Luxe & Legacy Podcast

This week we’re doing something a little different and letting you get to know us beyond our businesses! We talk about our families, our first careers, our very first paid sessions, and how our personalities shaped the kind of businesses we’ve built. In This Episode We Cover Our families and a few fun facts you might not know about us Our first careers in music education and ASL interpreting Our first paid sessions (including a $50 shoot in an almond orchard) How The Motherhood Anthology showed us photography could be a real career Amber’s INFP personality, Marie’s Enneagram 9, and how each one shapes our low-volume businesses A quick rapid-fire round A Few Things We Mentioned The Motherhood Anthology Myers-Briggs personality test The Enneagram Your Assignment This Week Take a Myers-Briggs or Enneagram test. Then look at where your business fits your personality and where it drains you. Takeaway What works for one photographer can burn out another. Build around your strengths, and push yourself in the areas that stretch you. Connect With Us Marie: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com  | @marie.elizabeth.photo Amber: https://lightlivinphotography.com | @light_livin_photography Amber’s education: https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page Loved this episode? Send us a DM, and keep an eye out for our Instagram challenge, coming soon! 💛

10 Years In: The Most Important Lessons I’ve Learned Amber’s at Disney, so Marie’s flying solo this week to celebrate 10 years in business. She’s sharing the four lessons she wants every photographer to hold onto. In This Episode We Cover How Marie started her business while teaching, and why three weddings were enough to steer her toward portraits Lesson 1: Be ready to adapt. Swapping discovery calls for texts, hiring an intern for reels, a mini rebrand, and what Gen Z clients value Lesson 2: Find your people. Workshops, communities, and how cold DMs turned into close friendships Lesson 3: Your business doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Building around your life, your market, and your personality Lesson 4: Plan for five years down the road. Using your long-term vision as a compass so trends lose their grip A Few Things We Mentioned The Becoming Retreat, August 2 to 4 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Only 10 spots: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/the-becoming-retreat The Motherhood Anthology (TMA) community The Kindred Path, founded by Adrianne Shelton: https://thekindredpath.com You’re Never Done Learning (Even When You’re the One Teaching): https://luxeandlegacypodcast.podbean.com/e/you-re-never-done-learning-even-when-you-re-the-one-teaching/ Your Assignment This Week Pick the lesson you need most right now and take one small step toward it. Then run your next big business decision through the five-year filter. Takeaway There’s no finish line in this business, and that’s what keeps it exciting. Connect With Us Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | https://marie-elizabethphotography.com Amber: @light_livin_photography | https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page Loved this one? A quick review helps other photographers find the show. See you next week! 💛

Want a calendar that doesn't depend on constantly chasing new bookings? This week we're talking all about repeat clients: why they're the backbone of a sustainable luxury business, and how to create an experience that keeps your favorite families coming back year after year. In This Episode We Cover Why repeat clients are easier to book, and how their referrals snowball Why clients come back for the experience, not just the photos (styling help, wardrobe, and making mom feel taken care of) Getting to know kids before the session and turning posing into imaginative play (hello, T-Rex dad) The sweet moments that make moms tear up, and giving families a little emotional rest during a session How collections and memberships help you document more chapters of the same family's life, plus the VIP perks that make them special Why artwork sales grow with trust over multiple sessions, and why you should never write anyone off as digitals-only Staying in touch without being salesy: nurture emails, genuine check-in texts, and engaging on social Penciling in the next session at the ordering appointment Not taking it personally when a client doesn't come back A Few Things We Mentioned Amber's full posing course, including her entire client experience and how she works with kiddos: https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page  The Becoming Retreat, August 2 to 4 at a historic farmhouse on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Only 10 spots and registration is open: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/the-becoming-retreat  How I'd Book 5 More Clients in the Next 30 Days: https://luxeandlegacypodcast.podbean.com/e/how-id-book-5-more-clients-in-the-next-30-days/  Your Assignment This Week Reach out to five past clients you absolutely loved working with who haven't booked in a while. Send a genuine, personal message, no discounts or marketing speak, just checking in on them and the kids. Then pick one part of your client experience to level up, like your styling guide, your questionnaire, or your ordering appointment. Takeaway Beautiful photos might get someone to book you the first time, but an incredible experience is what makes them excited to come back. Connect With Us Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | https://marie-elizabethphotography.com  Amber: @light_livin_photography | https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page  Loved this one? A quick review helps other photographers find the show. See you next week! 💛  

In This Episode It's officially busy season. Calendars are full, galleries are piling up, and we're still trying to be present moms and keep our creativity alive. This week we're sharing our best tips for not just surviving busy season, but actually thriving in it. In This Episode We Cover Prepping at the start of the week: batch steaming wardrobe, formatting memory cards, and screenshotting client questionnaires Amber's jewelry organizer trick for storing labeled memory cards until galleries are delivered Scheduling social posts so you stay visible for winter bookings Filling your cup on purpose, from sound baths to date night celebrations Self-care basics: water and snacks at sessions, a hard stop on editing, and client message hours Setting one creative goal per session to break out of autopilot Why automated 17hats workflows save so much brain power A sneak peek at our upcoming Instagram challenge 👀 A Few Things We Mentioned The Becoming Retreat Waitlist: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/waitlist-the-becoming  17hats for client workflows Amber's free posing guide: comment "cake" on her latest posing post at @light_livin_photography Balancing Business & Family in Summer: https://luxeandlegacypodcast.podbean.com/e/balancing-business-family-in-summer/  Coming Next Summer: The Becoming Retreat An intentionally small retreat at a historic farmhouse on Maryland's Eastern Shore, with styled sessions, savory meals, and space to reconnect with your creative vision. Spots open 10/20, so join the waitlist to be first in line: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/waitlist-the-becoming  Your Assignment This Week Pick one tip and put it into practice before your next session. Then give yourself one small creative goal at that shoot. Takeaway Busy season is a sign your business is working! Connect With Us Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | https://marie-elizabethphotography.com  Amber: @light_livin_photography | https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page    Got a favorite busy season tip? DM us or share this episode and tag us both. And if you loved it, a quick review helps other photographers find the show. See you next week! 💛

An image doesn't have to be bad to bring down the value of everything around it. This week we're talking curation, which is very different from culling, and how to do it in your client galleries, on your website, and on Instagram. In This Episode We Cover Culling vs. curation, and why "technically fine" isn't enough Marie's story of turning a less-than-ideal session into share-worthy work Why fewer, more flattering images make a stronger client gallery Using your brand words as a filter for your website Composition tips: balance, depth, and Marie's triangle trick Telling a story on Instagram with subjects, location, and family dynamic A Few Things We Mentioned How I'd Book 5 More Clients in the Next 30 Days: https://luxeandlegacypodcast.podbean.com/e/how-id-book-5-more-clients-in-the-next-30-days/ Your Assignment This Week Go through your homepage and last 12 Instagram posts. If an image doesn't fit your brand words, take it down. Takeaway Every image you share is an advertisement, not a scrapbook. Have the confidence to leave things out. Connect With Us Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo | https://marie-elizabethphotography.com Amber: @light_livin_photography | https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page Loved this one? A quick review helps other photographers find the show. See you next week! 💛