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When should I pitch?

Tell us what you spotted, when, and what kind of brand it is. Get your pitch window with real dates, who to contact, what to lead with and an opening line.

1 · What did you spot?
2 · Their industry
3 · Where they’re based
4 · Brand size
Has its own marketing team, not yet a household name
6 · Your discipline
Your pitch plan · Fashion & apparel · Growing · Rest of EnglandToo early

Wait 2 weeks, then pitch between Thu 8 Oct and Thu 12 Nov.

It’s been 1 week. Pitching now risks landing before they’re ready to think about it.

You are here
Thu 17 SeptBest: Thu 8 Oct – Thu 12 NovFri 15 Jan
Your plan
  1. 1 · Now
    Follow the brand and the right contact. Engage with a post or two so your name is familiar.
  2. 2 · Mon 5 Oct
    Prepare your one idea and pick the single piece of work that proves you can do it.
  3. 3 · Thu 8 Oct
    Send the pitch. Keep it short, with one idea and one example.
What it means
New leaders usually review who the brand works with and set a new direction in their first few months. It’s one of the few moments the door is genuinely open to new people.
Who to contact
The new hire themselves, not the person they replaced.
Lead with
One idea tied to where they’re taking the brand, plus one piece of relevant work.
Bring one shoot concept that fits the new direction, with two or three reference images.
What to show
One shoot that looks like their brand could have made it, not your whole portfolio.
Tone
Be specific and practical. They’re busy but can commission quickly if the idea fits.
Industry timing
Fashion plans in seasons, often months ahead: spring/summer content is usually shot well before spring. Tie your idea to their next season or drop.
Location
Brands outside London usually get fewer pitches. If you’re nearby, say so: being local for shoots and meetings is a real advantage.
Avoid
“Congrats on the new role!” with a portfolio link and nothing else. Everyone else sends that.
Opening line to adapt

Hi [name], saw you’ve joined [brand] to lead brand. As a photographer, I had one idea for [specific thing] that fits where you’re taking it, and thought it was worth sending over.

Fill in the highlighted parts with specifics and keep it short. Your words, your pitch.

Windows are typical ranges for UK brands, not guarantees. Every brand is different, so use your judgement.

Spotting these moments takes hours.
BrandBnk watches 1,000+ UK brands for all six signals and tells you when one fires, with the angle and who to contact.

The six signals at a glance

General guidance for UK creatives. Every brand is different, so treat these as starting points, not rules.

New brand lead

They hired a new marketing or brand lead

Best time: 3 weeks to 8 weeks after.

Contact: The new hire themselves, not the person they replaced.

Hiring creatives

They’re hiring creative roles (design, content, video)

Best time: 3 days to 6 weeks after.

Contact: The hiring manager named in the ad, usually the Head of Marketing.

Raised investment

They raised investment

Best time: 2 weeks to 13 weeks after.

Contact: The Head of Marketing, or the founder if there isn’t one yet.

Launch or new store

They’re launching a product or opening a store

Best time: 8 weeks to 4 weeks before launch.

Contact: The Head of Marketing or whoever leads the launch campaign.

Ad activity up

Their ads have ramped up

Best time: Up to 3 weeks after.

Contact: The performance or growth marketing lead.

Rebrand

They’re refreshing their brand

Best time: Up to 9 weeks after.

Contact: The Head of Marketing.

Want the longer version? Read the best time to pitch a brand and how to pitch to brands.