APP Conference: Four Important Things We've Learned So Far

2019 APP Conference in Las Vegas

The APP (Association of Professional Piercers) Conference is an annual gathering where piercers, apprentices, health inspectors, and jewelry industry folks can get together for a week's worth of education and fun.

This year, Body Candy sent Alley to the conference to see what she could learn... It's only Wednesday (so there's a lot left to see and do), but we've learned a lot so far:

1.) Piercing and body mods are more popular than ever.

There are about 1750 attendees at the APP conference this year, including 50+ vendors! People from all over the world have traveled to be here. Every attendee is here to network and learn with other individuals who are also passionate about piercing, jewelry, safety, and more.

The energy here is palpable and it's amazing to see so many people excited about the industry and its future. One thing is clear - there are more people getting pierced than ever. From the basics (like belly button rings) to more visible mods like the septum piercing, being a modified individual is becoming more and more accepted.

2.) Inclusivity and inclusion is very important to piercers.

Getting pierced is a way to express yourself. Depending on the person, a piercing can be an expression of beauty, an expression of self, an expression of spirituality, or even an expression of rebellion... No matter what your reason for getting pierced, it is clear that people from all walks of life are getting pierced.

So many professional piercers are committed to making their place of employment a safe and comfortable place for everyone. Getting pierced can often be a very intimate experience, especially a nipple or other below-the-belt piercing. No matter what the situation, ensuring that a client feels safe and respected can go a long way toward that piercing being a positive, life-changing experience.

3.) There are so many tricks for showing off your jewelry on Social Media.

The piercers here at APP are all so very passionate about piercing - but it's also their livelihood! Instagram and Facebook are great tools for piercers to promote themselves and their businesses... It's no secret that taking high quality photos can be a valuable marketing tool.

If you've ever struggled with taking pictures of your own jewelry - we can relate! We learned a lot of techniques for capturing a good pic of of your body jewelry - here's a few quick tips:

- If you're struggling to get a good pic of your jewelry, try heading outside. Natural light will hit your subject with an "all-over" wash of light and will give you a more realistic depiction of your subject. Indoor lighting tends to add a reddish hue to your subject's skin, and the directional lighting tends to cast more shadows

- Make sure your lighting source (like the sun) is behind the camera, shining on your subject.

- We learned its easier to brighten up a dark photograph, as opposed to darkening an overexposed picture. If you're Using Instagram, try taking using the "shadows" tool to take some of the darker areas out of the photo. Don't be afraid to turn up the brightness a little bit too!

Maybe these few quick tips will help you the next time you're trying to show off your body mods on IG ;).

4.) It's important to support your local, professional piercer!

A piercer's Instagram is a portfolio of their best work. When you follow and interact with a piercer's account, it helps boost their pictures so that other people might see them too.

If you've developed a relationship with your piercer (or you'd simply like to support a local shop), search them out on Instagram. Like and comment on their posts, especially if you like what you see... You're helping out more than you might think!