In this engaging conversation, Shelly Waldman and Rachel Korinek delve into the intricacies of pitching in the photography industry. They discuss the importance of crafting effective pitch decks, tailoring presentations for clients, and the value of visual storytelling. The duo shares insights from their experiences, emphasizing the role of templates and collaboration in creating standout presentations. They also touch on the significance of feedback and continuous improvement in the pitching process, ultimately encouraging photographers to showcase their unique value to clients.

Rachel Korinek is a Toronto-based professional food photographer and the founder of Two Loves, a studio and online education platform blending her love of food and photography. Originally from Australia, Rachel creates bright, expressive imagery that celebrates real food, emotion, and storytelling. She works remotely with clients worldwide and travels for select projects.

Takeaways

• Pitching is often overlooked but crucial for success.
• Tailoring presentations to client needs enhances engagement.
• Visual storytelling is key in making a strong impression.
• Templates can streamline the pitching process and save time.
• Collaboration can lead to innovative ideas and improvements.
• Feedback from clients is essential for growth and refinement.
• A strong portfolio should reflect the work you want to be hired for.
• Understanding client expectations can lead to better outcomes.
• Continuous improvement is vital in the creative industry.
• Success in pitching can lead to more opportunities and collaborations.

Resources:

EP 10: Pitching Mindset and What to Send

Canva great for building templates (google slides, Adobe Express work too)

About Creative Camp:

Shelly Waldman is a commercial photographer and entrepreneur, and the founder of Creative Camp. She hosts Creative Campfire, featuring honest conversations about business, creativity, and building a sustainable creative career.

Keep the conversation going:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

• Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ ( love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.

• We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 consulting - Shelly's been a business coach and photographer since 2010.

• sponsor the podcast

• invest in one of our courses

• invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

**ANNOUNCEMENT** Pitching Essentials returns this February:

• Foundation Class: February 5

• Pro Track: Starts February 6

Pitch Essentials teaches photographers how to communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence — using visual tools and clear structure to communicate ideas and value at every stage of outreach.

👉 All details and tickets:
http://courses.twolovesstudio.com/pitch-essentials

Summary:Photographer Suzanne Clements joins Shelly Waldman to talk about creativity, marketing, and building a sustainable photography career. Suzanne shares her unexpected path from painting to photography, how she developed her bold visual style, and why personal projects are essential for growth.

They dive into idea generation, creative collaboration, packaging projects for clients, and navigating today’s marketing landscape — from Instagram fatigue to the power of consistent email outreach.

Suzanne gets into the nitty gritty of how she manages her list, verifies emails and why she uses small batch mail merge rather than a service like Mailchimp or Flodesk.

This is a candid conversation about experimenting, adapting, and staying creatively engaged in an ever-changing industry.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Suzanne Clements Portfolio: https://www.suzanneclements.com/

• Suzanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannecgd

• ZeroBounce (Email Verification): https://www.zerobounce.net/

• Streak CRM for Gmail: https://www.streak.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Suzanne Clements

01:31 Suzanne's Journey into Photography

04:35 The Shift from Painting to Photography

07:21 Finding Your Style and Voice

11:25 The Importance of Feedback and Consultancy

13:44 The Role of Conversations in Growth

16:57 The Magic of Post-Production

18:30 Creative Projects: Skater Girls and Beyond

29:38 Navigating Creative Expenses

32:55 Exploring the Beauty of Simplicity in Photography

35:43 Transforming Ideas into Visual Stories

38:09 The Evolution of Marketing Strategies

46:40 Leveraging Automation in Creative Marketing

53:13 From Concept to Completion: Documenting the Creative Process

56:30 Crafting Engaging Emails

58:49 Manual Email Strategies for Better Engagement

01:01:46 The Importance of Curated Email Lists

01:06:11Leveraging Technology for Email Marketing

01:10:20 Warming Up Your Email for Success

01:15:41 Maximizing Creative Downtime

01:19:59Navigating Communication in a Changing Industry

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

• Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.

• We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 consulting - Shelly's been a business coach and photographer since 2010.

• sponsor the podcast

• invest in one of our courses

• invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Creative Campfire Podcast, Shelly Waldman and co-host Lauren Liz sit down to reflect on 2025, looking at all the thrones and roses.

Together, they unpack the moments that shaped the year both personally and professionally: navigating divorce, ending a close friendship and business partnership, grieving the loss of beloved pets, and the quiet courage it took for Lauren to come out (again) as queer to family and friends.

This conversation is honest, tender, and grounded in the belief that our creative work doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Life changes us and our businesses, boundaries, and identities evolve right alongside it.

Rather than offering a polished highlight reel, Shelly and Lauren talk openly about what it looks like to reflect on a year with compassion, clarity, and truth — making space for grief, growth, and what’s next.

If you’re approaching your own year-in-review feeling tender, uncertain, or in transition, this episode is an invitation to slow down and reflect with honesty.

One thing we know is having a support has been a must.

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

• Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.

• We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 help with, Shelly, who's background in finance and photography get her a unique perceptive as a coach and business manager. We're opening spots in Feb for working together. Drop us a dm to learn more.

