The Kids Your Parents Warned You About...

Preface… The subject of tattoos and piercings is one that came to my mind the sec-ond I thought about this project. This project, I think, shows the stereotypes that people have when they see kids, or even adults, wit different tattoos and piercings. The title of this book, “The Kids Your Parents Warned You About”, really goes with the theme as well. When I was younger, and even now sometimes, my parents, although they wouldn’t openly say I should stay away from “kids like that”, who get tattoos and get parts of their bodies pierced, I could always tell they would rather me not hangout with them. I feel like that is the stereotype of the “bad kids” your parents would warn you to stay away from, or “watch out for.” My mom and dad would warn me that they would be disappointed if I got “crazy” piercings or tat-toos. But, as I go through high school, I meet more people, who do have their nose pierced, or a tattoo on their back or whatever, and some have be-come my best friends. It’s really changed my perception of these things.

I love hearing the story behind a tattoo, or a bellybutton ring, or nose ring. I decided to document people with piercings and tattoos, and, if there is a reason, tell the story behind it. I tried to show the people behind the body jewelry and ink, and to show this stereotype that people have. I tried to show that people are not just what they appear like on the surface, that they aren’t just the ink on their skin, or the metal going through it.