Press, Speaking & Media

Press & Media

For press inquiries, interview requests, or speaking opportunities, reach out.

As Seen In

  • The New York Times
  • Philadelphia Magazine
  • WHYY
  • The Knot
  • Altared
  • Philadelphia Gay News
  • TODAY
  • Best of Philly 2022

How We Can Work Together

01

Podcast Guest

As an avid podcast listener, it’s always a pleasure to experience shows from the other side as a guest or co-host. Looking for someone to chat with about disrupting the wedding industrial complex? Or what it’s like to discover new identities later in life? Or maybe you’d like to mix things up and have someone interview you?

Example: Pause on the Play, Episode 185. Autonomy, Personal Ownership, and Consent: A Conversation with Shannon Collins

02

Educational Interviews

Curious about having me share my expertise with your audience? I’m happy provide educational input via interviews, whether written or verbal. Topics can range from disability justice, gender identity, advocating for queer youth, the wedding industrial complex, life as a late-diagnosed Autistic adult, and more.

Example: The Knot’s The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disability-Friendly Wedding

03

Workshops + Presentations

Whether it’s a live presentation, workshop, or a community conversation, I’m always looking to join folks in dialogue around topics of interest.

A virtual Q&A with Altared on the topic of inclusivity norms within the wedding industry.

04

Awards Committee

I have years of experience in reviewing and ranking award applications for a powerful program—prioritizing marginalized members of the community who aim to serve these populations.

Example: I’m keeping this anonymous, since I am still a committee member and don’t want to skew the results in any way.

Speaking Topics

Past Speaking Engagements

  • Dropping the Veil: Featured speaker in a community conversation on visibility and vulnerability. Part of a 3-day virtual event in the Pause on the Play community.
  • Sharing about Kids Online: Do You Have Their Consent? A live workshop alongside Stacie Lampkin in the Pause on the Play community.
  • Rainbow Connections: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Kids and Allies in Your Community & Beyond. A free webinar alongside Jessica Olzak for Public Library Association. This presentation was also given locally to other library branches in neighboring counties.
  • Rainbow Connections: Free, virtual monthly meetups for LGBTQIA+ kids and allies in K-5. Co-hosted alongside Jessica Olzak since November 2021.
  • Equally Inclusive: A live presentation and Q&A on the topic of Autistic marriers and vendors in September 2023.

The Wedding Industrial Complex

Disrupting the wedding industrial complex

Whether you’re a social justice-minded wedding vendor or marginalized marrier, let’s discuss ways to advocate for safer, more diverse, inclusive, and accessible industry standards. We can rethink inclusivity norms while focusing on why brand values matter and making sure our network includes vendors who align with our own.

  • Why mandatory pronoun sharing can be harmful
  • Why labeling ourselves as a “safe space” can do more harm than good
  • How saying things like “we welcome everyone” means we’re not including anyone
  • How to best support folks who aren’t comfortable with the attention that comes with a celebration
  • Give back policies: Why they matter and how to incorporate them into our workflow

Disability Justice

Disability visibility

Discovering my disabled identity in my mid-30s was revolutionary to my politics, personal values, and brand values. Finding ways to make my business and personal life more accessible is crucial to my well-being. Topics can include anything from alt-text and image descriptions to avoiding ableist language.

  • Creating sensory-friendly experiences for clients
  • Why designing accessible event spaces matters and how to be more inclusive
  • Alternatives to exclusionary language, including gendered and ableist language
  • Unpacking health-related trauma (from child birth to a craniotomy as an Autistic, trans person)

Discovering Identities

Finding comfort in self-discovery

While visibility and vulnerability are privileges not everyone can afford, showing up and owning yourself publicly can bring joy for some, if it’s safe enough to do so. Topics can include self-discovery, sharing your journey, finding safer spaces to explore your fullest self, and cultivating community.

