Luxe & Legacy Podcast

In This Episode We Cover:
Why January isn't actually the "correct" time to raise your prices, and what happens when you raise them during a natural slow season instead
Why summer sits in the perfect spot right before your busy fall season, so a price increase doesn't hit you nearly as hard
The "missed the boat" client effect: why families who skipped spring photos due to the economy are about to come looking for fall sessions instead
Why that wave of catch-up clients means more demand hitting your calendar in fall, not less, making it a smart moment to test higher pricing
What typically happens after your fall rush, and why that upcoming slow season isn't something to fear if you've planned for it
How raising your prices in summer sets you up to reinvest fall revenue into marketing and education during your next quiet stretch
Why this creates its own runway: busy season proves the pricing works, slow season funds the next level of growth
Takeaway You don't have to wait for January to raise your prices, and you don't have to be scared of raising them during a season that feels quieter. Summer gives you a cushion on both sides, so if you've been sitting on a price increase, this might be your sign to go for it.
 
Resources:
GATHER 2026 Workshop: https://www.thekindredpath.com/gather-2026 
 
Connect With Us
Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | marie-elizabethphotography.com
Amber: @light_livin_photography | lightlivinphotography.com
Enjoyed this episode? We'd love a review. It helps other photographers find the show and join this community. See you next week!

Episode Summary
This one is close to our hearts. We sat down with D'Arcy Benincosa, world renowned photographer, educator, mentor, and host of the Play It Brave podcast, for a conversation that goes way beyond business strategy. D'Arcy has spent years teaching creatives how to build businesses rooted in intuition, mindset, and nervous system regulation, and in this episode she helps us process something a lot of us are quietly carrying: how to stay creative, grounded, and open hearted when the world feels heavy.
We talk about setting boundaries around news consumption, how emotions actually move through the body, the difference between masculine and feminine energy, and why "story, style, structure, and sales" are the four pillars every creative business needs to stay aligned. If you've felt creatively frozen lately, this episode is your permission slip to come back to yourself.
In This Episode, We Cover
How to stay informed and compassionate without becoming emotionally paralyzed
Why creativity can't blossom where there's too much consumption
David Hawkins' Map of Consciousness and how emotional frequency affects everything, including abundance
Moving through shame and guilt without getting stuck in a shame spiral
What divine feminine and masculine energy actually mean, and how to live in both
D'Arcy's four business pillars: story, style, structure, and sales
Why the "best photographer" doesn't always win the booking, and what does
Practical tips for photographers navigating a shifting industry and fewer inquiries
D'Arcy's approach to NLP, timeline therapy, and quarterly emotional "maintenance"
Meet Our Guest
D'Arcy Benincosa is a world renowned photographer, educator, and mentor who helps creatives build businesses rooted in strategy, intuition, wealth, and personal expansion. She's the host of the Play It Brave podcast and is master certified in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). Darcy leads group coaching programs, timeline therapy sessions, and in-person creative workshops around the world.
Quotable Moments
"Creativity cannot blossom where there is consumption."
"Emotions stay in your body for about 90 seconds if you truly feel them. Then they can cycle out."
"You could be the best photographer but the worst salesperson, and you could be making hardly any money."
"We still need the flowers. We need the beauty. We need to create the art."
Resources & Links Mentioned
D'Arcy Benincosa: darcybenincosa.com
Play It Brave podcast, hosted by D'Arcy Benincosa
The Map of Consciousness by Dr. David R. Hawkins
D'Arcy's upcoming group coaching program (story, style, structure, sales)
D'Arcy's in-person creative workshop in England (limited spots)
Connect With Us
Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | marie-elizabethphotography.com
Amber: @light_livin_photography | lightlivinphotography.com

