Why you’re not getting replies to your pitches (and how to fix it) | Booked by email series ep. 2
Welcome back to the Booked by Email mini-series! In this series, I’m sharing the exact strategies I’ve used to pitch fashion brands, land paid photography work, and build a career I love.
Today, we’re talking about a frustration every photographer has experienced:
👉 You send a pitch email… and hear nothing back.
Ghosted. Ignored. Left wondering if your work is good enough.
Trust me — you are not alone. It’s happened to me, and it happens to every photographer at some point. But here’s the good news: if you’re not getting replies, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad photographer. It usually means something simple needs to shift.
So let’s dive into the three most common reasons your pitch emails aren’t getting replies — and how to fix them.
1. You Pitched to the Wrong Person
This one is huge. You could write the most thoughtful, beautifully crafted pitch email ever, but if it lands in the wrong inbox, it’s going to get ignored.
If the person you emailed doesn’t actually hire photographers, they’re not going to book you — plain and simple.
How to Fix It
Do some research and find the decision makers. The people you want to pitch to are usually:
Art Directors
Creative Directors
Producers
Social Media Managers
Quick tip:
Start by checking the brand’s website footer — sometimes key contacts are listed right there.
Or, search on LinkedIn and filter by job titles.
It doesn’t take hours, it doesn’t have to feel “stalkery,” and it’s a total game changer when it comes to getting seen by the right people.
2. Your Portfolio Isn’t Aligned
Here’s another truth bomb: sometimes it’s not about your talent, it’s about fit.
If you send dreamy, romantic imagery to a dark, edgy luxury brand, they won’t be able to see how your work fits their aesthetic. It’s not that your portfolio is bad — it’s just not aligned with what they need.
How to Fix It
Only pitch to brands that your current portfolio already complements. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match, but it should feel aligned.
👉 If you’re in a transition or building a new portfolio, that’s okay. Keep pitching, but stick to brands where your current work already fits. As your portfolio evolves, so will the types of brands you pitch to.
Inside The Success Studio, I spend a lot of time teaching photographers how to refine and curate their portfolios — because it’s the foundation of every successful pitch. Without the right supporting visuals, your emails simply won’t land.
3. You Didn’t Follow Up
This is the biggest mistake I see photographers make.
You send one pitch, hear nothing back, and assume the brand isn’t interested. But here’s the truth: people are busy.
Emails get buried. They’re opened on a phone while running out for lunch. They’re marked “come back later”… and then forgotten.
It’s not personal — you’re just not top of mind.
How to Fix It
Follow up! Politely and professionally.
Wait one week.
Send a short, kind follow-up email reminding them of your pitch.
I can’t stress this enough: the magic is in the follow-up. The difference in response rates is huge when you start doing this.
(Pro tip: in my Steal My Client Emails freebie, I give you a complete follow-up template you can copy and use straight away.)
Quick Recap
If your pitch emails aren’t getting replies, check these three things:
Are you emailing the right person?
Does your portfolio align with the brand’s aesthetic?
Did you follow up?
These are all things you can control. You don’t have to wait around hoping to “get discovered.”
Want to Go Deeper?
Inside The Success Studio — my complete roadmap for fashion photographers — I teach you:
How to build a targeted list of brand contacts.
How to curate a portfolio that attracts the right clients.
How to follow up in a way that gets replies.
How to handle responses like a pro.
Because pitching is a skill, and once you learn it, it becomes second nature.
✨ Doors open on August 13th, and if you join the waitlist, you’ll unlock an exclusive bonus available only to waitlisters. (Hint: it’s social-media-related and seriously powerful.)