  • Opening up on why visibility and vulnerability matters
  • Coming out later in life, as a parent, during the pandemic
  • Exploring your identities, battling internalized isms, and discovering ways to take up space without speaking over the most marginalized voices
  • Through transparency in our evolution, we can find comfort in our communities, erase stereotypes, and increase representation

Affirming Queer Youth

Rainbow connections

Supporting youth as they explore their gender expression, sexuality, and gender identity can be overwhelming at first. Let’s talk about ways to center youth and create environments that will affirm and uplift who they are, no matter their identities.

  • Why affirming kids on LGBTQIA+ issues like gender expression and identity matters
  • Why children have a valid perspective on their own identity and sense of self
  • Ways to support queer kids and allies
  • Media and resources to share with LGBTQIA+ youth and families
  • Advocating to remove gendered language and stereotypes, whether at school or home
  • Pronouns 101
  • Helping kids feel seen and loved

Other

Want to talk about something else?

There’s so much more to talk about! If you have an idea for an interview or speaking topic, please reach out so we can chat!

Articles

The New York Times

Q&A Feature with The New York Times

A profile Q&A with The New York Times on changing the way Disabled people and those at the intersects are viewed, one picture at a time.

Read more
The Knot

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disability-Friendly Wedding

Wondering how to plan a wedding that's more accessible? The Knot connected with top wedding professionals to understand the steps to-be-weds can take to create a special day where all feel welcome.

Read more
6abc

FYI Philly Spotlights Shannon Collins Photography

FYI Philly spotlights Shannon Collins Photography in a Pride-themed episode on 6abc, interviewing them about their queer and AuDHD-owned business and following them along for a portrait session.

Read more
Le Scoop

Exploring and Affirming Gender Journeys

Wanting to jump into conversations around gender identity and expression, but overwhelmed with where to start? Shannon Collins, non-binary parent and creative, shares ways to support children of all ages.

Read more
WHYY

'Letting it shine': An Abington library is creating space for kids to talk about gender

The Abington Township Public Library's new program, Rainbow Connections, offers a safe and fun place for LGBTQ+ kids in grades K-5.

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WHYY

WHYY Spotlights Youthphoria

WHYY spotlighted Youthphoria in an airing of Feel Good Fridays by Elizabeth Estrada. The radio story aired locally on WHYY and NPR, complemented by an article spotlighting past participant Riley Matties.

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Philadelphia Magazine

Best of Philly 2022: Best Photographer

In Philadelphia Magazine's Best of Philly 2022, Youthphoria was awarded in the helpers & fixers category, winning Best Mission-Driven Photographer and featured alongside community staples.

Read more
The New York Times

Making Their Weddings an All-Gender Affair

Some couples are forgoing certain traditions — like groomsmen and bridesmaids — in favor of more inclusivity. As one person planning a wedding said: "That's just being a good host."

Read more
Family Focus Media

Meet Youthphoria: 2023 Community Builder of the Year

Youthphoria, Philadelphia Family's Community Builder of the Year Award Winner, is a free photo service for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth in the greater Philadelphia area.

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The Knot

42 LGBTQIA+-Owned Businesses You Can Consider for Your Wedding

Some of The Knot's favorite big and small businesses owned or dedicated to people in the LGBTQIA+ community — from wedding officiants to attire and beyond.

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Philadelphia Gay News

Photographers Push for Equality in the Wedding Industry

Philadelphia-based wedding photographers who have devoted their careers to fighting the heteronormative stereotypes that pervade weddings and providing inclusive, authentic photos for queer couples.

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The Knot

Sensory-Friendly Wedding Planning Tips for Neurodivergent Couples and Guests

Planning a wedding with neurodiversity in mind is one step to-be-weds can take in creating a more accessible and inclusive wedding experience.

Read more
You Oughta Know

Local Library Offers LGBTQ+ Kids a Safe Space to Make Connections

The Abington Township Public Library's Rainbow Connections program bills itself as a child-centered safe space for LGBTQ+ kids and families to make friends and talk about topics like gender and pronouns.

Read more

Podcasts

Reach Out

Interested in working together on an interview, podcast episode, or speaking engagement? Drop me a note and I'll get back to you.

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