In this episode of the Luxe & Legacy Podcast, Amber and Marie talk through how to start selling artwork in a way that feels natural, confident, and client led.

They share practical tips on introducing artwork early, using consultation calls and questionnaires to guide the conversation, leading with emotion instead of specs, simplifying pricing, and avoiding overwhelm with too many options.

This episode is for photographers who want a clearer, more aligned approach to selling albums and wall art.

Connect With Us:

Amber: https://lightlivinphotography.com/education-page

Marie: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/photography-mentoring

Portraits That Sell Mini Course: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com/portraits-that-sell-mini-course

Brand alignment goes far deeper than visuals, presets, or polished feeds. In this deeply vulnerable episode, Marie and Amber explore what it truly means to run a values-aligned luxury business, one rooted in integrity, emotional resonance, and moral clarity.

This conversation invites photographers to reflect on the reality that clients are not only choosing your work, they are choosing you. Your voice, your values, your nervous system, and your humanity all play a role in how people experience your brand. Especially in an industry built on trust and intimacy, alignment is felt long before it is explained.

Recorded during a heavy moment in our country, this episode gently but honestly addresses the responsibility creatives carry when silence itself can signal misalignment. Marie shares her personal experience of speaking up, the peace that came from releasing people who were no longer aligned, and why luxury clients are not just buying beauty but trust, safety, and shared values.

This is not a conversation about being perfect or performative. It is about being clear, compassionate, and courageous. It is about allowing your brand to reflect your conscience and understanding that clarity attracts and repels in the healthiest way possible.

• Why brand alignment is emotional, ethical, and energetic, not just visual

• How clients subconsciously choose photographers based on values and trust

• The difference between neutrality and integrity in your brand

• Why luxury clients are deeply values-driven, not just aesthetics-driven

• How sharing your values builds deeper, safer client relationships

• Letting go of fear around “losing followers” and choosing alignment instead

• Practical guidance for sharing thoughtfully on your business platform

• How motherhood, humanity, and compassion intersect with brand identity

Your brand is already communicating who you are, whether you use your voice intentionally or not. When you allow your business to reflect your values with respect and care, you create deeper trust, more meaningful connections, and a brand that feels honest instead of performative. Alignment is not divisive, it is clarifying.

If you are feeling heavy and wanting to take meaningful action, here are a few resources mentioned in today’s episode:

• Five Calls App – to easily contact your local representatives

• ACLU Action Center – aclu.org/action

• National Immigration Law Center – nilc.org

• United We Dream – unitedwedream.org

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center – for know-your-rights information

Please stay informed, act safely, and vote in every election, not just presidential ones.

You are allowed to care deeply. You are allowed to stand for dignity, compassion, and humanity. And you are allowed to build a luxury brand that reflects those truths without apology. When your values lead, the right people will always find you.

Thank you for being here and for holding space for this conversation with us.

Follow along on Instagram: Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo Amber: @light_livin_photography

Visit our websites: Marie Elizabeth Photography: https://marie-elizabethphotography.com Light Livin Photography: https://lightlivinphotography.com

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.

• 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

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.

• 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

• 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.

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

Follow us on Instagram

• Amber: @light_livin_photography

• Marie: @marie.elizabeth.photo

Website:

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

If you enjoyed today’s conversation, we would be so grateful if you left a review. It helps other photographers find the show and join this community of artists building businesses with clarity, intention, and elevated artistry.

See you next week.