If you're a photographer who's been trying to get new clients but your inbox is quieter than it should be this episode is THE one. Because talent and love of photography don't create opportunities. Visibility does. And visibility doesn't happen by accident... It happens when you decide to stop waiting to be discovered and start putting yourself in front of the right people.

In this episode, we talk honestly about pitching. What it actually is, why most photographers resist it, and what a smart, sustainable client strategy really looks like. From cold outreach and LinkedIn to warm connections, referrals, and creating work specifically designed to earn you the pitch, this is the episode for anyone who knows they should be doing more outbound outreach and hasn't quite figured out how to start.

Topics covered on finding photography clients and pitching:

• Why talent alone doesn't fill your calendar - and what actually does
• Reframing pitching as introducing your value, not asking for a favour
• How the photography market has changed and why proactive outreach matters more than ever
• Warm connections, referrals, and networking as a long-term client strategy
• Cold pitching: structure, mindset, and what makes one actually work
• LinkedIn and email as pitching channels for commercial and hospitality clients
• The "create and pitch" approach for building portfolio work and outreach at the same time
• Pitching mindfully - researching clients before you reach out, and only pursuing the right fit
• Playing the long game: why patience and consistency matter more than volume

About Focus & Flourish

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

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If a client has asked you 'can't we just use AI for this?' and you felt your stomach drop a little - this episode is for you. That question has a way of hitting somewhere personal, like a small challenge to your skills, your income, and your place in the industry all at once. But here's the reframe: it's almost never actually about any of those things.

In this episode, we break down what clients are really asking when AI comes up, how to respond with confidence and clarity instead of defensiveness, and what you can put in place right now to protect your business going forward. Because once you understand what's actually behind the question, the whole conversation changes.

Topics covered on AI and food photography:

• Why the 'can't we just use AI?' question feels personal - and what's actually behind it
• The difference between a client asking about cost versus questioning your value
• Why authenticity in food photography becomes more distinctive as AI content increases
• What clients are really asking when they want to use your images to "generate something new"
• Why AI-generated images and real photography aren't doing the same job
• How an AI clause in your contracts protects your work going forward
• What photographers can lean into that AI genuinely cannot replicate

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

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If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

If you've ever stared at a message asking you to work for free and felt your stomach drop a little - you're not alone. The 'should I do this?' question is one of the most uncomfortable in a photographer's career. Say yes and you risk quietly undervaluing yourself. Say no and you worry you're being difficult, or closing a door you can't reopen.

In this episode, we do something a little different: we debate it. Not as opposing teams, but as two photographers with genuinely different approaches - making the case for strategic free work on one side, and protecting your value at all costs on the other. By the end, we land somewhere that might surprise you, and give you a practical framework of questions to ask before you ever say yes or no again.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

If the word 'contract' makes you feel a bit uncomfortable - like you're being too serious, too formal, or somehow signalling that you don't trust your clients - this episode is going to reframe that completely. Contracts aren't about distrust. They're about clarity. And clarity is actually one of the most generous things you can offer a client relationship.

In this episode, we talk honestly about the mistakes we made early on, why boundaries are a core part of professionalism (not a barrier to it), and what photographers need to start thinking about when it comes to protecting their work in an AI-driven world. Because the goal isn't just protecting your business on paper - it's protecting your ability to keep creating sustainably, long-term.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

If you've ever found yourself in a season where everything is technically going well - but you still feel stretched thin and behind on the things you love - this episode is for you. Sometimes the hardest seasons aren't the bad ones. They're the really full ones.

In this honest conversation, we talk about what it actually looks like to keep going when life demands more than usual: the scheduling struggles, the mental bandwidth, the guilt of not producing, and the quiet but important question of what's worth continuing slowly versus abandoning completely. Because creativity doesn't always need more hustle - sometimes it needs more patience, more space, and a lot more compassion.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

If you've ever looked at a photographer whose work stops you mid-scroll - where every image feels like it's saying something, where there's a world behind the food rather than just a dish in front of a lens - and wondered how someone actually builds a career like that, this episode is for you.

We sat down with Costas Millas, a food photographer, stylist, and art director based in the UK, whose food art stories and work with brands like Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose have made him one of the most distinctive voices in our industry.

Costas talks honestly about making the leap to full-time creative work, how he built a broader offering without losing focus, what it really took to land clients at the highest level, and the self-published book that brought his personal work into the world. This is a conversation about creative identity, intentional business building, and what it looks like to let your personal work become your most powerful professional asset.

SEE MORE FROM COSTAS:

• 'NO COLOUR' by Costas Millas: https://www.madebymrmillas.com/shop/p/no-colour-printed-limited-edition
• Portfolio: https://www.madebymrmillas.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madebymrmillas/
• Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/madebymrmillas

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

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If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

Everyone talks about building a 'sustainable' creative business - but almost nobody talks about what that actually means.

Because sustainability isn’t just about consistent income or booking more clients. It’s about creating a business you can emotionally, creatively, and mentally sustain long-term. In this episode, we’re unpacking the pressure creatives face to constantly grow, produce, and scale - and why that approach often leads straight to burnout. We’re talking about creativity, space, ambition, financial reality, and the uncomfortable truth that more isn’t always better.

If you’ve been feeling exhausted by the pressure to keep up, this episode will help you redefine success on your own terms.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

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If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

Have you ever caught yourself saying, 'I just need a bit more time before I do this…' - whether that’s pitching a dream client, raising your prices, creating the work you really want to make… or finally hitting send on a proposal?

In this episode, we unpack the hidden truth behind not feeling 'ready' - both from the photographer’s side and the client’s side. Because sometimes what looks like a timing issue is actually a confidence issue, a clarity issue, or a fear-of-decision issue. We’re talking honestly about imposter syndrome, creative hesitation, dream projects that feel intimidating, and those client responses that say 'we just need more time'… only for the conversation to quietly disappear.

If you’ve been stuck waiting for certainty before moving forward, this episode will help you rethink what readiness actually looks like.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

What does it actually look like to grow beyond food photography - and build something bigger, more scalable, and future-proof?

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Wiktoria Gralka, co-founder of Marrick Mediahouse, to talk about her journey from food photographer to running a full-service commercial studio.

We dive into the realities of expanding your services, repositioning your brand, working as a creative duo, and navigating the role of AI in modern photography.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to evolve your business but weren’t sure how to make that shift, this conversation will open up a whole new perspective.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

Where you'll find Wiktoria:

• https://marrick.org
• https://www.instagram.com/wiktoriagralka/
• https://marrick.org/education

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If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️

If you’ve ever looked at your work and thought, “These images don't quite feel like me yet…” - this one's for you.

Finding your visual voice is one of the most talked about - and least clearly explained - parts of becoming a photographer. In this episode, we’re unpacking what it actually means to develop a recognisable style, how it evolves over time, and why the process often feels so much harder (and messier) than anyone admits. If you’re stuck between experimenting, comparing, and second-guessing every image you create, this conversation will help you find your way back to something that feels genuinely yours.

Focus & Flourish, Photography Business Talk is a podcast for food photographers and creative entrepreneurs who want to build structured, sustainable, and profitable businesses. Hosted by Marta Grabowska and Linda Hermans, the show combines real-life experiences with practical strategies around marketing, pricing, workflows, and mindset - helping creatives step into their CEO role and grow with clarity and confidence.

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸

If you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute by buying us a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠through this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your support means a lot! ♥️