The Mindset Shift That Helped Me Land Vogue (and Will Help You Pitch With Confidence Too)
If you’ve ever not sent a pitch because you were scared of seeming pushy, desperate, or facing rejection, this is for you. In this final episode of the Booked by Email mini-series, I’m sharing the mindset shift that completely changed how I feel about pitching… and helped me land dream clients like Vogue, Manolo Blahnik, and more.
Yes, strategy matters. But your mindset? That’s what determines whether or not you actually hit send.
First: Let’s Get Honest About Fear
I used to be terrified of pitching. It wasn’t because I didn’t know how. I did. I understood the basics - send an email, link your portfolio, say hello. Simple, right?
But the real fear? It was about what the person on the other side might think.
“Will I seem desperate?”
“What if I annoy them?”
“What if I say the wrong thing?”
“What if they say no?”
“Worse… what if they say nothing?”
So instead of pitching, I’d spend hours:
→ researching
→ writing draft emails
→ tweaking my portfolio
And never send a thing. Sound familiar?
The Reframe That Changed Everything
One day, something clicked. Instead of thinking:
“I’m bothering them.”
I reframed it to:
“I’m offering something valuable.”
Because at the end of the day, that’s exactly what a pitch is. It’s saying:
“Hey, I love what you’re doing. I think I could help. Here’s how.”
A pitch is a conversation starter, not a desperate plea. This small shift gave me the confidence to start sending my emails. And guess what? It worked.
Confidence Is Contagious (and Strategic)
When I started pitching with this new mindset, three things happened:
My emails got better — I wasn’t overthinking every word.
I got more replies — I focused on the value I was offering, not the validation I was seeking.
I started booking better work — the kind I dreamed about for years.
And it wasn’t because I was the loudest or boldest in the room. It was because I was intentional.
I considered:
Who I was writing to
What they needed
How I could help
And I trusted that my work deserved to be seen.
Ask Yourself This Before Sending Your Next Pitch
If you’re hesitating to hit send, ask yourself:
“If I truly believed in the value of what I do, would I still be afraid to send this?”
Your work matters. It helps brands sell products, tell stories, and connect with their audience. It’s not just beautiful, it’s valuable.
But here’s the thing: people aren’t psychic. If you don’t tell them what you do, they won’t know to hire you. You can’t wait for permission. You have to make the first move.
Strategy + Mindset = The Full Picture
Inside my course, The Success Studio, I don’t just teach strategy. I walk you through everything you need to build a sustainable, thriving career as a fashion photographer:
How to pitch with confidence
How to price your work
How to build a portfolio you’re proud of
How to follow up without second-guessing yourself
How to build clarity and confidence around your brand
How to use social media as a bonus client magnet
I remove the guesswork so you can take action.
You don’t need to wait for more time, more confidence, or a “perfect” moment.
You can start now, with what you have. And when you’re ready to go all in, The Success Studio will be there for you.
Pitching doesn’t have to feel gross, it can feel empowering! And it can open the door to everything you’ve been working toward. Let’s make that happen.
