Using press releases to change the social world
Kisty Corbett
- Organisation:
- Be Bold Be You
- Region:
- East Midlands
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Professional, Charity, Empowerment
- Fee:
- Free: A minimum of £125 to be donated to Be Bold Be You plus travel expenses covered.
- Category:
- Business
- Updated:
- 27th November 2023
- Tagged:
- Cancer | Social Media | Health | Edi Training
In 2018 Kirsty was lucky enough to meet Clare*: a survivor of great cancer at her photography studio: Be Bold Be You. Clare was put into the category of "sexually explicit" by META. Facebook deemed the image of her single mastectomy scar was on the same level as pornography and removed the image and penalised Be Bold Be You. Kirsty took META on - and won.
Donna was left with a new identity: new hair, new body shape, new thought processes, new opinions and a new beanbag, to replace the boob she had taken away by cancer. Through the genre of boudoir photography Kirsty's work with her professional photographer husband James saw Clare arrive a "timid mouse and leave feeling like a leopard who had found her spots". To inspire others, Clare had agreed for the image of her single masectomy scar to be published publicly so that those enduring the cruel disease of cancer would be inspired that they, too, would survive.
The moment Kirsty saw the image next to the word "pornography" she made it her goal to have META understand the positive impact professional boudoir photography can have on an individual's self worth and self esteem. What started as a simple press release to local media outlets saw Kirsty push for more coverage and, with the help of BBC News, secured a statement from Facebook agreeing to "review their image policy guidelines".
Clare sadly died 6 months after her photoshoot. Four weeks before her death she found out that her cancer had returned and was told the devastating news that it was left untreatable. Clare left this world unable to see the positive impact her bravery would have on the community around her. Not only did META agree to review their guidelines but the House of Commons Health & Social Care Committee contacted Kirsty after seeing the BBC News article and asked her to contribute to research on the impact images on social media can have on mental & physical health.
This 30-40 minute talk is thought provoking to say the least. Those listening will be left understanding the importance of story telling and how becoming socially aware of others emotions they can - through their work - help those around them, from colleagues to customers to strangers around the world. From brand awareness to basic human interaction, Kirsty will explain how simply being human will alway win over AI (and social media).
*Not the person's real name.
30 - 45 minutes plus Q&A / meet & greet can be arranged if wanted. £125 minimum donation to Be Bold Be You plus travel expenses covered. Discounts available for online talks and/or for other charitable organisations.
A link to the BBC article, with META statement, can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-derbyshire-57893530
Views: 360 | Enquiries: 0About Kisty Corbett
Kirsty has worked in the photographic portrait industry for over a decade. It was an accidental career move (from education) as her photographer husband rung her from a conference and asked her if she'd help him with a short term business development project and get it off the ground...
Today, you'll find both Kirsty and her husband - James - with their humble barn conversion of a studio in Derbyshire. Over the years they've found that with his expertise in professional photography and her professional background in therapeutic arts, they've been able to create something quite special: Be Bold Be You. BBBY is all about celebrating an individual through the genre of boudoir photography. A lot of those who visit their studio have had some sort of "trauma" happen in their life - from mental health to physical disease; from abusive relationships to body image issues - and their unique way of combining their professions and abilities to connect with people allow them to instill a new found confidence in all those who come through their doors.
However, it wasn't "enough" for Kirsty & James and from listening to the stories of the individual's they feel fortunate enough to meet at their studio they were inspired to turn their successful business into a charity for the future. Changing from business person to charitable founder has not been an easy task - as there is no other service like Be Bold Be You in the UK or, indeed, in Europe but they are about to achieve it. Be Bold Be You is so much more than "just" a photoshoot, it's time you are - most probably - well overdue. To quote Oscar Wilde "Be bold, be you. Everyone else is already taken."
There's also the more, personal, side of their journey... Like the time Kirsty lost feeling in her legs and had to learn to walk again to the decision to shut down the small chain of high-street photography studios they had in the East Midlands to meet the additional medical needs of their eldest daughter... If you really want want gossip then ask Kirsty how she was BOLD enough to say "no" to the in-laws, all thanks to Be Bold Be You.
So...
- "What is it like being a boudoir photographers wife"?
- "How did we successfully secure a statement from META agreeing to look into their image guidelines so social media"? and, possibly one of the most asked questions by those who visit them at home,
- "Why don't we have photos of our kids on the walls of our home"? Kirsty can answer these and so much more with her thought provoking, powerful (and humorous!) key note speeches.
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