• sponsor the podcast

• invest in one of our courses

• invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

In this episode of Creative Campfire, Shelly sits down with creative producer, photographer, and The Naked Room podcast cohost Kelly Garthwaite for a wide-ranging conversation about creative careers, pivots, and what it really means to build something new when the path forward isn’t clear.

Kelly shares her journey from technical writing to photography, to photo editor at NFL Network, to her seven-year run at Red Bull Media House, and the leap into entrepreneurship that didn’t unfold the way she expected.

Together, they unpack the realities of freelancing, advocating for yourself inside big organizations, the emotional whiplash that can come when a well-thought-out plan that doesn’t land, finding the creative spark in podcasting and predictions for 2026.

The conversation weaves through:

• Why relationships matter more than résumés

• What brands actually look for when hiring creatives

• The unseen labor of production and why photographers are asked to wear too many hats

• Podcasting as a creative lifeline and space for honest, human conversation

• The cultural shift toward analog, slower creativity, and real connection

• Why community (especially women supporting women) matters now more than ever

This episode is an honest look at reinvention, trust, and staying human in an increasingly automated, transactional creative industry.

Topics Covered:

• Creative pivots and nonlinear careers

• Life inside Red Bull Media House

• Hiring photographers: talent vs. personality

• Burnout, boundaries, and people-pleasing

• Why “efficiency” is hard to sell to brands

• Podcasting as a creative and emotional outlet

• The future of media, streaming, and AI

• Slowing down: film photography, analog rituals, and patience

• Women using their voices and building community

Kelly is a creative producer and former photo editor at Red Bull Media House who now co-hosts The Naked Room podcast. Known for her empathy, collaboration, and deep industry knowledge, Kelly is passionate about honest storytelling, community-building, and keeping creativity human.

🎙 The Naked Room Podcast – available on Spotify, YouTube & all podcast platforms

🔗 Kelly on LinkedIn, Substack, Instagram (photo), Instagram (pod)

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

In this episode of Creative Campfire, I sit down with Sam Cornwall — photographer, digital tech, and creator of The Photo Glossary — for a deep, honest conversation about what really makes a professional set run smoothly.

We talk about learning to see light, why soft skills matter just as much as technical ones, and the industry knowledge that’s slowly disappearing as fewer photographers come up through assisting.

From hybrid roles and chain of command to pricing equipment, managing clients, and building trust on set, this episode is packed with insight for photographers, assistants, and creatives navigating commercial work today.

Whether you’re early in your career or deep in it, this conversation will help you understand not just how sets work — but why they work best when communication, clarity, and leadership are prioritized.

In this episode, we cover:

• ​Why learning to “see” light starts long before you touch a strobe
• ​The difference between technical skills and creative vision
• ​How environment and lived experience shape your eye
• ​Why soft skills are missing from most photography education
• ​The importance of chain of command on set
• ​Hybrid roles, efficiency, and modern crew structures
• ​Why photographers should understand equipment costs and fees
• ​The thinking behind The Photo Glossary and preserving industry knowledge
• ​What newer creatives are missing — and how to close that gap

The Photo Glossary Info:

• ​Substack
• ​Instagram
• ​Website
• ​Wiki

Referenced Tools & Software

• ​Capture One
• ​Adobe Lightroom
• ​Photoshop
• ​Profoto
• ​Adorama
• ​Dropbox
• ​WeTransfer
• ​Hightail
• ​PIBOX (Frame.io alternative)

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• ​Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.
• ​Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)
• ​Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.
• ​We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• ​1:1 consulting - Shelly's been a business coach and photographer since 2010.
• ​sponsor the podcast
• ​invest in one of our courses
• ​invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage
• ​Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

In this episode of Creative Campfire, Shelly sits down with powerhouse sports photographer Amanda J. Cain, the first Black female team photographer in the NHL and now head photographer for the Detroit Pistons.

Amanda shares how she carved out her lane in sports, the realities of in-house photography, the importance of being multi-skilled, the challenges of career advancement inside teams, and how she integrates art direction and graphic design into her creative identity.

We cover:

• Creative direction for media day

• Mentorship + honest advice for up-and-coming sports creatives

• Why freelancing freedom matters

• The highs and lows behind the scenes — beyond the highlight reel

• Her sneaker obsession and the art-direction ideas it inspires

• Her upcoming rebrand + personal weekly project

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to build a career in pro sports photography — this is your episode.

Where to Find Amanda

Instagram: @amanda.j.cainPortfolio: amandajcain.photoshelter.com

More places to find Amanda

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

• Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.

• We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 consulting - Shelly's been a business coach and photographer since 2010.

• sponsor the podcast

• invest in one of our courses

• invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

"We're all work in progress... We're always, growing. That's why I like to show the imperfections in a lot of my photography. I like to show that like, it's that wabi-sabi approach to it." - PJ Agbay

In this episode, Shelly sits down with Philadelphia-based commercial, editorial and food photographer PJ Agbay to explore his creative journey — from shooting on an iPhone in high school to becoming a full-time commercial photographer, community builder, and published artist.