In This Episode We Cover
Why "balance" in summer doesn't mean every week looks the same, and why that's actually okay
Amber's seasonal burst method: condensing sessions around blooms like lavender and dahlias, taking intentional time off in between, and building family trips into the schedule without the guilt
Why Marie's husband being home all summer (as a teacher) actually makes running a business trickier, and how she works around it
The summer fun checklist strategy and planning one activity a day so the season feels intentional instead of chaotic
Working on your laptop in the car on the way to family activities so the rest of the day is completely free
Why Marie only works in her business in summer, not on it, and what that distinction actually means
How Marie batches blog posts in winter and spring so her SEO keeps running on autopilot all summer without touching it
How Marie hired a social media intern through her local university's business school for a fraction of what an agency would cost
Tools Amber uses to speed up and outsource editing when she travels: Imagen AI, Evoto, and outsourcing the tedious Photoshop background-removal work
Amber's tip for swapping childcare with a neighbor so everyone gets a couple of focused hours to get things done
The case for hiring a VA for even just five hours a week to keep content and admin moving
Outsourcing grocery shopping with Instacart to buy back time during busy summer weeks
What to focus on if you didn't plan ahead and you're currently just treading water
Why going quiet on Instagram can hurt your reach, and the low-lift way to stay consistent all summer
Mentioned in This Episode
Imagen AI — editing tool to get colors close before minor Lightroom tweaks
Evoto — quick skin retouching and beautification tool
Instacart — grocery delivery to save time
VA/virtual assistant services
University and college internship programs as a resource for small business owners
Takeaway
The work will always be there. Your kids won't always be this little. Build a business that supports your life, not the other way around, and give yourself some grace this summer.
 
Connect With Us
Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | marie-elizabethphotography.com
Amber: @light_livin_photography | lightlivinphotography.com
Enjoyed this episode? We'd love a review. It helps other photographers find the show and join this community. See you next week!

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.
What We Cover
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
The Big Takeaway
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.
Connect With Us
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

Motherhood, boundaries, and building a business that actually supports your life... this one hits close to home.
Marie and Amber are recording just days before Mother's Day 2026, and they're getting real about hustle culture, the pressure to be constantly available, and how they've intentionally structured their businesses around their families, not the other way around.
If you've ever felt the Sunday-night dread before a Monday session, said yes to a weekend booking you really didn't want, or found yourself halfway present at your kid's soccer game because your brain was still on work mode... this episode is for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why hustle culture is so easy to fall into (especially as a people pleaser who gets her self-worth from productivity... hi, Marie)
The "bitterness test": how Marie uses that feeling as a signal to reevaluate her workload
How both Marie and Amber structure their weeks to protect family time
Why luxury clients actually respect you MORE when you have clear boundaries
Weekend surcharges, blocked calendar dates, and other practical tools that give you your life back
Money mindset and abundance energy... yes, the woo woo stuff, and why it actually works
Working smarter: raising prices, offering albums and artwork, automations, workflows, and more
How Marie is booking fewer sessions this year but making the same (or more) money through full-service artwork sales
Resources & links mentioned:
Amber's education page (she's running a Mother's Day sale!): lightlivinphotography.com/education-salepage
Marie's mentoring & education: marie-elizabethphotography.com/photography-mentoring
Connect with us:
Amber | Light Livin Photography 🌐 lightlivinphotography.com 📸 @light_livin_photography
Marie | Marie Elizabeth Photography 🌐 marie-elizabethphotography.com 📸 @marie.elizabeth.photo

In this episode of the Luxe & Legacy Podcast, we’re breaking down exactly how we guide clients through the luxury photography experience using Zoom consultation calls, planning appointments, and ordering appointments… without ever feeling pushy or salesy.
We’re sharing the step-by-step process we use to build trust with clients from the very first inquiry all the way through artwork sales and final ordering. If you’ve ever felt awkward about sales calls, unsure how to talk about artwork, or overwhelmed by IPS, this episode will completely change the way you think about client communication.
We discuss:
Why consultation calls should feel simple and conversational
How Zoom calls help clients trust you faster
The importance of helping clients envision their session and artwork
How we guide wardrobe, locations, and styling during planning calls
The key to talking about albums and wall art naturally
Why artwork sales actually happen before the ordering appointment
How we keep ordering appointments collaborative instead of sales-focused
Why offering a full digital gallery can still lead to strong artwork sales
The mindset shifts that make luxury sales feel easy and aligned
At the heart of it all, luxury service is about making clients feel cared for, guided, and fully supported every step of the way.
Listen now and learn how to create a client experience that builds trust, increases sales, and feels effortless for both you and your clients.
Marie Elizabeth Photography: https://marie-elizabethphotography.comLight Livin Photography: https://lightlivinphotography.com
 
