Building a Luxury Photography Business with Confidence and Legacy with Shannon Griffin

Building a Luxury Photography Business with Confidence and Legacy with Shannon Griffin

Some episodes teach. This one expands.

Marie shares why this conversation is deeply personal, because Shannon Griffin has helped widen her lens for years. Not just in artistry, but in belief. In this episode, Shannon opens up about leaving weddings, building a low-volume, high-touch business model, and creating an experience where artwork is not an upsell. It is the point.

You will hear the mindset shifts that took Shannon from “I could never charge that” to confidently saying the numbers out loud, and why that confidence is one of the most luxurious signals you can give a client.

In This Episode, We Cover

• Why family photography can be more valuable than weddings, and why so many photographers undervalue it

• Shannon’s transition out of weddings, and the real reason she knew she had to change everything

• What a luxury, once-in-a-lifetime experience looks like, especially for boudoir and women-focused work

• The pricing model that removes the digital-only ceiling

• How Shannon builds trust-first sales without feeling pushy or performative

• The ordering appointment strategy that gets clients excited about artwork before they even see the gallery

• What elevates perceived value instantly: curation, restraint, and emotion

• Money beliefs, guilt, and the “who am I to want more?” narrative, especially for women

• Why the rise of AI is a reason to raise your prices, not lower them

• The power of “enough” in different seasons, because high profit does not have to mean high hustle

Memorable Takeaways

1) Luxury is not louder. It is more curated. Shannon talks about how elevation often comes from what you do not show. The restraint, the edit, the emotional story over the “look at everything I can do” approach.

2) Artwork-first changes everything. Clients do not purchase digitals. They invest in an experience and tangible legacy: frames, albums, and matted prints, with matching digitals included only with what they purchase.

3) Confidence is a sales strategy. Shannon does not over-explain her pricing because explanation can unintentionally signal doubt. She gives a range, holds the silence, and trusts the value.

4) Your business model should protect your life. Shannon shares why she caps her sessions, often around two per month, so she can be present for motherhood and life without burnout.

A Few Highlights from Shannon’s Process

• Average client investment: around $10,000

• Session fee mentioned: $1,450

• Album pricing mentioned: starting around $6,500

• Past client example: a $40,000 order featuring multiple framed pieces, metal prints, gallery walls, and matted print boxes

• Sales approach: trust and guidance, not pressure. She will recommend what she genuinely thinks is best, even if it is the lower option

If This Episode Hit You, Ask Yourself

• Where am I treating my work like a commodity instead of art?

• Where am I still acting like family photography is “less than”?

• Where am I explaining my prices because I am trying to earn permission?

• What would change if I believed there was truly no cap?

Not every episode is meant to give you a checklist. Some are meant to shift your internal ceiling. If you felt something stir while listening, pay attention to that.

Guest Spotlight: Shannon Griffin

Shannon Griffin is known for creating museum-worthy imagery rooted in depth, emotion, and legacy, with a luxury client experience designed for high-end artwork sales. Her work centers women and family in a way that feels intimate, timeless, and profoundly intentional.

Find Shannon:

• Website: shannongriffin.com

• Instagram: @shannongriffin

Connect

Follow us on Instagram

• Amber: @light_livin_photography

• Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo

Website:

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

Loved This Episode?

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See you next week.