Balancing Business & Family in Summer

Balancing Business & Family in Summer

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 [https://imagen-ai.com/?ref_id=997843413] — editing tool to get colors close before minor Lightroom tweaks * Evoto [https://www.evoto.ai/payment?_uuid=qxzpsrsn&sId=zdhshrnm&utm_campaign=Referral+Program-1+&utm_medium=Operation&utm_source=referral&referral_code=QCZP5D9L66] — 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 [https://www.instagram.com/marie.elizabeth.photo] | marie-elizabethphotography.com [https://marie-elizabethphotography.com] * Amber: @light_livin_photography [https://www.instagram.com/light_livin_photography] | lightlivinphotography.com [https://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!

How to Be a Luxury Photographer in Any Style

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

The Psychology of the Sale: How to Sell Artwork Confidently Without Feeling Pushy With Laura Esmond

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/; [https://www.lauraesmond.com/;] IG: @lauraesmondeducation  Connect with us: * Marie: marie-elizabethphotography.com [https://marie-elizabethphotography.com] | @marie.elizabeth.photo [https://instagram.com/marie.elizabeth.photo] * Amber: lightlivinphotography.com [https://lightlivinphotography.com] | @light_livin_photography [https://instagram.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!

Milestones to Hit Before Going Full-Time as a Portrait Photographer

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/ [https://lightlivinphotography.com/] * Marie's coaching: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/ [https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/] Follow us: * Amber: @light_livin_photography * Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo

Building a Business Around Motherhood

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 [https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-salepage] * Marie's mentoring & education: marie-elizabethphotography.com/photography-mentoring [https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/photography-mentoring] Connect with us: Amber | Light Livin Photography 🌐 lightlivinphotography.com [https://lightlivinphotography.com/] 📸 @light_livin_photography Marie | Marie Elizabeth Photography 🌐 marie-elizabethphotography.com [https://marie-elizabethphotography.com] 📸 @marie.elizabeth.photo