals done for the the birthdays of my wife and and daughters 😂😂 not something I would change at all, but thought it was funny you used a tattoo I just got as an example. Love your content btw 👍🏽

Great video, James, cool new video environment. Lots of good content in here.

Your a perfectionist... and that’s ok. I’m new to the channel but that’s my two cents. Your helping me though a huge life decision. I appreciate how you go about doing your vids.and ya I wanna get a realistic tat for my first. BUT I’m hear you listen so.... all I’ve done is made up my mind to actually get one.

From the first tip in this video... Sometimes you just have to go through it to actually learn what you supposed you knew.
I have 4 tattos now, and as a 3rd tattoo I had a couple of white cranes on my chest, right side. But i wanted to add more, like a background and enviroment. So finally after 1 year i was able to get tattoed again (by the same artist, he's amazing) and I KNEW i had to think the design through, i KNEWW how great it could be in the end. But, idk i guess i was so excited (i just came back to my home country bc of COVID). I was so excited... But we took only 5 mins with the artist to decide for something that looked cool you know, looked nice in the tablet screen, but that's about it. I see my chest now and it looks good, it doesn't look bad at all, but it could've been so much better...

Is a bird breaking out of its cage cliche?

Is it ok to message your preferred tattoo artist photos of the design from pinterest?? As long as you convey you don’t want it replicated and the artist can do it in their own style

Great advice

I did a tattoo that said To infinity and beyond with that character from the movie. Haha stupids

I miss u daddy 😋

Love the vids! Super helpful w/planning my sleeves! How about some vids on maybe things NOT to say to a tattoo artist or things NOT to do during your tattoo sessions as to making sure you’re doing your best to support your artist for the best tattoo outcome as the client? Or any vids on advice on how to make it through long tattoo sessions? Those would be so awesome to see in the future!👏🏻🙌🏼😊

When I got my first tattoo, this helped me prepare mentally. Getting my design, and finally seeing it before and then 2 hours after. I subscribed and have been following his videos since!

Definitely placement, have plenty of pieces, now I wish I would have put certain things in certain places and vice versa. That’s about it.

I like the new set up, it's good to see you in your own space. Really, whatever is most comfortable for you is what works. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and breaking it down for the everyperson so well.

Your videos are always very professional. I'm a fan of the new setup.

I’m planning on getting two sleeves but one will be black and gray and the other will be color, I’m just worried that it’ll look weird, does anyone have any advice?

best advice 💯

Awesome video. I love the new background and the audio improved significantly. I didn't realize how much until I watched a video from 2 months ago. Keep it up.

Glad your back! Always clear, concise, and sound advice.

Yes it sounds really sharp could you possibly put down the type of equipment you use like the camera and the sound system you use to record

Love the videos. Been watching for the last few years and my favorite is obviously tattooing darker skin. Found an artist who has actually done color on black clients and have a marvel sleeve scheduled to start next month! Wouldn’t have been able to know what I was looking for without your videos!

I dig the new setup! the picture is much improved, the sound is a bit peaky but I’m sure you’ll be able to fiddle around with settings and it’ll be right as rain. Missed your content! You always have something helpful to add to the conversation.

Love the new setup bro and like always love the content. Always learning something new from you 👌🏼👊🏼

Kitchen background is cool, seems more personal especially since you're sitting as well. Appreciate the video and audio update but regardless of the literal video quality your knowledge and articulation is the real value :)

Really great points. thanks, man. I'm 3 tattoos in, planning my 4th and I made similar mistakes as you mentioned, with my first 3 tattoos. I just happened to get lucky and am happy with my tattoos thus far. I am doing much more research now, because i've decided I want to be more heavily tattooed. I don't think placement has been an issue yet, so this video is very helpful to me now so hopefully I can continue collecting tattoos without running into any big hiccups! thanks again. Your info is very comprehensive and well worded.