Okay guys we’re baaaaack! Did you miss us? Cuz we missed you! We loved taking some time off after launching our workshop + fall mastermind but we are so excited to be back and catching up! Today’s episode we are chatting about all the things. From reflecting on the year so far, to our current mental states and even some hints about the future of level up… you won’t want to miss this one.
Prefer to listen to podcasts in your favorite podcasting app? Use the links below!
There are seasons in business where everything feels like it’s clicking—you’re booking great weddings, managing your inbox, delivering galleries or films, and maybe even finding time for a walk or a dinner with friends. But then there are seasons where it feels like you’re hanging on by a thread. If you’re in the thick of a busy season right now, you’re definitely not alone.
Sometimes we feel the need to show up and deliver value in every single piece of content—here’s what to do, here’s how to grow, here’s the exact strategy. But every now and then, it’s also important to pause and just talk about what it really looks like behind the scenes. Because no matter how many reels you’ve seen of someone sipping coffee at a perfectly curated desk or packing up film gear in a luxury venue, the truth is… running a wedding business isn’t always that glamorous.
This life we’ve chosen—creative entrepreneurship, working from home, building something from nothing—it’s incredible. But it also requires a level of commitment, adaptability, and sometimes even sheer grit that people don’t talk about enough.
We’re running businesses that rely on us showing up fully. Not just for our clients, but for our teams (if we have them), our families, and ourselves. And in the busy seasons—whether it’s back-to-back weddings, launches, editing marathons, or just real life piling up alongside business—it can feel like there’s no room to breathe.
If you’re in a season where your turnaround time isn’t quite where you want it to be… if you’re juggling inquiries, proposals, and editing while trying to stay on top of your own mental health… if you’re putting in late nights or early mornings and still feeling behind… you are not doing anything wrong.
This is part of it.
The real question isn’t how to avoid it entirely. It’s: how do you move through these seasons with intention? How do you create a business that still allows you to come up for air, even when things get full?
We talk to so many photographers and filmmakers who started their businesses in the post-2020 boom. For a lot of people, that “boom year” set unrealistic expectations about what this industry would look like year after year. Now, as things normalize, it’s easy to assume something’s wrong. But slowdowns aren’t necessarily a bad thing. They’re just opportunities to reassess, refine, and make sure you’re still heading in the direction you want to go.
The reality is, this industry is shifting. The economy is shifting. Client expectations are shifting. And the creatives who are going to thrive in the next five years aren’t the ones doing more—they’re the ones who are doing it smarter.
That means leaning into strategy. That means building systems that support you year-round—not just during launch season or when things feel exciting. It means being intentional about where your leads are coming from, how you’re positioned, and what kind of clients you’re aligning your brand with.
Because if you’re constantly in reaction mode—saying yes to everything, discounting without a plan, or just trying to survive the chaos—you’ll eventually burn out. The only way to sustain growth without sacrificing your peace is to step back and look at the bigger picture.
What kind of business are you building? What kind of life do you want it to support?
And if your current model is based on scrambling, burnout, or fear around bookings, then it’s time to rethink the foundation.
We know firsthand what it’s like to run multiple brands, juggle kids, corporate gigs, weddings, and still try to innovate. We know what it’s like to feel like you have to keep creating just to stay afloat. But we also know this: when you build a brand that’s rooted in clarity, confidence, and alignment—you don’t have to hustle your way to every opportunity.
Clients come to you not just because of your work, but because of how they perceive your work. Because of how your brand positions you. Because of how you communicate your value. That’s not something you figure out on a whim or pick up through osmosis. That’s something you learn—by being in the right room, with the right strategy, at the right time.
This is why we created The Luxury Framework.
It’s not fluff. It’s not “just raise your prices and cross your fingers.” It’s a straightforward roadmap for wedding creatives who are ready to move from mainstream to luxury—and do it without running themselves into the ground.
It’s everything we wish we had when we started. It’s the exact process that’s helped hundreds of our students increase their pricing, refine their brand, build strategic relationships, and actually create sustainable, high-end businesses.
And the best part? It’s now available anytime. We’ve made The Luxury Framework evergreen so you can access it when you’re ready—not just when the cart is open. So whether you’re finding this in the middle of a calm season or the thick of a busy one, you don’t have to wait to start building a business that actually works for your life.
Because the work you’re doing matters. But so does the way you feel doing it.
And if you’re sitting there wondering when the overwhelm will pass, just know: you don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through the year. You don’t have to wait for a new year or a new quarter to make changes. And you certainly don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
You just need a plan.
We’d love to help you build it.
The Luxury Framework is will be availbel soon at https://thelevelupco.com/theluxuryframework. Join when you’re ready. But don’t wait too long—your business is already good. It’s time to make it exceptional.