 
 
 

Is the Market Slowing Down? Here’s What I’m Doing About It
In this solo episode, Marie shares an honest look at what’s happening in today’s photography market and why things might feel slower, even if you’re still booking.
Between decision fatigue, rising costs, and everything going on in the world, clients are taking longer to book and being more selective. The good news? You’re not doing anything wrong. The market is just shifting.
 
What I’m Focusing On Right Now
Instead of overhauling everything, Marie is making small, intentional changes:
Building local relationships through networking, collaborations, and community involvement
Reaching out to past clients with personalized emails to get sessions on the calendar
Using memberships to create repeat bookings and more consistent income
Increasing revenue per client by offering artwork and upgrades
Simplifying inquiries by testing quicker, easier ways to respond
The Bottom Line
This is a season of adjustment, not failure.
Marketing is evolving, and the photographers who stay visible, connected, and adaptable are the ones who will come out stronger.
Keep going. You’re closer than you think.
Connect With Us
Websites:marie-elizabethphotography.comlightlivinphotography.com
Instagram:@marie.elizabeth.photo@light_livin_photography
If you enjoyed this episode, leaving a review helps more photographers find the show and grow alongside you.
 
 
 

Getting Published: Is it Worth It and Our Tips on Getting Your Work Featured
In today’s episode, Marie is diving into a question that comes up all the time in the photography world: is getting published actually worth it anymore? And if it is… how do you actually get your work accepted?
This conversation is honest, practical, and grounded in real experience. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should be spending time submitting your work to blogs and publications, this episode will give you clarity and direction.
✨ What We Cover
What “getting published” really means today
The difference between Instagram feature accounts vs. full blog/publication features
Why not all “features” carry the same value
Is getting published still worth it?
Why it doesn’t hold the same weight it once did
When it can still benefit your business
The role of backlinks and how they support your SEO
How publications contribute to social proof for potential clients
The biggest mistake photographers make when submitting
Why “good work” alone doesn’t guarantee acceptance
The importance of aligning your work with a publication’s style
📸 Marie’s Best Tips for Getting Published
1. Study the publication before submittingEvery publication has a unique style and preference. Submitting without understanding this is one of the fastest ways to get rejected.
2. Make sure your work is strong and consistent
Cohesive editing and true-to-life skin tones
Variety in composition, posing, and storytelling
Intentional use of light
3. Curate your submission carefullyChoose your best images and include a mix of:
Detail shots
Wide, scene-setting images
Emotional, connection-driven moments
4. Follow submission guidelines exactlyEditors receive a high volume of submissions. If you miss something small (file size, format, required info), your work may be skipped entirely.
5. Don’t overlook the details
Some publications require session descriptions or background stories
Many do not accept workshop or styled session work
Always check what is allowed before submitting
6. Follow up (the right way)A short, respectful follow-up email can help ensure your submission was received—just don’t overdo it.
💭 Final Thoughts
Getting published isn’t a magic bullet for business growth—but it can be a helpful piece of the puzzle when approached intentionally.
The key takeaway?Focus your energy where it matters most, and treat publication as a supporting strategy, not the main driver of your business.
And if you do decide to submit your work… go all in and do it well. Your work deserves to be seen.
🔗 Connect with Us
Marie: https://marie-elizabethphotography.comInstagram: @marie.elizabeth.photo
Amber: https://lightlivinphotography.comInstagram: @light_livin_photography
If you loved this episode, it would mean so much if you left a review. It helps more photographers find the show and build a business that feels aligned, elevated, and sustainable 🤍