This is a piece written by one of my clients, Georgy Jamieson, on her experience of being a victim of trolling.
Trolling means to make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them.
In October 2020, I was the victim of online trolling, which devastated me. I was ridiculed for the way I looked, and my face, hair, weight and body were scrutinised and criticised. I was a broadcaster on BBC Local Radio in the East, and people's opinions are an occupational hazard, if you’re in the public eye, even in only a small way. However, this was savage and uncalled for.
My self-esteem about my looks and body had never been great, but now it was decimated. I struggled to look in a mirror, always seeing the imperfections those hurtful comments had highlighted and I would no longer have my photograph taken. It wasn’t just a case of the classic protestations ‘Don’t get me in’ or ‘Oh I don’t take a very good photo’ - I flatly refused and would shake at the thought.
Then in July 2023, I took redundancy from BBC local radio so I had to strike out as a freelance broadcaster, writer and event host. I started https://suffolktheatre.co.uk/ to post my theatre reviews, I had events booked where the organisers needed pictures of me for their websites, and I had plans for podcasts and a new website to showcase what I was offering to the world.
Broadcaster and journalist Georgy Jamieson - photographed by John Ferguson
All this needed personal branding and that meant photographs of me.
I had started a course of counselling which was helping my self-esteem and to process what had happened to me and my confidence was growing but was I ready to take the next step and book a photography session?
I met John Ferguson when he was my guest on BBC Radio Suffolk and I have interviewed him several times. We got on well and I admired his style and pictures enormously. If anyone was going to make me feel I could do this it was John.
We exchanged messages and a date was booked. I was nervous. How do I explain to John how I feel? My counsellor recommended I tell John what had happened to me in the past so on the day of the shoot itself, over a coffee, I plucked up the courage to say why I was feeling the way I was. He was tremendously supportive and totally put me at ease. I never thought I would ever like having my photograph taken but John let my personality shine through so I was actually enjoying myself. I could bring outfits I felt comfortable in and for the first time in years, I felt glamorous and unashamed to be me.
I absolutely love my pictures. Yes, there are some I like better than others, but that’s only natural; I can look at them all and not turn away or cry, which are things I would do before therapy and this photography session.
I’m so glad I chose John for my personal branding photography. This has been a huge step for me, and to have him help me on this journey is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Contact John at John@johnfergusonphotography.uk to find out how you can work with John.