PJ shares how breakdancing at his local rec center shaped his sense of belonging, why community is at the heart of his work, and how he’s building a creative ecosystem in Philly.

He also breaks down his transition into commercial photography, learning usage and licensing, building confidence with pricing, and how manifesting big goals by sharing them out loud, led him to shoot for Bon Appétit and Food & Wine.

We dive into studio culture, personal growth, networking-as-dating, Substack writing, and how saying your dreams out loud can change everything. If you’re building a creative career rooted in connection, this conversation is full of sparks.

Keep up with PJ:

Website

Instagram

Substack

Other folks and organizations mentioned in the show:

• Caydie McCumber — Photographer & educator

• Two Loves Studio / Rachel Korinek — Pitching Essentials co-creator
  

• Bon Appétit
  

• Food & Wine Magazine
  

• • Elijah Crawford — Director/producer

  
  

  • The Maker’s Table — Creative dinner series co-created by Shelby and Alex

  If one of your 2026 goals is to pitch stronger and communicate your value more clearly, check out the Pitching Template Bundle designed my Shelly here at Creative Camp & Two Loves Studio. There are 8 customizable pitch templates that will help you stand out.

  50% off from Nov 28 - Dec 1, 2025 with code BF50 at checkout.
  https://courses.twolovesstudio.com/pitching-templates

Jacquette M. Timmons and I dive into the complexities of pricing in the creative industry.

In this engaging conversation, Jacquette shares her unique perspective on the phrase 'charge what you're worth,' exploring its cultural implications and the importance of aligning personal and business finances.

Discover how to navigate the emotional and financial aspects of pricing, and learn why understanding your value goes beyond simple equations.

Tune in for insights that will help you build a thriving business without sacrificing personal financial health.

Follow Jacquette on her platforms:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Website / Blog

Podcast

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

• Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.

• We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 consulting - Shelly's been a business coach and photographer since 2010.

• sponsor the podcast

• invest in one of our courses *BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL COMING ON OUR COLLOB PITCH TEMPLATES*

• invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

Zach Ancell “fell” into photography while running track at the University of Oregon, snapping photos of his teammates that eventually sparked a commercial career. His competitive drive to be the best fueled his success—until a life-altering moment forced him to confront his deepest fear: losing his wife. Death was something Zach had always kept locked away, but a series of events at 35 cracked that box wide open.

As he began questioning everything—his career, his ambitions, and what it means to live fully—Zach found himself on a journey of self-discovery. That exploration led him to create When We Die, a podcast and call-in series where people share their stories, beliefs, and reflections about death, purpose, and what comes after.

Follow Zach and his show and get all his links HERE

Instagram

Show

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop us an ⁠email⁠ or a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠.

• Support the show by ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest show.

• We'd love a review as it helps others know to listen as well as it helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. If you're Spotify leave a comment on the show, and on Apple give us a review.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 consulting - Shelly's been a business coach and photographer since 2010.

• sponsor the podcast

• invest in one of our courses

• invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got another idea? Drop us an email: [email protected]

In this episode, Phoebe Nelson of Pandrd Design Co shares her journey from in house graphic designer to full time muralist (yes that's painting cool designs on walls all over the world).

We dive into changing the mindset around be grateful to be an artist, aka the starving artist, to get paid for your work, and value what you do. She shares about lessons learned about sexism and speaking with confidence, why site visits are not necessary, and how her contract has developed over the years.

We discuss the slippery slope artists face when working for free to build a portfolio as well as those that are doing it for "fun" and the broader impact that has on the artist community.

We get into money talk. Her biggest money challenge in the last 3 years and her biggest financial win along with new things she's trying out this year, how she finds assistants in the places she's painting, and lessons learned about

Check out Phoebe's work, her resources for artist, and more:

• Instagram: @PANDRDesignCo
• Website: panderdesignco.com
• Designing for Murals Workshop Nov 12, 2025

Keep the conversation going with us here at Creative Camp:

• Drop a DM over on ⁠Instagram⁠ @creativecamp.pro and share you thoughts on the episode: something you learned, related to, or someone to interview.

• Keep us caffinated and show us you care ⁠buying us a coffee⁠ (we love chai lattes)

• Sign up for our weekly-ish ⁠Camp Bulletin⁠ ., where we drop nuggets about industry insights, creative opportunities and the latest podcast show.

• Did you know that if you leave a review, or a comment, it helps get our show in front of others? Yep. It helps us get found among the plethora of podcasts. And if you really love the episode and want to others to listen too, share a screenshot or a snippet on your social feed and tag us. So we can love you back.

How can we work together:

• 1:1 Creative Sidekick: Shelly's been a business coach/stragist and photographer since 2010. She's opening up limited spots to work together in 2026.

• Sponsor the podcast: yes, we're looking for both episode and show sponsors. If you want to get in front of creatives (photographers, artists, graphic designs, etc) here's where you'll find them.

• we have creative camp and creative campfire merch shop coming in November

• Invite Shelly to speak to your group or be on your stage

• Got an idea you want to pitch us or collaborate on: Drop us an email: [email protected]

#ArtisticValue #Muralist #PhoebeNelson #FinancialLiteracy #dontbeastarvingartist