Not booking as much as you want? The answer might be hiding in plain sight... your portfolio. In this episode, Marie and Amber break down the different photography styles that attract luxury clients, what makes a feed look expensive vs. budget, and why luxury isn't one single aesthetic. Spoiler: it comes down to intentionality, restraint, and artistry.

The Big Myth About Luxury Photography Luxury isn't just light and airy fields and flowing neutral dresses. There are so many paths to a high-end brand, and the one that works best for you is the one that genuinely lights you up.

Photography Styles That Can Command Luxury Prices

• Ethereal and Romantic: Soft light, natural skin tones, feminine elegance, quiet emotion. Beautiful when done well, but easy to go wrong with overexposure, too much haze, or overly trendy styling.
• Documentary and Storytelling: In-home, layered compositions, real moments. This one requires just as much skill as any other style. Direction, posing, and intentional light still matter, even when it looks effortless.
• Bold and Colorful: Strong point of view, rich tones, graphic energy. It attracts a specific clientele who will absolutely pay luxury prices for it.
• Editorial: Fashion-inspired, clean lines, powerful posing. Think strong angles, intentional body shapes, quiet confidence.
• Scandinavian Minimalism: Controlled color palettes, black and white, nothing unnecessary in the frame. Restrained, intentional, and deeply elegant.

What Makes Work Look Budget (No Matter the Style)

• Overexposed or inconsistent editing
• Styling that doesn't hang together (outfits, hair, makeup, location)
• Showing "cheese at the camera" shots
• Randomness... a feed that feels pulled in different directions
• Skipping out on hair and makeup (or including sessions where clients clearly did)

What Luxury Work Always Has in Common

• Intentionality: nothing feels random or client-dictated
• Restraint: no chasing every trend, no clutter
• Curation: cohesive, emotionally resonant, visually balanced
• Artistry: the feeling underneath the aesthetic

Luxury photography is not one specific style. It's the level of intention and passion behind the work. What makes an image feel expensive is the emotion, consistency, curation, and artistry underneath it all. Create work that feels unmistakably you, and then get really masterful at that.

Marie Elizabeth Photography marie-elizabethphotography.com | @marie.elizabeth.photo

Light Livin Photography lightlivinphotography.com | @light_livin_photography

In this episode, we're joined by Laura Esmond, a portrait photographer based in Denver, Colorado with 26 years of experience who also teaches photographers how to sell and display their work through her mastermind, Get Rooted. Laura has a fascinating perspective on the psychology behind sales, and this conversation is packed with insight that's going to shift the way you think about IPS, pricing, and the entire client experience.

We dig into what it actually means to be a confident salesperson (hint: it has nothing to do with being pushy), how your own money mindset shows up in your ordering meetings, and the simple but powerful ways you can start getting clients bought in on artwork long before the session even happens.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why being "pushy" probably isn't something you need to worry about... and what actually crosses that line
• How your money mindset follows you into every ordering meeting, and what to do about it
• The "breadcrumbing" approach to introducing artwork early in the client journey
• Why clients who seem excited sometimes hesitate at the ordering meeting, and how to prevent it
• The fake invoice practice that helps you get comfortable saying bigger numbers out loud
• What luxury actually feels like to a client (and why you should probably stop using that word)
• Why fewer clients at a higher experience level gives you more creative space to do your best work

Resources mentioned:

• Laura's course, The Art of Selling — use code LUXE for $100 off
• Get Rooted mastermind — reopening November 2026
• Find Laura at: https://www.lauraesmond.com/; IG: @lauraesmondeducation

Connect with us:

• Marie: marie-elizabethphotography.com | @marie.elizabeth.photo
• Amber: lightlivinphotography.com | @light_livin_photography

If you loved this episode, we'd be so grateful if you left a review... it helps other photographers find the show and join this community. See you next week!

Thinking about making the leap to full-time photography? This episode is for you. Marie and Amber get real about what it actually takes, and spoiler: the hardest milestones aren't the practical ones.

They break down the key milestones you need to hit before going full-time, including the mindset shifts that don't get talked about enough.

In this episode:

• Why committing before you feel ready is the very first (and hardest) step
• The identity shift that comes with leaving another career behind... and how to grieve it
• How to set profitable pricing and actually know your minimum
• Why coaching and masterminds move the needle in ways online courses can't
• Getting your business structure legit: LLCs, S corps, accountants, and health insurance
• Booking consistently for 3-4 months before making the leap
• How memberships and repeat clients create stability and predictability
• Why saving 4-6 months of income keeps you out of scarcity mode

Links mentioned:

• Amber's coaching: https://lightlivinphotography.com/
• Marie's coaching: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/

Follow us:

• Amber: @light_livin_photography
• Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo